Hardwood floors, whether prefinished or not, are undeniably long-lasting. The finish on these floors will need to be reapplied, however, to keep the wood protected and looking great. The factory finish on prefinished flooring can last as long as 25 years before it needs to be refreshed.
This is partly due to the fact that prefinished hardwood flooring is less expensive to install because it requires less labor during installation. It is also due to the fact that prefinished wood flooring has a more durable finish that can't be achieved on floors finished on the job site.
Takeaway: Your worn down pre-finished hardwood flooring can be refinished up to 5 times. You can change the color of the entire floor each time that it's completely refinished.
The durable finish on pre-finished flooring means that it's often easier to maintain your floors as they'll be better able to withstand stains, scratches, and the general abuse of daily living.
Open Seams
Seams between pre-finished floorboards are not sealed over, as they would be when you seal your flooring on site. With site-finished flooring, the coating fills in the seams and effectively creates a continuous surface. Good flooring installation will keep seams tight.
In general, you shouldn't apply polyurethane over a floor that has already been stained and sealed with other products. If the manufacturer indicates that the floor has been treated with polyurethane but you want to apply additional coats for added protection, you may do so after the floor has been installed.
A: Yes, a polyurethane-finished hardwood can be recoated if you take the proper steps to prep the finish. First, lightly sand with No. 2 steel wool or a dull 120- to 150-grit abrasive screen using a heavy floor buffer.
Engineered hardwood refers to the process of actually creating the hardwood planks from different plies of wood; it doesn't refer to the finish of the wood. Engineered hardwood can be prefinished or site-finished. However, most engineered hardwood is prefinished.
Prefinished wood floors are durable and have a water-resistant finish, but may not be the best choice for moist areas like the bathroom.
You can revitalize the surface by stripping the old finish and staining the floor. This is a labor-intensive project, but upon successful completion you'll have a beautifully restored hardwood floor that you can admire with pride.
On average, a hardwood flooring finish lasts approximately ten years. But with proper care and maintenance, it can last much longer.
So, we naturally get the question, “Can you refinish pre-finished floors?” The answer is generally “yes,” as long as the pre-finished (or site finished) floors are solid hardwood. If the flooring is engineered hardwood, the answer is usually “No.”
Unfinished flooring is raw hardwood that must first be installed and then sanded and refinished on site. Prefinished flooring is factory-finished, and thus each board has been finished individually with sprayed-on coats of polyurethane.
In terms of budget, unfinished hardwood flooring is cheaper when you just consider the flooring itself. Once you factor in the costs of a finishing treatment, then prefinished flooring actually ends up being cheaper. You can consider the pros and cons of both options and decide what works best for you.
Prefinished floors come at a lower cost.
Prefinished solid wood floors initially cost more than unfinished wood flooring—about $2 per square foot for a good grade of red oak. But once you factor in finishing costs, prefinished ends up being less expensive.
So, if you have a building with a basement level, and you still want a hardwood floor to enhance the appearance of the area, an engineered hardwood floor will be a much more durable choice than a solid hardwood or a laminate. On top of each of these layers is a veneer of genuine hardwood.
In terms of practicality, vinyl is the best option. It's built to withstand a high level of wear and tear and any spills can quickly be wiped up without the worry of water damage. Waterproof laminate – If you want something a little more luxurious, waterproof laminate flooring is a great choice.
“Hardwood flooring is stylish and sustainable, comes in a variety of natural colors, and doesn't absorb dust or debris, making it easy to clean and maintain,” he says. Murphy says it is also a good choice for the kitchen because you rarely need to replace hardwood flooring.
Is Engineered Hardwood More Expensive Than Solid Hardwood? Engineered hardwood is typically less expensive than hardwood flooring as ranges in price from about $2.50 to $10 per square foot, while hardwood typically averages about $4 to $12 per square foot.
Thanks to the composition of engineered flooring, which consists of multiple core pieces of plywood, HDF, or softwood, topped off with a beautiful layer of hardwood, it means that engineered flooring can last for up to 30 years in the right conditions.
Selecting a floor such as Hickory, Hard Maple or White Oak can protect your floor from damage, as these hardwoods are less susceptible to scratches than softer woods like Pine, Cherry or Black Walnut. Hardwoods with more dramatic grain patterns can help to hide scratches more easily.
“Prefinished” hardwood floors are factory-finished. Each board is coated with polyurethane before it hits the shelf. There are also notable pros and cons associated with this particular type of flooring.
Never use wax on a prefinished hardwood surface. Wax can cause a film over the surface of the hardwood and leave the finish looking dull.