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Unfinished Hardwood Flooring

Unfinished hardwood lets you choose your stains, coloring treatments, lacquers, as well as the protective layer to customize your floor to perfectly match your...

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Unfinished Hardwood Flooring
About this collection

Unfinished hardwood lets you choose your stains, coloring treatments, lacquers, as well as the protective layer to customize your floor to perfectly match your space.
15 products

Related Flooring Categories

Vinyl Flooring Laminate Flooring Engineered Hardwood Flooring Flooring

Frequently Asked Questions

What is unfinished hardwood flooring?
Unfinished hardwood flooring is solid or engineered wood that has been milled and dried but not sanded, stained, or sealed at the factory. It is installed raw and then sanded, stained to your chosen color, and finished with a protective coating on-site. The result is a fully custom floor with a seamless appearance that pre-finished hardwood cannot match, especially across large open areas or oddly shaped rooms.
What are the advantages of unfinished hardwood over pre-finished?
The primary advantage is customization. With unfinished hardwood, you choose the exact stain color and finish sheen after installation, so the floor is matched precisely to your home rather than selected from a pre-set range. On-site finishing also produces a seamless surface with no beveled edges between planks, which many homeowners and designers prefer for a more refined look. It is also easier to blend into existing floors when extending or matching a room.
How long does it take to finish unfinished hardwood after installation?
After installation, unfinished hardwood requires sanding, staining (if desired), and applying multiple coats of finish with drying time between each coat. The full process typically takes three to five days depending on the number of finish coats, the products used, and the room conditions. The space will need to remain unoccupied and free of foot traffic during the process and for a curing period after the final coat. Plan accordingly if you are working with tight renovation timelines.
Can I choose any stain color with unfinished hardwood?
Yes -- that is one of its biggest selling points. Because the floor is finished on-site, you have full control over the stain color, from natural and light washes to deep espresso tones, grays, and anything in between. Species affects how stain absorbs and what the final result looks like -- oak takes stain very evenly, while maple is more difficult to stain uniformly. Work with your finishing contractor to test stain samples on the actual installed wood before committing to a color.
Is unfinished hardwood harder to maintain than pre-finished?
Not necessarily. Once properly sanded and finished, an unfinished hardwood floor performs similarly to pre-finished. The finish applied on-site can actually create a more durable surface in some cases because the finish seals the entire plank surface including the joints between boards, rather than just the tops of individual pre-finished planks. Maintenance is the same -- sweep regularly, use hardwood-safe cleaners, wipe spills promptly, and maintain stable indoor humidity.

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