Can hardwood floors be stained a different color?

Author: Shanny Simonis  |  Last update: Friday, June 3, 2022

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 can I change the color of my hardwood floors?

How to change hardwood floor color?
  1. Sand off the old stain. First, you should prep the sanding area by removing doors, floor molding, curtains, and things hanging on walls. ...
  2. Apply New Stain. After the last round of sanding and vacuuming, mop the floor to prepare for staining or sealing. ...
  3. Seal the Floor.

Can you change the color of your hardwood without sanding?

You can darken wood floors without sanding as long as the floor isn't defective. The purpose of sanding is to allow the stain to stick better and to make the hardwood floor smoother. So if the hardwood floor isn't rough and there isn't any top coat that can prevent the stain from sticking, you don't need to sand.

How much does it cost to stain wood floors a different color?

If your hardwood floors are dull, scratched, and looking old, it's probably time to refinish them. 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.

What colors can you stain hardwood floors?

Mid-toned brown shades would be a better fit. For a modern, bold sleek contemporary design style, rich red hues would be very out of place. Ebony, white, or one of the various grey shades would be much better suited.

Choosing the right stain for your wood floors

Can you stain hardwood floors grey?

Please note that refinishing hardwood floors gray is challenging and should be handled by an expert, especially one with experience in gray and white washed floors. First, the sanding must be immaculate. Stain should be consistent and applied in strips to avoid any cross-grain color-variant lines.

What is the most popular color for hardwood floors?

Most Popular Hardwood Floor Colors
  • Classic Pine. ...
  • Cherry Toned. ...
  • Moody Grays. ...
  • Multi-Color Character. ...
  • Subtle Stripes. ...
  • Flat Light Gray. ...
  • Two-Tone. ...
  • Bold and Red. Woods of all kinds take stain colors well, allowing you to get a multitude of different looks for your flooring.

How much does it cost to install 1000 square feet of hardwood floors?

Installing hardwood flooring averages between $6 and $12 per square foot. On average, wood flooring costs between $3 and $7 per square foot for materials and $3 to $5 per square foot for labor. An estimate for installation of 1000 square feet of hardwood flooring runs between $6,000 and $12,000.

Can you stay in house while floors are refinished?

If your hardwood floors have been sanded and finished with Bona Mega Clear HD, it is safe to sleep in the home about 2-3 hours after the project is finished, but again, only if there are other rooms that have not been robbed of their furniture – furniture should stay off floors for at least 24 hours after ANY project ...

Can you stain over hardwood floors?

Because when a hardwood floor starts to show wear and tear, you can refinish it and in so doing, revitalize its look and performance. Make no mistake, however: Sanding, staining, and sealing a wood floor takes time and effort. It's a demanding project, even for a veteran home handyman.

Can oak hardwood floors be stained dark?

Oak takes a stain very well and we can stain from a light color all the way up to dark colors, as you can see us using in the photo below… 2) they have natural oils in them that can make them extremely hard to get a consistent, even look.

How hard is it to strip and stain hardwood floors?

The hardwood floor refinishing process is easier and less expensive than sanding down to bare wood and takes less time. In a few hours, your floors will look as good as new. The job requires using a buffer, which you can rent at a home center, and a vacuum to suck up dust.

Can you stain hardwood floors darker without sanding?

Minwax® PolyShades® is an easy way to change the color of your currently stained or polyurethane finished wood. There's no stripping or heavy sanding necessary to remove the old finish!

What kind of stain do you use on hardwood floors?

Water-Based Polyurethane is a fast drying hardwood flooring finish that shows brush strokes and applicator marks. Flooring professionals prefer this type of finish. The finish is lustrous and provides the traditional hardwood floor finish that many desire.

Is light or dark wood floors better?

With dark hardwood floors, you'll enjoy: Long-lasting color: Its color makes dark hardwood prone to absorbing sunlight, while light hardwood reflects it. Over time, you'll find that your dark flooring results in less sun damage, retaining its dark sheen for longer.

Can you sleep in your house after staining floors?

It is a terrible idea to sleep or stay in a house after staining floors. The stain fumes are often overwhelming and highly toxic. In addition, exposure to such a stinky smell for long periods of time can trigger severe breathing problems and other health issues to both humans and pets.

Should I remove baseboards before refinishing hardwood floors?

As a general rule, we recommend leaving your base and shoe on when having your floors refinished, especially if it is painted. Depending on how the painters prepped your base, you can actually cause more damage to the base and walls by removing it.

When should floors be refinished?

A solid hardwood plank at least 3/4 inches thick will likely need to be refinished four to six times during its total lifespan. It's commonly accepted that you refinish every seven to ten years.

Are hardwood floors worth it?

As CNN reported, hardwood floors can also increase home value by 3-5%. This makes them a very attractive prospect for anyone looking to sell their house in the near future. However, even if you don't plan on moving any time soon, hardwood floors may still be a good investment.

Does hardwood flooring increase home value?

Hardwood floors are one of the best flooring options for homeowners looking to increase the resale value of their home, with hardwood typically yielding around a 75% return on investment.

How much does it cost to put hardwood floors in a 12x12 room?

Typical costs: Installing a standard solid-strip hardwood floor averages about $8 a square foot for materials, insulation and site finishing, and up to $12 a square foot for wide pine planks, or $1,150-$1,750 for a 12x12-foot room.

What color hardwood floor is timeless?

A choice of timeless hardwood floor colors

Brown Maple floors have hues of rich gold, amber and brown. Cherry floors feature a burnished auburn color that will darken over time. Hickory offers hues from lighter blonde sapwood to cocoa brown and beige heartwood. Red Oak comes in deep, salmon tones.

Are hardwood floors going out of style?

And additionally, hardwood flooring will never go out of style. If you're looking to replace your flooring in your home, hardwood flooring may be at the top of your list. Of all the flooring trends in recent years and historically, hardwood flooring has become a mainstay in homes all over the world.

What color hardwood floor is best for resale?

Dark stained hardwood flooring is by far the best selection when it comes to overall popularity and resale value. Some of the best darks stains for wood are espresso, dark walnut, and antique brown. These darker colors often give way to more color combinations since they do not lean towards a yellow or orange tint.

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