How to Stain Hardwood Floors: A Guide to Getting the Best Results
Can you stain hardwood floors? Yes, while hardwood floors can be a beautiful and timeless feature of your home, they do require some upkeep. When your hardwood floors no longer look their best, it may be time to stain them.
With our expertise and experience in high-end flooring materials and their maintenance, we can tell you all you need to know about how to stain hardwood floors. With the right technique, you can:
- Restore old, faded or worn-out floors
- Enhance the natural beauty of your floor
- Customize the color of your floor to suit your home and style tastes
- Protect your floor from everyday wear and tear, extending its lifetime
The proper execution of three stages of hardwood floor staining define the overall quality of results. These stages are preparation, application and finishing. In this guide, we walk you through each stage with all the necessary dos and don’ts, the equipment and products you’ll need, and other helpful tips.
The Best Way to Stain Hardwood Floors: Preparation
Preparation is everything when it comes to staining a hardwood floor. In this stage, the goal is to remove all previously applied finishes and have a perfectly smooth, immaculately clean floor ready to stain. Invest as much time as you possibly can in preparing your floor.
Your hero at this stage will be a good hyper grinder. This machine makes the task of removing old stains, waxes, oils or varnishes quicker and easier and gives you the best starting point for staining. Mechanical removal of existing finishes ensures that your floor is as smooth, clean and flat as possible.
Don’t skip sanding. This will result in an uneven and patchy finish.
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What You Need to Know about Hyper Grinders
Hyper Grinders are powerful and reliable grinding machines. A range of discs to suit different floor types are available for use with a Hyper Grinder. The machine is easy to use, thanks to adjustable handles and quick tool release mechanisms. You can sand in any direction with ease and comfort.
The four counter-rotating heads give a smooth and even finish. A powerful vacuum within the machine does much of the hard work in clearing up dust.
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How to Prepare Your Floor for Staining
Follow these steps to prepare your floors for staining:
- Clear the room completely of all removable items, including anything hanging on walls, window dressings and light fittings. You are going to be creating a lot of dust shortly.
- Cover doorways and vents with dust sheets to prevent as much dust as possible from escaping into adjoining rooms.
- Repair any damage, like gaps, cracks or notches. Use a high-quality wood filler.
- Sand the floor, carefully following the instructional manual of your sanding machine.
- Clean up thoroughly by sweeping, then vacuuming, then wiping the floor with a damp but not wet cloth. You need to remove all the dust left behind for a perfect finish.
The Best Way to Apply Stain to Hardwood Floors
Take your time to execute these steps carefully for the most attractive and durable results.
How to Apply Stain to Hardwood Floors: Step by Step
- Choose your stain. Always test it in an inconspicuous area of your prepared floor. Make sure you have seen it in a variety of light conditions and that you are happy with the color and finish.
- Steadily apply the stain using a lint-free cloth or pad. Work along the grain of the wood in smooth and even strokes.
- Allow the stain to penetrate the wood for 5-10 minutes before gently wiping away any excess.
- Let the stain dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- You can apply multiple coats until you are happy with the results, but always let the previous cost dry fully before you do so.
Some important don’ts for the application stage:
- Don’t apply too much in one go or fail to remove excess. This will result in patchiness.
- Don’t use the wrong type of wood stain for your type of wood floor (i.e., oak, pine or bamboo). It will not give great results.
Finishing Your Floor
Sealing is a vital step. It will protect your floors and mean you can enjoy their beautiful new look for much longer.
Choosing the Right Finish
Take care to choose the right sealing product. You can often choose between both oil-based and water-based polyurethane products and hard wax oil. Here’s a summary of their main benefits and drawbacks.
- Oil-based polyurethane is highly durable but takes longer to dry.
- Water-based polyurethane dries faster and doesn’t turn yellow over time.
- Hard Wax Oil gives an attractive matte finish but requires regular maintenance.
To finish your floor, apply two or three coats of your chosen product as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Allow sufficient drying time between coats.
Creating Incredible Floors
At Schemes, we can help you create the most beautiful floors for your home, whether you are looking to restore an existing floor or create a brand-new finish. We provide innovative solutions in decorative paints, microtopping, terrazzo, and sophisticated stone carpet floors.
Contact us today to hear more about our wood polishing and microgrinding services or our range of products.
