FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In
How-To

Install Wood Flooring Series: Staining

Use the right applicators, colorants, and techniques for a uniform and vibrant look

By Charles Peterson

Video Transcript:

Whenever you’re working with a tray, either for finish or stain, a clean garbage bag turned inside out is a perfect way of keeping any contamination out of the tray. When you’re done, just unwrap the bag and throw it away.

There are different ways of applying stain. One way is to use a lamb’s wool for application, and then wipe off the stain with rags. I don’t really like lamb’s wool—no matter what I do, I can’t get rid of the little fuzzies, so they end up all over the floor. Also, lamb’s wool puts down a lot of stain, which can get through the cracks and grooves and bleed back later. And I have to wait for it to dry. So I like to use the old-fashioned method: rags. I put the stain on with rags and take it off with rags. Sometimes I use a new method that is 10 times faster—I actually use a buffer. I apply stain with a buffer and take it off with a buffer.

Start staining in the corner and always go in the direction of the wood. Never go across the grain; otherwise, you might see variances. For a darker tone, leave the wood more porous so more stain can sink in. Or, use a method called water popping. Lightly dampen the floor and let it dry. When the water enters the pores, the wood fuzzes up, leaving all the wood fibers standing up, ready to accept more stain.

Before using the buffer, you still have to apply stain with a rag by the wall, because you can’t get too close to the wall with a buffer. Apply a half cup of stain to the buffer’s white pad before putting it on the machine. Buff down the length of the floor, then put a clean pad on the buffer and come back, buffing the stain off the floor. Instead of a pad you could use a square of old carpet, but you’d have to make sure the carpet has no stain guard and also no fuzzies that could come off. When you’re buffing off the stain, you’re not just removing it but burnishing it, so it’ll dry a lot quicker and work its way in. The buffer saves a lot of time and stain.

In this members-only video series:

  • Series Introduction
  • Getting Ready
  • Laying Out Flooring
  • Racking the Floor
  • Nailing the Floor
  • Surfacing Equipment (Bonus Free Video)
  • Belt Sanding
  • Edging and Finish Sanding
  • Staining
  • Finishing
  • Floor Maintenance (Bonus Free Video)

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
×

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

New Feature

Fine Homebuilding Forums

Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Deck-Style Foundation for an Addition

Creative problem-solving meant removing a chimney, using 36-in. Sonotube footing forms, and installing pressure-treated glulams for this addition.

Featured Video

Video: Build a Fireplace, Brick by Brick

Watch mason Mike Mehaffey construct a traditional-style fireplace that burns well and meets current building codes.

Related Stories

  • Podcast 587: Members-only Aftershow—Basement Flooring
  • Kimberley Robles, Decorative Concrete
  • Podcast 543: Affordable Flooring, Replacing Replacement Windows, and Low-Flow Fans
  • Podcast 539: Seasonal Gaps in Flooring, AeroBarrier for Existing Homes, and Wood Foundations

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Video

View All Videos
  • Podcast 587: Members-only Aftershow—Basement Flooring
  • Podcast 543: Affordable Flooring, Replacing Replacement Windows, and Low-Flow Fans
  • Podcast 539: Seasonal Gaps in Flooring, AeroBarrier for Existing Homes, and Wood Foundations
  • Podcast 517: Sizing Stringers for Wet Wood, Odd Foundations, and Concrete Domes
View All

Floors and Coverings

View All Floors and Coverings Articles
  • Kimberley Robles, Decorative Concrete
  • Podcast 503: Not Quite a Scrape-Off, Too Tight for Insulation, and Weather-Beaten Felt Paper
  • Sealing a Concrete Floor
  • Subslab Insulation With Mineral Wool
View All Floors and Coverings Articles

BOOKS, DVDs, & MERCH

Shop the Store
  • Code Check Complete 3rd Edition
    Buy Now
  • Pretty Good House
    Buy Now
  • 2023 Tool Guide
    Buy Now
Shop the Store

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 318 - October 2023
    • Make Mudsills Square and Level
    • Turn Up the Heat With Induction Cooktops
    • The Fine Homebuilding Interview: Lloyd Alter
  • Issue 317 - Aug/Sept 2023
    • Finishing Drywall With Seamless Results
    • A Flat Roof in a Cold Climate
    • Compact Cordless Shop Vacs
  • Issue 316 - July 2023
    • Timber-Framed Solar Canopies
    • Build a Transom Above a Stock Door
    • Understanding Toilet Design and Efficiency
  • Issue 315 - June 2023
    • How to Craft a Copper Roof
    • 5 Lessons from Building in a Cold Climate
    • The Advantages of Cellular PVC Siding
  • Issue 314 - April/May 2023
    • 7 Options for Countertops
    • Tool Test: Wood-Boring Bits
    • Critical Details for Ductless Heat Pumps

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok
  • twitter

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences

Taunton Network

  • Green Building Advisor
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Fine Gardening
  • Threads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2023 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Shop the Store

  • Books
  • DVDs
  • Taunton Workshops

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok
  • twitter

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in