Factory-Finished vs Site-Finished Hardwood Flooring

Redoing your floors is a lot of work, but who doesn’t love the look and feel of new floors! It instantly makes your home feel cleaner and fresher.

However, when you step into a flooring store, the options are endless. In addition to colors and texture, there is also a wide range of pricing depending on wood type, quality, finished, etc. In case you’re considering redoing your floors, here is some information that may be helpful when deciding between factor-finished or site-finished flooring.

Factory-Finished Hardwood Flooring

When you want bang for the buck or you’re on a tight budget, factory-finished flooring is the way to go. A factory-finished hardwood floor is the easier, and often the cheaper choice of the two.

Not only is it cheaper, it is much easier and quicker to install. Plus, with no chemicals, odors, or dust during the installation, your family can use your hardwood floor almost immediately.

The downfall of choosing factory-finished flooring is the limitation on options. Plus, it also has small bevels, or grooves, on all sides of the boards. These create small gaps between the boards once installed. This may not be ideal for those who are looking for a smooth, glass-like hardwood floor. Factory finished floors can sometimes be harder to clean as well.

Site-Finished Hardwood Flooring

If you're looking for total control over the look of your flooring, site-finished floors the way to go. It is uniquely beautiful hardwood flooring. You have much more control over how the floor will look and can customize the boards in any way they choose. Each floor is unique, durable, and easier to clean.

The downside of site-finishing is that it involves the use of volatile organic chemicals, notably polyurethane, which can be harmful to humans and the environment. Not all site-finished floors use polyurethane, but most site-finished floors use some combination of resins, solvents, and other chemicals. These will need time to dry and cure, a process that could take several days or weeks. During this time, no furniture should be placed on the floor. Site-finished floors require a high level of skill and craftsmanship and the cost is higher.

Are you ready to pull out the carpet and install hardwood floors in your home?