Choosing between site finished and engineered hardwood floor?
shead
3 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (32)
Related Discussions
Site finished vs. SOLID pre-finished hardwood floors
Comments (4)You received bad information about the prefinish less likely to move. now they could have been referring to the engineered. but Solid prefinish is just as likely to move with a site finish floor. of course the movement will come from the environmental conditions in the home. Do prefinish floors has a tougher finish? yes, but it comes down to lifestyle. if you have a bunch of kids, large dogs, and throw partys every weekend, no finish will hold up for very long. But it sounds like you dont have the problem, so the toughness of the finish shouldnt be a huge factor for you. There are plenty of decent finishes on the market used by pros that for your situation should suit you just fine. I think the thing you should be looking at is price. Does the install of prefinish along with the price of the material work for your budget? or does the site finished work better? Site finish means the project will take a bit longer, because of the added time needed to sand and finish the floors. but those are minor. Have you found a pre finish product you like? In either case you should focus on sourcing a good professional and he will be able to answer the more detailed questions that are particular to your new home....See MoreSite finished and Pre-finished hardwood floors
Comments (7)First off I would discard option 2. Putting wood over wood is generally not something I would recommend and I would think that if the dining room carpet were replaced with wood, they would finish up at the same height. Plus it could cause problems at the appliances. It sounds like the kitchen needs to be refinished or replaced. Get options for both with options to do the dining room the same. When did you previously have floors sanded? There have been solid advances in dust capture machinery. It still takes some time but with proper care it will last a long time. It's worth it to take a little time to get what you want. If budget is an issue, put the same wood width and species in the dining room, either in the same color as the kitchen or in a color you like. Maybe you can find a trustworthy refinisher (with good machinery, zipwall poles, plastic and tape) to do the kitchen floor to match the new dining room the next time you go out of town. We do this all the time. Or install new unfinished matching solid wood in the dining room now and apply a coat of oil sealer temporarily until you can have it all finished to match. This way you get a better match without eased/beveled edges or overwood and all the cracks filled and poly'ed over....See MoreSite finished vs pre-finished hardwood floor
Comments (3)In theory the site-finished hardwood will have a slight edge on "water resistance" than factory finished. As Handy Mac points out, the finish will coat the entire floor in a single SHEET of finish. Now...that isn't to say it will be SUPER water resistant. It won't be. Most wood will have issues with large amounts of water allowed to sit on the floor. But the worry you have - water getting between the planks - is greatly reduced with a site-finish...again it is a large SHEET of finish that spans the boards = a thin layer of plastic = a little bit more water resistant than factory finished. Again...these numbers and 'time frames' are very similar. But there *should be a slight advantage for the site finished. That's why we require our cork floors in kitchens be site finished after installation - the polyurethane spans the joints making the floor resistant to surface spills (many hours of protection because cork itself doesn't care...but the fibre board in the middle does)....See MoreDifferences between traditional hardwood and engineered hardwood?
Comments (3)Wow...that's a huge question. I know it sounds simple, but it is quite complex. So complex there are entire books on the subject (both professional and lay-man). So....solid hardwood is just that. It is solid. It is the same wood cut from the same tree, from the same plank at the mill. Traditionally it is 3/4" thick. Widths vary but the classic is around 3" wide plank. A 3/4" solid hardwood can be refinish 3-4 times with a total lifespan of 60-100 years. These are either factory finished or site finished. The industry has realized that some people are too afraid of large purchases so the solid hardwood industry has come up with the idea to make their planks THINNER and thereby making them cheaper. I've seen 1/2" or even 3/8" solid hardwood. They can be refinished once...maybe twice and have a lifespan of 20 - 40 years. These thinner solid hardwoods are often factory finished (cheap, thin and fast). And that's the easy part. Engineered hardwood...where to start. First off the TOP layer is the ONLY LAYER that contains the pricey hardwood that you are paying for. Everything else is like "plywood". The body of the plank is made up of cross-hatched layers of wood (not always hardwood) that are glued together. The top layer will range from 2mm - 6mm. The ability to refinish will depend on the thickness of the top layer (known as the wear layer). You need 3mm of wood to complete a full sand and refinish - just once. So the 2mm wear layer is a "one and done" type of floor. It has a life span of roughly 20 years (though many people rip them out after 15 because they look beaten up). The 6mm wear layer in a 3/4" engineered plank that is site finished is the Holy Grail of the engineered hardwood world. They are the most expensive, the most beautiful and offer the longest life cycle of all engineered hardwoods. They are so expensive that they are MORE expensive than solid hardwood floors. Whew. There is so much more but that's the difference in a nutshell. Shaw has had some complaints. The biggest issues with wood will be humidity and indoor climate control. Ask your builder to check the heating/cooling system. Ask them detailed questions about the unit's capability to handle climate control that is REQUIRED for a hardwood floor - regardless of the presentation....See Moreshead
3 years agoshead
3 years agoAshley
3 years agoshead
3 years agoSJ McCarthy
3 years agoshead
3 years agoProSource Memphis
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoKimberly G
3 years agoshead
3 years agobooty bums
3 years agoshead
3 years agoshead
3 years agoLyndee Lee
3 years agoshead
3 years agodenkyem
3 years agomtpo
3 years agoshead
3 years agomtpo
3 years agocpartist
3 years agoshead
3 years agomtpo
3 years agoshead
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoShannon Pohl
3 years agoayoshino
2 years ago
Related Stories
MATERIALSWhat to Ask Before Choosing a Hardwood Floor
We give you the details on cost, installation, wood varieties and more to help you pick the right hardwood flooring
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESWhen to Use Engineered Wood Floors
See why an engineered wood floor could be your best choice (and no one will know but you)
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESFinish Your Floors to Perfection With Parquet
Add value and gorgeous detail to your home with timeless and elegant parquet flooring in a classic design
Full StoryKITCHEN APPLIANCESWhich Appliance Finish Should You Choose for Your Kitchen?
Find out which design situations call for stainless steel, black, paneled, white and colored appliances
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGHow to Clean Hardwood Floors
Gleaming wood floors are a thing of beauty. Find out how to keep them that way
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESWhat to Know About Engineered Wood Floors
Engineered wood flooring offers classic looks and durability. It can work with a range of subfloors, including concrete
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESContractor Tips: Smooth Moves for Hardwood Floors
Dreaming of gorgeous, natural wood floors? Consider these professional pointers before you lay the first plank
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESTransition Time: How to Connect Tile and Hardwood Floors
Plan ahead to prevent unsightly or unsafe transitions between floor surfaces. Here's what you need to know
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNEcofriendly Kitchen: How to Choose Flooring
Conserve natural resources and your long-term finances by choosing kitchen flooring materials with durability and beauty
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGN3 Steps to Choosing Kitchen Finishes Wisely
Lost your way in the field of options for countertop and cabinet finishes? This advice will put your kitchen renovation back on track
Full Story
Anglophilia