I tried three times and it never went through. I tried to send you a comment on your “Rethinking my hardwood floors” post, but it didn’t go through. It kind of gives it the feel of a wonderful, rich patina. I like the mix (at least on my monitor, LOL!) Have you considered English Chestnut? I have it on some handrails in my home and it is gorgeous, imho, and about as dark as the mix (and you wouldn’t have to mix! It has some warmth to it, without being orangey or red. Hopefully, you are able to glean something from my long-winded comment. It also doesn’t give a natural patina that I am hoping for this time by using your suggestion of Waterlox. Oh, and thank you for the information about Waterlox! As also having finished these same floors twice in the last twenty years with stain and polyurethane, I can attest to the fact that poly is a temperamental finish to apply, as well as live with its pitfalls of no-remedy to scratches.

Now to also decide on which one makes the adjoining kitchen floor in maple look close to its neighboring oak floors! The waterpopping technique is the only way to try and stain maple a dark color, if you should ever encounter that task. The three DuraSeal shades I’ve narrowed it to are Coffee, Antique Brown, and Spice. (total agreement, the Jacobean really fell short on my floors – maybe it’s better on white oak) Like you, I had also tried the regular Minwax stains (Dark Walnut, Jacobean, and mixed with Ebony) but they just fell short of what I was looking for a dark, rich warm tone that is more dark brown than red or black. I found two dealers here in OKC, and you have several locations listed in the Dallas area) (also made by Minwax, but available thru professional flooring suppliers. In areas I have both old and new wood adjacent to one another, it has made it less apparent they aren’t of the same age. New (circa 2015!), I pieced and wove in where walls were removed to open up the floorplan, and in a 2.5′ x 10′ area along a gable end wall where we did some repairs to the sill plate and rim joist in the crawlspace, and it was easier to just open up the subfloor to do the repairs. Original living and dining room floors, about 450 s.f. Red oak, old style 2 1/4″ strip flooring. I’m at almost the same stage as you (minus the sanding stripped ours on hands and knees with SoyGel because they couldn’t take another aggressive sanding)Īnyway, same situation. Now, after all this long spill, I do have some advice on your wood floors. Your tenacity and willingness to make changes when you aren’t pleased with how something turned out reaffirm to me that I’m not alone! the fret work you did for your doors was awesome). Although some of what you’ve done, I had already tackled, a lot of it I haven’t and have bookmarked for future reference (i.e.

(None of whom care to learn anything about any of these skills, they just want to know “Mom, when are you going to have our house back together” Lol)Īll this said, because I want to let you know you have been an inspiration to me on several occasions. Did I mention, I have four teenagers living at home, too. We began a remodel project in late 2014, my husband was injured at work three months later & has had two surgeries since, so from necessity (and my own enjoyment) that means I’ve torn out load bearing walls & replaced with recessed beams (this I did have help on before he was injured), framed in new walls, framed and installed nine windows, hung sheet rock on ceilings and walls (thank goodness for lifts), mud/tape joints and done smooth trowel finish, laid maple hardwood that we reclaimed, poured concrete overlay & stained to look like granite, tiled a tub/shower surround, etc. Added to the fact, my being raised in the country, where we built our own home additions, barns, fences, etc., it is kind of ingrained. Plus, for us, living on one income, raising four teens, means it is imperative to do as much of own work as possible. Kristi, I’ve been following your blog for the past couple of years, and feel a kindred spirit!! Especially on hiring out other people, I would rather learn how to do it myself even if it takes more time.

Minwax stain colors honey