Prefinished Hardwood Flooring Pros And Cons: Prices, Installation Costand Best Brands

Prefinished hardwood flooring continues to grow in popularity among homeowners seeking both beauty and convenience for their flooring needs. Unlike traditional unfinished hardwood, these boards come already sanded, stained, and sealed from the factory, offering immediate use after installation. Prefinished hardwood typically costs between $6 and $12 per square foot for materials, with installation adding another $3 to $8 per square foot. This comprehensive guide explores the advantages and disadvantages of prefinished hardwood, compares leading brands, and provides essential cost information to help you determine if this flooring option is right for your home.

Prefinished hardwood flooring consists of real wood planks that have been completely finished at the manufacturing facility before being packaged and sold. The boards receive professional sanding, staining, and multiple coats of protective finish in controlled factory environments. Most prefinished hardwood comes with an aluminum oxide finish that’s cured using UV technology, making it significantly more durable than site-finished floors.

These floors typically feature micro-beveled edges that help hide slight height differences between boards after installation. Available in solid and engineered varieties, prefinished hardwood provides numerous species options including oak, maple, hickory, and exotic varieties like Brazilian cherry. The factory finishing process ensures consistency in color and texture that’s difficult to achieve with on-site finishing.

Pros of Prefinished Hardwood Flooring

• Faster installation – No need to wait for on-site finishing, staining, and drying time, reducing overall installation timeline by 3-5 days
• No dust or odors – Eliminates the sanding dust and strong chemical smells associated with site-finished floors
• Superior durability – Factory-applied finishes are typically 5-10 times more durable than those applied on-site
• Consistent appearance – Professional factory finishing ensures uniformity across all planks
• Immediate use – Floors can be walked on immediately after installation
• Longer warranties – Many manufacturers offer 25-50 year finish warranties compared to the typical 3-5 years for site-finished floors
• Color certainty – What you see in the showroom is exactly what you’ll get in your home

The factory-controlled environment allows manufacturers to apply finishes under ideal conditions with precision technology that cannot be replicated on-site. Many prefinished products also incorporate antimicrobial treatments and enhanced scratch resistance that extend the life of the flooring.

Cons of Prefinished Hardwood Flooring

• Beveled edges – The micro-bevels between boards can trap dirt and create distinct lines that some homeowners find undesirable
• Limited customization – Fewer options to create custom colors or finishes compared to site-finished floors
• Difficult repairs – Matching the exact factory finish when replacing damaged boards can be challenging
• Higher initial cost – Material costs are typically 10-15% higher than unfinished hardwood
• Refinishing limitations – Some prefinished floors, especially those with specialized finishes, may be more difficult to refinish
• Less seamless appearance – The distinct boards may not create the seamless look possible with site-finished floors

The beveled edges, while helpful during installation, create small valleys between boards that can accumulate dirt over time. Additionally, since the finish is applied before cutting the tongue and groove, these connection points remain unprotected, potentially making the floor more susceptible to moisture damage between boards.

Prefinished vs. Unfinished Hardwood Flooring

Feature	Prefinished Hardwood	Unfinished Hardwood
Installation Time	1-3 days	7-10 days
Durability of Finish	High (factory-applied)	Moderate (site-applied)
Customization	Limited to available options	Highly customizable
Appearance	Beveled edges between boards	Smooth, seamless surface possible
Immediate Use	Yes	No (requires drying time)
Dust/Odors During Installation	Minimal	Significant
Typical Warranty	25-50 years	3-5 years

Unfinished hardwood provides a truly custom appearance but requires significant site work and drying time. It creates a completely smooth surface without bevels between boards. Prefinished flooring offers convenience and durability but with somewhat less customization potential. Unfinished is often preferred for matching existing floors or creating specific looks, while prefinished excels in new construction or when minimizing installation disruption is a priority.

Prefinished Hardwood Flooring Costs

Material Costs

The cost of prefinished hardwood flooring materials varies based on wood species, quality, and thickness. Basic oak or maple prefinished hardwood typically costs $6-$8 per square foot, mid-range options run $8-$10, and premium or exotic wood species can cost $10-$15+ per square foot. Engineered prefinished hardwood generally starts at $4-$7 per square foot for basic options, with premium products reaching $12+ per square foot.

