How to Lighten Your Dark Hardwood Floors

Are you trying to figure out how to lighten your dated, dark hardwood floors? Well, keep watching!

What design/build topics are you wanting to hear more about? Let us know in the comments below!

This is the process we did to achieve the light look in the video-

1) Apply an alcohol wash
2) We used Duraseal 50% Country White / 50% Rustic Beige (satin finish)
3) Seal with Bona Traffic HD. It has the least ambering effect

[taylorgibson]

Using a matte finish water based sealer alone on red oak will result in very light floors that don’t turn yellow. (Looks exactly like the raw sanded wood). They will have a slight pinkish tone, but just “ish”, and they will still look spectacular to most people. There is nothing worse than seeing light freshly sanded floors turn yellow immediately with the addition of oil based “clear” polyurethane.

[MiSsBellaVida]

This wasn't helpful at all. There is absolutely no details what so ever. So frustrating 😒

[mrandmrssayat]

I wish it was more detailed for beginners.

[annerobertson]

Hi, can you provide more info on what two stains (50% white what? mixed with ?) you used on photo above, and what type of waterbed mat sealer you used?

[AnnHoglund]

Hi I loved your video. Can you recommend a floor contractor in the Chicago area who utilizes your method of lightening hard wood floors?

[ItsMeHi]

Thank you! I've been looking for a video just explaining the process, but every one I found is how to DIY refinish floors. Also, you sound (and kind of resemble too!) Anderson Cooper! Good luck on the new channel! I'm gonna check out your other videos :)

[jenniferkylam]

what can be done to reverse this process and bring back the darker tone and red of the hard wood flooring??

[burnttoastspacegirlfriend]

What is in your alcohol wash? What kind of alcohol? What percentage? Did you mix it with water? If so, how much water-to-alcohol?

How long did you let the alcohol wash sit on the floor before wiping it up?

Do you use a wood conditioner before the alcohol wash? Or after? Or never?

Can you use 100% Country White stain? Or would that make the floor look pink?

Does the stain color need to be water based in order to use the water based top coat?

[ciscoortiz]

I guarantee most those clicks were like mine. I wanted to know the deets

[INFINITEHOMEllc]

Hi, thank you for watching! This is the process we did to achieve the light look in the video-

1) apply an alcohol wash.
2) We used Duraseal 50% Country White / 50% Rustic Beige (satin)
3) We like Bona sealer. It has the least ambering effect on hardwoods.

[susan]

What about engineered Maple flooring. Everyone talks about oak or red oak, but never any other type of flooring and or it being real hardwood as apossed to engineered, can you even lighten engineered flooring?

[joannahdenise]

Thank you for this video! I have red oak hardwood floors that I will be hiring a contractor to revive and lighten for a more light and airy feel to our beautiful colonial home. The contractor recommended we use the Bona stainer which comes with an additional premium cost of .60 cents per square foot but knowing that you recommend it as well makes me feel much more confident about going with a premium product. I may have to start an “Only Fans” page after we get done paying for these floors 🙄😂 j/k but I plan to share this video with him to achieve the same color and look. 😊

[HOto]

Thank you. That’s is the one video I was looking for. Way to go

[jimsergio]

Could you explain to me what an alcohol wash is? Additionally, what if any similarity it is to a water pop floor before staining? Thank you!

[themodernbrideguide]

Wow! This looks amazing! Would this work on Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors by chance??

[kpm]

i see you Anderson Cooper!

this is much better than that CNN gig :)

[janetwilliams]

Does this work for laminate? Can you turn dark laminate to a light color?

[trumanhardwoodfloorservices]

WOW you guys are local, I will definitely subscribe to your channel

[ISpyParadise]

Thanks for the tips! Beautiful! I love the wall color in the 1st bedroom room with the black ceiling. Can you please tell me what the color is? Thanks

[gustavosimili]

This gentleman reminds me of Anderson Cooper lol Great video!