Finished vs Unfinished Wood Floors
Hardwood floors were probably one of the first flooring options
available to the consumer. Initially only available in unfinished,
which meant that the wood floors were installed without any stain
or protection, and then stained and treated on site . This process
of finishing floors onsite is costly, time consuming and very messy.
The process is not considered an exact science, and often results
in excessive and uneven shading and color variation across the floor.
Most flooring sold today is pre-finished. The stain and protective
chemicals are applied at the factory in a controlled sterile environment
under UV lighting. This results in a floor with a more consistant
color. Pre-finished flooring is also a more affordable option and
is more durable due to the addition of Aluminum Oxide, applied at
the factory, which is a protective finish that adds incredible strength,
hardness and durability to the floor.
Unfinished hardwood flooring is a practical application when trying
to match up with an existing floor or for repairs to a portion of
an existing floor. The color of hardwood flooring changes over time
due to natural environmental factors such as exposure to sunlight.
For this reason, merely purchasing the same floor as originally installed
will not ensure an exact match. Thus in these situations it is advisable
to purchase unfinished hardwood floors and have them stained on site
to ensure a finish color that is closest to your existing floor.
When co-ordinating the color of your furniture and cabinetry with
your hardwood floor, it is often difficult to find the stain that
exactly complements these other aspects in the room, and thus it
might be necessary to take the extra step and have your floors finished
on site, so as to better blend with the décor. As there are
so many different styles and shades of pre-finished flooring available,
unfinished floors are often not necessary.
Finishing of hardwood flooring onsite is very rare nowadays, which
has resulted in fewer installers possesing the knowledge and skills
required. This has also resulted in an increase in price for this
specialized service
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