The choice between Factory Finished  and Site Finished (or unfinished) Hardwood depends on personal preference, job site conditions, and time frame.   Both products can be hand-scraped, whether by Amish craftsmen or factory milling machines, to give the floor an old world or rustic appeal.

                                                   For best quality viewing, double click an image below.

     

      Here we have several images of Pre Finished floors and samples.  Notice the characteristic eased edge of the factory finished products.

        Below is a look at the sleek look of site finished floors.  Like a sheet of glass...

Factory Finish,
      A.k.a. "prefinished" wood is a one step process, meaning once it's installed, it's done. The process is quicker, the smell associated with drying finish isn't present, and the finish itself is  much more durable than the classic oil-based polyurethane.  While the product itself is a little more costly, if time is of the essence this is the product for you.
     The draw backs are that once you've chosen a color and ordered it, there's no changing your mind.   Also without the sanding process, the chance for lips, and slight variation in the flatness of the final product is sometimes an issue.  The edges of the boards are pillowed, or eased as some manufacturers like to call it, to keep from chipped edges and sharp spots.               Generally if you own an older house that has settled, or the subfloor is particularly uneven, you'll do well to look more closely at a site finished product.
    


     



 


Site Finish,
      Also known as resurfacing, or sand and finish, allows the freedom of looking at many different stain colors on your floor once it is installed. We like to have  our clients choose a color they want with samples, then find the exact tones on the actual floor to be stained.  We will apply stain to the installed floor itself, right next to cabinets, or walls to get a real feel for how the colors in the room flow with each other.   Site finish floors also allow for irregularities in the subfloor  and wood itself, as the entire floor will be sanded smooth as silk prior to finishing.  The down side to site finishing is that there are several steps involved: installing, sanding, staining, then finishing the floor. Usually you can expect the process to take an extra two to three days.  With the advent of waterbased products, dry and cure time are greatly reduced, and durability is right there with its factory finished counterpart.  Dust really isn't an issue with SandMasters, as we use a state of the art dust containment system.