Custom prefinishing is a popular option for homeowners who want a unique look for their hardwood flooring. Prefinishing involves applying a finish to the wood before it is installed, which provides several advantages over finishing the floor on-site.
One of the primary benefits of custom prefinishing is the ability to achieve a more consistent and uniform finish. When finishing on-site, variations in humidity, temperature, and lighting can all affect the appearance of the finish, resulting in an inconsistent look. By finishing the wood before installation, the finish can be applied in a controlled environment, ensuring a consistent and uniform look across the entire floor.
Custom prefinishing also allows for greater control over the color and sheen of the finish. With on-site finishing, it can be challenging to achieve the exact color or sheen level desired, as the finish can be affected by many variables. With prefinishing, the exact color and sheen can be specified, allowing for a more precise and predictable result.
Another benefit of custom prefinishing is the reduction of time and mess associated with on-site finishing. Finishing a hardwood floor on-site can take several days and requires the use of sanders, stains, and finishes, which can create a significant amount of dust and fumes. Prefinishing eliminates the need for these tools and chemicals, resulting in a cleaner and less disruptive installation process.
Custom prefinishing can also offer greater durability and protection for the wood. The controlled environment of the prefinishing process allows for the application of multiple coats of industrial finish, which can provide greater protection against wear and tear, scratches, and spills. This can result in a longer lifespan for the hardwood flooring and reduce the need for frequent refinishing.
Finally, custom prefinishing can be a cost-effective option for homeowners. While it may initially seem more expensive than on-site finishing, prefinishing can actually save money in the long run. By providing greater durability and protection, prefinished hardwood floors require less maintenance and refinishing, resulting in lower long-term costs.
Custom prefinishing offers several benefits over on-site finishing, including greater consistency, color and sheen control, reduced mess and installation time, greater durability and protection, and long-term cost savings. It is a popular choice among homeowners who want a unique and durable hardwood flooring solution.
Engineered vs. solid hardwood flooring: Choosing the right one for your space is crucial. Wide plank hardwood flooring typically benefits from engineered wood, as it’s less susceptible to movement and shrinkage. However, if you’re after an old-world feel, both solid and engineered platforms are available, with solid wood being a more cost-effective option for larger orders. Starting with the right product, whether solid or engineered, can help you achieve the desired look for your project.
When prefinishing hardwood flooring, the choice of platform to be finished is crucial. In most cases, engineered wood is recommended for wide plank flooring, as it’s more stable and less prone to shrinkage than solid hardwood. However, when a project requires an old-world feel, both solid and engineered wood options are available. In this case, using old wood laminated to the surface of an engineered core can be a cost-effective option. For larger orders, such as those purchased by builders for use in larger scale applications, a narrow strip floor of 2-1/4″ or 3-1/4″ solid product may be a better fit for the price point and build specifications.
Ultimately, the choice between engineered and solid hardwood depends on the specific needs of the space in question. Considering the size of the planks, the style of the room, and the level of durability needed are important factors to keep in mind. Starting with the right product will help ensure the longevity and success of the project.
Choosing to have your product prefinished by Custom Craft Hardwoods is your assurance that the color, quality and acclimation is exactly what you need.
Request Design ConsultationWhile choosing the platform, it is important to keep in mind which species of wood you would like. Oak is quite often the easiest to work with as nearly all products are made to work well with oak and it's grain distinction. While there is more than just the common but 'carte blanche', qualities of oak, keep in mind that oak isn't the only species of hardwood that could fit yours or your client's needs.
How you want your floor to appear can also vary depending on how the hardwood is sawn. While there may always be some quarter, live and rift sawn boards in a plain sawn floor, requesting one of these will assure you of a unique finished product.
These are a few of the ways to add distinctiveness to your hardwood floor. Choosing one or a combination of these options can bring your exact idea of the perfect floor to fruition.
There are 6 levels of finishing at Custom Craft. These can sometimes be confusing, mostly because of the nearly limitless options that can be mixed and matched.
There are LED oils, UV oils, Aluminum Oxide UV cured urethanes, UV cured urethanes without aluminum oxide, Industrial stains, Reactive stains, Hardwax oils… All of these can be intermingled in such a way to cause confusion, and we haven’t even discussed sheen level. This little cheat sheet will help alleviate consternation in discerning which finish level is chosen for your project.
