Thinking of installing hardwood floors? Worried you’ll have to live with the same floor color for the next several decades? Think again.

Can you change the color of hardwood floors? The answer is yes.

However, that does come with a caveat. Are your hardwoods high quality, solid hardwood that can be sanded and refinished? That’s why installing only the best hardwood will do.

Over time, hardwood can take a beating. Kids can scratch and dent the. Pets can leave messes or damage them with their nails. Furniture can mar the finish, especially if you have an active household.

By refinishing the hardwood, you can extend its life.

You can also change the color .. go from light or dark or red tone, to anything in between. And it doesn’t matter if you are going light to dark or vice versa.

That means you can keep up with trends or select a finish perfectly suited for your decor and personality.

And while the process does take time, it’s fairly simple to do.

Sand the floors – a professional may sand up to three times with increasing fine grit. This ensures your hardwood is smooth and will create a lasting look.

Stain the floors – this is where you can get as creative as you desire. Select a light stain such as Golden oak, or darken it up with stain such as Ebony. Want to go natural? Not a problem.

Add Polyurethane – By adding two to three coats, you’ll ensure the wood is properly covered and can withstand all your family can dish out. Allow at least 24 hours of drying time between each coat.

How light you can go depends on the type of hardwood you install. Aside from a whitewash finish, the lightest you can go is natural – no stain. That will give your hardwood a natural color depending on the type of hardwood installed. White oak will be a bit darker than red oak. Maple will be a bit lighter than pine. The only way to truly get a white or give hardwood a lighter color than its natural color is to bleach it or use a whitewash. Be aware both can react to oil and can give you a blotchy look.

So what’s your color? How do you want your hardwood floors to look? We can help you make your perfect choice now, and give you a world of opportunity for decades into the future.