as we’ve mentioned in the blog before, we often end up explaining that just because a client wants and engineered wide plank floor doesn’t mean it has to be a prefinished floor, we mill and deliver unfinished engineered floors often. but a good question to ask during the process is what is the best option for that particular job. there are several factors that come into play.
these are some questions to ask:
prefinished wide plank long leaf heart pine
if it’s a renovation, are you living in the space while work is going on? if so, you may want to consider a prefinished hardwood floor. this will avoid the dust that inevitably makes its way into just about every nook and cranny of the space when a floor is sanded. it also means the finish is applied, so things in the space won’t grind to a halt while your finisher is applying the several coats of stain or oil typically needed for finishing, with one day per coat being the norm.
unfinished engineered black walnut
and what are the advantages to an unfinished floor?
for one thing, you won’t need a bevel or micro bevel, which all prefinished floors need to account for the slight unevenness caused by the subfloor. when the floor is installed unfinished, your finisher will just sand it smooth, so the planks will be perfectly even in height. the micro bevel can often be an undesired aesthetic element that many people would prefer to do without.
more than likely, your contractor would prefer an unfinished floor as well, simply because it can be very difficult to protect a finished product when so much work is left to complete after the floors are installed. paint, cabinetry, and plumbing can all cause issues, not to mention on of the trades tracking in mud and rocks from outside the job site, or dropping a tool on the floor. They usually prefer that sanding and finishing comes at the end of the job, just before furnishing and handing the keys over to the client.
these are just some of the questions to consider when deciding between a prefinished or unfinished engineered wide plank floor. we are here to help you with the rest, so let us know how we can help.
keith kraus
woodwrights wide plank flooring
200 lexington ave
suite 714
new york, ny 10016
212.390.8944
www.woodwrightswideplank.com
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