Staining changes the colour of the timber itself, rather than sitting on top of it like paint. It is done after sanding and before the protective finish goes on, which means it is only practical as part of a full sanding job — you cannot stain over an existing lacquer and expect it to last.
What colour can your floor actually go?
This is the question that catches people out. The species dictates the range. Pine takes stain unevenly because its grain is soft and open, so dark stains can look blotchy unless the floor is conditioned first. Oak takes stain beautifully and can go almost anywhere from bleached white to near-black. Old pine that has ambered over ninety years will always read warmer than a photo of new oak on a website.
We sample on your own boards, in your own light, before committing. A stain that looks right in a showroom often looks completely different in a north-facing Victorian front room.
Popular finishes
- Natural. No stain, just a clear finish. Shows the timber as it is; the safest choice and the one we recommend most often.
- White or bleached. Lightens and cools the timber. Works well on oak, fights against yellow pine.
- Grey. Popular for the last decade. Needs care on pine, where it can go green if the timber is very yellow.
- Mid to dark brown. Walnut and antique tones. Excellent on oak parquet, and very good at hiding patch repairs.
- Near-black. Dramatic and unforgiving — every speck of dust and every scratch shows.
The honest downsides
A stained floor is harder to repair invisibly later, because a new board will not match without re-staining. Dark floors show dust and scratches far more than natural ones. And a stain cannot be undone without sanding the floor again, which uses up timber. If you are unsure, natural is the choice you will not regret.
What it costs
Guide rates are £25–£32 per m² for standard boards and £32–£42 per m² for parquet, with a £550 minimum project cost. We are not VAT registered, so nothing is added on top. See the prices page for worked examples.
Get a price
Send a photo of your floor to info@epic-floors.com or call 07344 467352. Free survey and a fixed written quote before any work starts. Open Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm, across London and Kent.
Our work
Recent work
Free survey
We look at the floor, measure board thickness and tell you honestly whether the work is worth doing.
Fixed written quote
No day rates and no surprises. £550 minimum project cost, and we are not VAT registered.
Get a free quote
Tell us about your floor and we will come back to you with a price. A photo gets you a far more accurate answer.