Q: What is “water pop”?
A: Water popping is a technique by which
the surface of the floor is wiped down with a wet cloth (don’t soak the floor) being careful not to miss any spots. Let it thoroughly dry and then apply stain. It is important not to scuff your feet. This opens the surface of the wood to allow deeper, more even stain penetration.
Also see our recommendation to hire a pro.
Related Questions
Is water popping necessary?Q: I am installing 6' hickory floors with a dark stain. One installer is suggesting water popping the floors to achieve a more even colour. Another installer we interview said it was not necessary. What do you think? Do I need to water pop the floors prior to applying the…
Can water popping cause cupping?Q: Can water popping cause cupping? Out Southern pine floors were installed and sanded. Then they water popped the floor to apply stain, which ended up looking very good. Sadly the floors looked cupped almost right after the finish was done. Since the process between the installation and finish was…
Super seal water proof membraneQ: There are new products out there, designed as sub floor material (ex: Super Seal) to be used instead of the typical plywood sub floor. These are cheaper and easier to install than plywood, but are they as good as plywood? A: Super seal is a water proof membrane, not…
Water vs OilI read a couple of threads that suggested water based polyurethane for floors may not be the best idea. Should we reconsider an oil based polyurethane before we start?
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