Engineered hardwood flooring.
Engineered floors prefinished vs unfinished.
It has several things going for it including ease of installation it can be glued down and lower prices.
Solid hardwood flooring is available in a wide array of wood species including oak maple and black walnut as well as regional specific choices like pecan mesquite and others.
Prefinished solid wood floors initially cost more than unfinished wood flooring about 2 per square foot for a good grade of red oak.
Unfinished flooring looks like real wood.
Prefinished floors means less mess which has obvious advantages especially if you have children or pets that you don t want exposed to fumes and other installation by products.
Advantages of unfinished flooring.
Engineered hardwood flooring is almost always sold pre finished and there is a narrower range of available colors and species than with solid hardwood.
Due to its versatility engineered flooring has gained a strong foothold in the hardwood floor industry.
Engineered wood is less expensive than solid wood because less expensive woods are used for the lower layers.
Solid wood flooring is generally available in prefinished and unfinished varieties.
One of the drawbacks to prefinished engineered flooring is the lack of customized.
Engineered floors with a thin veneer typically cannot be refinished however many modern engineered wood floors are made with a thicker veneer that makes refinishing possible.
But once you factor in finishing costs prefinished ends up.
Some pre finished engineered hardwood flooring has slightly beveled edges which creates slight grooves between boards while solid hardwood flooring generally has very tight seams between boards.
Durability when it comes to choosing prefinished wood flooring you will find that both engineered and solid hardwood floors offer great durability and a long lifespan with regards to surface wear and tear it is more important that you research what kind of finish is to be added to your flooring as it is the finish that provides the main protection.
Engineered flooring is another product that almost always comes prefinished and you may have to use it if the floor is below grade or in a damp area such as a kitchen or utility space.
Prefinished engineered flooring is a more common product than unfinished engineered flooring.
Engineered hardwood flooring which is made from a thin layer of solid hardwood bonded to a core of plywood or particleboard is the leading rival to prefinished solid hardwood.