We have used aniline dyes for making wood paneling very dark. It isn't easy to find, but good woodworking shops carry it & Lee Valley carries it through mail order. It is like a stain, then you would put a finish over it.

The one on the left seems very dark to me. Can barely make out the grain of the wood. Once it's in, I would think that the overall effect will be very dark like you want it.

If these people can't do what you want, why would you use them?

Also, I learned after I had already used minwax on my entire upstairs (and we were having problems with it drying) that it is not regarded as a high quality product a professional would use.

I would find a different floor company.

One other note- have you read the threads here about dark hardwoods?

Oh Traci, you are living the life I want to live! I wanted really dark ebony hardwood too, but my Border Collie and ES convinced me that I'd be a nutcase if I did that! I can't wait to see your pictures when it's all done.

Maybe this flooring company isn't used to doing darker floors? Can you ask around or find a neighbor that has the color you're looking to achieve and find out who did theirs? Did you already pay these guys to lay AND finish the flooring?

Good luck!

Kat :)

P.s. I still owe you an email, I haven't forgotten!

We used Ebony + Jacobean (a dark or fumed oak color) and the floor had to be treated or roughened up so the pores of the wood were open--and it took several coats. I cant remember if it was Minwas or BonaChemi.(spelling?) Some floor finishers apparently wet (with water) the floor to open the pores, let it dry and then apply the stain. The process took days, it was not an in and out refinish.

Just ebony came out greenish with black grain on oak.

The floors are now dark dark brownish black with hint of grain. Also they can Never be refinished again..apparently to get all this color out would sand them too thin.

Thanks everyone for the advice!

mfrog - I've read about the aniline dye and am thinking that's probably what we need, but I'm a bit wary since the info I've seen is a bit mixed (about whether to use on floors) and the flooring company seems to have never heard of it, therefore would they really do a good job??

pluckymama - I think the photo actually makes the stain look a bit better than in person, but the brown is more reddish and we really want a blacker look (but without actually just painting the floor!). But the stain sample is supposedly done exactly the way the floor would be finished with poly and everything, so would basically look just like that.

cocontom - I have seen some other dark floor threads on here - thanks! I think we will investigate other floor companies, but I'm afraid that since the REALLY dark floors don't seem to be very common, most companies will probably tell us the same thing. I've heard similar things in the past about Minwax - they do use other stains though as well.

Kat - ask me if I regret it after I've lived with the dark floors for a while - haha! Of course, that's assuming I ever get them! Luckily, we've only paid the company for installing so far + a small additional amount that we would insist they reimburse us if they can't provide the service we requested. I'm sure when we originally said ebony they thought they would just use the usual ebony stain and it wouldn't be an issue since most people don't want floors that are so dark. I tried to stress to them that I didn't think the stain would be dark enough, and sure enough, it's not.

palimpsest - do you have a photo of your floor? Would love to see it! Everything I've read does state that the grain needs to be "popped" with water, but I'm not sure even that will help entirely.

Here's a photo that's kind of what I'm looking for (maybe not quite as shiny):
{{!gwi}}

I'm hoping we come up with some solution before I drive myself completely crazy and they have to put me away! Then I'd never even get to enjoy the new space after all this torture :)

I am also wanting to stain my oak floors dark (although not ebony). Some people water pop the floor and others use dye or an iron/tar application. A few months ago I ran across a site talking about ebonizing a red oak floor and it has the basic directions as well as great photos.

Here is a link to the photos (not mine): ebonized floor pictures from woodnet

Here is a link to the discussion about the floors: Discussion about ebonized floors

As for the contractor, run, run, run. If they haven't done a dark floor, you don't want to be their test place! They may be the nicest people in the world, but asking someone to do something new is just asking for heartbreak.

Hope this helps!

You said you needed advice from anyone who had dark hardwood floors.....here's mine......dust at least three times a day!!!.....they are always dusty~~

nkkp - I just saw that site right before you posted it! I love the way that floor turned out! I'm going to try to find companies who have used those Transtint dyes since I think I'd be happy if I could just get the floor darker than the stain will allow - not sure I'd want someone doing the iron/vinegar solution on the floor! I definitely don't want to be the guinea pig for some really complicated process that a company has never done!

phoggie - I'm probably crazy for wanting dark wood floors. Maybe all the dust and fumes from remodeling over the last 7-8 months have gotten to me finally :)