I got the worlds most indecisive client! Well, top ten for sure. She’s got my vote at least. Anyway, I just had 500 sq feet of floors sanded and a coat of provincial stain apllied, which she picked. Now she hates em of course. No polycoat applied yet, just stain. Is there anyway to lighten them without resanding the entire floor. Any bleaches or products? I told her we would probably be starting from scratch.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Fine Homebuilding's editorial director has some fun news to share.
Featured Video
Highlights
"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.
Replies
Any bleaching ideas will raise the grain, meaning you have to sand again anyway. You can sand it now, and maybe ( if you're good) get it some lighter..other than that..you need a glaze.
First thing I would do is stain some extra boards from the floor and get a coat or two of poly on them and have her look at them again. They are going to look a lot different when the poly goes on. She may decide she does like the color after all. If not, lets find a color by testing the same way that she does like. She may come back to the original color.
If it is a water based stain you can lighten it by going back over it with a lighter stain. If it is oil based, you are going to have to sand it out.
Good luck,
Thats what I told her. I said the poly would change it. I just recieived a text from her saying her husband loves it. At least I got that as leverage
i'm not sure how this would work on a floor,but i have lighten the stain on oak by wiping it with a rag soaked in lacquer thinner. you might get what i call "2 shades lighter" .
YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'T
MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE
DUCT TAPE.
I've done the same with mineral spirits.
It just dilutes the stain and can almost completely remove the color if you want, with a product very compatible with the stain. I've not had to resand.
I second Ralph's sugestion using mineral spirits. If the stain was oil base, the mineral spirits will definately lighten it up . If you used a water based stain, I'm uncertain as to whether mineral spirits will work.
Davo
well if the Husband likes it & she did pick the color, give her a $ to sand & re stain the floor, you may see how quickly she changes her mind. You don't have to kill them, just cover yourself for time spent & headaches.
Oxalic acid is a relatively mild oxidizing (bleaching) agent that is often sold as "deck cleaner." It's often used to lighten the stains in tannic woods caused by iron or other metals.
But, it's a solution in water, and it will raise the grain. In fact, you'll want to follow the treatment by rinsing the excess off with water. It would be a real PITA for an interior job. Consider it a "next to last" resort. Last resort, of course, would be sanding the stain off. At least with the oxalic acid, you'll only be doing a finish sanding.
-t