A major misconception is that staining your floors is just like painting your walls. Floor staining is a difficult process that has unpredictable end results as there are numerous variables that could make the process go wrong. Unfortunately, when a staining project goes wrong, the only option is to strip the floor and start all over. Even the very best professional floor stainers can run into issues throughout the process. JMA Painters does not recommend you stain your wood floors yourself – and not just because we offer this as a service! A professional floor stainer will know what to look for in your floors and be able to avoid common complications and help you achieve the best end result possible.
What Is Staining
Staining is often confused with floor refinishing. Finishing is adding a clear protective coat to your floors while staining enhances the wood, often darkening or changing its color. When you paint your walls and do not like the outcome, you can simply paint over it. With staining, it changes the wood itself, it is not simply a coat that goes over the wood. This means if you do not like the finished outcome, you must sand beyond the stained layer and start all over. This is a very time consuming process.
Pros and Cons of Staining – What could go wrong?
When floor staining is done properly, it can greatly enhance the overall look of a room. It provides a natural look that provides depth and a unique atmosphere in your home or business. There is a certain elegance in dark natural wood that can even increase the value of your home and be a major selling point to highlight in the process. Staining can allow you to transform your wood floors in such a way that it looks like a completely different wood all together. A professional floor stainer will know what colors to choose to accomplish the look you are going for.
While staining comes with many aesthetic benefits, keep in mind that not all wood is meant to be stained! Certain types of wood will not take well to stain and will bleed or look very messy once done. The wood grain of your floors will be a big determining factor in whether or not your floors should be stained. Staining will also highlight sanding marks which is a necessary step in preparation for staining your floors. If sanding is not properly done, it will leave scratches in the wood that will stick out like a sore thumb once the stain is applied. This is one of the more common complications that arises when homeowners try to do the staining themselves.
Hiring A Professional Floor Stainer
We have already stressed the importance of hiring a professional floor stainer, but what qualifications should you look for during the hiring process? Below are some tips to consider at the beginning stages of the process:
-Have your contractor come to your home or business to look at the floors. If your contractor provides a quote or recommendation without actually looking at your floors, it is not wise to proceed. The type of stain you will need depends on the type of wood, how much lighting is in the room, the overall design of the floors and more. Staining is a project that needs an in person evaluation before providing recommendations.
-Ask lots of questions. Ask about their experience with staining, what insurance they have, how often they do staining work, how long they have been in the business, etc. You can even quiz them by asking what type of wood you have and do your own research on the best products for that wood type before proceeding.
-Ask for referrals and samples (or photos) of previous work. As with any contractor, the proof of character and quality can be found from previous experiences.
If you are wanting to have your floors stained, JMA Painters would be happy to come take a look and provide you with a free, detailed quote for your project. Contact us today and let us take care of all the details for you!