Finish Level 1: Though the name can be misleading, this is a two-step process and is only available when choosing UV or LED cured Oil. This is the lowest cost finishing option we have. UV and LED oils are a maintenance finish, which basically means that there are different cleaning methods and the need to have maintenance oil or a new coat of oil to be applied onsite every few years depending on traffic and use. This finish is generally just a single color, without the appearance of a ceruse effect in the grain of the wood. Though this finish is considered maintenance, it is one of the most popular, the beauty of this finish is that maintenance will keep it looking amazing for decades.
Finish Level 2: Like Level 1, this finish level actually includes 3 steps. These can be industrial stain with top coats of UV cured urethane finish. This is our most cost-effective form of finishing with UV urethane finishes. This is not available in ultra-matte sheen.
Finish Level 3: Four steps of finishing means an extra layer of protection when using cured urethanes. This fourth step can also be used with LED oils in attaining a cerused look with the added protection of two coats of UV urethane finish. Giving you the look of layers like the UV oils, but also eliminating the need for maintenance of the hardwood floor after installation.
Finish Level 4: Five steps of finishing can now include the ultra-matte sheen. Ultra-matte needs two coats of UV urethane for a proper protective coat, it can then be coated twice with ultra-matte to bring the sheen down. At this level of finish, ultra-matte is only available with solid colors, no cerusing. UV urethane is able to be coated over most other finishing options at this level as long as the desired sheen is matte+, satin or higher.
Finish Level 5: 6 steps of finishing options really start to broach the nearly unlimited colors, layers, sheens, cerusing options available. Though limited to ultra-matte still being available on LED oils or solid colors, there are too many options to choose from. This finish level is primarily used for custom color matching.
Finish Level 6: The most customizable coloring option for hardwood flooring also has the most finishing options. Whether you have a color in mind for color matching an old, discontinued floor or you have an idea for the one of a kind floor you would like to create. This level of finishing will meet all of your criteria. Hard wax oils, LED oils, reactive stains, UV oils, UV urethanes, and some that have not been mentioned, all are available for mixing and matching to give you that unique look for which your clients are searching.
While these are not all of the finishing options available, there is still surface and edge treatments, these are a basic breakdown of the custom finishing levels.
To recap:
Custom Finish Level 1 – two coat system
2 coats UV Oils
2 coats LED Oils
Custom Finish Level 2 – three coat system
UV or LED oil 3 coats
UV or LED oil with 2 coats UV Urethane
Industrial Stain with 2 coats UV Urethane
2 coats hardwax oils (Dry time added)
Custom Finish Level 3 – four coat system
4 coats UV or LED oils
Industrial stain with 2 UV urethane and 1 coat ultra-matte
2 coats UV or LED Oil w/ UV Urethane (cerused)
Reactive stain with Hardwax Oil (cerused) (dry time added)
Reactive stain with UV or LED Oil and UV Urethane (cerused)
Reactive Stain with 2 Hardwax Oil (cerused) (dry time added)
Custom Finish Level 4 – Five coat system
Industrial stain with 2 UV urethane and 2 ultra-matte
Industrial stain with 2 UV/ LED oil and 2 UV urethane
Reactive Stain with 2 UV/ LED oil and UV urethane (cerused)
Reactive Stain with 2 Hardwax Oil (cerused) (dry time added)
UV or LED Oil with 2 UV urethane and 2 ultra-matte
Custom Finish Level 5 – Six coat system
Industrial stain, 1 UV/ LED oil, 2 UV urethane and 2 ultra-matte
Industrial stain with 2 UV/ LED oil and 2 UV urethane 1 Ultra-matte
Reactive Stain with 2 UV/ LED oil and 2 UV urethane (cerused)
Reactive Stain with 3 Hardwax Oil (cerused) (dry time added)
LED Oil with UV urethane and ultra-matte
2 UV or LED oil 2 urethane and 2 ultra-matte
Reactive Stain with LED Oil, UV Urethane and Ultra-matte (cerused)
2 LED oil, UV Urethane and Ultra-matte (cerused)
Reactive Stain with 2 Hardwax Oil, UV Urethane (cerused) (dry time added)
Custom Finish Level 6 – Seven coat system
Reactive Stain with 2 LED Oil, UV Urethane and Ultra-matte (cerused)
Reactive Stain with Hardwax Oil, UV Urethane and Ultra-matte (cerused) (dry time added)
…and a mixture of all of the above-mentioned finishing mediums and procedures.
