skip to main content

Flooring Design Dilemma

What stain for a rich, dark finish on white oak floor

6 years ago

We are refinishing our living room and dining room white oak, laminate wood floors. I'm looking for recommendations and photos of Duraseal or Minwax stains that will achieve a rich, dark finish - similar to the floors in the picture below. Thanks in advance for your input and suggestions.

Featured Answer

hummingalong2

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

I didn't know it was possible to refinish or restain 'laminate' wood floors?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

PRO
G & S Floor Service
6 years ago
A regular stand alone stain will not be that dense. You will have to find, a finisher that knows how to layer colors by pre-toning the wood with aniline dye and then your choice of stain color. In your case, pre-tone with ebony aniline dye and layer with antique brown or espresso. How well, the pre-tone is applied will be critical of the final stain outcome.

If, you do not want to go that route. You will have to find a finisher that knows how to apply General Finishes water base floor stains. Water base stains has a short working time and can lap. Normal stains are not dense enough, even when pre-treating the wood by water popping.
Jane N thanked G & S Floor Service
PRO
Johnson Flooring Co Inc
6 years ago
Maybe DuraSeal True Black?
Jane N thanked Johnson Flooring Co Inc
Related Discussions
Issue staining Red Oak hardwood floor (Dark Stain)
Q
Comments (4)
What you have in your pics is a factory finished floor. It is difficult to get that kind of consistent look when staining unfinished, especially if the unfinished has boards with mixed sawing characteristics. The face sawn material will take up and hold the least pigment and will be the yellow boards you are seeing. We can sometimes get a more even look by using a sand grit sequence to allow more pigment to be deposited on the floor and by doing what we call waterpopping; you may still get variations, but it will look as even as it's going to get. I don't do this...but some of my colleagues will first use an analine dye and then, when it is dry, will follow that up with a pigmented stain. Talk with your finisher.
...See More
Staining white oak floors with dark cabinets?
Q
Comments (11)
Everyone probably differs in what they like in a wood. I don't mind the differences in color, I kind of like that, but I don't like the heavily grained boards that scream "oak", so I put the boards with the more consistant grain in the midde rather than all the light ones. Some people probably love the grain. It just goes to show how different it can be depending on who is installing it. I probably would have preferred maple, but some people think that looks like a gym, it is more modern, and it would not have matched the rest of house as much, or the cabinets, since it is even lighter than oak. You might have liked that better, though, since it tends to be lighter and more consistent in color, I think. Sue
...See More
Going from dark brown to no stain on white oak floors?
Q
Comments (6)
Set the nails and trowel fill the entire floor. Then do the final sanding pass. The filler will cover up the joints and nails.
...See More
What's the best dark stain on Red Oak Floors?
Q
Comments (11)
Have the FLOORING PROFESSIONAL (ahem...not some 'guy' who also knocks down walls) to offer STAIN PATCHES. A stain patch is a patch of stain (usually they offer 3-5 different stains) with a SINGLE COAT of finish. The coat of finish is a MUST!!! Without the finish you are picking blind. If the builder is using red oak they are almost certainly using 'oil based' poly. Oil based poly = turns orange. And orange + red = FIRE RED. That's why you must stipulate: 1. Colour patches will be offered for viewing/choosing by the customer 2. Colour patches MUST be coated with 1 coat of polyurethane finish 3. Colour patches will be left on the floor for 24-48 hours so the homeowner can watch the stain turn colour throughout all lighting situations. 4. Customer will SIGN the stain they want and photograph for posterity before the sand/refinish is to occur. Realize that ALL of these stipulations will do two things: 1. Slow down the process 2. Irritate the Bejesus out of the Builder Be calm and firm and carry on. If the builder is cheaping out, you will know. It will be apparent in their reaction to your stipulations (put in writing of course). The bigger the negative reaction the cheaper s/he is working.
...See More
PRO
User
6 years ago
The color in that photo looks like the True Black stain.

If you want a deep, dark, rich looking color then you should consider water-popping your floors prior to staining them. A good flooring specialist will know exactly what you mean when you ask them to water pop your floors. You have a good chance of attaining that stain color by water-popping the floors, using the True Black stain and an oil based polyurethane.

*Key note* have your flooring contractor swatch a sample for you before applying it throughout the living and dining room.
Jane N thanked User
PRO
Cancork Floor Inc.
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Did you mean engineered hardwood? Or did you mean laminate? Laminate is not wood. It is a photo of wood laid down over fibre board and is not something that can be refinished.

Perhaps you meant engineered hardwood (real hardwood made up of layers of wood rather than solid hardwood).
Jane N thanked Cancork Floor Inc.
Jane N
Original Author
6 years ago
Yes, I misspoke - they are engineered hardwood. And we'll be sure to do water popping and layering - tho' I think we'll stick with stain rather than dye as we do want some of the wood grain to show. Thank you for your attention and helpful info!

Related Stories

KITCHEN DESIGN Bleached White Oak Cabinets Star in This Two-Tone Kitchen

By Jeannie Matteucci

The cabinets and a new layout transform a once-dark New Jersey kitchen into a light and bright space

ROOM OF THE DAY Room of the Day: White and Teak Brighten a Dark Kitchen

By Jennifer Blaise Kramer

A modern-rustic design brings in more light and style, while a new open floor plan increases entertaining options

REMODELING GUIDES Are You Gutsy Enough to Paint Your Floor White?

By KitchenLab Interiors

Sleek and glossy or softened by wear, white floors charm

DECORATING GUIDES What Goes With Dark Wood Floors?

By Laura Gaskill

Avoid a too-heavy look or losing your furniture in a sea of darkness with these ideas for decor pairings

DECORATING GUIDES Finish Your Floors to Perfection With Parquet

By Elements of Style

Add value and gorgeous detail to your home with timeless and elegant parquet flooring in a classic design

DECORATING GUIDES 9 Ways to Use Rich, Dark Paint

By Jason Ball Interior Design

See how deep colors — navy blue, charcoal, dark chocolate — can bring out your home's best details

LOFTS My Houzz: White Paint and Light Floors Transform a Chicago Loft

By Rachel Loewen Photography

Fresh holiday ideas add a festive touch to a couple’s renovated Scandinavian- and industrial-style home

BATHROOM MAKEOVERS Dark-Floored Bathroom Offers Ocean Views From Tub and Shower

By Allison McLeay

Designers in San Diego kept the vista in mind when choosing the remodeled bathroom’s layout and materials

COLORFUL KITCHENS Rich Color Adds Depth to a Modern White Kitchen

By Lara Sargent

Aubergine cabinetry and walnut shelves give this pale, pared-down kitchen a shot of warmth and drama

REMODELING GUIDES Your Floor: An Introduction to Solid-Plank Wood Floors

Get the Pros and Cons of Oak, Ash, Pine, Maple and Solid Bamboo

Sponsored

Red Pine Landscaping

Industry Leading Landscape Contractors in Franklin County, OH

More Discussions

What color stain should I go with?

4

Has anyone used CORETEC Noble Oak luxury vinyl?

0

SOS: need urgently 2 1/4"unfinished red oak with bevel

8

flooring help please

1

Bona Traffic Anti-Slip

0