Prefinished and Engineered Hardwood Floors

Prefinished and engineered hardwood floors are the choice for many homeowners today and are easier than unfinished floors to install in an existing house. Most prefinished wood has a Urethane or Polyurethane finish applied right at the factory.  There are several types of finishing techniques commonly used today.  Aluminum Oxide is added to the finish of many high quality grades.  This finish greatly improves the wear of the wood. Another finish used on engineered floors is a UV cured finish that uses UV rays instead of heat to seal the finish.   All of these finishes are extremely durable and suitable for most homes today.  These floors are less likely to shrink or swell and do a great job of resisting moisture.  Engineered floors have a micro bevel edge to prevent uneven joints between the planks of wood.

Prefinished hardwood floors are available in a myriad of color choices from light maple and knotty pine to the darkest of cherry or walnut. Within the wood species there is also a lot of variance in grain pattern, which can add a lot of character to your floor. Engineered floors are available in several grades from clear, or select, to rustic, or common.  The higher the grade: the less character, knots or pinholes. Higher grade finishes are most often used in formal looking homes while those wanting more character as in a rustic or country look will go for the finish showing more knots and pinholes.

Prefinished and engineered hardwood floors can be walked on immediately with no waiting for stains and finishes to dry. Care and upkeep is easy with no waxing or major cleaning required.  Regular vacuuming to pick up any grit and a dry or static type mop in between vacuuming is all you need to do.  Make sure you use only cleaners recommended by the manufacturer as some cleaners can leave a film on the hardwood. Wipe up any spills immediately - large amounts of water and hardwood don't mix and you don't want the wood to warp.  With minimal care, the finish on these hardwood floors will look beautiful for many years.