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Remodeling Flooring Kitchens

Arg! What happened to my floors!

4 years ago

We are finishing up a kitchen renovation, which involved opening up the kitchen, living and dining rooms. They then replaced some of the oak hardwoods, and the entire space, as well as, attached hallway was refinished and stained. It was supposed to match existing hardwood flooring of rooms attached to said hallway.

Backstory- 10 years ago we had the floors done in dark walnut, they are more of a provincial color now.

Newly done floors were stained too dark, they said they could lighten, and they somehow did go back and lighten them a bit, but having cured now, not only are they still too dark, but they have a grayish tone, are dull, and have a rough texture. Basically, they always look dirty. When I do a quick wipe with vinegar solution the tone warms up and they shine, but as soon as it dries they dull down again.

Our old project manager left the company, and now we’re dealing with someone new to our project (Not super helpful with my floor conundrum), not to mention we are months behind schedule and had to move back into the house with 2 toddlers.

Does anyone know if there is an easy fix to this project? Maybe another coat of poly? Or are we going to be stuck going back through the refinishing process again?

help!!!

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Comments (2)

herbflavor
4 years ago
The rough texture is the greatest concern If it were mine. furring is to be avoided. No matter what the existing group offers to do I would first get a separate refinishing company to come and evaluate and invoice what they would do to make it right. (Hang on to their quote). Then work w the group you have to try and solve this. my neighbor went thru this and had to have a complete redo of a job......and she found a different group and they made it right.
SJ McCarthy
4 years ago
OK...so this didn't work out at all. First and foremost, you need to find out if the SPECIES of wood is a MATCH. Then you have to check to see if the CUT is correct (quarter vs rift, etc). These two things can radically change the appearance of a stain.

Then you have to find out if they used an OIL BASED finish or a water based finish. Oil based finishes will amber (turn yellow) as they age/dry. When they offered a stain patch for you to view, did they apply a single coat of finish to compare the new to the old? Think back. If you don't remember seeing it then it didn't happen = not the right way to go about it.

Now that you have discovered the finish (oil vs. water) you now have to find out the GLOSS LEVEL. That 'dull' look could be a matte or a satin finish. The grit in the finish can be roughed up and a new coat of poly applied with the proper gloss level.

But this all started with the STAIN. And if the STAIN isn't the right colour (which can be deathly difficult to match...depending on wood species, light exposure and poly finish on the original) then you have to remove everything down to raw wood and start again.

Please post photos. Especially any in-progress photos would be very helpful. And please find out if the Build company has used a PROFESSIONAL hardwood flooring installer vs. using a 'guy' who ALSO does the flooring for them.
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