Dyes work better but limit the colors available. Maple Cabinet Door Staining Problems & Solutions. This won't completely solve the problem, though. A: Maple is not a great wood to stain. It's more important to just even out the wood grain so that it is consistent over the entire surface. However, when he applied the stain, it was uneven and blotchy. I normally paint everything I build, but this time I decided to try stain. Maple is a difficult wood on which to achieve uniform stain, and the appearance can look as if the stain was not applied evenly. Constant, equal pressure with straight, parallel strokes yield good maple staining jobs. In general, gel or heavy-bodied stains … The most time efficient and color accurate method we could come up with was to cut the stain … When dry, stain again. STAINING MAPLE . You should know this by now, having stained the floor twice. This is warned against at the National Maple Flooring Manufacturers web site. What can I do to fix the darker edges and also the dark stained dings in the floor? Both times the stain looks terrible. It’s very blotchy and the sanding marks are very visible throughout, especially 8″ from every wall, and … Q: I have a prefinished maple natural color hardwood floor. It's almost like you can see areas where the sander stopped and started. How to Seal a Marble Floor Before Installing a Toilet, How to Stain Concrete Two Different Colors, How to Have a Wood Floor Refinished Without Chemicals. We are now at the staining stage but have run into a problem: the stain is coming out blotchy. However, being darker along the edges and lighter in the middle? Joists in a new home are running different in each room, Loose or Creaking Boards & Tight or Popping Boards, recommendation to hire an experienced pro. Recent Profile Visitors The recent visitors block is disabled and is not being shown to other users. When applying a stain, be sure to use a pre-stain conditioner to try and even out the "blotchy" patches that tend to appear. Understand that staining--without blotches--is difficult. The conditioner fills in the largest pores of … If your stain looks blotchy or uneven on your floors, it was probably caused by poor application technique or poor wood preparation. I asked if a 2nd coat of stain would even out the color. Rob Johnstone: Staining maple to a dark hue, which is very dense and quite light in color, with an oil based or gel-style product is hard work … and in my opinion, not a good idea. We have oak floors and we're having them stained, however, the stain is very uneven in color. Follow-up Q: Thanks for your response. Avoid staining maple floors. Restain and wipe off the stain immediately. Continue to stain or sand again and put clear varnish? The first is to sand the floors screen and then -pop the grain- with water and allow to dry overnight before staining. The stain was applied by a professional. Red oak has underlying red tones, and often a darker gray is needed to achieve the desired look. Apply an even wet coat of stain to the floor. Water popping should provide all the penetration needed for a good, even colour. Be careful with the wood species. It will make the stain/color … Dye stains are very similar to fabric dyes (and yes you can use Rit Dye […] What can I do? I wasn’t told by the person doing the job, nor did I know, that maple floors don’t take stain very well. I always water pop when using dark colours on hardwood. Staining maple floors can be done either by using a traditional resin-based wiping stain or a dye (solvent-soluble, water-soluble or alcohol-soluble). If you try this on pine, I’d suggest a deep gray to wash out the yellows (and note: these floors … Would a 2nd coat of stain also help? Translated this means that either they don’t know how to do it, it takes extra work to do or they … They were dings in the floor and even though he sanded it still grabbed the stain darker. Please educate your customer showing samples of the system you will use on the floor. May 26, 2008 by admin Leave a Comment. Yeah, I know, a highly figured piece of figured maple is hard to come by, … I just had my maple floors sanded and stained, but not yet sealed. If the surface is very blotchy, you’ll have to remove the stain by stripping , sanding, or both, and start over. This is because maple is very tightly grained generally, but there are turns in the grain that are more absorbent. I can not be more direct in saying the success is all in your sanding … The use of oil-based, pigmented stains on maple results in a very blotchy looking floor. I have a hardwood floor that looks like a gym floor. I like the color of the stain, but I don't know why it is blotchy in places. Staining maple is generally not recommended by finish manufacturers since the dense grain does not allow the penetration of most pigments. Not impossible, just difficult. Maple, like several others species such as walnut, American cherry, pine and Douglas fir, do not take stain as evenly as species such as red oak and white oak.Blotchy color … This is warned against at the National Maple Flooring Manufacturers web site. All of these floors were done by do-it-yourselfers. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Stains are not created equal. For those of you who don’t know, maple is a tricky wood to stain. I had it professionally sanded and stained to try to match the rest of the house. If you have a maple, birch, or beech floor for example you will find the pigment stain tends to make the wood blotchy. We chose grade 1 solid maple due to its low-grain uniform look, and DuraSeal Golden Oak stain. If you have a maple, birch, or beech floor for example you will find the pigment stain tends to make the wood blotchy… The Maple Flooring … Maple hardwood floors are tough to stain. It tends to go blotchy because of the varying difference in density … Do you have any suggestions in correcting this problem? Maple flooring is a dense, durable product that looks great in a range of decorating styles in your home. Hello All, My first step with maple is a #2cut shellac light coat. The use of oil-based, pigmented stains on maple results in a very blotchy looking floor. Hopefully this article was enlightening on maple flooring and staining it. How to Even out Stain on Floors. Moving as fast as possible, completely wet the floor with stain and then wipe the stain off as fast as you can with a soft, dry cloth. MFMA does not recommend staining maple gym floors. The tight grain of species such as maple, cherry and birch make them take stain in a blotchy fashion. When I sand maple, no matter if I'm doing it natural or staining the floor… Most hardwood floor companies won’t stain maple, the usual reasons being that it will be blotchy and uneven. A: No, I’m not a big fan of applying 2 coats of stain lest it impede adhesion of the finish. Maple wood has an exceptionally tight grain and does not accept stain well. It’s Bad Idea to Stain Hickory and Maple Floors. That is a sanding error. I will talk about what type of stains to use on particular woods, and the best methods to apply them. 1 … It tends to go blotchy because of the varying difference in density along each board. We just had a new maple floor installed by aThe floor was sanded and sealed with an oil-based polyurethane, then coated with two layers of a waterborne finish. It is an extremely hard wood that blotches due to poor sanding technique. You don't need to remove all of the old stain. Do the edges first. For amateurs the best advice is to avoid staining hard Maple, Birch, and Cherry. Even though it was sanded, every old ding in the floor the stain saturated at. This is because maple is very tightly grained generally, but there are turns in the grain that are more absorbent. This is due to the wide range of density found throughout each piece. I will also talk about the dreaded white pigmented stain, dye stains, and ebonizing wood floors. As with other hardwoods such as cherry, maple can be a bit temperamental to finish, particularly when staining. Inconsistent sanding strokes result in botches on stain. Notice how it’s darker on the edges in picture 1? You can use a polisher with medium grit (80 then 100 grit) to work on the main area and an orbital sander with 80 grit for the edges. Re: Hardwood Floor - Blotchy Stain Absorption I contacted the National Maple Flooring Manufacturer's Association about this and the reply was that varying molecular density causes this. It's blotchy, thick and dark in some areas and lighter in other areas. Sand the floor parallel with the grain until the floor has an even, smooth surface. I would like to stain it darker, however I've been told that staining this maple floor won't work and won't turn out? Let the stain dry for 30 minutes. Can we sand and waterpop, next day apply the cut seal coat, then use the jell stain? Pine is known for not staining well. This is just another process you might call a stain conditioning. Stain makes sander scratch shockingly visible. This time, apply a washcoat of shellac and then the stain. Maple … Wait 30 minutes for the stain to dry. Maple is notorious for blotching. One method to minimize the blotchiness is to use a wood conditioner, also known as "stain controller," before applying the stain. Go over the whole floor at least twice, and don’t forget the corners and edges should be done with a crevice attachment. Wipe off the stain as fast as you can. Use the lightest color possible on maple to diminish problems with stain. Wipe the brush off frequently as you … Always wear safety glasses and breathing protection when sanding or working with wood finishing products, and have as much ventilation as possible. I love how the stain highlights the different grain patterns in maple giving it an entirely new look. The standard industry answer to this question has been that maple floors are meant to have clear finishes, and could not be stained. Maple is also known for having an inconsistent grain pattern, often leading to blotchy stain finishes. Stain can turn out blotchy on maple floors as these are close pored species (this blotchiness occurs with all stain colors). Well, it's not unusual to end up with a blotchy finish after staining maple -- even if you first use a stain controller. Gray stained floors tend to turn out best on white oak flooring. Out Comes Of Stain When you ask anyone about staining a maple floor they will immediately tell you the word “blotchy” or “uneven”. When staining soft maple Kitchen doors and drawers from a millworks shop the painter applied a special walnut stain directly to the raw wood. Dec 14, 2019 - This Pin was discovered by Floor Home Plan. Specializing in hardwood furniture, trim carpentry, cabinets, home improvement and architectural millwork, Wade Shaddy has worked in homebuilding since 1972. Let the stain remain on the wood for 5 minutes, and then wipe it off. Most hardwood floor companies won't stain maple, the usual reasons being that it will be blotchy and uneven. I’m going to continue the procedure I started in the sanding article. At first, I was having a panic attack because of how blotchy they were. We are using a very dark wiping stain. The green shag carpet hid 100yr old Birds Eye Maple floor… your own Pins on Pinterest Staining maple is way easier than many would lead you to believe. Now I have spots all along edges