Instead, consider having a custom mixed stain matched to the same intensity of the existing wood. This often entails having a contractor water down a stain color until it matches the sun-faded or dulled tones of the existing planks.
Sanding and staining/sealing the entire floor is your best option. Matching will be nearly impossible.
The good news is that unfinished hardwood flooring lets you easily adjust the floor's color. So if you match the species, thickness, grade, and plank width, you've accomplished most of the task. So, if the current floors are oak and you match that species and grade, the final step is matching the color.
With Shaw's Floorvana color matching app, you can now capture and connect your inspiration with the perfect flooring for all of your rooms through patent-pending color matching technology.
Color: find a floor with a similar tone to your pre-existing floors for a cohesive design. Thickness: a smooth transition is key, so look for a floor that is the same or very similar thickness as your current flooring. Plank style: matching the same plank style is important for a consistent appearance.
Woods that are similar but not the same don't typically look good together. To install two different shades of hardwood, a good rule of thumb is to go dark with one and light on the other. You can also get by with medium-dark and medium-light. An example is mahogany next to maple or white oak.
Xylorix Inspector is our flagship mobile app that provides automated wood identification through captured macroscopic end-grain images.
If you are looking for a match, measure the width of your floorboards and ensure your new planks are the same width. If it is an older floor, measure a few planks to get the average, as the planks may have warped and expanded over time.
Sanding smooths out the uneven areas, and refinishing restores the wood's original appearance. Planeing: Planeing involves shaving wood from high spots to even out the floor. This technique is commonly used when a hardwood floor has mild unevenness but doesn't require a full refinishing.
Laminate flooring is one of the easiest types to install over hardwood. There is virtually no preparation that is required. If, however, the hardwood flooring underneath is wavy, you will want to level it before placing laminate over it.
You'll want to match the type of wood as well as the grade of the floorboard. You'll need to match the width of the planks and the color of the finish as well. And depending on the amount of wear in adjacent rooms, you can choose to texture your new floorboards to create the appearance of an older floor.
In short, yes—you absolutely can stain your wood floors without sanding. It's not only possible, but it's also a great way to refresh the look of your floors without all the hassle, dust, and effort that comes with traditional sanding. That said, it's important to go into this process with realistic expectations.
Striking Contrasts: The Beauty of Natural Stone
Natural stone stands tall as an outstanding choice when looking for a flooring option that exudes sophistication and provides a stunning contrast to your hardwood floors. Materials like marble, granite, or slate create a sense of luxury and unparalleled visual impact.
So, can you mix and match hardwood floors? The short answer is yes, you can definitely mix and match hardwoods throughout a home. With the right approach, you can even place two different woods next to each other.
Using a transition piece is a great way to create a smooth and seamless flow between different types of flooring. A transition piece is a small strip that sits between two types of flooring, making it easy to move from one surface to another.
Depending on the age of your floor, matching your existing floor can be difficult, but nonetheless, it is possible.
To distinguish between natural wood, laminate, and vinyl flooring, observe the pattern repetition on the boards. Natural wood will have unique variations like knots and grain patterns, while laminate and vinyl will show repeated, uniform patterns due to their mass-produced printed layers.
Does the wood have an open, porous texture? Most softwoods will be almost perfectly smooth with no grain indentations, while many common hardwoods have an open pore structure, such as oak or mahogany; though there are some hardwoods that are also smooth to the touch, such as maple.
Match Tones
Choose whichever sample is closest in color to the existing floor. Even though the match may not be exact, once furniture, area rugs and accessories are added to the space, the slight difference in floors will be minimized.
Match it + See it + Love it
Take inspiration to the next level with Floorvana +, a tool to help you find your perfect flooring match. Upload images of rooms, see your selection in different installation options, and share your design vision with others through this award-winning, real-time Augmented Reality experience.
Finish: Note the finish of the wood (e.g., matte, satin, semi-gloss, gloss). Matching the sheen is essential for visual continuity. Color and Stain: Even within the same wood species, color can vary depending on the stain used. Bring a sample of your existing floor to a flooring store for comparison.