Can You Change the Color of Your Hardwood Floors? A Guide for Leawood Homes
A lot of homes in Leawood have oak floors that turned orange or yellow over the years. The good news is that the color isn't permanent. If the wood can be sanded, it can take a new color.
Why oak turns orange
Most older floors were finished with an oil-based polyurethane that ambers as it ages. Red oak also has a warm tone of its own. Together, after 15 or 20 years, a floor that started out light can look orange, especially in rooms with a lot of sun.
How a color change works
- Sanding down to clean wood. We sand off the old finish and the color that came with it, so the new stain goes onto bare wood.
- Samples on your floor. We apply stain samples right on your boards, so you see each color in your own light before you choose. A color can look very different on a sample card than on your floor.
- Stain and finish. Once you pick the color, we stain the whole floor and apply the finish coats.
- The final walkthrough. We walk the finished floor with you before we leave.
Popular directions
- Natural. A clear finish that keeps the wood close to its real color, without the orange cast.
- Light and neutral. Softer tones that make rooms feel bigger and brighter.
- Gray-brown. A modern, balanced color that works with most cabinets and paint.
- Dark. Rich browns that look great, but show dust and scratches more.
Things to keep in mind
- Red oak and white oak take stain differently. Red oak can keep a little warmth even under neutral stains. The samples show you exactly how your wood reacts.
- Stairs and floors should match. If the stairs are part of the plan, we sample there too.
- The whole area changes together. A new color on one room can make the next room look old, so we'll talk about where the color should stop.
Ready to see your options?
We'll come out for a free visit, look at your floors and talk about the color you have in mind. You get a written quote within 24 hours of the visit. See how we sand and refinish hardwood floors, learn about our work in Leawood, request a free visit, or call us at (913) 368-8417.