by the kitchen cupboards. To minimize the blotchy effect on maple, try wiping the door down with paint thinner and then staining it. If you still see them, resand the floor with 80-grit abrasive, followed by with 100 grit. The pro said Maple isn’t porous and a second coat wouldn’t make a difference. The next type of stain that is best used on non porous wood is the dye stain. Never let a stain-covered rag to lay around as they can catch fire without an ignition source. You can fix blotches by resanding and reapplying stain for even absorption. Maple is a difficult wood on which to achieve uniform stain, and the … The…, Q: We just finished sanding and staining our maple floor for the second time. Pine, cherry, maple, birch, and alder are the most likely to blotch. For this project (not a big money one), I'm going to outsource my fronts from Walzcraft and have them do the stain and finish. When I moved in I was sure I wanted them darker, but it was too expensive (maple is expensive to stain because its hardness makes it harder to get the color even, or so I was told). Stain absorption rates of maple can differ greatly as a direct result of sanding technique. Can I water pop it and try applying another coat of stain? Related Q: I put one coat of ebony stain on my maple floor, but it came out a bit splotchy. If you need a darker glaze to cover up the blotchy areas, use just the tip of a dry, natural-bristle brush to distribute the stain (instead of wiping it off) until it's an even color. Discover (and save!) Blotchy stain or colorant is when there is the appearance of an inconsistent color from one area of a finished floor to another. Make sure to never leave stain-covered rags lying around as … I’m doubtful those little dark spots are the floor guys fault though. Spray the stain on the floor starting at the farthest end of the room and working your way toward the door. Just an FYI post. I used pine and plywood to make it. The blotchy stained floors in these photos however are just because of poor staining techniques. Wipe it off to leave an even layer. It involves adding water to the wood before applying the stain. When maple or hickory kitchen cabinets are stained, it is done in a factory controlled environment, and they use different types of fast dry, spray-on coatings. A board that has an attractive again can end up with a dark blotchy area after you have applied strain on it. So I had to live with it plain. Rub stain over all three sections with a rag. Of course, we aren’t going to reveal it here, but a professional flooring company should not have this problem. Staining tight-grained woods like Hard Maple is a problem for finishers. I applied two coats. Coloring/Staining Blotchy Woods. ... and when that happens, you will have a light patch that looks blotchy. I love how the stain highlights the different grain patterns in maple giving it an entirely new look. If it begins to dry out before you have finished staining, go back over it. A: This is exactly why the National Maple Flooring Association does not think staining maple is a good idea. After removing as much stain as you can, clean up and wet with warm water. Yes you can have your maple floors stained a different color. All hardwoods and softwoods have some kind of grain pattern and density differences due to its growth. Stain can turn out blotchy on maple floors as these are close pored species (this blotchiness occurs with all stain colors). The contractor was going to water pop the floor but decided after a test area that it wasn’t needed. I did this once on an old oak floor that went bad and it turned out just as it should when I was finished. Gray does not come out very well with pine floors which have underlying yellow as well as red tones. Staining Maple Floors Yes you can have your maple floors stained a different color. “Due to the extremely tight cellular structure and variable grain patterns inherent in northern hard maple, the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association (MFMA) does not recommend staining or bleaching … Stained/colored floors should be uniform in color. When people say it becomes blotchy, it’s usually do to a piece of maple that has minimal figure. He said a second coat of stain wouldn’t help because it’s maple, but he would do it if I wanted. If you can still see blotches, restain it. it has uneven hard spots along with softer spots. Words like pine, cherry, birch, and maple are all known to be very hard to stain. Overall, you will get a much more consistent color. It means the lighter area has been sanded more smoothly than the edges so it would not take the stain the same way. Staining tight-grained woods like Hard Maple is a problem for finishers. once … It is maple. A board that has an attractive again can end up with a dark blotchy area after you have applied strain on it. Usually the mistake is in reverse with edges being significantly lighter. Even though stain manufacturers provide sample chips of stained maple or pine, do not be fooled; those sweet little chips are easy to stain precisely because they are little. I need the stain to spread evenly and not dry blotchy. … It may actually be the wood itself, but hopefully the water popping will help. Words like pine, cherry, birch, and maple are all known to be very hard to stain. Here are four big reasons why: 1. Stain controllers can only minimize blotches, not eliminate them. This will also prevent the end grain from absorbing too much stain. Check for blotches after 30 minutes. https://thewoodwhisperer.com/articles/blotch-control-to-rule-them-all Basically, in easy to understand terms the wood … How do we fix blotchy maple stain? Without