Unfinished Oak Hardwood Flooring Pros and Cons

Oak is one of the most traditional and timeless looks you can choose from among your many flooring options. Once the decision has been made to utilize this classic hardwood, the first and biggest choice is one between prefinished oak or naked wood that will need to be stained and sealed after installation. Before you decide, think about the unfinished oak flooring pros and cons and how they relate to your lifestyle.

Installing naked wood has many advantages. First and foremost, you are free to finish them in any stain you choose. This is especially desirable if you intend to place furniture with an exotic stain in the room or if you decide on a nontraditional trim option. Not only are there many premixed stain options available for you to choose, but it is also possible to have a stain custom mixed to your specifications, allowing color possibilities that are only limited by your imagination.

Secondly, less care needs to be exercised after the instillation has been completed since a thorough sanding is usually performed prior to staining. If, for some reason, your floors must be installed before the construction or remodeling work is finished, scratches from a dragged object or slight gouges from a dropped hammer can be easily sanded away. If you choose to install prefinished flooring and the same damage occurs, a major repair may be in order, possibly requiring the damaged section to be removed and replaced.

Of course, the biggest con in opting for unfinished oak is that it will need to be finished. Properly finishing a hardwood floor is a major undertaking requiring some specialized equipment and a good deal of time and attention to detail. If you choose to perform the work yourself, the equipment can be rented for a nominal fee, but you yourself must determine whether you have the patience and skills required to do a quality job.