How to Prepare a Wood Floor for Stain - A-MAX Hardwood Flooring (2024)

FAQs

What to use to clean wood floors before staining? ›

Clean the Floor

You need to clean the hardwood floor of sawdust from the sanding away of the stain. You can use a damp rag or damp push broom to pick up the sawdust off the floor. You can clean it more effectively with mineral spirits that evaporate quickly. Once you've got the floor clean, you're ready to stain.

You can still choose to refinish without sanding, but the new stain may accentuate existing scratches in the wood rather than cover them. Water damage or pet stains that penetrate the finish into the actual floorboards may also require a full on sanding of the floor.

Prep the Space

Make sure your subfloor is level and smooth. Sand down raised spots if needed and fill low spots. Mark the walls to show the location of the floor joists. Cover the floor with underlayment or a moisture inhibitor such as 15 to 30 lb asphalt-saturated felt or silicone vapor shield.

On most raw woods, start sanding in the direction of the grain using a #120-150 grit paper before staining and work up to #220 grit paper. Soft woods such as pine and alder: start with #120 and finish with no finer than #220 (for water base stains) and 180 grit for oil base stains.

Since wood pores are irregular, a conditioner can be used to reduce the likelihood of blotchiness from the staining process. This is especially true of soft or porous woods. Wood conditioner can go a long way to making your finished project look more professional and polished.

Don't use vinegar on unsealed wood: If your wood furniture is unsealed, vinegar can penetrate the wood and cause damage. Only use vinegar on sealed wood furniture. Don't use vinegar on waxed or oiled wood: If your wood furniture is waxed or oiled, vinegar can dissolve the wax or oil and cause damage.

One method of sealing a wood surface is to apply, with an old nylon, a mixture consisting of three parts gum turpentine to one part boiled linseed oil. Immediately wipe off the excess mixture, then let dry 24 hours before staining. DO NOT SAND before staining.

How many coats will be applied? The standard for a hardwood floor is at least three coats. This consists of one seal coat (which may be the stain) and two coats of finish. Additional costs of finish may be applied depending on the need.

Refinishing and staining a floor can be a great way to breathe new life into it. Here are the steps to stain a floor. Ensure that the floor will take the stain well. Certain species, such as maple, birch, fir, and pine typically do not take well to stains.

Apply the Stain

Work from corner to corner so that you keep a wet edge. Plan to do the whole room at once to prevent lapping. If you're applying stain to a raw wood floor, let it soak for a minute or two, then wipe the entire floor down with the rags to remove any excess stain that hasn't been absorbed.

What color to stain old hardwood floors? ›

Start by considering three widely popular wood floor stain colors: Dark Walnut, Provincial, and Jacobean. They look great across many styles, from modern to traditional, because they complement a variety of color palettes. These colors have no red undertones and are popular for their versatility.

Cork flooring underlayments. This versatile product provides insulation from cold and sound, supporting your hardwood floors with quality. Premium versions of cork underlayments include a fusion of other materials, such as ECF and its use of virgin polyethylene foam and granulated cork.

Restoring hardwood floors without sanding can be a great way to save time and money while still achieving beautiful results. You can easily achieve this by buffing the floor with a buffer, applying a glossy finish, and taking care of your floors with regular vacuuming, protective mats or rugs.

Don't start directly against the wall.

Most walls aren't perfectly straight so you risk ending up with a less than perfect installation. Make a mark on the wall at both ends of the room where you will place your first row. This will give you a reference point for where the whole planks should start and end.

Applying sealants will add much-needed protection for the hardwood to prevent potential finish damage, especially with untreated hardwood floors. This precaution elongates the life of your hardwood floor's finish and restricts the need for hardwood floor refinishing.

Yes you do. After you strip the wood, sand it and clean it, then you need to put the stain on it. Leave it sit for a few minutes and then wipe it off the stain that saturates the wood is the color of the stain.