White oak floor stain choice

10 years ago

Hello!

We just had 4" Rift and quarter sawn white oak floors installed throughout our main level this week. They will be staining them on Monday. Does anyone have experience (and hopefully pictures) of Duraseal stain in "Provincial" or "weathered oak"? Has anyone mixed either of these two with Duraseal's "Natural" stain to lighten them up? I don't want them to look gray (not that I don't like that look, I just want to be sure that they compliment our cabinets), and do not want them to look orange (we just ripped out a orangey-colored yellow birch floor). I like the transitional look. The existing cabinets and fireplace are pretty traditional, but we have more transitional (not modern by any means) sofas and slipper chair in the living room.

Our kitchen cabinets are a medium color cherry and are actually staying the color for at least another 10 years. I want to keep the floors light, but still have the grain and the rays shine through.

I added some pictures just to give you a feel for the house and what the cabinets look like. We are going to install white woodwork.

The installers will give me the chance to do samples on my floor, but just wanted to get some feedback so I have a solid starting point.

Any input is greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Featured Answer

Tricia Spencer
Original Author

10 years ago

Designs by O'Brien - It is rift and quarter sawn, which changes the grain pattern (maybe that is why it looks different in the pictures). We heavily weighed our options as far as pre-finished and site finished, but we chose site finished so it will all be uniform and level and we have a tricky lay-out so getting the pre-finished floor would have posed some issues. Plus we just ripped out the pre-finished birch floor and I wanted a different look (no bevels).

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Comments (7)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
10 years ago
I think i would leave it natural with just the finish if you want to know how that would look just wet a strip infront of the cabinets and see what you think
Tricia Spencer thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
PRO
Designs by O'Brien
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
I am slightly surprised that no one has premixed stain samples for you. You do not want to use your new floor as a test strip. Ensure that you have the stains set on the scraps of the wood installed....as the base colour of the natural wood will change the stain values and tones.

Oak is highly grainy- but it could just be the photos. Stains can only get darker- once applied. If the wrong mixture is applied- you cannot get lighter again. Select lighter and see what happens, select a mid tone and a darker - make samples- larger ones...small sample sizes are stupid. I rather like your floors- as is- they will change with the stain...maybe just a quick dot of a non-red tint to the stain might tone the base colour of the red oak down and that might be it...

Since it is oak- watch for the colour changing in the veins- it will be darker. Your floor will not have the uniformity of a maple or beech. It will be active visually- if too dark of a tint.

Matte finish is the best- as the shine says" Hello dust"...you will see it more on a high gloss.

The darker the stain- the more it is unforgiving....dust, dents, scratches...

Just a question, why was your floor not purchased in a pre-stained format?There are thousands of fabricators.Personally, I would not select a stain on site floor, as there are too many unknown variables and it's too toxic.The labour costs alone are significantly less with a prefab. Good Luck! You are braver than I am .
Tricia Spencer thanked Designs by O'Brien
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PRO
Designs by O'Brien
10 years ago
Remember, wood is a natural material- so " mother nature's craftiness" will impact the stain...nothing natural is ever uniform in colour....that is the beauty of nature...It's always a wonder...not enough to have a high contrast. As I teach my students- always ask the client if they want to have a very expected or unexpected uniformity. Good Luck! Enjoy your new floors!
Tricia Spencer thanked Designs by O'Brien
John Leibovitz
8 years ago
what did you end up choosing?
williann
8 years ago
I like it as it is. It's beautiful.
pammoeller
8 years ago
Hi - What did you end up going with? I have almost the exact same scenario and am thinking natural water based finish..