Many homeowners choose stained parquet floors over hardwood ones. The main reason is that a parquet floor costs much less than a hardwood one. After all, the parquet only uses thin slabs of wood instead of a whole plank, like on the hardwood floor.
However, many people often think they are the same. And you can benefit from this idea by choosing the right color for your floor. Your house will be Guaranteed to impress all guests who come to visit.
Can you stain parquet flooring?
The short answer is yes, and you can stain your parquet floor. Remember that staining your floor is akin to painting your wall since it gives the wood floor a different color from the original.
You can do it yourself using a brush or a roller. But it’s better to call a professional to help apply stain and finishing the floor. Professionals have wider color options and know what to do to get the desired effect.
These professionals also prefer to use a cloth when staining instead of a roller. This manual wiping method will give the floor better coloration because it allows the wood to absorb the stain better.
The wood type determines the parquet floor stain color
The color of the stain on each parquet is a little bit different. So, getting a color sample ahead of time is very important. Depending on the type of wood, the grain and how it holds water are completely obvious.
So, after staining the parquet, the final color can be very different. It would be best if you asked the technical experts for an example. Then you can choose two or three colors and spread them out on the parquet floor.
It’s easier to decide once you’ve seen the samples in person. Parquet can be made from a wide variety of wood types. Depending on the type of wood, the wood pigments in the parquet are absorbed in different ways.
For example, beech parquet works well with strong colors, while oak parquet tends to take on colors that are not as strong.
Things to consider before you stain parquet flooring
You need to know about these things before you start the process. This will save you time and cost for future maintenance. It also may change your mind about staining your floor.
- Firstly, you need to know that some woods may not require staining. If you use exotic woods or woods that already have a beautiful color, you may want to keep it on finishing.
- Some woods also have a natural oil that will only ruin the look. Your parquet floor will look blotchy after a while. And not to mention, the oil makes maintenance difficult.
- Staining also may show imperfection on your wood floor. You may notice bad surfaces you didn’t see before. And it’s also a long process that may take days to finish.
- Whatever method you use to stain your parquet, test it on the wood first to estimate the outcome. The color of the wood is determined by its species.
- If you use pigment oil, more work will be needed to keep it clean. Because the pigments are not adequately fixed in the soil, you must re-oil more frequently.
- Before staining the parquet floor, it must be pre-treated. Examine the parquet’s condition. Cracks and stains should be corrected. Check for any loose parquet strips as well. Then it would be best if you first repaired them.
- The wood may need to be sanded down to absorb the stain. When it comes to varnished parquet, this is required. Even if the parquet is oiled, sanding it down is helpful if the floor is unclean.
- When sanding the parquet, make sure also to sand the corners and edges of the parquet carefully.
How to stain parquet floors dark
One of the most popular colors to stain a floor is dark colors such as ebony. It exudes a specific personality and elegance.
There is no limit on how dark you want the floor to be. However, some wood already has naturally dark colors. Stained parquet floors often emulate the oak color. So you need to calculate if your wood floor can work with the color.
You can talk to a professional to color-match your floor. They will tell you which shade will work best for your parquet floor. Of course, you need to know your floor’s natural color.
Yes, you can choose the color from the palette they show you. But those colors may have different results on the different types of wood. This is crucial if you plan to go all DIY on staining your floor.
Start the process by sanding and buffing the floor. This will make the surface smooth and ready for the stain. It doesn’t mean you have to reapply the stain multiple times. You must choose the dark color you want and apply it once or twice.
How to stain parquet wood floors in gray colors
In recent years, “grey” parquet has become much more popular. This is not surprising; it results in a timeless modern appearance.
Bleached parquet floors are to create the desired grey-white tone. After sanding, a specially prepared paste is applied to the surface, penetrating the wood’s open pores.
However, the technique must be customized for each floor because it is critical to consider the unique features of the wood. Below is the procedure for sanding and staining parquet floors gray
Using the sanding machine, sand the floors.
Typically, three sandings are done, each with a finer grit (grits vary with wood species and age).
This will ensure that your parquet is smooth and that the stain or oil can reach the pores more effectively. In this manner, the parquet appears to be brand new. Scratches and scrapes are also removed in this manner.
Choose between a new “color film” and a “natural” appearance.
Sanding frequently results in an automatic lightening of the existing parquet floor.
So, if you’re already satisfied with your new color scheme, you can go to the following step. Otherwise, it’s just a matter of getting the right tone.
Parquet is generally stained using parquet oil or special color pastes nowadays. You can choose between light colors like golden oak or golden pecan and dark colors like ebony, Jacobin, dark walnut, or mahogany.
You can, however, select a medium-colored tinting, Special Walnut, or English Chestnut. However, red tones like red mahogany, mesquite red, and Sedona red are also choices.
As you can see, you have many options; therefore, you should get more specific guidance from a specialist shop in your region.
Apply parquet varnish or parquet oil.
Parquet varnish is often applied in two to three layers. Each layer takes around 24 hours to dry. After the second coat and between each succeeding application, the floor is polished.
This helps to smooth the flooring and, more importantly, allows the parquet varnish to be properly absorbed, extending the life of your parquet floor.
The best way to oil parquet is with a single-disc machine. The surface must cure for approximately 12 hours before fully loaded with furniture and other items.
Choose the finish you want for the varnish and parquet oil: matte, satin, semi-gloss, or gloss. Satin is the most popular right now.
Satin hides scratch better than semi-gloss or gloss finishes (the shinier they are, the more the light reflects, revealing the dents and scratches).
How to make parquet floor look modern
To make your parquet floor looks modern, you can use the color that is trendy at that time. When you go with the color palette for the decade, your floor will look fresh.
Another option is to stain it with the color closest to the wood’s natural color. It can be slightly lighter or darker to give an aging wood effect.
Having the right pattern also works to have a modern-looking floor. But if you can’t do anything with the floor, you can choose a unique color.
A combination between dark and light stain will make your floor looks rustic. To the untrained eye, it will look like you have a hardwood floor instead of a parquet.
Do the parquet floor needs refinishing
Refinishing is a good alternative to replacing the floor. As it only costs you a fraction of getting a new wood floor. However, it doesn’t mean you need to refinish it every so often.
Keep in mind that you’re sanding and buffing during the refinishing process. Therefore, you’re chipping the floor to make it
When you see visible wear and tear on the floor, Such as chipping and splintering, Or uneven splotches due to water damage, you need to refinish your parquet floor. You may consider restaining the floor during this process.
Your stained parquet floors are an asset to set the whole tone for your room decoration. It’s highly durable, yet maintenance can get tricky at times. You also can rely on staining it to change the look.
Anyway, do not confuse staining with finishing. The staining process is infusing colors into the wood or, in other words, coloring it. While finishing gives the wood floor the protection layer, it needs.