St. Catharines and area hardwood flooring

Archive for the 'Choosing a Stain Color' Category

Is there a rule about whether the floors should be a darker or lighter color than the other wood in the room?

Thursday, May 26th, 2011

Q: My family room contains lots of oak (woodwork, windows, bookshelves, TV cabinet built in). It’s a beautiful medium color oak. I would like to replace the carpet with hardwood floors. I feel oak flooring might be too much for the room. Is there a rule about whether the floors should be a darker or [...]

Staining bleached (white) oak floors

Friday, May 20th, 2011

Q: I have bleached oak floors. Will I be able to have them sanded and stained a cherry color? A: You can change the stain colour but you need to be aware that it is usually impossible to remove every single trace of stain from some parts of heavy grain. So while the vast majority [...]

Light amber-brown color stains (staining pine)?

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

Q: I’m getting ready to install some white pine flooring. I’m going to use Waterlox to finish it. I was wondering what stain combinations you have used. I’d like to get a light amber-brown color. I’m thinking of using Early American or English Chestnut. Any thoughts? A: I’ve only used the Waterlox/Min Wax stain mixture [...]

Too much variation in wood and color?

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

Q: We are about to replace our carpeted area with hardwood. I fell in love with the 3/4 solid Santos Mahogany, but I am concerned that the color may clash with our existing nature wood trim throughout the house. The trim is between a wheat and pecan color. Would this be too much variation in [...]

What colour would go best with oak wood cabinets and shelves that have been stained with “Special Walnut”?

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

Q: I was wondering if you could suggest what laminate wood/colour would go best with oak wood cabinets and shelves that have been stained with “Special Walnut” (by Minwax). Does it need to be a walnut coloured floor or is there a contrast colour to create a lighter look? (Btw, my wall paint is light, [...]

Restain or replace for desired colour?

Thursday, May 12th, 2011

I would like to stain my pre-stained oak floors a darker medium brown. Or should I just replace the floor?

What are the risks in going darker?

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

I want to stain my hardwood floors darker than the natural color I have now. What are the risks in going darker? Will it show everything little speck of dust? The floors have never been stained, only waxed.

What is the best way to match the floor?

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

We are now ready to change the stairs and rails. What is the best way to match the floor? What stain and varnish are the best for this very busy area, and what method should I use to apply the products?

Going dark or staying with a natural color

Wednesday, August 1st, 2007

I’m torn between going dark or staying with a natural color on my parquet floors, 700 sq. ft. 1 bedroom apt. The apartment faces North and West so it gets good afternoon light, but I’m worried dark floors will make the rooms too dark? Dark floors would suit the wall colors. Any advice?

Custom dark stain

Wednesday, July 18th, 2007

We are building a house and we’re trying to find a dark stain that will compliment our modern interior. We most likely will have a 4″ or 5″ Oak plank or a Walnut. I looked at the Ebony stain, but it seems to have a green tint. We also mixed Jacobean with the Ebony and it still shows a bit green. Can you recommend a deep, rich, dark brown stain color for us?

Light or dark wood flooring

Wednesday, July 11th, 2007

I must decide on light or dark wood flooring. I love the look of the darker wood, but I have been told that scratches look blaring on darker wood. Is this true, and how do you maintain them?

I’d like a dark stain. Is there one you can recommend?

Sunday, April 22nd, 2007

I’m about to stain a redwood floor I have just prepped. I’d like a dark stain. Is there one you can recommend?

2 Colours don’t match well

Saturday, April 7th, 2007

We have a brand new maple hardwood, factory stained a dark brown/reddish colour. Our stairs are also maple and stained by the home builder, chestnut brown. The 2 colours don’t match well and we want to find out how to find a better match and restain the stairs.

Stairs darker than floors

Saturday, April 7th, 2007

I have natural cherry wood floors. Today I got them sanded and polyurethaned, and now the stairs that we’re previously done looks darker. They have never been stained and contractor says they used oil based poly w/ high gloss. Why doesn’t it match, and can it be fixed?

We have been told that a dark stain will show scratches

Friday, March 9th, 2007

We are considering having our natural (no stain) red oak flooring (3/4″ thick) refinished with a dark stain and 3 coats of premium oil urethane. We have been told that a dark stain will show scratches (from the dog), and marks far more than the current natural floor does, and that we will always be touching up the scratches (if that’s even possible to do.) What is your experience with dark stained floors and wearing capabilities?

Stain and dark pet stains

Friday, March 9th, 2007

I am refinishing my 45 year old oak floors. When I removed the carpet there were 3 dark stains. I figure it is pet urine. Sanding is finished, but the stains are still visible. If I apply a darker (perhaps cherry oak) stain, will it hide the urine stains or will they just get darker? Could I apply less stain to the spots to try to even it all out?

Stain color for white oak

Monday, March 5th, 2007

…color of stain should you use on white oak floors to make them dark? Such as an ebony color.

Dark grey stain

Wednesday, February 28th, 2007

We are looking at purchasing an engineered hardwood floor for our kitchen – maple / graphite dark grey. I was told by a someone that dark grey stains don’t wear as well as they don’t penetrate as deep as other “lighter” stains. Is this true?

Molding and doors

Tuesday, October 24th, 2006

My husband and I are building a new house. We are putting hard wood floors in every room except the kitchen and bathrooms. We are putting in cherry color floors. Should I do the oak doors and all the molding in the same color?

Dark grain

Wednesday, August 9th, 2006

I just had my pre-finished red oak floor refinished with what should be the same color (gunstock) and 3 coats of oil-based poly. The wood grain is so much more noticeable than it was in pre-finished form, and I don’t like it as much. Will this difference fade some over time and will the ambering of the poly affect it? My installer says in 2-3 months the grain will not look as dark. Thank you for your response.