Should I keep the hardwood flooring?

rentalforever

The previous owners must have gone to great expense in putting down hardwood flooring in the living space, stairs and entrance hallway. I thought it was engineered wood but I found some spare boards and noticed that they were made of the real stuff. The issue is, it's a very dark brown/chestnut colour in an already dark space so we want it gone as we do the side extension.

So two questions:
1. Am I right in thinking this wood can be sanded down and re-oiled to a lighter colour or is this wood stained forever with a dark colour?
2. How do I go about getting new boards to cover the floor where the extension is going so it doesn't look like I've got two different floors?

Bendy_House

Hi RF.

I'd have thought you could tell from the spare planks whether the colour was just skin-deep? An applied dye or stain really is a fraction of a mm thin, so should show at a sideways glance - or checking the underside of the board.

If it's all been 'stained', then you could always try a sanding of whatever side will be the 'under'?

If you post a photo, including a close-up so that hopefully the grain type can be seen, folk on here may be able to ID the type of wood it is.

rentalforever

Very sensible suggestion @Bendy_House

Here's some snaps - and I think you're right, the stained layer is quite thin. So that answers the question around whether it can be sanded down and re-oiled or stained. Question is whether I can get something matching for the additional floor space.

Bendy_House

Looks like oak, and I agree - that will be much nicer is its natural shade, or kept light.

If you feel that you may want to add a shade to the sanded timber make it 'medium' or so, I'd suggest you get pros in to do this as it can be a 'mare to get the shade you want, or expect to be getting.

Finding matching oak planks shouldn't be an issue - you'll be starting from the same bare wood. The replacement doesn't even have to be 'solid', but engineered would be fine - even better, as it's more stable.

prowla

I'd keep it and use strategically placed rugs to give a contrast.