Have you had the same hardwood flooring color for years and was just ready for something different? Having the same color floor for years is like having the same furniture or curtains without ever changing them. It can make you feel like you’re stuck in a rut, and you just need a change.
Are you one of the many people who have wondered if they can change the color of your hardwood floor?
If so, the answer is yes you can change the color. It doesn’t matter what type of wood you chose, stain, or finish there you do have options. You don’t have to be tied down to just one color forever.
When you chose your floor color you knew exactly what you wanted and were so excited to get it. Now though, you’re bored with it and ready for something different. The good news is you can easily change the color anytime you want.
Below you’ll find tips about how to change the color of your hardwood floors. How you can do it. Plus choosing between light and dark colors.
Should You Glaze or Stain?
The first decision you should make is if you’re going to glaze your floor or stain it. If you glaze the floor, it is much simpler because it goes on top of the stain instead of soaking into the wood. That’s both good and bad news because it’s thicker than stain it doesn’t work well on raw wood. Therefore, professionals advise only use glazing on engineered hardwood floors.
There are a few things you need to know if you’re going to choose glazing. First it will not last as long as staining does. Because it sets on top of the wood instead of soaking into it is more likely to chip and wear off over time.
Step One
The first thing you need to do is sand your floor with a sanding machine. This is normally done three times using lighter sandpaper each time. You need to make sure that all the floor is smooth. For the areas that can’t be reached with the sander use an edger. Since hardwood floors that aren’t properly sanded shows reveals any imperfections once the stain dries, we recommend only using a professional hardwood flooring service when changing the color of your hardwood floor.
Step Two
Waterpop the floor to remove excess sand and raise the grain. Raising the grain makes it so the wood accepts the stain, and you’ll end up with richer colors that are more even. Since this step leaves your floor vulnerable you want to stay off it as best as you can for at least 30 minutes so it can dry.
Step Three
Now it’s time to apply the stain. You need to make sure there’s adequate ventilation, so the harsh smell doesn’t stay in the room. This is the tricky part. First our team applies the stain evenly making sure there is no uneven coloring. It’s also essential that the area you are working on doesn’t dry before you finish it. If you make a mistake at this stage, then you must go back to step one. The stain can take up to 74 hours to dry. If you live in a humid area, it can take longer.
Step Four
This is the final step where you apply the polyurethane. This usually takes 2-3 coats, and it takes 24 hours for each coat to dry. You want to buff the wood floor after each coat to keep the color and ensures the wood is smooth.
Should I use Light or Dark Stain?
There are a few rules of thumb to remember when choosing the color of stain, you want. Light colored hardwood flooring will make small rooms appear larger and hide dirt and dust. If the flooring is in a high traffic area you may want to choose the lighter color. You still want to keep it clean but if you miss a day of sweeping it won’t stand out as much.
Dark stains will make older flooring look new again. It gives any room a touch of elegance, and makes large rooms feel cozy. Another good thing about dark hardwood floors is that it hides will hide imperfections in the wood.
Hardwood Floor Services Can Help
As you can tell from reading above the steps needed to change the color of your hardwood floor can be tricky. If you make a mistake on any of the steps you go back to the beginning. Therefore, we always recommend hiring a wood floor specialist to assist you with all your flooring needs.
If you need help with staining your wood floors or picking the perfect hardwood flooring for your home or business, Cameron the Sandman is the perfect place to start. With over 80 years of experience, we are experts in the flooring industry. Our services include wood floor sales and installation, refinishing hardwood, wood floor restoration and more! Questions? Call and speak to a flooring specialist today.