Additional materials required include underlayment ($0.50-$1 per square foot), moisture barrier ($0.50 per square foot), transition pieces ($30-$80 each), and adhesive if using a glue-down method ($50-$100 per container). Most professionals recommend purchasing 5-10% extra material to account for waste during installation.

Installation Costs

Professional installation of prefinished hardwood typically costs between $3 and $8 per square foot, with national averages around $5-$6 per square foot. Several factors affect this price:

• Installation method (nail-down, glue-down, or floating)
• Subfloor preparation requirements
• Layout complexity and room size
• Regional labor rates
• Removal and disposal of existing flooring ($2-$4 per square foot additional)
• Moving furniture ($100-$300 additional)

For a typical 500-square-foot area, expect total costs (materials and installation) to range from $4,500 to $10,000. Complex installations involving detailed patterns, stairs, or extensive subfloor preparation will reach the higher end of the spectrum or beyond.

Best Prefinished Hardwood Flooring Brands

Premium Brands

Bruce – One of the oldest and most recognized hardwood flooring manufacturers, offering extensive options in both solid and engineered prefinished hardwood. Their Dundee and American Originals lines are particularly well-regarded. Prices range from $5-$10 per square foot.

Mohawk – Known for their innovative RevWood technology and extensive color options. Their SolidWood and TecWood collections offer excellent durability with 50-year warranties. Pricing typically ranges from $6-$12 per square foot.

Armstrong – Features their innovative Hartwood and Farmhouse collections with excellent durability ratings and environmental certifications. Their Paragon and Performance Plus lines offer enhanced scratch resistance. Prices range from $6-$14 per square foot.

Mid-Range Brands

Shaw Floors – Offers extensive collections of engineered and solid prefinished hardwood with competitive pricing ($5-$9 per square foot) and strong warranties. Their Epic Plus and Anderson collections are particularly popular choices.

Somerset – American-made hardwood with excellent quality control and traditional styling. Known for their specialized high-gloss “Piano Finish” and hand-scraped options. Prices typically range from $5-$8 per square foot.

Mirage – Canadian manufacturer known for exceptional finish quality and environmental standards. Their Imagine, Sweet Memories, and Natural collections offer various texture options. Prices range from $7-$12 per square foot.

Installation Process for Prefinished Hardwood Flooring

While professional installation is recommended, understanding the process helps homeowners make informed decisions. The installation method depends primarily on your subfloor type, with concrete requiring glue-down or floating installation and plywood subfloors allowing for nail-down methods. The basic process includes:

1. Acclimation – Allowing the wood to adjust to your home’s environment for 3-5 days
2. Subfloor preparation – Ensuring the surface is clean, dry, level, and structurally sound
3. Moisture barrier installation – Critical for protecting against subfloor moisture
4. Layout planning – Determining board direction and pattern before beginning
5. Installation – Using the appropriate method (nail-down, glue-down, or floating)
6. Finishing touches – Installing transition pieces, baseboards, and quarter round

Professional installers typically complete a 500-square-foot area in 1-2 days, compared to 4-7 days for unfinished hardwood that requires on-site finishing. The immediate usability after installation represents one of the greatest advantages of choosing prefinished over unfinished hardwood.

Maintenance and Durability

Prefinished hardwood flooring typically maintains its appearance for 10-25 years before refinishing is needed, compared to 5-10 years for many site-finished floors. The factory-applied aluminum oxide finishes offer superior scratch and wear resistance, often 5-10 times more durable than conventional polyurethane applied on-site.

For daily maintenance, regular sweeping or vacuuming with a hardwood-specific attachment prevents scratching from dirt particles. Clean with manufacturer-recommended hardwood cleaners or a slightly damp microfiber mop. Avoid wet mopping, steam cleaning, or oil-based products that can damage the finish. Place felt pads under furniture legs and use area rugs in high-traffic zones to extend the floor’s life.

When scratches or wear eventually occur, many prefinished floors can be refinished 1-3 times depending on wear layer thickness. However, maintaining the exact beveled edge appearance may be challenging after refinishing. Some manufacturers offer touch-up kits for minor repairs without full refinishing.