Prefinished or Unfinished Hardwood Flooring: 5 Questions to Help You Decide Which Hardwood Flooring to Buy

Hardwood flooring is arguably the best flooring for your home or office. From an investment standpoint, it provides durability for more prolonged use and increases the market value of your home. Below in this article, we will cover the Prefinished or Unfinished Hardwood Flooring.

In fact, according to a study by the National Association of Realtors, 54% of home buyers are willing to pay as much as $2080 premium for houses with wood flooring. 

 There are two types of hardwood flooring—prefinished and unfinished.

Prefinished floorings are ready-to-install floors. These are already sanded and designed and only require you to install them to the subfloor. Unfinished flooring, on the other hand, is raw pieces of hardwood. These need to be installed first before sanding, designing, and coating. You can use an already-renovated room if you choose the prefinished option as they are ready-made; however, unfinished hardwood offers flexibility in cost and design. 

Whether you are looking for Unfinished Hardwood Flooring For Sale or prefinished floorings, here are five questions to help you decide which hardwood flooring to buy. 

How Long Does It Take to Install?

Installing hardwood flooring can take time. You have to disassemble the current ones. And what happens after that depends on what hardwood flooring you choose. So, how much time do you need to save for it?

 On average, it takes one to two weeks to install 1000-square foot flooring as the wood needs to acclimatize and set to the temperature of the room. This process is essential because a wood that is too dry will absorb the moisture in the room and will cause them to expand and bulge. Too wet, on the other hand, will make the wood shrink after drying, leaving gaps on the floor.

If you go with unfinished hardwood flooring, you still need to apply styling chemicals to the hardwood for finishing. Drying may add around three to four days. 

If you cannot wait this long, choose prefinished hardwood flooring. You can walk on the floors the moment it gets installed.

Do You Need to Match the Wood Design to Your Current Flooring?

During the renovation, there could be hardwood flooring left in the house, and you will be left thinking of what pattern is best to go with it.

Unless you find the exact pattern of prefinished hardwood flooring selections, unfinished hardwood flooring is the better option. With it, you can replicate the existing design in your home. Or better yet, remove any current flooring and replace them with prefinished. 

Do You Want to Customize the Designs?

Prefinished flooring might not have the exact specifications and designs you want. With unfinished hardwood flooring, you have the freedom to create the design you have in. It can be your artistic expression, and the design is unique to you.

What is Your Budget?

Hardwood flooring is affordable. You can even find deals for Unfinished Hardwood Flooring For Sale online. But regardless, have a budget for your flooring.

In general, prefinished hardwood flooring is more expensive than rough ones. If you consider the finishing costs, the price for unfinished hardwood flooring can be higher or lower, depending on the specifications.