Normally the advice would be to use stain with a green tint to neutralize the red, but that's not the advice when you want a whitewashed look. There is a way to achieve what you want, but it takes a lot of work. The process is so specialized that perhaps someone who knows more about it will see and comment. I would definitely ask for a discount on the installation given that what was delivered and installed was not what was promised. Also look into Loba 2K Supra A.T. for the top coat as its durability and look are outstanding. One of the better ways to approach this might just be to change expectations as to what you are wanting. White wood isn't something that naturally occurs in nature. Even white oak can be yellow and sometimes nearly indistinguishable from red oak. The easier approach to real wood flooring is to go with a real wood look and then let your other finishes carry the white color at eye level.

You poor thing. You could have put in White Oak and avoided all of this. You need to bleach the floors. They will never be anything but pink no matter what you do if you don’t bleach them. I just did a house and had the same problem. It really wasn’t a big deal to bleach them it’s a two-step bleach that you can order through your flooring supplier. You put One part on and leave it and when it’s the right color you put the next step on to stop the bleaching then you mop the floor and let it dry. Loba is a brand of floor finishing that I discovered and love. I finished the floor with this product and it looks exactly like raw blonde Swedish floors. They are extremely durable and rated for commercial heavy traffic. Two coats and we were done. You just need to find a A floor installer that isn’t afraid of a little bleach! LOL I’ve used it in furniture refinishing for years so it’s not scary for me but I thought I was going to have to get my finisher a Xanax. LOL. Good luck. Just remember there isn’t any product out there they won’t make your floors pink if you have red Oak. Bleach bleach bleach

Pagosapamie - Your Red oak floors are lovely. Yes bleaching is an extra (and expensive) step in the 'lightening' of Red Oak....but if you WANT the really light stuff then it has to be done.

Personally I really like the paleness of Red Oak with a water based finish over top (love me that Loba 2K Supra AT...that stuff wears like iron!). Yah there is a hint of cinnamon to it...but who cares. It's like the difference between Swedish Blonde and Strawberry Blonde. Blonde is blonde.

thanks everyone for the inputs and encouragement. pagospamie - the floors do look beautiful.

We might eventually decide to stay with the strawberry blonde after all!! Bleaching still sounds intimidating.

We were reading about Bona products - Nordic seal and natural seal - and might try these out.

Hi There, Did you decide to bleach or just use a whitener? Do you have any photos of the final product? We have the same issue with our red oak flooring and would like to get the red out for a lighter, more scandanavian look.

I am in the same boat and while my red oak floors are in good shape they become crazy orange. Isn't there a top coat with stain one can use-- instead of having to sand, (perhaps bleach) then top coat again. Is there a way to lightly refinish a floor with a top coat that has color in it to neutralize the reds/orange of the red oak.

The orange is from the oil-based finish. No, you cannot erase this topically. Sand and refinish using a water-based finish like Loba 2K Supra AT with WS EasyPrime primer, and you will achieve that natural finish you want.