Prefinished Hardwood Flooring Pros and Cons

Trying to decide between prefinished hardwood flooring and unfinished hardwood flooring? 

We understand—hardwood is beautiful, timeless, and one of the most popular types of flooring around. 

But putting in unfinished hardwood floors and finishing them in your home can fill your house with dust and debris while taking weeks to complete. 

That’s why these days, most people opt for prefinished hardwood flooring—hardwood planks that come with stain and sealant already applied. Often, they offer an easier, quicker way to get the warmth of hardwood floors. 

Below, we’ll take you through all the basics of prefinished hardwood flooring. We’ll talk about its pros and cons, compare prices to unfinished hardwood, and more.

Let’s get started!

What Exactly Is Prefinished Hardwood Flooring?

Prefinished hardwood flooring is exactly what it sounds like—real hardwood planks that are pre-finished with stain and sealant before they arrive at your door. 

They can be made from any hardwood species, and they’re often sealed with a super-hard aluminum oxide coating to make them durable and scratch-resistant. 

These days, many (if not all) of the best hardwood floor brands offer prefinished hardwood in a wide range of stains, finishes, and sizes. 

The factory-controlled finishing process ensures a consistent and high-quality finish on each plank, resulting in a uniform appearance across the entire floor. This type of flooring eliminates the need for on-site sanding, staining, and finishing, which can save significant time and reduce the mess associated with traditional hardwood flooring installation. 

Pros of Prefinished Hardwood Flooring

Time-Saving Installation

The speed and simplicity of installing prefinished wood is one of its biggest advantages. If you’re living in your house during a renovation, you do not want to deal with all the dust and chemicals that come with buying unfinished wood and finishing it on-site. Trust us on that one.

Durability and Longevity

Prefinished hardwood planks are often coated with a highly durable aluminum oxide finish, which is much tougher than finishes applied on-site. This finish provides exceptional resistance to scratches, scuffs, and dents, making it ideal for homes with pets.  

The multi-layered factory finish also extends the life of the flooring, often backed by longer warranties from manufacturers.

Consistent Finish

The controlled factory environment ensures a uniform application of stain and sealant, resulting in a consistent and high-quality finish on each plank. This eliminates the risk of human error and inconsistencies that can occur with on-site finishing. The uniform finish contributes to a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing look across the entire floor.

Low VOC Emissions

Since the finishing process is completed in a factory, prefinished hardwood flooring typically has lower VOC (volatile organic compounds) emissions compared to unfinished flooring that is finished on-site. 

VOCs are harmful chemicals that slowly off-gas from different types of industrial products, and adhesives and finishes are some of the worst offenders. 

Wide Variety of Options

These days you may find that it’s easier to purchase prefinished wood than unfinished planks, especially at big-box retailers. 

From mom-and-pop flooring stores to national home-improvement chains, you’ll most likely have a very good selection of prefinished hardwood flooring in different species and stain finishes near you. 

Whether you prefer a classic oak, a rich walnut, or a contemporary grey stain, there are numerous options to match your interior design.

Cons of Prefinished Hardwood Flooring

Visible Seams

One drawback of prefinished hardwood flooring is the presence of micro-beveled edges, which create small grooves between the planks. 

While these grooves can help to mask minor imperfections in subflooring, they can also collect dust and dirt, requiring more frequent cleaning. Additionally, some homeowners may prefer the seamless look of site-finished flooring.

Limited Customization

Prefinished hardwood flooring is manufactured in specific finishes and colors, limiting the ability to customize the stain or finish to match existing decor precisely. 

With unfinished hardwood, you have the flexibility to choose a custom stain and finish that perfectly matches your vision. This can be particularly important for those looking to match new flooring with existing hardwood.

Potential for Factory Defects

Although rare, there is a possibility of receiving planks with factory defects, such as inconsistent staining or minor imperfections in the finish. 

It is crucial to inspect the planks thoroughly before installation and purchase from reputable manufacturers to minimize this risk. Some manufacturers offer stringent quality control measures and guarantees to address such issues.

Repair Challenges

Repairing damage to prefinished hardwood can be more challenging than with site-finished flooring. If a plank is scratched or damaged, it may require complete replacement rather than spot repairs. 

This can be more complicated and costly, especially if the specific finish or stain is no longer available. Conversely, site-finished floors can often be sanded and refinished on-site to address damage.

The Cost of Prefinished vs. Unfinished Hardwood Flooring

You may have noticed that we haven’t yet talked about pricing. That’s because it’s neither a pro nor a con of prefinished hardwood flooring. Essentially, it boils down to this:

Prefinished hardwood flooring may cost more to purchase, depending on about a million factors (the wood flooring type, the brand, the finish, your location, the amount you’re buying, etc.), but unfinished hardwood flooring usually costs more to install, because it has to be finished on-site.

What’s the Average Cost to Install a Prefinished Hardwood Floor?

Again, it depends on a ton of factors. What installation method are you going to use? Nail-down? Glue-down? Floating?

The type of hardwood, the size of the area, and the complexity of the installation also play significant roles in determining the cost. Additionally, labor rates can vary greatly depending on your location and the experience level of the installer. 
Whatever the case, the average cost typically ranges from $6 to $12 per square foot for materials and installation. It’s important to get multiple quotes from reputable contractors to ensure you’re getting a fair price for your project.