Staining Hardwood Floors?
Which Wood Stain is Right For You?
You can restore the life of your house by staining hardwood floors and making them look brand new again. Which coat should you use though? Here is some help in figuring out the best color stain for your home or office to give that brand new look to an old floor.
What’s the wood coated with now?
If it’s bare ( no stain or finish at all), choose whatever stain or finish your little heart desires.
But if it has a film finish, it’s easiest to stick with that because penetrating stains can’t go over a film finish. Also, water-based stains can and will cover oil-based stains, but not the other way around so be careful and plan ahead. Don’t know what type of finish you have? Call All Superior Flooring!
What kind of wood do you have?
Soft woods, like pine and cedar, easily accept any penetrating stain. But only certain kinds of seed oils, such as tung or linseed, will soak into ultradense hardwoods like ipe and mahogany. Always test these woods before staining hardwood floors to make sure the finish will penetrate the surface and dry the type of wood that your floor is.
How worn is it?
On older decks, unless you can sand off the top layer you’ll get the best protection from a penetrating finish such as a clear, semitransparent, or a semisolid toner. Solid-color wood stains are best on new wood to get the best results possible.
How much grain do you want to see?
The less pigment a wood stain has, the more grain you’ll see! But the more pigment, the longer you can go before recoating.
Where is it located?
Stain on horizontal or south-facing surfaces gets more punishing UV rays than on vertical surfaces or shady north sides. To minimize maintenance, consider stains with more pigment. Staining hardwood floors can add beauty and style to your home. To really minimize maintenance call All Superior Flooring for the best hardwood floor stain options! We stain and install affordable hardwood floors in Asheville and Western North Carolina.