Custom Hand finished moldings, stair nosing and stair parts to match. (All finished with the same process as the flooring.)
Standard Bull/Square edge nosing.
Moldings
Standard Risers
Treads, box 3″ or 4″ thick by 12″ wide, and traditional 11.5″x 1-1/16″
The WOCA Woodcare System is a comprehensive and sustainable solution for finishing and maintaining wood for a lifetime. This system utilizes plant-based oils and water-based cleaners, making it an environmentally conscious choice. WOCA Oil-treated wood can be easily maintained with a sustainable, dustless cleaning and re-oiling process, eliminating the need for sanding or stripping finishes in the future.
WOCA also offers a range of user-friendly, durable urethane finishes as part of their water-based finish line. With a long-standing reputation for excellence in the wood finishing industry, WOCA has been a trusted name for generations.
Whether you are working on a residential or commercial project, the WOCA Woodcare System can offer a unique and sustainable solution for your hardwood flooring needs. Contact us today to learn more about how WOCA products can enhance the longevity and beauty of your hardwood floors.
Bona is a leading brand in the hardwood flooring industry, known for its high-quality products and innovative solutions. With over 100 years of experience in the industry, Bona has established itself as a trusted name for hardwood floor care and maintenance.
Their products range from floor finishes and cleaners to sanding machines and accessories, providing everything you need for a successful hardwood flooring project. Bona's finishes are environmentally friendly, low VOC and provide exceptional durability and protection for your hardwood floors. They offer a variety of finishes including water-based, oil-based, and hybrid options to meet your specific needs.
Bona is also known for their innovative cleaning solutions, including the Bona PowerPlus Hardwood Floor Deep Cleaner which uses oxygenated formula to penetrate and dissolve dirt and grime on hardwood floors. Their line of microfiber mops and pads is designed to work specifically with their cleaning solutions, making it easy to maintain the beauty and integrity of your hardwood floors.
In addition to their quality products, Bona also offers training and support to professionals in the industry, ensuring that their products are used and applied correctly. With Bona, you can trust that you are getting high-quality products and expert support to achieve beautiful, long-lasting hardwood floors.
Ciranova offers a range of high-quality and innovative products that are specifically designed for hardwood flooring projects. Their products are known for their durability, sustainability, and ability to enhance the natural beauty of wood.
By using Ciranova products, you can ensure that your hardwood flooring project will have a professional and high-quality finish. Their products are formulated to provide maximum protection against wear and tear, stains, and UV damage, which will help to extend the life of your flooring. Additionally, their range of color options and finishes allows you to achieve a unique and personalized look for your flooring that will match your aesthetic preferences and style.
Ciranova is also committed to sustainability and uses eco-friendly ingredients in their products. This means that you can be confident that your hardwood flooring project is not only beautiful but also environmentally responsible.
Overall, by using Ciranova products, you can achieve a stunning and long-lasting hardwood floor that is both durable and sustainable. Their products offer a range of benefits, including protection, personalization, and eco-friendliness, that make them a great choice for any hardwood flooring project.
Vesting LED cured oil is a type of finish used on hardwood floors. It is a high-performance, eco-friendly oil-based finish that is cured using LED light instead of traditional heat-curing methods. The LED curing process allows for a faster and more efficient cure time, resulting in a floor that is ready for use in just a few hours.
There are several benefits to using Vesting LED cured oil on your hardwood floors. First, it provides excellent protection against scratches, stains, and other damage. The oil penetrates deep into the wood, creating a strong, durable barrier that helps prevent wear and tear. Second, it enhances the natural beauty of the wood, bringing out its unique grain patterns and colors. This gives your floors a warm, inviting look that is perfect for any home or business.
Another advantage of Vesting LED cured oil is its eco-friendly formulation. It is free from harmful chemicals and solvents, making it safe for both people and the environment. Additionally, it emits very low VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which means it has a minimal impact on indoor air quality.
Overall, Vesting LED cured oil is a top choice for those looking for a high-quality, eco-friendly finish for their hardwood floors. It provides excellent protection, enhances the natural beauty of the wood, and is safe for both people and the environment.
