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How to refurbish timber floorboards?

Hi there, just after some advice please! We are freshening up the floorboards in our house. The boards though old are in great condition in most of the house (we've opted for laminate flooring in the rooms where the boards aren't do great).

I'm not sure what kind of timber the boards are made from, but it looks as though it might be a couple of different ones as the finish of the floors are different.

We've sanded back as much as we can, but haven't been able to get all of the previous stain off - my question is, if we were to stain with a dark colour on the floor as it is, would it hide/blend in where the old stain remains? If so, what products would we need to use to stain, seal and then varnish etc (we'd like a glossy finish).

The photos above show how the floor currently looks after sanding.

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated as this is our first time doing this! Thanks very much 🙂

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MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @NickyG. It's amazing to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about coating floors.

From what you’ve described and based on the photos, the main challenge here is that the floorboards aren’t fully sanded back to bare, even timber. The patchy look you’re seeing is due to low spots where the old stain remains, and no matter how dark a stain you apply, it will almost certainly show a mottled effect. Even a very dark stain or black will still highlight the difference between the areas where old stain remains and the areas that are bare timber.

To get a smooth, even finish, the key is to sand the floor completely back to bare wood, making sure all the old stain is removed and the boards are level. I know sanding can be tough, especially if the boards are uneven from the original installation, but without this step, achieving a glossy, professional-looking finish will be very difficult. If you are unable to sand further, I would recommend calling in a professional to finish the job.

Once the floor is properly prepared, you can use a stain like Feast Watson Prooftint to achieve your desired colour, and then seal and protect it with a clear coating such as Cabot CFP for a glossy finish. Make sure to follow the product instructions: stain first, allow it to dry thoroughly, then apply the sealant/varnish in multiple coats for a durable, shiny surface.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

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