Mixing prefinished hardwood floor with existing...

13 years ago

We are purchasing a new house. Decided to take carpet up and replaced with hardwood. There is already wood flooring through the entry, dining, and kitchen. We are thinking about putting prefinished wood in the carpeted areas and then sanding and finishing the existing floors at another time. Anyone ever do this with success? Is it difficult to match the finishes? Thank you!

Featured Answer

Cindy Quinton

13 years ago

In my area, you can have a pro install unfinished hardwoods, and then finish them, for about the same price as you can have pre-finished floors done. They can also come in and lace in the new floor with the old, sand the old down, then finish/re-finish all of it at one time. The cost of the re-finish should be about half the cost of the new floor. I I were you, I would consider that or replacing all the floor with the pre-finished floor you like, because either way, a consistent floor will look nicer for all the years you live there and have a better resell value in the future. As an agent, one thing I see people consistently kick themselves over is "living with" some aspect of a home they don't like, then finally deciding to do it before reselling....and never getting the enjoyment of it.

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Comments (11)

PRO
User
13 years ago
Virtually impossible of they are old original floors - width of planks, restraining with after market versus factory finish. Possible to get a closer match by installing unfinished flooring in same width and adding some pigment to match new to old but this is a true professional's job. Labour and expense is often greater when keeping the old versus putting in all new.
E L thanked User
E L
Original Author
13 years ago
What about waxing hardwood? I was just researching and feel like that might be the way to go. I really don't like the look of the high polished floors.
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bschr
13 years ago
Waxing hardwood is a big commitment. I remove the wax and reapply twice a year. When the wax goes on it needs to be buffed with a floor buffer. To get the wax off I use mineral spirits and fine steel wool. Because I have med brown stained floors, I use coloured paste wax. I truly love the look. The floor has a soft warm glow that cannot be duplicated in a pre finished floor. Lots of work!!
E L thanked bschr
E L
Original Author
13 years ago
bschr, so do you remove it because you have to or because you like to? I have kids and dogs and won't have time to maintain a floor like that twice a year. Especially because it will be several large areas. I've looked into renting a floor buffer. Is it possible to avoid so much maintanence?
bschr
13 years ago
It probably needs only a refresh of wax once a year and only in high traffic areas. It's just something I've always done at Spring and fall cleaning time. It started in my mother's house when I was a young girl :) seems to be a hard habit to break. In between I wash them with mild dishsoap and a damp cloth or mop and sometimes just re buff. It makes them look new again every time. By the way my floors are about 35 years old and have had a lot of life running on them. Good luck which every decision you make.
E L thanked bschr
feeny
13 years ago
We matched old and new hardwood floors in our house when we built an addition. But it was indeed a job for an experienced professional. And it only worked because we used unfinished flooring and finished it on site, trying out different stains to get a match to the 90 year old floors through the rest of the house. But it did work.
Michelle Shook
13 years ago
have unmatched hardwood by design. Needed a designer to help me break the mould of needing everything matched. New kitchen reno...went to unfinished maple with clear stain, while having my medium color oak in a room next door. Made a specific choice to go uber different so it didn't look like we were trying to match. The oak is random size planks and bevel edge and the kitchen is flat planks all 5" wide. It works, people love our home. I am so glad it doesn't look like a Pottery Barn demo. I picked some furnishings to echo the opposite flooring in each room. So comfortable, and casual. Embrace the old and the new is my suggestion
E L thanked Michelle Shook
jmfrannks46
9 years ago
Michelle , I have medium light red oak all over my house. I want to take up carpet in family room. Was going to match or go darker oak. I may look into the maple. Sounds perfect. I have been afraid to mix wood species ! Something to consider !
Lyndsey
5 years ago
I know this is old but wondering if there was a solution here. We are debating adding some prefinished to carpeted rooms that will abut original site finished wood floors. We are concerned it will look off
ptreckel
5 years ago
I had a situation like this, Lyndsey. The upper hall, stairs, and downstairs rooms were all hardwood. We replaced carpet with pre finished hardwood in the bedrooms. The only place the floors abutted was the thresholds of the bedrooms (with the upper hall.). We did our best to “match” the floors. Did they match? No. Do most people notice it? No. Get as close to matching as you can get, however.