Depends on the application really. The prefinished hardwood they are making now is fabulous. I would say, unless you are restoring a historic property, or have a reason to use unfinished, go with the prefinished. You wont have the mess, it will be done quickly, no fumes. No moving everything out at once, you can go one room at a time.Wife of a flooring contractor
Rubber casters are better for a hardwood floor as they will not scratch the wood surface and not leave black marks on your floor.
Polyurethane should be put onto a hardwood floor because without it, it can be sensitive to moisture damage and scratching.
If you ignore them for a while. Many of them will take care of them selfs as the wood expands and contracts with the weather.
Hardwood floors with a high Janka hardness rating, such as Brazilian cherry, hard maple, or hickory, tend to resist scratching the most due to their durability and strength. Additionally, choosing a hardwood floor with a protective finish, like aluminum oxide or polyurethane, can help enhance scratch resistance. Regular maintenance, like using protective pads on furniture legs and cleaning with recommended products, can also help prevent scratching.
Yes, you can.
If your hardwood floor is not shining, it might need some polish. Or, it might just be old. I suggest investing in a new hardwood floor if yours is so ancient that it has lost its ability to be lucent. Or you can have your floors refinished. If they have been sanded recently, you might have a satin sheen in the polyurethane that was applied. If this is the case, all you have to do is re coat it with a semi gloss or gloss polyurethane.
The only reasons for installing unfinished flooring: you plan to stain the floor a color prefinished flooring doesn't come in, or you are planning to really abuse the floor so badly it will need to be refinished frequently. The finish on a prefinished floor is far more durable than anything you can apply yourself.
No, in fact the wax can ruin the polyurethane finish. Clean the floor with a good wood floor cleaner. Do not mop with water.
The factory seals the prefinished hardwood floor with many coats of finish. Aluminum oxide, the second hardest substance after diamond, is commonly used in finish coats to produce a long-lasting protective finish.
No! Polyurethane needs a porous surface and because pergo is not, you would only ruin the floor.
To clean hardwood floors with polyurethane finish, use a mild soap diluted in water to avoid damaging the finish. Mop the floors gently and make sure to dry them immediately to prevent water damage. Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive tools that can scratch or dull the finish.