If you have your hardwood floors redone, do they stay the same color or does it change?

VMRRN23

I know this is probably a really stupid question, but when you have your hardwood floors redone (sanded and polyeurathane ?sp) does the color or finish of the wood change? Does it depend on how much they have to sand? We close on a house in June and we plan on redoing the hardwood floors. Right now they are a medium light wood color (I'm going to guess oak). 

kaylie622

I think if you just have them sand and seal them, they'll be close to the same color. I imagine they would be slightly different because of new wood being exposed that hasn't had any previous exposure to sunlight or other elements. If you have them sand, stain and seal they'll be a different color.

annieu613

If they're not stained then they will stay the same color if you sand and re-seal them. If they are stained then when you sane them they will change back to the original color.

You can also make the floors darker by re-sealing with a dark stain. When we redid our floors we didn't realize that they had been stained, so when they were sanded they got really light, and ended up looking a lot better IMO.

Here's a photo of the stain vs. sanded floor:

VMRRN23

annieu613:

If they're not stained then they will stay the same color if you sand and re-seal them. If they are stained then when you sane them they will change back to the original color.

You can also make the floors darker by re-sealing with a dark stain. When we redid our floors we didn't realize that they had been stained, so when they were sanded they got really light, and ended up looking a lot better IMO.

Here's a photo of the stain vs. sanded floor:

OK-I think I get it. So I won't know until they do the job if they are stained or not?

 If they are stained, it will go away when they sand then I have to choose a new color?

If they are not stained, they will be the same color anyway and they just get resealed? 

annieu613

VMRRN23:

annieu613:

If they're not stained then they will stay the same color if you sand and re-seal them. If they are stained then when you sane them they will change back to the original color.

You can also make the floors darker by re-sealing with a dark stain. When we redid our floors we didn't realize that they had been stained, so when they were sanded they got really light, and ended up looking a lot better IMO.

Here's a photo of the stain vs. sanded floor:

OK-I think I get it. So I won't know until they do the job if they are stained or not? probably not.  unless you want to try and sand a little bit in an inconspicuous area.

 If they are stained, it will go away when they sand then I have to choose a new color? the stain color will go away, yes, but you don't have to choose a new stain.  We liked the light color of the wood, so we just used a clear sealant.

If they are not stained, they will be the same color anyway and they just get resealed? yes, but you can always stain it if you want a darker color.