Table of Contents
What is the process for staining hardwood floors?
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.
- Test it out.
- Sand the floor.
- Screen the floor.
- Clean up the dust.
- Optional: Water pop the floor.
- Apply the stain.
- Let the stain dry completely.
How much does it cost to professionally stain hardwood floors?
According to HomeAdvisor, the typical price range to refinish hardwood floors is between $1,074 and $2,485, with the national average at $1,757. This comes out to $3 to $8 per square foot, including materials and labor.
Can you stain floors in sections?
If your wood floors continue into other rooms of the home, you cannot sand, stain and refinish the one area. This would affect the uniformity and leave the rest of your wood floors looking different. The only way to refinish one room is to install a transition piece (or if there’s one in place already).
Can you stain existing hardwood floors?
The answer is usually YES! Many homeowners don’t realize that you can change the color of hardwood flooring when you refinish your floors. Yes, it’s true…you can go light or dark or red tones or anywhere in between. Most are pleasantly surprised it doesn’t matter if you are going light to dark or vice versa.
How do you prep a wood floor before staining?
Empty the room. Use a random orbital sander to sand the floor three times, using a lighter-grit abrasive with each pass. Remove dust with a heavy-duty shop vac followed by rags dampened with mineral spirits. Apply stain to the hardwood floor in one 2-foot section at a time using a lambswool applicator.
Can you refinish just part of hardwood floor?
However, it is possible to refinish just a few boards if you are willing to accept that they might appear shinier or a slightly different color than the surrounding boards, at least until the new finish gets scuffed up enough to blend in.
Can you Restain hardwood floors a different color?
When you refinish your floors, you can change the color of your flooring. Most hardwood floors can be made darker, lighter, redder, or anywhere in between. If your flooring is solid hardwood, it can be sanded and refinished in a different stain for a different appearance.
How long should you stay out of house after staining floors?
We recommend a minimum of 2 days of socks-only traffic for floors finished with oil polyurethane. The house is not inhabitable for a minimum of 2 days after the job is completed, and better to stay out for at least 5 as the fumes/off-gassing is not advisable to breathe in, even if there are other rooms to sleep in.
How many layers of stain do I need for hardwood floors?
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.
How much does it cost to re sand and stain hardwood floors?
Average Costs for Refinishing Hardwood Floors On a per-square-foot basis, average costs run about $3 to $8 per square foot, but these costs can vary depending on the complexity of the work and the total size of the area you want to have refinished.
How to stain hardwood floors the right way?
Experiment with each type of stain and color and eventually you’ll find the perfect stain for the rest of your flooring. The first step to staining your floor is to sand it. This removes unsightly scratches and gives you a smooth surface for staining. After you’re done sanding, thoroughly vacuum your floors to remove all the dust completely.
How do you raise the grain of hardwood floors?
Next, use a method called “water popping” to raise the grain on your floor and help it accept the stain better. To do this, run a wet mop over the floor and let it dry for about a half hour before you begin staining. Once the floor is dry, use a sponge or rag to apply the stain to the floor, going with the grain.
How to seal and safeguard hardwood floors?
Staining is a popular way to seal and safeguard hardwood floors. Staining is such a common option because it helps bring out the wood’s grain and texture, and it doesn’t peel and chip the way paint does. However, you need to apply stain properly for it to look nice, and there are a sizeable number of stains available.
Where do you start when staining laminate flooring?
It’s usually wise to begin in one of the corners opposite the door and then work your way toward the exit. Once you’ve mapped out your path, get started. Using a lambswool applicator, apply the stain to the floor, aiming for even distribution over one two-foot section at a time.