3 Traditional Reasons Why Unfinished Hardwood Flooring is a Great Choice

When selecting a hardwood floor, one of the most critical decisions is choosing between unfinished (site-finished) and prefinished hardwood(factory-finished) planks. Unfinished hardwood is installed raw and then sanded, stained, and sealed on-site. This traditional method is highly valued by designers and homeowners who prioritize customization, a seamless look, and professional-grade flooring installation.

While site-finishing requires a longer timeline and involves more disruption, it provides unmatched control over the final aesthetic and results in a more durable, higher-end floor finish than can be achieved with prefinished planks.

1. Unmatched Customization and Aesthetics

The greatest advantage of unfinished hardwood is the absolute freedom to create a one-of-a-kind floor.

• Total Color Control: You can achieve complete customization by testing and applying any stain color, sheen (matte, satin, semi-gloss), or specialized finish (like oil or hard wax) in your own lighting conditions. This is essential for achieving a unique look or perfectly matching existing woodwork in your home.
• Seamless, Monolithic Look: Because the raw planks are installed and then sanded flat across the entire room, the finished product has a perfectly smooth, uniform surface without the beveled edges (micro-grooves) found in prefinished floors. This creates a high-end, monolithic appearance.
• Leveling Flaws: The on-site sanding process physically levels the entire floor, correcting minor height irregularities or unevenness in the subfloor that would be visible with prefinished planks.

2. Superior Long-Term Durability and Repair

Site-finishing creates a protective shell over the entire floor system, not just individual planks.

• Sealed Seams: The finish penetrates the tiny seams between the boards, effectively creating a monolithic seal that helps prevent dirt, grit, and moisture from penetrating the sides of the planks. Prefinished boards only have sealed tops and exposed seams that trap dirt.
• Easier Future Repairs: If the floor sustains heavy damage or deep scratches years later, a site-finished floor is generally easier to repair and refinish because the entire surface was sanded and coated uniformly.

3. Key Disadvantages and Considerations

The traditional method involves significant disruption and time that must be planned for.

• Longer Project Timeline: The wood installation process takes significantly longer (typically 3 to 5 days, versus 1–2 days for prefinished) because of the required on-site steps: sanding (multiple passes), staining, and waiting for the finish coats to dry and cure.
• Dust and Fumes: On-site sanding creates substantial dust (though professional dust-containment systems help). The application of stains and sealants (especially oil-based polyurethanes) produces strong odors that require significant ventilation, often necessitating that homeowners vacate the premises for several days.
• Higher Overall Cost: Although the raw unfinished planks are cheaper than prefinished ones, the total project cost, including the multiple days of labor for sanding, staining, and finishing, is generally more expensive than prefinished installation.

Unfinished vs. Prefinished

Unfinished hardwood is often the preferred choice of flooring specialists when achieving a seamless, custom color and a traditional, monolithic surface is the top priority, and when the budget and timeline allow for the added mess and longer installation process.

Get started or receive support for your next flooring project with one of the most reliable flooring retail contractor in Denver today.