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The to - do lists are long in a house refurbishment — and that ’s before you account for unexpected tasks like running to the store to pick up a new size of fasteners or redoing a splotchy blusher task . So , when it comes to installingsolid or engineered wood planksfor raw floors , I pick out prefinished hardwood floor to simplify the induction , coloring coating , and sealing into one step among legion other rationality . Some pros may disagree . To resolve what will act best in your home , first get to be intimate what disunite the two option with these key points in the pillowcase of prefinished vs. unfinished hardwood floor .
You can walk on your new prefinished floor immediately.
With flooring that is complete on - site using oil - based polyurethane , the homeowner must await day , sometimes even weeks , before moving furniture back into the room . Even though the floor may be dry to the touch , it will be vulnerable to scraping until the waiting clock time has pass and the finish has in full cured . I once had to shuffle around in sock and remain piece of furniture - less for four weeks after applying three coats of poly to a floor . ( Waterborne polyurethan finishes dry to touch speedily but can have change therapeutic time — some quite long . )
Carpet, hardwood, tile, vinyl, and laminate flooring.
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Prefinished floors have fewer VOCs to affect your family’s health.
For days after lend oneself an oil - based polyurethan , you will smell and breathe in vapors from polyurethane resins and solvents . explosive constitutive compounds ( VOCs)have been shown to be carcinogenic , and some waterborne polyurethanes produce them , too . Why not corrupt prefinished so that the curing takes office in a mill , not in your living elbow room ?
No worries about dust with prefinished flooring.
detritus and errant hair are the enemy of on - site floor finishing , often get as the stain goes down . But these annoyance wo n’t have any event on your fresh prefinished floor . Youwill , however , postulate to take step to protect prefinished floors if you have declarer tromping around with cock and equipment en route to other jobs around the house .
Installation of prefinished flooring can be done in one session.
There ’s no necessity of staying home to complete the various level of an on - website finishing occupation — sandpaper , sealing , stain , applying polyurethan , and so on . A crew of two had our 300 - square - foot solid Natalie Wood story install , with underlayment , in only about two minute .
Factory-applied finishes are nearly flawless
Not only are they just than what homeowners or contractor can lend oneself on - situation , but these mill - use cultivation are also implausibly long-lived and often come with a lifespan warranty . The Mullican red oak floor , shown above , will quell new - depend for longer . It came with a PPG ultraviolet - cured resin and nanoparticle coating that is highly scratch- and grinding - tolerant . I ca n’t even scratch it with my fingernail .
Prefinished floors come at a lower cost.
Prefinished square wood flooring ab initio be more than unfinished wood floor — about $ 2 per square groundwork for a good grade of red oak tree . But once you factor in in finish costs , prefinished terminate up being less expensive .
Okay , you ’ve heard my arguments . But some householder and many contractile organ differ with me and prefer site - finishing Mrs. Henry Wood floor for the following reasons .
Unfinished floors are preferred when the space is under construction or large renovation.
Many contractors prefer to expect until the end of the caper to finish the floor . That way , a dropped tool or a mortar pebble under a work charge ca n’t vitiate the ruined floor — and destroy customer relations .
Starting with unfinished flooring offers a greater choice of finishes.
There is no question that the internet site - finish up road open upa gravid variety of choiceswith respect to color and shade . Prefinished product , however , come in more mintage and stains than ever before .
Unlike prefinished floorboards, unfinished boards have no bevels.
Prefinished floorboards usually have micro - bevels on all edges . These bevels conceal tenuous discrepancies between board profundity and widths . ineluctably , some householder will favor the flush flavor of web site - sand storey , as they feature no such grooves and can be finished to a mirror - like control surface .
What ’s your preference ? Perhaps the hassles of site - finish will be worth it to you — for one or all of the reasons above . But for homeowners like me , prefinished floors are the future .
Everything You take for a Lush and Healthy Lawn
Photo: istockphoto.com
Keeping your grass green and your industrial plant thriving does n’t just take a green thumb — it starts with the right tools and supplies .
Photo: istockphoto.com
Photo: istockphoto.com
Photo: istockphoto.com
Photo: istockphoto.com
