Hardwood Flooring: Prefinished vs. Site-finished

Hardwood floors are known for making homes warmer and inviting. Aside from that, it’s easier to match with furniture compared to other flooring materials.

In today’s post, your leading home improvement expert, Handyman Connection of Matthews, discusses the difference between prefinished and site-finished hardwood floors.

Prefinished Floors

Prefinished floors are faster to install than site-finished floors. This is because it doesn’t have to be sanded or stained during installation. The floors are manufactured with durable surface seal.

Once the installation is done, these floors are safe to be walked on and you can move back your furniture. Prefinished floors have a long-lasting finish that can last for many years. Though they are easier to maintain, they are more prone to stains, moisture, and discoloration.

The seams of prefinished floors aren’t sealed which some aren’t fond of. It has a beveled plank style with slightly rounded edges while site-finished floors have squared edges. The subfloor has to be perfectly flat before installation to ensure the prefinished floors will have a smooth surface.

Site-Finished Floors

Site-finished hardwood floors are bare woods which are nailed down, sanded, and finished in your home. The woods need to undergo sanding because unlike prefinished floors, they vary in thickness and width. It’s also to make sure the flooring is smooth and flat.

You have almost limitless choices when it comes to site-finished floors. You can customize the stain color of this flooring. It has no edge bevels, giving it a seamless look and making it easier to clean. Site-finished hardwood floors are easier to match with existing wood floors. You can easily blend and add new wood to adjacent spaces.

One drawback of this hardwood flooring is that though installation is fast, the finishing process can take at least a day. Adding texture to the floor adds another day or two to the process. However, the end product is worth the wait.

Make sure you hire a reputable home remodeling contractor like Handyman Connection of Matthews for beautiful and durable flooring. Call us at (704) 255-5626 or complete our online form for an estimate.