Staining Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors can be a huge investment, and changing them often is not an easy option for many. In such a case, choosing to stain hardwood floors, instead of replacing them completely, is a better choice. You may want to stain the floor because you have made a new addition to your room, with which you would like to match your floors, or because your floor looks old and worn out, and you want to give it a fresh, new look. However, a lot goes into doing so, particularly if you want to avoid the cost of staining hardwood floors and do it yourself. It is not difficult, but it does require a lot of care, preparation, time, and effort. Since it is a process you can't reverse without extra effort, putting in all the aforementioned elements in the process becomes important. If you think you can undertake this activity yourself, here's how it can be done.

Steps Involved

Start by choosing a stain. There is a huge variety available in the market, so choose one that you think will match your furniture, or any new addition you may have made to your room. Now staining hardwood floors darker is a possibility, but staining them lighter may be a slightly more difficult task. Also decide whether you really want to stain your floors, or just revamp it with a fresh coat of polyurethane. Some types of hardwood flooring have natural, beautiful grains that may lose their charm upon staining. There are also types of pigmented penetrating sealer stains, that maintain the grains and beauty of the wood. On the other hand, if you wish to change the color of the floor, your best option is oil based pigmented stain. These, however, cannot be used excessively as the floor may get damaged over time.

Keep in mind the kind of hardwood flooring you have before you choose a stain. While some floors absorb the color easily, others may not absorb it as well. This will affect the way your floor looks after the procedure has been completed.

Step 1: Start by preparing your hardwood floors for staining by undertaking basic repair. Fill up any cracks or holes, and get rid of stains that may have been caused due to spillage. Once you have filled all the cracks, sand them to make sure they are in level with the rest of the floor.

Step 2: Next, buffing and sanding the entire floor is essential. After you have finished, ensure that you clear the floor of all dust and debris from the room. Any remnants will affect the smoothness of the floor after staining.

Step 3: Apply a floor sealer to ensure that the stain application is smooth and even.

Step 4: Ensure that the room you are working in is ventilated, because the fumes staining are extremely strong, and may prove harmful if you inhale them for a prolonged period. Cover your nose and mouth while working with stains.

Step 5: Also wear knee-pads as you will have to kneel down and carry out this process. Alternately, you may use a roller to apply the stain. While using a rag or a roller to apply the stain, a roller will help you apply a more even coat. Use the rag to wipe off any excess stain. If you allow the stain to remain longer before you wipe of the excess, you will be successful in staining the floor darker.

Step 6: Once you finish, leave the room alone and allow the stain to dry thoroughly. This may take a few hours to a whole day, based on the ventilation in the room. Try to avoid dust and debris from entering the room. If you want the floor to look darker, you may apply another coat of stain and let it dry.

Step 7: Follow the stain application with a coat of polyurethane to give the floor a smooth, glossy look. However, some experts recommend sanding the floor before an application of this coat. A coat of polyurethane will also ensure that your floor is protected from spillage and staining.

Step 8: Sand the floor again and apply another coat of polyurethane for a fresh look for your floor.

Staining hardwood floors is definitely a long-drawn process, but if done well, it can bring out exactly the look you were hoping for. If you think you are cut out to do it yourself, follow this procedure. However, if you are not sure, it is always a good idea to consult a professional to do the job for you. Entailing the cost of refinishing hardwood flooring with a professional job is better than spending a large sum on redoing your flooring.