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Design Dilemma The Old House Flooring

Old Red Oak flooring (assuming) Finishing Ideas

last month

Help! I have been working on redoing the flooring in my house. I’m assuming it’s old red oak (pre 1960). For reference, I have a child and two dogs and need something that can withstand that. I saw a post of someone talking about putting 2 coats of the Bona Nordic Seal and then 3 coats of Bona MegaONE (which I loved). On the other hand, I heard someone use the Bona Classic instead. I’m trying to avoid the floors being orange/yellow toned. I heard the Bona Nordic is difficult to DIY and can leave streaks, so I’m unsure of what to do! Photos of my unfinished floors are provided for reference.

Featured Answer

acm

last month

Floors look beautiful! Lucky you. Sorry, no experience with the specific finishes you're considering, but an untinted sealant seems the best idea.

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Comments (10)

lisedv
last month
I have no experience with the mentioned products but maybe consider this regarding your choice on the finish:
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last month
last modified: last month
IMO refinishing wood floors is not usually DIY and with a dog even less so. One dog hair will make you crazy when it is stuck in the finish. My advice first find out what wood that is .Then get some real help as to what finish to choose .What is the flooring in the kitchen it does not look the same and also why layed in a different direction?How are you going to handle the patch needed whare it looks like white whatever. Patches need to be woven in to look best . My advice get a pro to do this job since you have left the baseboard on to sand IMO you are not ready to DIY this . The basborads all need to be removed before sanding and refinishing .
L C
Original Author
last month
The house is currently not being lived in. The flooring was installed that way when the house was purchased. The flooring in the kitchen had vinyl flooring that covered it, so the flooring is original to the house and looked like that when the vinyl was pulled up. No idea what the white part is, but plan to fix it. The flooring in the kitchen is newer and was covered. The sanding is already almost done, with minor things the be done. Quarter round still needs to go down. So my post was about what kind of finish and seal would be best for the circumstances of what the floors would come in contact with, appreciate your comment though Patricia.
Illie
last month
We initially did Bona Nordic. the color was nice and not orangey, almost the color of sanded wood. Be careful with it because ours had milky white streaks throughout. We had to redo with a darker color.
L C
Original Author
last month
Thank you, I appreciate that! That is what we had read about it as well, which was my reservation with using it.
cpartist
last month
The basborads all need to be removed before sanding and refinishing .

NO baseboards don't need to be removed. The OP seems to know what she's doing.
elcieg
last month
https://chrissymarieblog.com/red-oak-flooring
kats737
last month
The floors are looking great, keep it up!

We DIYed our floors before moving in and were really happy with the result. Even with a dog visiting the job site occasionally, the only hairs embedded were mine!

We sanded them and finished with a clear satin coat. 15 years later they have only warmed slightly but certainly didn't get orange.
L C
Original Author
last month
Perfect! Thank you!! We ordered the Bona natural seal, enough for one coat over the floors. Then got enough for 2 coats of the Bona mega one. Very very nervous about the feathering and overlapping. Will post finished product photos when complete and fully cured.

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