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radha_andhavarapu

Confused selecting the Hardwood color between down and up stairs ?

4 years ago

Hi everyone, I need help on selecting Hard wood floor color on second floor. I already have down stairs Hardwood floor which looks Gunstock color. For up stair I was planning to go with pre finished Solid Hardwood floor.


Here my problem is I don't want to keep the same color matching with upstairs. Here I selected Bruce Dundee Plank collection, our bedrooms are small.


1. Can I go with lighter color or darker color?

2. If upstairs and down stairs wood colors won't match is that OK?


https://www.bruce.com/en-us/products/hardwood/dundee.html?size=24


Please help me on this? If you need more information I will Provide.





https://www.bruce.com/en-us/products/hardwood/dundee.html?size=24

Comments (15)

  • 4 years ago

    No, on different floors you can get away with it, assuming you only see both at the staircase. I would hope to have similar grain, warmth, and level of gloss on both. What is on your stairs? If you have a carpet runner on the stairs that would help.

    Andy thanked P Banos
  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    For stairs also I am buying unfinished oak wood. we can match the stain whatever color in down stairs. Does this color matches to Gun stock?


  • PRO
    4 years ago

    for the stairs, match the downs stairs color. for the upstairs, go w/what you like. It's not readily visible from downstairs so who cares? And even if it was visible, who cares? it's your house. get what you like.

    Andy thanked Beth H. :
  • 4 years ago

    As Beth states, the upstairs is allowed to be it's own colour range. The stairs are traditionally matched to the 'public' areas (areas where friends and visitors will see = main level). The private areas (like upstairs bedrooms etc) are on their own.


    The one issue you *might have is the stairs. The stairs look to be red oak. This is VERY common. Red Oak is MUCH cheaper than white oak. Red oak takes stain a VERY DIFFERENT way then white oak.


    To get a good stain match to the main-floor hardwood you need to match the SPECIES. Do you know what SPECIES you have in the Gunstock?


    And what is currently on the stairs? Do you have carpet?

  • PRO
    4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    lets see your downstairs floor as they relate to the stairs.

    like SJ stated, RED Oak, like your pic, is pink tinged. It's going to make a warm brown stain look more red. If you use a white oak, it will match a bit better.

    Also, why not get solid treads?

    if doing flooring for the stairs, then get the pre stained oak flooring in Gunstock. this way you won't have to stain it yourself. Gunstock is popular shade.



    Bruce flooring. pre finished. Gunstock


  • 4 years ago

    sorry for the late reply. My down stairs is not exactly Gun stock color, it's little bit darker than Gunstock and it was engineered wood. I don't want to see the same color in upstairs. In future if I want to change my downstairs wood I want to

    go to different color. For stairs I will buy soild Red oak threads and match the stains with downstairs.


    Right now I have three options on Burce Dundee plank wood. which one to go?


    1. Gunstock color

    2. Butter scotch color

    2. Natural 4 inch plank..which is new one (My like)

    https://www.bruce.com/en-us/products/hardwood/dundee.html?size=24

    Here is my main floor wood color in photo attached.





  • 4 years ago

    Go natural. Are the downstairs planks able to be refinished? Many engineered hardwoods can be refinished whereas many cannot. If BOTH wood floors are unable to be refinished than it doesn't matter if you match the species. You won't ever have the chance to sand and refinish them to make them both the same colour.


    Please tell us what material is on the stairs right now?

  • 4 years ago

    Thanks!! Our downstairs engineered wood is not able to do the refinish. Currently we have carpet on stairs.

  • 4 years ago

    Currently our stairs carpet looks so bad, that's why I am moving to Hardwood stairs. For stairs I am picking the unfinished oak stairs treads. Are these stairs threads not following Stair code? or my contractor needs to follow the code?


    I heard SW will match the stain color with downstairs wood.

  • 4 years ago

    Hmmmmm....Stairs have as many as 15 different code requirements that need to be followed. That includes riser height, depth of tread, railing heights/lengths as well as the size of voids between balusters, etc.


    As SOON as you change the FINISH on the stairs you MUST bring the stairs up to current code. And THAT can get expensive...depending on how old/bad the stairs are to begin with.


    The 'stair treads' you are purchasing are just shaped pieces of wood. The STAIRS themselves are the thing that carry 'the code'. Stairs with CARPET can be RECARPETTED without worrying about code. As long as you replace like-with-like you should be OK.


    And yes, your contractor MUST follow code. How else do they get permits for things? Your contractor *should know this. But MANY do NOT. And I mean FAR TOO MANY do NOT know this. That's why a finishing carpenter is required to deal with stairs...and the contractor's bid *should have included that EXTRA cost...which is why most of them do NOT bring in finishing carpenters. It costs them TOO MUCH MONEY (and homeowners have a tendency to pass out when the see the costs...it just gets ugly).


    Please post a photo of what you have right now....it will help us help you.

  • 4 years ago



  • 4 years ago

    Could there be hardwood under the carpet, or was your house only ever carpeted?

  • 4 years ago

    My house is 7 years old, ever carpeted. Looks like there is a wood plank underneath the carpet.

  • 4 years ago

    If the stairs are not finished wood (which you could refinish), then you probably should carpet them again. I'd go with a low loop carpet instead of the plush you had before, as it will show wear less. It will eliminate your floor transition problem, plus be safer and quieter than wood. Since you only need enough for your stairs you may be able to find a high-end remnant that can cover your steps at an attractive price. For this you need to go to a dedicated carpet retailer, not a big box or home goods store. Call around and see if any in your area do this. Obviously you will pay for installation as well.