Site Finished Hardwood Flooring

There is more than one way to put down a hardwood floor. Most installations today use factory-finished planks that are stained and sealed before they arrive. Site finishing reverses that order, and for many homeowners the difference is worth the extra work.

How Is Site-Finished Hardwood Different From Prefinished?

Prefinished flooring is sanded, stained, and sealed at the factory. The installer places the planks on the subfloor and the job is done. Those planks typically come with beveled edges, so a small groove shows between each one.

Site-finished flooring arrives raw. After installation, the whole floor is sanded, stained, and sealed in place. The planks do not need beveled edges, and the surface reads as one smooth, continuous floor.

What Are the Advantages of Site Finishing?

Customization and Design Flexibility

Because all finishing takes place on site, you have far more control over stain color, sheen level, and finish type. The floor can be designed to match existing flooring or to have a look of its own, including textures like a hand-scraped surface worked into solid hardwood, and it can even include custom patterns, though those are less common.

Species changes how a stain behaves, so it pays to choose wood and color together. Our guide to how red oak and white oak differ in color and stain behavior shows what to expect from each.

A Seamless Appearance

Without beveled edges, and with the whole floor sanded at once, the finished surface looks smoother and more continuous, with less difference from one plank to the next.

A Sealed Surface

When finishing happens after installation, everything receives the sealant, including the gaps between planks. That continuous layer has the potential to extend the life of the floor.

Stain samples prepared on site so the color can be judged in the home’s own light.

How Does Site-Finished Hardwood Installation Work?

The process is straightforward, but it takes far more expertise than installing prefinished wood.

1. Prepare the subfloor. The subfloor is made clean, dry, and level before any wood goes down.
2. Acclimate the wood. The raw planks sit in the space for several days to adjust to the home’s humidity.
3. Install the planks. The wood is nailed down, glued down, or floated, depending on the space.
4. Sand the floor. The installed floor is sanded as one surface.
5. Stain, if desired. Stain samples go on the floor for your approval, then the chosen color is applied.
6. Seal and finish. Protective finish coats are applied across the whole floor, seams included.

Your finish choice affects color, cure time, and odor. Our comparison of oil-based and water-based polyurethane finishes walks through each in detail.

Site finishing requires a highly experienced team and quality materials. That is why the work is done by trusted, long-tenured crews we’ve partnered with for years, and why a senior project manager or one of our owners is involved in every project.

Is Site-Finished Hardwood Worth the Extra Work?

It is a long-term investment. The better seal, and the ability to sand and refinish a solid hardwood floor over the years, mean some of the extra labor can be offset by a longer service life. A premium finish also has the potential to add to a property’s value.

It pays off when something goes wrong, too. Because color is built on site, a damaged area can be repaired and refinished to blend with the rest of the room. Here is how a water-damaged section is replaced and matched to the surrounding floor.

If you are planning hardwood floor installation for a Lakewood home and want new rooms to tie into original floors, site finishing gives you the best chance at a true match.

Is Site-Finished Hardwood More Sustainable?

It can be. A long-lasting floor that is refinished instead of replaced reduces waste. And because the flooring company controls the finish, products like low-VOC stains can be used to reduce indoor pollutants.

Is Site Finishing Right for Your Home?

Site finishing is one of many good flooring choices. For homeowners who want a custom color, a match to existing floors, or a smooth, continuous surface, it offers outstanding appearance and a longer service life. Our on-site hardwood finishing service covers how we approach each project.

Homeowners choosing new hardwood floors in the Park Cities can see stain samples on their own floor before they commit to a color.

Frequently Asked Questions