As a homeowner, there’s a good chance you put a lot of thought into the color of your walls, trim, or even your ceiling. But have you considered the color and condition of your floors?
Changing your floor stain can make a significant impact on your home or office. Old, worn-out floors can make a room seem dull, even if it is generally full of life and home to some great memories.
Unfortunately, all those elements that create those fantastic memories (like your family, friends, and even pets) can take a toll on the floor. Even the amount of sunlight a room gets can negatively impact your floors.
Luckily, this damage doesn’t have to be permanent! Changing the stain on your floors is easy with some prep work.
What Is a Floor Stain?
A floor stain is meant for wood floors.
Stains change the color of your floor without covering up the natural grain of the wood. Stains do not chip and, if taken care of, can last a long time. When done correctly, floor stain can add color, warmth, and shine that all work together to enhance a room’s natural look.
However, mistakes can be hard to correct in a floor stain. Usually, when a mistake is made, the only way to properly fix it is to sand the wood and start over.
And not all woods work well with floor stains. Some types of wood, like pine, do not stain well because they have tighter grains. So, before you do anything else, you’ll want to first see if your wood floor should be stained or not.
Choosing the Right Hardwood Floor Stain Color
It’s essential to take the time to make sure you choose the right color before you begin the process of staining the floor.
Not only will the color substantially impact the look and feel of the room itself, but if you change your mind, you will lose out on both time and money.
If you paint a room and decide you don’t like the color, it’s relatively easy to change it. But with a wood floor stain, you’ll have to sand and prep the floors again, starting from scratch.
When you research colors, start by considering your wood type. Choosing a stain similar to your wood’s natural color can be a great way to save some money. Wood can also only take a certain amount of stain. At a certain point, additional layers won’t have any further impact on the color of your floor.
Make sure to consider the color scheme of the room itself, the furniture you have in the room, and the overall style you are looking to achieve.
When deciding on a stain color, catalogs and samples are two great ways to see for yourself what a stain will end up looking like. Once you’ve narrowed down your color options, see if you can sand and stain small sections to get a feel for what the stain will look like on your actual floors.
Lastly, after you choose a stain, you’ll want to select a finish. You can have a glossy finish or a matte finish. Both finishes are excellent choices, but it ultimately comes down to your preference and the style that you’re going for.
Prep Your Floors Before You Begin
Like when painting, properly preparing your floors will help make the job significantly easier. You’ll also reduce the chances of anything bad happening during the staining process.
Here’s how to properly prep your hardwood floors for staining.
- Remove the furniture from the room.
- Clean the floor to prepare it for sanding.
- Use an orbital sander and make three passes, starting with a rougher grit and finishing with a finer one.
- Clean up the dust (a Shop-Vac works great here!).
- Remove any remaining dust by wiping a wet cloth on the wood.
Now that you’ve chosen your color and have the floors fully prepped, it’s time to apply the new floor stain.
Apply the New Floor Stain
Before you begin, you’ll want to ensure proper ventilation as the fumes can be harmful. It is also best to wear a mask while staining.
When applying the stain, you’ll want to use a lambswool applicator. Work in small two-foot sections while staining, and wipe away any excess stain before moving to the next area.
Typically, you will only need one layer of stain, but if you need another layer, it is best to add it before the first layer dries.
Lastly, once the stain is dry, it is best to apply a glossy or matte finish to help protect the stain and bring out its color. Adding a finish to your hardwood floors will help protect them against moisture, the sun, dirt, etc.
It is also best to use cleaning products meant for hardwood floors as other products can dull or damage your floor over time.
Conclusion
Changing the stain of your hardwood floors is easier than you might think! But staining your floor is time-consuming, and mistakes can be costly. If you want to play it safe, hiring a professional is best.
At Scott McDonald Painting, our top priority is to make sure you love how your home looks. We work with a variety of wood stains to ensure your home looks incredible. We also do cabinet refinishing and can replace your current wood stain quickly and cost-effectively. We can also apply an epoxy coating to garage floors to create an attractive, durable finish.
Contact us today to get your free quote!
