Pros and cons of unfinished and finished hardwood floors

Having to make a decision to have hardwood floors installed at your home or office can be quite a challenge for most people. This is because there are many types of hardwood floors that are available and it can leave you confused more often than not.

Moreover, you would want to make the right choice so that you do not have to regret it at a later point. The reason is because it can cost you quite a lot of money to have hardwood floors installed in a building.

The advantage with hardwood flooring is the fact that it gives you that vintage look that you had always wanted. It adds beauty to your place of stay or work by all means and has that natural flavor added to it.

Two of the most popular choices that people have with hardwood floors are the unfinished and finished ones. Each of them has their own advantages and disadvantages. We look at how different they are and the pros and cons with having either of them installed.

Unfinished Hardwood Floors

In order to make a layman understand we give a simple explanation for unfinished hardwood floors. You just have to purchase the wood; have it installed at your home and then have them finish it with polishing and other things.

Pros

• Variety: You tend to get these unfinished hardwood floors in different varieties. You virtually can have any type of wood, texture, color, and the saw profile that comes with it. This is one thing that makes it stand out from the prefinished one.
• Re-sand or Refinish: You can easily have it customized to your preference and have its re-sand or refinished in accordance to your interiors.
• Customizable: Having an unfinished hardwood customized in accordance to your preference is easier.

Cons

• Time Consuming: The entire process of having the flooring done takes a lot longer than the other option you have.
• Manual Work: It also requires a lot of manual finishing job done by people.

Finished or Prefinished Hardwood Floors

Prefinished or finished hardwood floors are essentially a work completed at a factory. They have been stained, coated with polyurethane, and sanded before they are installed at your building.

Pros

• Easy Installation: You do not require a lot of manual work to have these installed as all parts of the wood work is already completed.
• Ease of Cleaning: They are easy to clean with a dry mop or vacuum cleaner without taking much time.
• Durability: If maintained properly these finished hardwood floors can last a lifetime.
• Great Looks: A shiny look which can be great for your office or home.
• Healthy: The air quality at your home would be better with a finished hardwood floor when compared to the other options.

Cons

• Difficult to Remodel: You would have to pay a lot of money to have a prefinished or finished hardwood floor remodeled.
• Difficult to Customize: Customization is virtually impossible unless you spend a lot of money towards it.

Conclusion

To put things in perspective both of these hardwood flooring has their own advantages and disadvantages. It comes down to personal preference on which one you should choose for your home or office. You may consult with an expert and have one installed based on your budget.