Prefinished hardwood floors or unfinished is a common question when a customer is preparing for removal of carpet flooring to add hardwood. There are a couple items to think about before making the decision on what material to choose. This exactly what we went though with our client is Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood.

You can use the list to help assist you with making a decision with a prefinished hardwood or unfinished when you are planning your hardwood flooring project.

• Unfinished flooring will require a period of time that the flooring will have to sit in the home to become acclimated to the humidity and the temperature of the home or condo. This can add to your renovation period which may or may not pose issues depending on your living arrangement. Usually acclimation of hardwood flooring requires 1-2 weeks of sitting time so be prepared for and extension on your project.
• Prefinished flooring usually can be installed within days on being delivered but I generally recommend opening all of the packages and letting the wood acclimate to the home for that time to assure that gapping will not devlop.
• Unfinished floors can be stained to any color you desire and you also can pick your finish of the polyurethane. There are high glass and flat and everything in between that allows you to customize your look to your design. The prefinished product does not have the same customization that the unfinished does. You pretty much get what you see with the material you can see.
• Prefinished floors are ready to be used after installation and you can move furniture on them as soon as the contractor leaves.
• Unfinished floors takes much longer for installation and completion. Between the acclimation period (1-2 weeks) and the installation period which can take 1 day for installation and staining. Depending on how many coats of polyurethane you can be out of the home or condo for 3-4 more days. After the final coat is added and buffed you will have to add another day or two to allow for the polyurethane to cure properly.

These are some of the differences in the choices of prefinished and unfinished hardwood flooring systems that we worked with the customer in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood that you can choose from. If you have any questions about adding hardwood floors to your home or condo please reach out to us @Post Services Inc. or 847-668-7658.