Unfinished Hardwood Floors - Pros and Cons

For a superb way to provide a distinctive look to your home or rooms in your house, think about unfinished wood floors. From the consumer to the contractor, unfinished wood flooring is a popular choice when considering a new floor installation in the home. If you don't mind the additional steps of sanding and finishing the floors yourself, you may find the installation process of unfinished wood floors to be more to your taste.

Usually, installing an unfinished wood floor is a three-part operation. First, you will fit together the wood planks piece by piece, usually nailing them straight down to a subfloor. Second, you will sand the entire floor, which allows for a smooth, even finish that is hard to get with prefinished flooring. Third, you will want to protect your flooring with a finish substance, whether it be polyurethane, wax, tung oil, or some other material.

Oak is the most popular wood species used in unfinished flooring, but don't feel that you are restricted to choosing only oak. Different kinds of woods can vary in hardness and longevity, and different woods will soak up stain differently. You may end up with a totally different color if you apply the same stain color to two different types of hardwood.

Let's bear in mind that while they do have many positive aspects, unfinished wood floors are not for everyone. The major drawback they have over prefinished floors is the mess involved. Sanding and finishing the floors are an additional step, and some people don't want sanding dust to be spread throughout the home. Also, you may need to leave the house for a little bit when the floor finishing products are drying, due to the fumes created.

Take into account that there are more potential disadvantages and problems down the road if you leave your wood floor in a totally unfinished state. Wood flooring with a protective coating will tend to last longer than bare, unfinished wood floors. It will become more difficult to clean and may get damaged by scrapes, dents, or moisture, leading to a potentially costly and time-consuming repair process.

Don't let the drawbacks dissuade you from unfinished hardwood flooring, however. Unfinished hardwood flooring does have many positive aspects going for it. Due to the even finish that can be obtained from unfinished flooring, it is a fantastic choice for new construction, so your floors look flat and level all through the home. Also, it can be put in during earlier stages of a construction and remodel process than pre-finished flooring, then it can be sanded and finished at the very end. Last but not least, the choice of colors and finishes with unfinished wood flooring is almost endless. You can pick your wood species, your stain color, and even a unique plank width, giving your floors a custom-made look that is all your own.