Site-Finished vs. Prefinished Hardwood: Pros and Cons
7 min read
Site-finished hardwood is sanded and finished after installation, producing a completely smooth, seamless surface with any custom color. Prefinished arrives from the factory with finish and microbevels already applied — faster install, immediately walkable, factory-precise.
Site-finished pros
Smoother surface, custom color, easier refinishing later, seamless plank-to-plank appearance.
Prefinished pros
Faster install, no in-home sanding dust, factory aluminum-oxide finish is extremely hard, immediately walkable.
Which we recommend
For luxury builds and renovations: site-finished. For move-in speed and rental properties: prefinished. Both are excellent when done right.
Quick answers
- Can prefinished hardwood be refinished?
- Yes — you sand off the factory finish and treat it as raw wood. It becomes site-finished from that point forward.
- Are microbevels a problem?
- Not for most homeowners. Some prefer the seamless look of site-finished — it's a style preference, not a defect.
- Which is more expensive?
- Prefinished has higher material cost but lower install labor. Site-finished is usually slightly more expensive total but adds significant refinish flexibility.