Match or not match hardwood

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I have solid hardwood (please see pics) in half of my home and carpet in the rest. I have lived in this home for about 10 years and the hardwood was already there, so I assume it's at least 15 years or so old. Home was built in 1938 and remodeled(extended in 1984). I haven't refinished it during my ownership.

Need to remove carpet and wondering..

Do I have golden oak, natural oak or some other type of hardwood?
Cabinets around the house are also of a similar color. So Do I match the new floor with existing hardwood (once I figure out what exactly the stain/color is)? Or Should in a complete different direction?
I am open to other materials like Luxury Vinyl (though they cost almost as much with no value add on to the house :(..) and in fact I like gray/rustic wood color, however, concerned that introducing a big contrast or even something that looks similar but not quite the same, is going to turn off buyers if I plan to sell at some point

Featured Answer

Fori

8 years ago

A good floor guy can tell you what you have and match the old topnailed oak you have, refinish it if needed, and make it all match pretty well. That oak is probably original to the original part of the house. You might want to pull out the parquet in the kitchen if you go this route and get that to match as well, if it's not holding up well (but I think it looks nice and the kitchen is a good spot to be a little different).

I'd stick with the original style flooring because it's classic...and it matches.

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Comments (10)

Rita / Bring Back Sophie 4 Real
8 years ago
Match the wood as best as you can. No sense in chopping flooring up, IMHO.
jhmarie
8 years ago
Your floors look to be classic solid oak - which makes it easy to match. While many of the newer floors are very pretty, they tend to change out the styles and after about 18 months or so it can be hard to find a match. This is a timeless, if not trendy floor and can be found in homes over a hundred years old - many of them very elegant. They will look great refinished.

They appear to be natural, but the finish has ambered over time as old oil base finishes tend to do. You can refinish and stain them to match new site finished oak floors. Natural or a light stain is pretty and flexible style wise. Very dark stains show dust and scratches more. It often does not go well to try to make them gray. It often doesn't look great, especially if they are red oak and it is a lot of money to spend for something that is trendy and will go out of fashion in a decade.

You can have your flooring person put some sample stains on some scrap pieces to help you make a decision. If you really like a stain, ask to have a few different pieces of wood samples done because there is a little variation from piece to piece and you want to get a sense of the lighter and darker tones of the same stain on different pieces.
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grapefruit1_ar
8 years ago
I totally agree with Fori. A professional can make it all match. Stick with the light color. Avoid the trendy gray.
PRO
Oak & Broad
8 years ago
It might be a good idea to have a floor pro make some stains for you to look at as already suggested. But also make the same stain over new oak planks that will be used just to make sure there will not be too much of a contrast.
nosoccermom
8 years ago
What Fori says. I had site finished oak floors matched, and there's no way I could see where old and new met. Contractor feathered (?) the old floor at room transitions.
cawaps
8 years ago
When I had my 100-year-old oak floors refinished a few years ago, the guy had to replace some of the boards, and you seriously cannot tell. In case you needed another voice to tell you matching should not be a problem.
User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I would install hardwood in the new areas and have it match. I'd actually consider having the old refinished so it matches with the new. I would go with the same color or something similar. I wouldn't pick anything trendy (gray or really dark). The less different flooring there is the less visually choppy a house looks, IMO.
You could ask a flooring guy about the wood and color but I think it looks like natural oak without stain and it has ambered over time.

I wouldn't do the vinyl.
PRO
Oak & Broad
8 years ago
I agree. It looks like oil based polyurethane that has yellowed. Check out water based poly for the refinish. Less smell and looks more natural over time.
eld6161
8 years ago
Yes, a professional will be able to match your existing floors. I would also refinish the old as long as you are doing flooring.