Ready to update your floors but not sure whether to go with finished or unfinished wood? To choose the right wood floors for your home, you can consider how each fit with your lifestyle, the timeline you’ll need the work completed, and long-term care.

Here we’ll cover how to tell if wood is finished or unfinished and how to properly care for either, so you can make an informed decision on which wood floors are best for your home. Let our local team at Floor Coverings International® in Madison, WI, help you understand which option is best for your goals, space, and budget.

Finished Wood Floors

Finished wood floors, also called pre-finished floors, are treated with a factory-applied finish and protective coatings, which make them quicker and simpler to install than unfinished floors. This is why finished floors are ideal for homeowners in Madison who are looking for convenience, speed, and durable protection.

When you choose pre-finished floors, you can expect:

To immediately walk on the floors. Because the stains and coatings have already been cured in-factory, you can walk on your new floors without issue as soon as the installation is complete.
Uniform, factory finish. Since the stains and sealants are applied in a controlled, factory environment, the floors will have a smooth, consistent finish that’s often UV-cured to make the protective layer extremely durable.
Smoother installation. With pre-treated floors, you can expect less dust and no strong fumes, as well as a quicker turnaround time on your project.

Unfinished Floors

These floors are great to give a personalized and cohesive look to your home. Because unfinished floors are installed as raw hardwood before they’re sanded and finished on-site, it’s possible to customize the stain to fit a specific style or match other hardwood in your home.

By installing unfinished wood flooring, you’ll enjoy:

Fully customizing your floors. If you’re looking to create a personalized look with a unique stain color, unfinished floors make it possible to choose the exact colors you want.
A seamless look. Thanks to the on-site sanding, you’ll have floors that fit like a glove, without any visible grooves or bevels between planks.
Easily matching other hardwood in the house. Have dark wood furniture you’d like to complement? Or maybe there are light hardwood floors across the hall, and you want a seamless transition from room to room. You can choose the stains and the finish to tailor the floors perfectly to your home.

Things to consider before choosing unfinished wood floors:

Installation takes longer and costs more. If you’re hoping for a quick installation, unfinished floors are not the best choice. With the added sanding, staining, finishing, and drying time, you can expect a time-intensive installation.
There’s more cleanup. Freshly sanding the floors after installation makes a significant mess with dust. With professional teams, like our local installers, you can count on detailed cleanup after the project, but a bit of dust and strong odors from the stain and finishing layers are common with wood floors that are finished on-site.
The floors will have to cure. Since the floors are treated on-site, they also have to go through a curing process before you can walk on them or moave any furniture over them.

Can You Leave Wood Floors Unfinished?

While you can technically use unfinished floors, we don’t recommend it. Without a protective finish, the floors are vulnerable to stains seeping into the wood, scratches, surface wear, and moisture damage. Not only does this shorten the floors’ lifespan, but it also increases the need for maintenance. Since hardwood is a big investment that’s worth protecting, even a simple sealant can go a long way.

Cleaning and Caring for Finished Floors vs. Floors Finished On-Site

With proper care, you can keep your hardwood floors looking beautiful, whether they’re finished in a factory or on-site. Once the wood is stained and sealed, it will have a similar protective coating as factory finished floors. This means that care and cleaning is the same for either option.

How to clean unfinished wood floors (and factory-finished floors too!):

Sweep or vacuum with soft-bristled attachments. Keeping all your cleaning equipment soft is a great method to protect your floors’ beautiful finish from scratches. A dry microfiber mop could also be helpful to capture fine particles.
Damp mop with a hardwood-safe cleaner. Since wood is sensitive to moisture, you can wring out the mop to protect your floors from excessive water and warping.
Manage spills. Moisture in the seams can cause damage, so make sure to wipe up messes with a lightly damp cloth and then dry it right away.
Recoat or refinish as needed. Daily wear will eventually wear away the protective coating on your floors. Adding fresh sealant can keep your floors looking beautiful.
Consider adding rugs and felt pads to reduce wear. Another practical way to protect your wood floors from regular wear is by adding rugs in areas that get a lot of foot traffic.

Which Wood Floors Are Best for Your Home?

When you’re considering whether finished or unfinished floors are right for you, the first thing you want to ask is what is more important — convenience or customization?

Pre-finished floors install faster, leave less mess, and often have a more durable factory finish that makes them a reliable choice for busy homes that need a quick, durable solution.
Unfinished floors offer more personalization, with unique finishes and a beautiful, built-in look. But they do take longer to install, and they can’t be walked on or hold any furniture until they’ve fully cured. And the additional labor can increase project costs. This is a great choice if you’re investing in long-term design for your home.

Ready to Elevate Your Look with Rich Wood Floors?

While pre-finished floors are easier to install and can be more convenient for active families, choosing to have your floors finished on-site gives you more control over the customization and design aspects of your hardwood.

Whether you decide on unfinished or finished wood floors, our team at Floor Coverings International® of Madison, WI, works skillfully with all types of hardwood, and we’re ready to install your floors with expertise. For detailed craftsmanship and personalized service, call us at (608) 590-6672 or schedule a free in-home consultation with our team today.

Finished vs. Unfinished Wood Floors: Which Is Right for You?