Stain or no stain on red oak hardwood floors?

[FreshTressa]

We are refinishing our house to sell and the entire house has red oak floors.

Should I stain them, and if so, what color?

Or, should I leave it natural?

What would have the 'widest appeal?'

Anyone have a picture of red oak finished without stain.

 

[YourMajesty]

I'm not sure if we have red oak? I would stain them. We have ours natural and it's very blah. We do have a bunch of natural light and the floors almost look a bit yellowish with the natural finish. You could have them put some some samples down and chose the one you like. I would love to have a little more color...I'm waiting another year or two and then we will need to refinish and can add a stain. Good luck.

 

[Magickndm]

No! Don't stain it! Our floors are a natural red oak, and they are beautiful. I'll look and see if I have a picture to post.

 

[Magickndm]

This is not the best, all I can find on the computer right now, if you're interested I can take more tomorrow.

 

[FreshTressa]

Your fireplace is very pretty!!

I like the floors...they kind of look like these did before I took the finish off.

 

[Mercy]

We had our floors refinished last year. We went with a stain that is called Provencial (Minwax). They are a rich mid brown... love them!

Here's a pic (all my pics come out darker than in person).
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/Mercymygft/Picture007.jpg

 

[golfgal]

Magickngm--from your pictures I am pretty sure you have white oak floors. We have red oak, DON'T stain them. They have such a pretty natural color that ages with time. The are more of a medium color, not a really light color.

This is my living room, you can see the red oak floors behind the chair. We have 3 coats of poly on them, no stain.

 

[robinb]

I would also leave them natural. My floors are a lighter oak and I stained them to a red oak, LOL. No pictures, though. Everyone else's house is so much cleaner than mine!

 

[Rajah]

Definitely would NOT stain a red oak!

 

[imsorry]

Don't stain them!! I have natural red oak and love it.

Here is my entry hall: (drapes are on order!)

 

[Nancyg56]

I have red oak in my great room. Please do not stain it. It is a beautiful warm color.

 

[Magickndm]

Your fireplace is very pretty!!

Thank you. We did a lot of work on it.

I know we ordered natural red oak, they are darker than the kitchen picture looks, that's just all I could find on my computer and my camera battery is dead.

 

[Magickndm]

Ok, I scrounged up one more picture....

 

[mickeyfan2]

I would put a golden oak stain on them. This brings out the beauty of the wood.

 

[KirstenB]

We have red oak floors. When they were installed, I had the floor guys try out different combinations of stains. I eventually went with 1/2 cherry 1/2 natural. It provided a light reddish color. A question for you, do you need to make the floors match any existing woodwork or cabinets? I.e. does the floor go into the kitchen? I wouldn't go with a dark stain unless you need it to match something.

 

[KirstenB]

Okay, I just saw the photo above my post. Mgc Kngdm has almost the exact same finish we do. The full cherry stain was too dark, so that's why I had them cut it with 1/2 natural. Gives some color, but you still see all the grains in the floor.

 

[wdwoldtimer]

Are you sure it's not linoleum with a wood grain print on it?

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd leave them natural. I love the look of natural wood floors.

 

[FreshTressa]

thanks so much for sharing the pics!!

Everyone has such gorgeous floors. I LOVE them!!