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| Solid
wood is just that – one piece that is milled from
lumber. It comes in a variety of widths, from 2-1/4" to
5" wide. It also comes in different thicknesses: 3/4" is
standard, but you can also find "thin profile" solid
that is 5/16" thick
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- Engineered wood can be installed directly over
concrete and can also be installed below ground level.
- Engineered
wood with a top layer thinner than 1/10" cannot be refinished;
however, it can be recoated to renew the surface of the floor.
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A pre-finish,
or factory finish, creates a no muss, no fuss installation.
There's no dust from sanding, no fumes from chemicals, no waiting
for the finish to dry. These floors are warranted to last longer
than site-finished floors–typically 15 to 25 years, versus
three to five years. This is because factory applied urethane
finishes are much tougher and longer lasting than site-applied
finishes.
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With
all the color choices available in pre-finished hardwood flooring,
there's no need to custom stain site-finished
floors to get just the right look for your home.
If you like the look of site-finished flooring, but want the
durability of prefinished flooring, choose a product with a
square end and edge
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- Advocates of site-finishing like
the fact that the floor can be sanded after it's installed to
even out any imperfections. Site finishing also gives you the
widest selection of stain colors to choose from. However, on-site
sanding and finishing can produce heavy fumes, messy dust and
significant waiting time from when the floor is laid until it
can be enjoyed. In addition, labor costs for on-site finishing
may drive up your installation costs.
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- Prefinished floors are warranted for a longer time period than
site finished floors.
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