Whether it’s your new home or you are renovating an old timber flooring, floor staining and polishing are crucial steps that will determine the overall look and life of timber floors. When done correctly, they will not only accentuate the look of your timber floor but improve its longevity, thus increasing the value of your home. It all starts with selecting the right stains and polish.
To make the process less challenging, consider these factors while selecting a timber floor stain and polish.
1. Your Hardwood Flooring Type
The first thing to consider is the type of your hardwood. Staining is a great way of adding a desired colour and effect to timber flooring, but the thing is, every timber floor is not suitable for staining. For instance, certain wooden species like maple, pine, walnut, and birch are not good for staining. It’s because they are tight-grained— their pores are smaller and also spread unevenly. It makes stains harder to penetrate, resulting in uneven finishes and bare pigmentation. Besides that, some coniferous species like pine offer higher resistance to stains as they contain natural oils.
It’s also important to note that stains can bleed back if applied with a finish that’s not compatible. So, in these instances, it’s better to stick to natural tones. But if you need a bit of staining, consult with a timber floor sanding and polishing professional for assistance.
2. Your Interior Style
The next thing to consider is your interior style. You can go two ways: either choose a stain and finish that compliments your interior or set a statement with dramatic timber floor finishing. It’s always your choice. If you are confused, start with your favourite look, whether you like a minimalistic clean look or a dramatic look. Also, consider the size of your rooms and the amount of light they receive for selecting a stain. For instance, a smaller room with less lighting is perfect for lighter wooden stains and gloss finishes, as this combination will make the room appear spacious and bright.
Working with an interior designer and timber flooring professional can help you choose the right finishes. Perhaps if there is a particular look you are trying to achieve, your flooring professional will be able to help you.
3. Have Pets?
When you are choosing a finish, one of the most important things to consider is your pets. If you have pets, it means more fur on the floor and possible scratches and stains. Firstly, let’s talk about the stain. A light-coloured floor tends to hide light-coloured hairs, while a dark floor hides dark-coloured hairs. If cleaning is not a concern, you have more staining choices. Otherwise, stick with a colour that hides your pet hairs (but make sure to clean them as quickly as possible). Secondly, the finish— you must choose hardwearing finishes like urethanes/polyurethanes and a suitable additive like aluminium oxide that makes timber floors highly scratch resistant.
4. Renting Out?
Another thing to consider is if you are going to rent your property, you need to choose stains and finishes that will not only give your property a good aesthetic appeal but makes maintenance easy. Regardless of the stains you choose, the flooring finish must be hardwearing and easy to clean.
Whatever finish and stain you choose, ask your flooring professional for samples to decide if you like it.
If you are looking for a professional floor sanding and polishing service that can assist you in selecting the right timber floor stain and polish for your home, contact our team or fill out our contact form, and we will contact you shortly.