High Gloss Stains for Damaged Wood Floors

Distracts the Eye

• One school of thought is that a high gloss floor stain will hide damaged areas. The idea is that if the room is well-lit, the light will reflect off the high sheen of the floor and distract the eye from imperfections. If the floor has only minor damages, such as scuffs and slight dips, this might be the case. In fact, applying the stain, along with sanding, is one way to smooth out imperfections for a better-looking floor. Sports flooring, like basketball courts, typically have high gloss stains to hide scuffs.

Emphasizes Damage

• Another school of thought is that a high gloss stain will only showcase the damage to the floor. In regular residential flooring, this is likely the case. If the damage to the floor is significant, such as large cracks or unevenness in the plank installation, a high gloss finish will likely magnify this issue. Instead, you may opt for a matte or semi-gloss finish that will subtly hide flaws in the flooring while protecting the wood from new damage.

Considerations

• Repair or replace as much of the damaged flooring as you can. New planks of wood can match the floor and hide the repairs you sand and coat the remaining wood with the same color stain. Many people think damage to a wood floor, or slight imperfections, show character. If so, you can play up irregularly shaped knots, slight cracks or scuffs with a high gloss floor stain that will really bring these areas to the light and contribute to a more rustic, cottage feel.

Color

• Floor color is equally as important as the level of shine. A dark-colored stain, even if it is high gloss, can better hide strange grain patterns, irregular knots and cracks. Light-colored wood stains may only exacerbate these problems. When it comes to choosing the right floor stain, try different colors in inconspicuous areas and allow it to dry fully. This will give you a better sense of how the stain will look on the damaged floor.