Should I install a prefinished floor in a kitchen?

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Q: I have a customer that wants to use a wood floor in their kitchen renovation. Questions: Should I install a prefinished wood floor in kitchen? What is the sealing or protection factor, as opposed to installing an unfinished floor?

Will the poly create a more durable, leak protective coating? In terms of protecting the wood from potential leak damage/cupping, would a unfinished floor that I sand, seal, stain and poly provide increased protection as opposed to a prefinished floor?

A: For a kitchen I would definitely recommend site finished because it has several coats of finish across the entire floor, board joints and all. In some localities it is against code to use pre-finished floors in kitchens. So, yes of course, a site finished floor will offer better protection against spills and water penetration through the joints.

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