What’s the Difference Between Site Finished and Prefinished Wood Flooring?

When installing hardwood flooring, you’ll also need to choose between site-finished and prefinished wood. Both offer beautiful results, but the process — and the final look — can be quite different.

Site-finished (also called unfinished) flooring is installed raw, then sanded, stained, and sealed on site after installation.

Customization: You can choose the exact stain color, sheen level, and finish type to match your vision.

Seamless Look: Since the floor is sanded flat after installation, it tends to have a smoother, more continuous surface without beveled edges.

Cure Time: After finishing, the floor needs time to cure — sometimes several days — before it can be walked on.

Best for: Custom projects where precise color matching or a very specific look is important

With reclaimed materials that have an Original Face — we recommend finishing the floor on site. These planks often have natural variations in texture and thickness that are best leveled and finished after installation, ensuring a more cohesive and beautiful final surface.

Prefinished flooring is manufactured, stained, and sealed in a factory before it arrives on site.

Speed of Installation: Since the boards are already finished, installation is much faster, with no sanding or curing needed.

Durability: Factory-applied finishes are cured under UV lights, creating a very tough, wear-resistant surface.

Appearance: Prefinished boards often have slight beveled edges, creating more visible lines between planks.

Best for: Projects needing faster installation or where minimal disruption is important (like remodels where you stay in the home).