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You have questions, we have answers. Explore the most frequently asked questions about Unfinished wood flooring below. Need assistance or want to know more? Contact Carlisle or call 800-595-9663 today to get all your inquiries answered.
It is possible to leave a hardwood floor unfinished, but not typically recommended. Most hardwood floors are coated or “finished” with a sealant that provides protection against wear and tear. Because an unfinished floor lacks this protective coating, it will likely be more susceptible to scratches, scuffs, stains and water damage, and it will tend to age more quickly. Some homeowners prefer the natural look of unfinished wood and appreciate the character and worn patina that unfinished flooring develops over time, recreating the look of flooring used prior to the development of protective coating.
Finished hardwood flooring refers to a floor that has been sanded, stained and sealed with a protective coating like polyurethane, hard wax oil or aluminum oxide. The finish is intended to extend the life of the floor and its appearance by protecting it from water damage and wear and tear.
Explore and select from our gallery of our most popular finishes, specially categorized by the personalities and traits of the floor designs.
ExploreIf you are installing unfinished flooring, typically it is sanded prior to applying finishes. If you intend to leave it unfinished you will still want to sand it so that all edges are flush across the floor.
Unfinished floors can be easily stained in a wide range of colors.
While caring for and maintaining a finished floor is relatively easy, an unfinished floor requires a little more attention. Since the floorboards are unprotected by a finish coat, they will be more susceptible to water damage. Consequently, any spills should be cleaned up immediately. It’s best to clean unfinished floors with a broom or vacuum rather than a wet mop. Additionally, homeowners can use furniture pads, avoid wearing shoes in the house and take other precautions to prevent scuffing or scratching an unfinished floor.
Polyurethane is the most common type of finish for hardwood flooring. Polyurethane is a polymer, or plastic material, that is used in everything from foam and insulation to plastic wheels and protective coatings. When used to finish a floor, polyurethane is applied as a liquid that dries to form a hard, protective coating that is resistant to moisture, scratches and wear.
For years, oil-based polyurethane was the standard in hardwood floor finishes. The oil in the finish penetrates the wood deeply, sinking into the fiber to provide greater protection. Oil-based polyurethane has an amber tone that deepens the natural color of the wood as the floor is exposed to sunlight. Because of the high levels of hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and strong odors of oil-based polyurethane, water-based polyurethane has become an even more popular option. This water-based product is more eco-friendly and offers a clear finish with a faster drying time. Both oil-based and water-based polyurethane are extremely durable, though water-based options may be twice as expensive as oil-based products.
Aluminum oxide is considered the toughest finish for a hardwood floor. Aluminum oxide is a naturally occurring mineral that is prized for its hardness. When ground into a fine powder and added to a water-based urethane finish, aluminum oxide produces the toughest protective coating available for hardwood floors. However, because aluminum oxide must be applied within the factory-controlled conditions of the manufacturer’s facility, these finishes are typically only available for prefinished floors. It is also important to understand the amount of aluminum oxide contained in the product you are considering as this will dictate the ability to refinish the floor in the future.
Prefinished hardwood floors are cut, sanded, stained and sealed in the ideal conditions of a factory before the wood is shipped to a home or business for installation.
Prefinished hardwood floors can be installed more quickly and at a lower cost. These floors also allow manufacturers to apply stronger sealants that provide exceptional durability and resistance to scratches, stains and wear. Prefinished floors enable home and business owners to avoid the inconvenience of having to vacate a premise while the floors are finished, and to skip the mess and odor that sanding, staining and sealing a floor on site creates. On the other hand, the seams in a prefinished floor may be more noticeable, since the floor is not sanded after installation. And repairing or refinishing a prefinished floor may be more difficult than a floor finished on site.
Carlisle Wide Plank Floors offers a wide range of unfinished hardwood and Pine flooring. With planks up to 20” wide depending on the type of wood, our unfinished wide plank floors add unique character and stunning visuals to any room. Our design specialists can help choose the type of wood, grade, structure, texture, color and pattern to create a floor that matches the homeowner’s vision and exceeds expectations for beauty and longevity.
