The amount of stain that a floor can absorb is finite.
How to stain unfinished floor.
If you are already happy with the color of the hardwood you do not need to stain the floor.
Woods like cherry pine and birch can become blotchy and unattractive when stained unless you use a sealer before staining.
If your concrete floor is not in good condition consider using a solid color concrete stain or painting it instead.
However over time tastes change and things in your home will become worn including your solid wood floors.
Using excess amounts or applying multiple coats of stain can cause the stain to bleed back where it wicks back up to the surface of the board as solvent begins to evaporate.
If you are short on time look for fast drying wood stain that is dry to the touch within an hour.
Move on to waxing and buffing the floor or apply a clear polyurethane finish.
As the name suggests stain can leave permanent discolorations on whatever it touches.
For the best results test the possible finishes on scrap pieces before you start.
Some types of wood like pine cherry birch and maple are notoriously difficult to stain.
Staining a hardwood floor is almost always done as an application to bare wood one of the finishing steps when installing new unfinished hardwood flooring although it is also possible to change the stain color of an existing floor by staining over the old finish.
The semi transparent stain is a great choice for concrete that s in pretty good shape since it s not an opaque covering the original concrete will show through.
Decide whether or not you want to stain your floor.
Solid wood floors are a huge investment to make in your home and if looked after well will be a beautiful feature for years to come.
Knowing how to stain and seal a hardwood floor properly pays off in having a beautiful finish and enduring protection.
How to stain a solid wood floor.
The cure time can be anywhere from 1 month to 1 year.
If your concrete is new wait for it to fully cure before staining.
Gel stain is thicker providing better control of the color.
Many interior wood stains and deck stains are formulated with pigment or dye.
Wood stain can highlight the natural hues of the wood or it can give your floor a unique colorful twist.
It also primes the wood surface for the stain and finish and it s a necessary operation when you fill gaps between the boards which you almost always have to do need tools for your project.
One tip is that you may need to rent a floor grinder to get your floors level and smooth.
Sanding a new unfinished floor is a necessary chore.
Staining and sealing hardwood floors the right way whether you re refinishing refurbishing or stripping the wood floor results in years of enjoyment.
We used behr semi transparent concrete stain in tuscan gold from home depot to give our sunroom s unfinished looking concrete floors a warm wash of honey gold color.