Asked by: Arusyak Oetjen
hobbies and interests woodworking

Can you seal prefinished hardwood floors?

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Although engineered hardwood often comes pre-finished, it is still a good idea to seal it. Sealing adds an extra layer of protection to your flooring, and can also help it last longer.


Thereof, can you polyurethane over prefinished hardwood flooring?

In general, you shouldn't apply polyurethane over a floor that has already been stained and sealed with other products. If the manufacturer indicates that the floor has been treated with polyurethane but you want to apply additional coats for added protection, you may do so after the floor has been installed.

Similarly, are prefinished hardwood floors better? Prefinished floors come at a lower cost. Prefinished solid wood floors initially cost more than unfinished wood flooring—about $2 per square foot for a good grade of red oak. But once you factor in finishing costs, prefinished ends up being less expensive.

Moreover, how long do prefinished hardwood floors last?

3-5 years

What are prefinished hardwood floors finished with?

Prefinished flooring is factory-finished, and thus each board has been finished individually with sprayed-on coats of polyurethane. The boards are then oven baked with aluminum oxide to create an extremely hard acrylic finish.

Related Question Answers

Ander Osinaga

Professional

How do you restore prefinished hardwood floors?

Restoring a Worn Finish
If the wood is still in good condition, you can often restore the finish by screening. This is a process of scuff-sanding the finish with a floor buffer and 120- or 150-grit sanding screen and applying a fresh coat.

Mitzi Espuche

Professional

Can you refinish prefinished hardwood flooring?

Refinishing requires heavy sanding: While prefinished floors do not need to be refinished for a very long time, eventually the surface seal will start to fade, scratch, and discolor slightly. This cuts down on the thickness of the floor planks and limits how many times you can then refinish the floor in the future.

Encarnita Essig

Explainer

How much does it cost to install prefinished hardwood floors?

The cost per square foot for prefinished hardwood flooring ranges from $2 to $12 or more.

Karleen Yakubchik

Explainer

How long do polyurethane fumes last?

The floor should be mostly cured (enough to live on) in the first 5-7 days, but it can take up to a month for the odors to be completely gone, and for the finish to reach its maximum hardness.

Mohssin Tomlinson

Explainer

Is it cheaper to refinish or replace hardwood floors?

In general, it will almost ALWAYS be less expensive to refinish your hardwood floors. If you replace them, you need to pay for additional wood as well as ripping up and hauling away existing hardwood. Even if you have this, it will still be less expensive then replacing the whole floor.

Nicolina Cord

Pundit

Can engineered floors be refinished?

Can engineered floors be refinished? Yes, they can, at least once. Floors with a wear layer less than 2 millimeters thick can tolerate a light scuff-sanding with a buffer. Thicker top layers can be sanded just like solid wood, allowing you to erase deeper scratches and dents.

Penni Noli

Pundit

How do you fill gaps in hardwood floors?

Filling Floorboard Gaps With Wood Putty
  1. Clean the floorboards on both sides of the gap.
  2. Apply a fine bead of wood putty to the gap, then work it into the gap with your finger, using circular motions to force the putty down into the gap.
  3. Remove excess putty from the wood surface using a putty knife.

Keisha Kraaz

Pundit

How do I protect my hardwood floors in the kitchen?

If you discover a leak, shut off the water to the kitchen and call a plumber. Use rugs and floor mats liberally to protect the wood flooring in high traffic areas. Rugs will also absorb small spills before they can reach the flooring.

Arageme Zurimendi

Pundit

Do hardwood floors need to be sealed?

When cleaning hardwood floors, it is important to first determine whether or not your wood floors are finished or unfinished. Finished floors are considered sealed. Sealed floors have been coated with a protective top coat such as varnish or polyurethane. Many newer homes today have sealed hardwood floors.

Zohir Kirchberger

Pundit

Can hardwood floors be waterproofed?

Are Hardwood Floors Waterproof? No, they will incur damage if a pipe bursts or if the home is flooded. Most floors will stand up just fine to spills or water tracked in from outside as long as the water is dried up quickly. Hardwood floors give homeowners a number of advantages over other flooring.

Jeff Astibia

Teacher

How do you protect hardwood floors in a bathroom?

Protecting Hardwood Floors in your Bathroom
  1. If you are replacing your subfloor, use a wax impregnated OSB board to help seal moisture out!
  2. Invest in pre-finished floors that are sealed on all four sides.
  3. Use a 2-in-1 moisture barrier adhesive when installing your floor for added protection against moisture buildup.

Slavomir Beyerlen

Teacher

How do you weatherproof wood?

There are three surefire ways to waterproof your wood for years to come.
  1. Use linseed or Tung oil to create a beautiful and protective hand-rubbed finish.
  2. Seal the wood with coating of polyurethane, varnish, or lacquer.
  3. Finish and waterproof wood simultaneously with a stain-sealant combo.

Jazmine Pechtel

Teacher

Is it OK to have hardwood floors in a bathroom?

A.: Hardwood is a better bathroom flooring choice than, say, carpet, but it can still be very problematic. Moisture kills hardwood, and a bathroom is probably the most humid area of the entire home. An engineered hardwood floor could hold up well in spacious, well-ventilated bathrooms that doesn't receive much traffic.

Monfrague Riballo

Teacher

Can you use Bona on prefinished hardwood floors?

Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner is specifically designed for unwaxed polyurethane finished or prefinished floors. Our hardwood floor spray mop is packaged with a hardwood floor cleaner cartridge; however, we do sell a stone, tile and laminate cleaner cartridge for the mop as well.

Marian Likharev

Reviewer

What is the best prefinished hardwood flooring?

Top 5 Brands for Solid Hardwood Flooring
  • 01 of 05. Bruce. Bruce. Best for quick availability and returnability.
  • 02 of 05. Carlisle. Carlisle. Best for plank sizes.
  • 03 of 05. Lumber Liquidators House Brands. Lumber Liquidators.
  • 04 of 05. Hearne Hardwoods. Hearne Hardwoods.
  • The Woods Company. The Woods Company. Best for reclaimed solid wood flooring.

Bieito

Reviewer

What is the best cleaner for prefinished hardwood floors?

Daily dry dusting will keep your prefinished flooring in peak condition. A mop with a microfiber mop head is probably the easiest tool to use for this. Since prefinished wooden flooring can be scratched by abrasive broom bristles, a microfiber mop is recommended over daily sweeping.

Yara Brache

Reviewer

Can you change the color of prefinished hardwood floors?

The answer is usually YES!
Many homeowners don't realize that you can change the color of hardwood flooring when you refinish your floors. Yes, it's true…you can go light or dark or red tones or anywhere in between.

Xiuzhen Durchdenwald

Reviewer

Should I buy prefinished wood flooring?

The Advantages of Prefinished Wood Flooring
Prefinished wood can save you money because applying the finish at the factory reduces labor costs. The process of prefinishing a wood floor also results in a more durable finish, making it a wise choice for kitchens and other high traffic areas.

Antoinette Abuhov

Supporter

Is it safe to use wet Swiffer on hardwood floors?

According to the manufacturer's website, the Swiffer mop is appropriate for use on finished hardwood floors when you use either the dry or wet refill cloths. Wet refills aren't recommended for use on unfinished, waxed or oiled floors, and you should use them with caution on finished hardwood.

Co-Authored By:

EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

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10th March, 2020

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