Prefinished Hardwood Flooring Pros and Cons

Pre-finished hardwood flooring consists of a protective layer applied to the top of the plank to increase its durability and eliminate the need of finishing the floor in the home. Pre-finished hardwood flooring gives the classic hardwood look to any space in your home without the hassles of refinishing. If you’re looking for hardwood flooring options near Sonoma and Rohnert Park, then go straight to Rugworks. For the last four decades, we have been on a mission to beautify our neighborhoods. We’ll teach you that just like other flooring options, pre-finished hardwood flooring comes with its own pros and cons that you must consider when opting for it. To let you arrive at an informed decision, we’ve put together some pros and cons of using pre-finished hardwood flooring.

Advantages

Ease of Installation

Pre-finished hardwood flooring installation is an easier and faster process. You don’t have to stain or sand materials on-site, which causes excessive odor and messes. Furthermore, you don’t have dry time after installation that helps to save time as the floor can be walked on and furniture can be moved back in right away.

Superior Durability

Manufacturers use strong sealants that enhance the wood’s durability after applying the finishing stain to the hardwood. The warranty on factory applied treatments generally falls between 25-50 years, whereas the warranty on on-site sand and finish tends to last only 10-15 years. This is because the pre-finished hardwood is stronger and more durable than a sand and refinish hardwood especially against staining and minor scratches.

Easy Maintenance

A pre-finished hardwood does not require regular refinishing like a sand and refinish hardwood would require. It can be cleaned easily with a dust mop and a spray cleaner and dry mop head specified for pre-finished wood. It is best to use a product that is provided or recommended by the manufacturer of the wood purchase to ensure that it will work with your hardwood.

Drawbacks

Moisture and Scratching

A pre-finished hardwood is not impervious to scratching, staining, and moisture. If excessive moisture, spills, or a flood occurs in a home a hardwood will be damaged, often beyond repair. Hardwood is also a natural product which means that it will scratch and possibly stain over time. Under normal, light traffic conditions minor spots and scratches can add a natural patina to the wood that adds to the beauty of the wood overtime but, depending on your preferences, high traffic areas can cause the hardwood to look damaged and worn out. This is why many busy family’s with pets and kids opt for more scratch resistant and/or waterproof options like laminate or vinyl planks.

Complicated Repairs

With a sand and refinish hardwood, damaged areas can simply be spot sanded and refinished. But repairing pre-finished hardwood flooring requires a bit more time and effort. Damage to a pre-finished plank requires that the plank itself is replaced. An installer will cut out the damaged planks and glue in the replacement planks to complete the repair. This is why it is important that any extra boxes or pieces left over after an installation should be kept by the homeowner.

Difficult Refinishing Process

Pre-finished hardwood is designed to stand the test of time in order to erase the need for future sand and refinishing. However, if a completely new look is desired, some pre-finished hardwoods with very thick wear layers can be refinished. However, doing so will most often completely change the texture of the wood as the hand scraping and surface texture of the wood will be sanded away to a smooth finish. Floor Sanding and refinishing a pre-finished flooring can be slightly more labor intensive than a traditional sand and refinish floor because of the amount of chemicals that are released into the air when it is sanded.

Call Rugworks for Your Hardwood Flooring Needs

If you’re looking for, hardwood flooring near me then consult Rugworks at (707) 935-0648 or fill out our contact form and we’ll get back to you with a free estimate. Come into our Rohnert Park or Sonoma location and we will help you weigh the pros and cons to arrive at an informed decision.