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Red oak hardwood floor issue

2 years ago

Hi! I had our hardwood floors sanded and restained. They were originally dark and I wanted to change to natural. The problem I have is they have black throughout. It looks like they did not sand the old stain out enough to me. Our contractor said they did and pointed to nails that showed through in some areas abs that is just what the floor looked like w the two coats of Bona traffic. The whole floor looks dirty. If I resanded would I have this issue again? Do I have to go back to dark floors?

Featured Answer

millworkman

2 years ago

That looks to me like the grain of the wood maybe took some stain deeper. You are not getting that out. Of course you show only a few boards so I may be incorrect as well.

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Comments (12)

PRO
G & S Floor Service
2 years ago
Stain in the soft grains is difficult to remove. You do not know exactly how deep it penetrated. Especially if, it is new stain. That stuff keeps seeping in, tough to remove. Can do some more sanding. It's a 50/50 chance it will clean up.
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I'm in Canada, so I get the cool feeling. As a cork flooring professional I have 'issues' with in-floor radiant heat because the product I LOVE (love cork....LOOOOOOOVE IT!) cannot go over top. Cork has TOO HIGH of an insulation value. It counter-acts any heat that is trying to push through. Wood is a semi-conductor. It will allow 'some' energy (ie. heat, electricity) through while blocking the rest of it. For that reason, most people who want in-floor radiant heat to warm their toes use tile, stone or carpet (are you trying to heat the HOUSE with the radiant heat or are you warming your toes?). The other issue I have with in-floor radiant heat = it severely limits the product you are allowed to use over top. The BIGGEST issue is with ELECTRIC HEAT. Sigh....the stuff that is used most often in 'renovations' with radiant heat. Ahem....electric radiant systems are not the one's who tell you what can and cannot go over their product. They will 'claim' just about anything to get you to purchase their product. Nope. It is the FLOORING manufacturer who says, "Appropriate for use with hydronic in-floor radiant heat." Notice I changed to 'hydronic' with that last statement? Yep. Hydronic = water/oil/gel. It is the most efficient, expensive and the most rigorous to install. It can (potentially) raise the floor height of the room by more than 1". It can be hung from the subfloor BELOW the floors (that means you need access to ceiling in your basement (assuming you have a basement...I can't tell). That will keep the floor-raise to a minimum (or zero...). It is still expensive to install. So...my question is: which TYPE of in-floor radiant heat are you using? Hydronic? Electric? Or my favourite 'oldy but a goodie' = Forced Air (yes...I've seen it! Soooo interesting...from a house built in the 1950's)? The TYPE of in-floor radiant system AND the REASON for the heat (whole home system or just warming your toes) will dictate WHAT you are allowed to put over top.
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terriwiborg
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you both! I appreciate it. I guess I’ll have contractor resend and stain darker. Was hoping to have a lighter floor but since it is so dark throughout it looks dirty.
millworkman
2 years ago
Show some more pics as I would not find that offensive, unless there is a tremendous amount of that darker grain.
Karen
2 years ago
I thought that wood floors that got wet (and stayed wet), turned dark like that. I would check for moisture, but no clue if it will ever come out. Maybe a bleach type for wood?
terriwiborg
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks Karen! The dark is from the original stain.
PRO
Uptown Floors
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
What's the rest of the floor look like? One board is not a realistic redo unless you want to pay for it. Floors are made to walk on. It's not furniture.
Timothy Winzell
2 years ago
This is typical with Red Oak. I'd consider whether to go back darker. You can either have a color you like with dark grain or a color you like less over all. Tough choice.
SJ McCarthy
2 years ago
I have no issue with this. It is wood. It had a life before the finish. You have face nailed hardwood floors which means you can only go so deep with these guys.

I personally would spend my $7/sf on something else. Ahem...yes. I said $7/sf. That's often what we see as a price tag for Bona Traffic HD with 3 coats.

I would give it 6 months. If you STILL feel the floors look 'dirty' then bring the guys back in and pay for them to redo the floors. Go ahead and spend the $7/sf again...and go ahead and ask for a 3 coat system. It is MUCH tougher than the 2 coat that they have given you.
Karen
2 years ago
I think I would just let it go. I love the light color. (I have medium dark hickory floors, but in my new granny flat, I’m going to go lighter for a change. When they were first put in, I freaked out at the color variation. I no longer notice it.
Kate
2 years ago
I like the variation and the feel of history.
terriwiborg
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you everyone. I will live with it a month and see if I can get over all the left over stain in the cracks.

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