How to Refinish your Hardwood Floors Part 2 of 3

If you haven't read part 1 of this exciting post, please do, then join me back here.

If you've already done that feel free to tag along...

So, I've left you, my dear readers, where we've sanded and stained. Due to the horrible spots that have appeared on the floor (still do NOT know why that happened), we'd had to redo the whole floor.   Now we've re sanded down to bare wood AGAIN (see part 1).  Yup.

I have decided to try a different stain.  I'm not sure if it was the stain that was the culprit, showing those horrid white stripes, but thought, let's change everything! So this time I've decided to go with Varathane Espresso stain, another oil based stain.  This is a wiping stain - you apply it, wait 10-15 minutes then wipe it off.  

I've tested the stain on different samples of the same wood.  As we have red Oak flooring, the grain is so pronounced that I wanted to try it on each 'type of grain'.  See below - Note on the top board - left side, I did apply a second coat, as it didn't appear to have 'taken' the first time.  Usually you don't need a second coat ; as the first coat almost seals the wood , not allowing the stain to penetrate.  

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We decide to condition the wood.  There are several ways to go about doing this.  One is to apply a wood conditioner.  The other is to lightly mist the floor with water, wait 15 minutes for it to dry, then sand with 100 grit sandpaper - called water popping!.  Note when preparing the floor to accept the stain, I recommend between 100 and 120 grit, this allows the  grain to 'open up'.  If you used a higher numbered grit (finer) sand paper, it would tend to 'seal' the wood and not allow the stain to penetrate.  You do need to remember to very lightly sand to remove the 'hair' of the wood that will be raised up after watering.

Now Vacuum thoroughly, everywhere before applying!

Once the wood is conditioned, by lighting spraying a little water on the raw wood, then lightly sanding the wood to remove the 'hairs'; we take a pad applicator dip it into the stain, apply to the floor, in the direction of the grain or wood.   Wait 5-15 minutes (we waited 10 minutes), then wipe off with a clean dry lint free cloth.

Here's my contractor Clinton Adrian working hard.  Love working with him.

Yup his knees were killing him after this - poor guy!

Here's the coat of stain applied to the whole floor - now we wait for 7 days!  The instructions only said 24-48 hours, but I do not want to do this again.  (Note the cabinets will be painted later!).
Next step will be to apply the finish coats!  Stay tuned!
Update:  Click here for Part 3 on how to refinish your red oak flooring.