Differences between Engineered, Pre-finished, and Unfinished Hardwood flooring
Traditionally Hardwood flooring has been viewed as the crème de
la crème of flooring. Until the 1980’s if you had hardwood
flooring, to a certain extent you were considered wealthy. Times
change as does technology and this either brings prices down or
up depending on the supply and demand of a product. In todays
times, hardwood flooring can be found almost in every retail
flooring store around.
Hardwood flooring is generally sold in only a couple varieties.
Unfinished Hardwood, Pre-finished Hardwood, Engineered Hardwood.
Unfinished is the traditional product which was bought in a
couple different woods, widths, and lengths. The tongue and
groove design was laid and then sanded to get a smooth and even
texture on the surface of the wood. Once the wood was sanded, it
was then stained and lacquered which traditionally consumed a
lot of labor. Time equals money and in the pre 80’s this was a
very expensive process.
Pre finished has been on the market for many years now and is
the most commonly used hardwood in homes. This flooring is
unique where right after the manufacture cuts the tongue and
groove, it sends the wood through the finishing sander and then
to the spray booth where all pieces are finished. The time
consuming labor processes involved in the sanding and
staining/lacquered unfinished hardwood have bee replaced by
machines which can produce at a higher level of efficiency than
the human hand. The installation of the pre-finished hardwood
flooring is a 1-2-3 step process. This flooring makes prices
competitive with other flooring alternatives.
Engineered Hardwood is the newest product on the market and is
becoming more popular. This product is unique where it is made
from a new form of particle board with a veneer layer of your
choice of hardwood on the top. This is then pre-finished and
sold in stores. The unique aspect of this engineered hardwood is
that it can be installed in basements and cooler/more moist
environments where the pre-finished and unfinished hardwood
cannot. Prices are slightly higher on the engineered hardwood
but may come down as supply rises.
In conclusion, choosing which of the three to put on your floor
depends on the look you are going for. Each product will give
you a slightly different look in your home. If you needs are
driven by economy, there is a lot of pre-finished hardwood
flooring options on the market. If you are driven by the
traditional look, unfinished hardwood flooring is a good option.
But if you are driven by technology and flexibility, then
Engineered hardwood is your best choice.
