From: Franklyn@WoodFloorist.com
Date: 25 May 21:37 (PDT)
Subject: Re: can dark stains in oak floor be bleached out?
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On Sun, 25 May 2003 14:22:39 EDT, cheddi
wrote:
I am trying to sand and remove some dark stains in a
100 year old floor. Dark stains remain after
cleaning, using fine steel wool and sanding with a
medium grit sand paper and palm sander. Do I just have
to live with these few dark stains or is there
something else I could do like bleach the wood and then
restain? I appreciate your help. I do not want to
ruin my floors,
but I am a female trying to do it myself.
Thanks very much !!!
Cheddi
Cheddi,
Stains in oak floors can be one of the most
frustrating things, especially in old floors like
yours. It is especially frustrating in old floors
because replacing damaged boards usually isn't an
option because it is so difficult to match the old wood.
Personally I have never had much luck with bleach.
The problem with bleach is that it removes the stain on
the surface of the wood AND raises the grain of the
wood at the same time. This means that you need to
resand to make it smooth which gets you back down to
stain again. It's somewhat of a catch 22. Also
finish tends to go down into the wood and highlight it
even if you do remove it from the surface.
Bleach also will destroy some of the structural
strength of the wood as well.
I have found old boards and replaced the damaged
boards on several occasions with great success. This
involves either being lucky enough to find matching old
wood to repair with or salvaging wood in another room
that is the same in your house and just replacing that
room with new wood or putting plywood where the wood
was and carpeting the room you are taking wood from.
These options are a lot of work but possible and I am
telling you about them so you have options.
I have also taken up all the wood in a room very
carefully and relaid all the good wood and using new
wood or ceramic tile for a border or a center design.
This may or may not be an option for you.
Often I have heard people who have gotten the idea
that they could stain the whole floor darker to hide
the stain. The only problem is the wood with stains
stains darker than the wood without stains and you have
made the whole room darker. This has never been a good
option in my opinion.
Of course you always have the option of living with
it and dismissing it as part of the "character" of the
old house. This may be an acceptable option or it may
just be an unacceptable option you may have to just
live with.
I have had people who just go an cover the whole
mess with a new wood floor. One thing I suggest that
you do is to get several "estimates" from several
reliable wood flooring companies and gather as much
information as you can. Keep in mind that these
companies are biased towards selling you a new wood
floor.
I hope I have given you some helpful information.
If I can help you any further or you want to discuss an
option you are considering further please don't
hesitate to email me.
Franklyn
I Teach Wood
Floors
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