Wood floor stain issues.

12 years ago

We are having our floors stained with Bona Jacobean and Bona satin finish (the wood here is newly installed red oak).

As you can see from the photo, the edges are lighter than the center. The pro doing our floors says he is unhappy with this and thinks they may have over-sanded the edges.

He tried adding second coat of stain to the edges and buffed the center. He's put on one coat of finish so far, and says this color difference will "even out" over a few weeks so he doesn't want to do anything more to fix it. (Obviously this will be after we pay his invoice, due upon completion).

This is our first experience having floors installed/refinished so we are not experts, but this does not seem right.

Has anyone had this issue before? Can anyone explain how the color will magically even out? How do we fix this?

Would love to hear any thoughts on this! Thank you so much.

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fredm51

12 years ago

last modified: 12 years ago

There are 2 tools they use to do floors edge tool that looks like a big router and the drum sander that is used on the main floor. There is also a finish tool. It looks like the edges where sanded much smoother that the center. But the side by the fireplace are much darker. Have the contractor redo floor. How will the floor magically lighten up? I am still working on Jacks' magic beans.

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Comments (7)

fredm51
12 years ago
One thing you should do to see how well it was sanded. Shine a strong light be it a large flash light or lamp without a shade at floor level and see if you can see the starches under the top coat. Check aroung the edges also.
lilly0936 thanked fredm51
grewa002
12 years ago
I am no professional, but it looks like the center is where there used to be a rug. In my house, the floor under the rugs is lighter than the rest of the floor.
Could it be that light exposure of the edges affects how the stain works on them?
apple_pie_order
12 years ago
It's not going to even out with time. Something is really wrong with the sanding or the stain applications.
PRO
Anonymous
12 years ago
If this had happened for one of my clients I would insist it was re sanded. He was right in the first place, has taken more old wood off the top at the edges than the centre. You can't put the stain on two differently prepared timbers and have it look the same. Now that it has been sealed he can't build up the stain on the edges. This would be difficult anyway as you would get an overlap line where the stain would be darker still. Re sand, restrain. It's unfortunate but it won't 'even out' .
mlou72
12 years ago
We have red oak and had our floors refinished a few months ago. Under our area rug it was lighter, but not a huge difference. Once sanded and finished you can't see any difference at all. I would have them redo. Floors get darker not lighter with time.
AllAmericanAmy
12 years ago
definitely do NOT pay him. As stated above, he will have to completely re-sand the entire floor (not just part of it) and restain the entire floor again. Bad job from poor workmanship or defective equipment... will NOT even out. Guaranteed.