It’s a great decision to choose hardwood flooring in Mississauga for your home renovation project. After all, it adds style, warmth, elegance, durability, and functionality to your space.
However, most homeowners are likely unaware of how much effort goes into treating, preparing and finishing these floors. Every choice you make will have a big impact on how the finished product looks and feels. This remains true in terms of the staining you pick for your hardwood flooring.
While staining can add depth and warmth to your flooring and enhance the room’s overall appearance, when not done correctly it can prove unsatisfactory. And the colour you select to stain your hardwood planks will affect how it looks. This process is also expensive, time-consuming, and permanent.
So, you need to decide whether staining is the right way to go.
To help you make that decision, let’s explore the pros and cons of staining hardwood flooring.
Let’s get started.
Whether you pay full price or buy discounted hardwood, here are the pros and cons of staining your flooring to help you decide if it’s a good idea.
Some advantages of staining hardwood flooring in Mississauga include:
1. It Accentuates the Wood’s Natural Beauty
Hardwood stains come in clear, semi-transparent and solid varieties. This allows homeowners to choose different tinting options. These determine how much of the natural wood graining pattern will be visible.
Solid hardwood planks have unique natural designs and patinas that can be accentuated with the right stain. Once the staining is complete, it will help make these graining patterns more noticeable and create an even warmer feel.
Plus, unlike painted hardwood, stained flooring tends to fade with time instead of peeling. So, you can easily sand the surface after a few years and re-apply stain to make the planks look as good as new.
2. It Prevents the Wood from Rotting
Hardwood flooring is made from natural wood, which makes it susceptible to rot, especially when it is not sealed periodically.
There are many factors that may cause rot, such as termites, fungi, and mould. The latter two can break down wood’s cellular structure, causing it to lose strength and break. Sealing the planks with the right stain preserves its natural beauty and structural integrity.
3. It Penetrates the Grains
A high-quality stain penetrates the grain and prevents moisture from being absorbed which otherwise results in rotting. However, you must also apply a clear coat for added protection. This will help minimize maintenance as you will only have to care for the coating.
4. It Replicates the Look of Different Wood Species
A suitable stain can create the appearance of different wood species. For instance, you can stain light hardwood planks with a rich cherry, enabling them to mimic the richness of natural cherry planks. Some lighter-coloured wood species like oak might not be suitable for certain applications, such as lattice or herringbone patterns. The right stain allows homeowners to achieve elaborate designs at a fraction of the cost.
Here are some cons of staining hardwood flooring in Mississauga.
1. Certain Species Cannot Be Stained
Some wood species such as birch and pine cannot be stained as their grains are too close to one another. This prevents the planks from absorbing the stain properly.
Furthermore, other varieties contain sap which resists stains. So, it’s important to make sure you purchase a variety that can be stained to avoid having hardwood flooring that offers a muddled appearance. Some types of wood require you to apply a clear layer of wood preservative every few years to avoid sun damage.
2. Stain Isn’t as Predictable as Paint
It’s not as easy to stain wood as you may think. Indeed, it needs to be applied professionally. This is because stain isn’t as predictable as paint when it comes to the application to ensure it provides the right finish and appearance. Indeed, there is a lot of testing required to make sure that the finished product offers the desired effect.
3. The Process is Time-Consuming
Staining takes time as it needs to completely dry before the finish can bond with the stain. If they don’t bond, it can become smudged and may peel off completely. The only way to rectify this is by sanding the entire surface and starting over.
With proper ventilation, the stain typically requires at least 48 hours to dry in ideal levels of humidity and heat. If the conditions aren’t suitable, it will require at least 72 hours to completely dry before the finish can be applied. Keep in mind that even the smallest change in humidity, temperature, and air movement will have a drastic impact on the stain.
Plus, once the finish is applied, you need to give the floor enough time for it to dry completely, too. So, the entire process can take anywhere between a few days and a week to complete.
Like any renovation project, staining the hardwood flooring in your Mississauga home can provide an appealing and refreshed look, if done correctly. After reading the pros and cons, you should be able to determine whether hardwood is a good fit for your home. But it’s best to trust the professionals to get the job done right. Get in touch Super Choice to ensure optimal results.
Our experience and team of experts is the reason we are #1 in the industry.
After satisfying thousands of clients, we know how to get project done professionally with outstanding support.
