Unfinished Hardwood Flooring – Your Style, Your Way

By Bruce Flooring Expert, Published August 21, 2025

Hardwood flooring isn’t just about durability—it’s about expressing your style. With unfinished hardwood flooring, you don’t have to settle for off-the-shelf options. You get to choose the exact stain, sheen, and finish that match your vision.

What Is Unfinished Hardwood?

Unfinished hardwood flooring comes as raw wood planks, which are then installed, sanded, stained, and sealed on-site. That’s different from prefinished flooring, which arrives already finished at the factory. With unfinished wood, the design decisions are yours to make after installation, not before.

Why Choose Unfinished Hardwood?

For flooring that reflects your taste, not just what’s trending, unfinished hardwood gives you the freedom to make it your own. You create a finish that fits your home, your style, and your standards.

Here’s what makes it worth the extra steps.

1. Complete Finish Control

You decide the exact color and tone of your floor. Go light and airy, dark and dramatic, or anything in between. Match existing floors or create something unique. With unfinished wood, you have complete control over every detail.

2. Seamless, Flush Look

Because unfinished hardwood is sanded after installation, it creates a smooth, flat surface from board to board. No micro-bevels or gaps. Instead, there is just one continuous, polished finish throughout your space.

3. Greater Design Flexibility Across Rooms

Unfinished hardwood allows you to customize each space individually while maintaining a unified look. Want a rich walnut stain in the dining room and a lighter, matte finish in the bedroom? No problem. With unfinished flooring, you can tailor the finish to suit the function and feel of each room, all from the same wood base.

4. Great for Repairs and Longevity

Life happens with scratches, wear, and even water damage. You can sand and refinish unfinished solid wood flooring multiple times. That means you can restore your flooring to its original condition. You can even change its look entirely with a different stain or finish.

5. Custom Fit for Custom Homes

If you’re renovating or building with a specific vision in mind, unfinished flooring lets you fine-tune the result. Unfinished hardwoods are especially useful when matching new floors to existing ones.

Unfinished vs. Prefinished Hardwood: The Quick Breakdown

Both options have their place. When choosing between options for your home or project, consider the differences between unfinished and prefinished hardwood. Here are some meaningful comparisons.

When It Makes Sense to Go with Unfinished Hardwood

Unfinished hardwood isn’t always the fastest route—but it can be the smartest. Unfinished gives you the flexibility to get it right. Think of it this way — unfinished hardwood may be the choice for projects where details matter and shortcuts won’t cut it.

Consider using it if:

• You want a custom look, not a mass-produced one.
• You’re blending new floors with existing ones.
• You value long-term flexibility over quick install times.
• You’re creating a high-end, design-driven space.

Bruce® – A Legacy of Hardwood

Bruce® is a pioneer in hardwood flooring, with its roots dating back some 150 years. Its prefinished solid hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring options have been a staple in American homes.

And now, Bruce offers a lineup of unfinished hardwood featuring hickory, red oak, and white oak. You can select from different plank widths to find a style that matches your style.

Unfinished hardwood flooring gives you more than just a floor—it gives you creative control. From finish to feel, every detail reflects your style and your priorities.

Ready to design your floor, your way? Find a Bruce retailer near you.