sanding it or anything? Maple must be sanded uniformly. i use a Siphon-Feed paint … Understand that staining--without blotches--is difficult. Using pre stain conditioners … A: Maple is not a great wood to stain. It is rare to see that one. Also, the stain is darker near the edges than in the middle of the floor. Translated this means that either they don’t know how to do it, it takes extra work to do or they think that it is supposed to look like a stained oak floor and since it doesn’t it must be wrong. Stain on new hardwood floors is blotchy I installed a new oak hardwood floor (select and better grade) then had it sanded by a professional hardwood floor finisher (3 passes with different grades). Over a large, uninterrupted area like … That’s why we do our utmost to talk you out of staining your wood floors. Notice the spots in picture 2? I followed the directions on both cans and I sanded it prior to putting on the Wood Conditioner. I will ensure he water pops the floor. Most hardwood floor companies won't stain maple, the usual reasons being that it will be blotchy … The … Buckeye Reflections does not warranty stained areas on maple gym floors. Tips For A Darker Stain On Hard Maple And when it does go wrong, the only solution is to re-sand the floor and start all over from the beginning. My floors now have a decent stained finished, but I was really scared at first. Spray left to right in long, even strokes until you cover the entire area. Dark stains will almost always create blotches on maple. I used Minwax Wood Conditioner followed by the Wood Stain. Y es you can have your maple floors stained a different color.. The stain was a dark cherry and had the usual blotchy appearance that maple gets. Community Experts online right now. Whenever you have wood that has grains that are more open then that is … Floors. By pre-sealing the wood with shellac, you can even out the … Ask Your Question Fast! Attached are pictures. Often this is simply a physical property of the wood species itself … The floor may take up the stain, but areas of it will not, resulting in a blotchy or uneven appearance. To avoid that, I’ve tried lots of techniques over the years to help my projects take stain evenly. Whenever you have wood that has grains that are more open then that is also the place where these blotches … For the 2nd sanding, the floor guys said they sanded the edges differently, which sounds like what…. Maple is a difficult wood on which to achieve uniform stain. What is the best product for staining pine and maple floors? start with blonde. Decide which amount of wood stain sealer gives you the desired look. 2nd Follow-up Q: Thanks for your reply. I just finished a maple job for a new hotel in the area. The tight cellular structure of the wood makes it difficult to get a stain to penetrate properly. Maple floor stain disaster. The stain should be one that is suitable to the species of your wood floor and one … For a maple hardwood floor we have about a 1000 sq ft to sand and stain. For amateurs the best advice is to avoid staining hard Maple, Birch, and Cherry. If you do so, you should inform the owners of the floor there are risks involved such as peeling issues and blotchy looking colors. Ask for FREE. Staining floors, especially for first-time do-it-yourselfers, is a tricky business. This is completely natural, but the grain and differences in density are highlighted by the stain. Since I'm a cabinetmaker, not a pro finisher, I'm wary of a wiping stain on maple due to the blotchy … Would that work better or would waterpoping hurt us? Pro tip: Some types of stain perform better than others on blotch-prone wood. And although this is know- the system remarked above develops a very acceptable uniform color when staining maple on the job site. After our contractor applied the first stain application though, the floors look very blotchy and non-uniform. it will likely turn out blotchy because of the density of the boards. I’m afraid the only way to fix it is to start from scratch. Do you have any other suggestions? There are dark streak marks, hand prints, spots and splotches over sections of the floor. You must have an even, wet coat of stain on the floor. I liked how the floor looked after the sealer was applied, but when I came home from work after the waterborne coats were down, the floor looked blotchy… Blotchy stain or colorant is when there is the appearance of an inconsistent color from one area of a finished floor to another. A: By the nature of the wood, maple does present blotchy areas. Staining. Often this is simply a physical property of the wood species itself (such as maple, black cherry, and pine), whereby it does not evenly accept stain or colorant. The next type of stain that is best used on non porous wood is the dye stain. This would be more so with staining maple. My husband took on the task of refinishing our wood floors. What causes “blotchy” stain? Because maple floors are characteristically hard and very straight-grained, they show every sanding imperfection. If not enough amber color then sand and try orange. I hope you find the article enjoyable […] The result of these options is that the neutral-stain floor will have the least stain color showing, the "popped grain"floor will have the deepest color with some blotchy areas of grain, while the drum-sanded floor … Apply Stain. Staining maple is generally not recommended by finish manufacturers since the dense grain does not allow the penetration of most pigments. I think I would have water popped the entire floor to improve penetration throughout. I built myself a new nightstand.
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