Wood Floor Staining
Change the colour of your wooden floor with stains tested on your own timber before we commit.
Staining is one of the easiest ways to give a room a new look. A darker tone adds warmth and drama, a pale or grey stain makes a space feel brighter and more modern.
Staining is carried out after sanding, as part of our floor sanding service. The freshly sanded timber takes colour evenly, and the stain is then sealed with oil or lacquer.
Testing colours first
The same stain can look very different on pine, oak and other timbers. That is why we always lay out sample patches on your floor before we start. Our guide to choosing a floor stain colour has more tips.
Popular colours
Raw and natural tones
Light oak and honey shades
Rich walnut and smoked oak
Grey and white-washed tones
Deep ebony
Floors that suit staining
Most solid, parquet and engineered floors take stain well. Original pine boards from a floorboards restoration look superb in darker tones. Herringbone and block floors from our parquet floor sanding service can also be stained.
Getting an even colour
The floor is sanded to a fine, even finish first, so it absorbs stain consistently. The stain is applied and worked into the timber in manageable sections, avoiding overlaps and lap marks. Once dry, it is sealed with two or three coats of oil or lacquer. Some coloured hardwax oils combine stain and protection in one product.
Staining works best on freshly sanded timber, so it is usually planned at the same time as the main restoration. It typically adds half a day to a day to the project. We will also explain how different shades wear in family homes with children and pets.
Aftercare for stained floors
A stained floor is cared for in the same way as any finished floor: sweep or vacuum regularly and clean with a damp mop and a suitable floor soap. Felt pads under furniture help prevent scratches showing through the colour. Oiled and stained floors can be refreshed with a re-oil when they start to look dull.
Stained and finished floors are covered by our 3-month service guarantee. See our prices for staining costs.
Guide prices
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Floor sanding & oiling
Dust-free sanding back to fresh timber, finished with two coats of hardwax oil.
from £22 per m²
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Floor sanding & lacquer
Full sand and three coats of hard-wearing water-based lacquer.
from £24 per m²
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Parquet sanding & finishing
Multi-direction sanding for block and herringbone floors, with your choice of finish.
from £28 per m²
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Gap filling
Resin filler or reclaimed pine slivers between floorboards.
from £6 per m²
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Floor staining
Colour samples on your floor and an even stain before finishing.
from £5 per m²
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Stairs stripping & restoration
Paint and varnish removal, repairs and finishing of treads and risers.
from £45 per step
Guide prices — we confirm a fixed price after a free survey.
Questions about wood floor staining
How are your prices worked out?
Prices depend on the floor area, condition, repairs needed and the finish you choose. Our price list shows typical starting prices, and the free survey gives you a fixed written quote.
Do you need electricity and water?
A normal plug socket and parking close by is all we need. Our machines run on domestic power, and we bring all tools, materials and dust sheets.
Are your oils and lacquers pet-friendly?
Yes. We use low-VOC oils and water-based lacquers that are safe for families and pets once cured. Keep pets off the floor for the first 24 hours, and trim claws to help the finish last.
Do you offer floor staining?
We do. After sanding we apply test patches on your timber so you can see how each shade looks in your light before we commit. Find out more about wood floor staining.
Why do you test stain colours on my floor?
Every timber takes stain differently. Sample cards are only a rough guide, so testing on the sanded floor is the only reliable way to choose.
What cleaner should I use on my wooden floor?
Vacuum or sweep regularly and mop with a damp, well-wrung mop and a pH-neutral wood soap. Avoid steam mops and harsh cleaners. Read our care guide for a simple routine.
What our customers say
Very good parquet restoration
“The parquet in our dining room had several loose blocks and lots of bitumen. The result is excellent. The job ran over by a day because of extra repairs, but they talked us through it and kept the price fair.”
Coombe
Decking looks much better
“The deck looks warm and rich again. We had to rebook once because of rain, which is understandable, and they were flexible about the new date. Would use again.”
Surbiton
Great with our dogs around
“With two dogs, we needed a tough finish. They recommended a hard-wearing lacquer and it has held up brilliantly so far.”
Tolworth