skip to main content

Flooring Design Dilemma

Matching (up to 90%) of existing hardwood floor possible?

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

I am closing an house soon and is considering to replace existing carpet to hardwood. Due to the time we have in current residence, we will need to move into the place within a few weeks of closing. One dilemma I have is the transition from carpet to existing hardwood floor between the dining room and kitchen. The existing hardwood floor is oak (red oak?) at 2 1/4" strip in the kitchen area/dinette (refinished in 2003 but in good shape, original with the house for 35 years), and I want to change the carpet in the dinning room to the same oak. I know there was discussion in the past and I know it wouldn't be 100% matched if I just install prefinished hardwood (even 2 1/4" strip with similar stain and same oak species), but wondering how good of a job it can be done (selection of new floors, design ideas etc) if I want to go this route. I know another approach is to install unfinished floor and maybe "weave" in between the old ones followed by on-site finish/refinish, but for personal reasons I probably won't do that. I would be grateful to hear any idea/suggestion you may have (is it OK to just pick one floor that is similar enough since there is a "door frame" between kitchen and dinning room). Please see pictures below showing the transition between kitchen and dinning room.

A less critical issue (?) is that its living room and family room which also have carpet. Since they are sunken room (one step down from neighboring area) I am thinking that the difference wouldn't be noticeable as long as I use similar strip width and same species/same stain, but would love to hear any thought as well.

Comments (2)

tozmo1
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I recently renovated my 1969 split level house with original red oak floors. On the main floor, I completely refinished and wove in new red oak were there was previously tile and it is all one color now. But, at the landing of the top level, I did not redo the wood floors, picture attached. As you can see they are noticeably different, which I think makes it work. Trying to match and missing is not good. Make it look intentional. I'm not familiar with prefinished hardwoods. Can they be refinished at some point? If so, you'll want to be sure that if you ever do refinish all the floors, they can eventually wind up the same color.
PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
3 years ago
It shouldn't be hard to match the flooring and stain color. This is pretty typical flooring and should be no problem for a reputable flooring contractor. Just be consistent in terms of the direction of the floor planks from one room to the next.
Related Discussions
Adding new hardwoods to existing hardwoods
Q
Comments (5)
My daughter had new #1 unstained, site-finished, red oak installed in her kitchen. Her kitchen opens to her den and dining room. Both of those rooms had 90-year-old red oak which she refinished a few years prior. A threshold was installed between the dining room and kitchen where both rooms' butt ends adjoin the threshold. No threshold was installed between the den and kitchen where the length of the board in both rooms adjoins the two rooms. Six months later, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between the new and old floors. All of her floors were finished with an oil based poly. You could use a different width if you insist, but your home will harmonize better if you are consistent.
...See More
Anyone lay hardwood in kitchen and match to existing hardwood?
Q
Comments (5)
I had the exact same issue. Initially they thought they could do it. But my house is old and when they did the demo they said the way they did the spacing of the supports under the wood on the older section cannot be duplicated today and the floor would never look even and the old section would always be a little higher and "squeaky". Ended up doing the whole floor. However, the hallways are old hardwood as well and the transition (via a doorway) seems fine.
...See More
Has anyone 'matched' existing hardwood?
Q
Comments (12)
YES!! I just got home after being away for 4 days while my DH put the finish on the oak flooring he'd patched into the old stuff. (We knocked down a wall and the original kitchen space had linoleum, we needed to match the existing 1956 red oak that had been refinished by the P.O. 2 years ago.) I was really worried it wouldn't match, but it's PERFECT. DH used to work for a wood flooring company so he knew not to stain it... we simply used a natural untinted finish like the rest of the floor has. I cannot believe how good it looks!! It's ever-so-slightly glossier than the older finish, but he says he is going to lightly buff the "seam" to blend it. It's much better than I expected! We spent about $3/sf on the wood, DIY labor, and I don't know how much on the finish.
...See More
Matching new floors to existing hardwood
Q
Comments (6)
You have site finished hardwood. That's the easiest hardwood to match. Simply install the SAME SPECIES (same width of plank, same "cut", same grade) and have the same wood flooring professionals come out and mix your colour to match what they did previously. If you don't want the same colour, then choose another colour for the new part. But the most important thing is to match the WOOD! That way, in the future you can have all the same colour if you want it. There is nothing more frustrating that trying to get two different species to look "the same" when adding a stain. Many have tried...and all have cried because of the failures. Personally I would have had the wood installed at the same time you had your hardwood floors refinished. That would have made every thing the easiest/cheapest. There would have been no concerns about colour matching.
...See More

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

FLOORS 6 Alternative Flooring Ideas to Kick Up Your Style

By Toronto Interior Design Group

Rubber, cork, concrete and other materials are worthy options in lieu of hardwood or tile

MATERIALS What to Ask Before Choosing a Hardwood Floor

By Mitchell Parker

We give you the details on cost, installation, wood varieties and more to help you pick the right hardwood flooring

REMODELING GUIDES Contractor Tips: Smooth Moves for Hardwood Floors

By Buckminster Green LLC

Dreaming of gorgeous, natural wood floors? Consider these professional pointers before you lay the first plank

HOUSEKEEPING How to Clean Hardwood Floors

By Bonnie McCarthy

Gleaming wood floors are a thing of beauty. Find out how to keep them that way

REMODELING GUIDES Transition Time: How to Connect Tile and Hardwood Floors

By By Any Design Ltd.

Plan ahead to prevent unsightly or unsafe transitions between floor surfaces. Here's what you need to know

FLOORS How to Paint Your Hardwood Floors

By Ventana Construction LLC

Know how to apply nail polish? Then you can give your wooden floors a brand-new look

FLOORS Floors Warm Up to Radiant Heat

By Lindsey M. Roberts

Toasty toes and money saved are just two benefits of radiant heat under your concrete, wood or tile floors

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen Flooring 101: Find Your Material Match

By Lisa Frederick

From cork to concrete, our guide will help you pick the perfect surface for your kitchen floor

BATHROOM DESIGN Warm Up Your Bathroom With Heated Floors

By Tiffany Carboni

If your bathroom floor is leaving you cold, try warming up to an electric heating system

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

More Discussions

Floor dilemma when we remove peninsula

19

Bona HD Finish on raw maple: to seal or not to seal

0

wood look porcelain floors

2

Basement vinyl floor recommendations?

1

Help with stain mix on red oak floor

1