Tannin pull in white oak

8 years ago

Hi there. Am currently preparing to meet with our hardwood flooring sub (new build) in a few weeks and am trying to educate myself. We have select engineered white oak being installed and are hoping to maintain the unfinished wood color as much as possible.

I understand there are two main sources of yellowing of white oak. I will be sure a water-based product is used to address the yellowing from solvent based products.

My question is about tannin pull... is this something that completes by the time the floor is dry/cured? Or will it continue to pull and yellow more over time?

My flooring guy is going to put samples down on the floor after they're installed. I'm wondering, if I wait a few days and the color is good enough without having to use a sealer will it look the same over time?

I know a lot goes into achieving this look which is why I'm trying to educate myself ahead of time. I'll be sure to discuss their experience with achieving this type of finish and what products they like to use (knowing I need to stay away from solvents and also Rubio Monocoat because those dark stains are terrifying) so I can make as educated a decision as possible.

Featured Answer

cac546
Original Author

8 years ago

Thanks to Johnson Flooring Co suggesting NaturalSeal (which I hadn't heard of, most people talk about NordicSeal), we LOVE our floors! They have the perfect natural white oak look we were going for with the perfect balance (to us) of enough warmth without being too yellow/orange. They were just done so I haven't been able to walk on them or get a better picture but we're thrilled! Followed one coat of NaturalSeal with Bona Traffic HD in Extra Matte.

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Comments (10)

PRO
Johnson Flooring Co Inc
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
It would show up right away, not over time. Look into Bona sealers and urethane. They have three sealers that achieve various levels of a raw wood look, ClassicSeal, NordicSeal and NaturalSeal. These can be coated over with a non-yellowing finish like Mega HD or Traffic. The key to avoiding tannin pull is quite easy, apply the first coat very thin and make sure there's no runs, puddles or drips. I've seen people here recommend a few other products that maintain the raw look but I haven't used them and can't recall the names but if you search under NordicSeal at the top the threads should pop up.
cac546
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you so much for the reply! I've been planning to talk to my installer about the NordicSeal and also the Loba Invisible 2k. Very helpful to know that tannin pull happens immediately.
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Jessica
8 years ago
How did it go? I don't finish wood floors but know from finishing white oak furniture & cabinets that usually its the combo of a gray or pastel based stain + water based topcoat that makes tannin pull lines show through horribly. I coat in de-waxed shellac before applying any waterbed finishes to white oak but would love to know how the floor went!
Jessica
8 years ago
Wow they look STUNNING!!! We're going with white oak flooring & I'm hoping to achieve a simple blonde matte finish as well so thanks for the update!
Anna MB
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago

Your floors look stunning. I just had my floor stained in hopes of being like our sample below. Do you think my floors look 80s? I was so disappointed! Trying to think of them differently.
Nikki N
8 years ago
Anna, your floors look gorgeous! I'm not seeing "dated" at all. Mine are similar. I think the blond scared me too at first but now I love them.
Anna MB
8 years ago
Thank you so much for this !! Yours look gorgeous , so it makes me feel so much better .
PRO
Perfectly Painted Designs
8 years ago
Anna I love how they turned out! Looks like the perfect shade of brown for a timeless look :)
Anna MB
8 years ago
Thank you soooo much for the reassurance !