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Prefinished vs. Jobsite finished floors


Finishes for hardwood flooring have improved dramatically over the last several years, however one question still remains. Is a factory finish better than a site-finished floor, or vice versa? In this article I will talk about both types of finishes and then you can decide for yourself, which is better.

The main benefit to having a prefinished floor is that the finish is done under a controlled environment at the factory, thus ensuring a smooth uniform finish. Factory finished floors are usually coated using a water-based polyurethane with aluminum oxide particles suspended in the finish. Aluminum oxide when added to the finish makes the finish harder and more resistant to wear. Aluminum oxide may provide some additional abrasion resistance, however I do not believe it is any more scratch resistant than a site finished floor. The downside to aluminum oxide flooring is that they can be very difficult to refinish successfully. Strict procedures must be followed in order to refinish these types of floors.

Hardwood flooring that is finished on-site has its benefits too. Site finished floors have a tabletop appearance and are completely sealed with a polyurethane finish. Prefinished floors typically have a micro-bevel and are not completely sealed once installed. Also, if you choose to have a job-site finished floor, you can choose the gloss level before installation. Most prefinished floors generally have a semi-gloss coating, however some floors are available in a high gloss and matte finish. If you are looking for a low-matte prefinished hardwood floor, you may find it more difficult to find exactly what you are looking for. One of the most durable hardwood floor finishes that can be found today is called Traffic. This product is a water-based polyurethane that is second to none in the industry and is applied on-site by a sand and finish contractor. Traffic is a commercially rated finish made by Bona Kemi and is available in a satin and semi-gloss water-based urethane.

The only real way to tell which type of finish is better, is to look at the Taber abrasion test for both types of finishes. The Taber abrasion test is the main method used for testing the durability of hardwood floor finishes. Traffic by Bona Kemi has some of the highest Taber test results in the industry. For more information about these methods of testing visit: www.taberindusries.com Before you decide which type of finished floor you want, I recommend taking a look at a new site finished floor and one that is prefinished from the factory. I believe you will find that a site-finished floor is a nicer looking than its prefinished counterpart, however this is just my opinion.
Thanks,
The Floor Man

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