Stain color is the decision people worry about most during a refinish, and for good reason. It's the part of the floor you'll notice every day, and it's hard to picture from a small chip in a store.
The trouble with sample boards is that they're not your wood. Red oak has pink undertones that push warm stains toward orange. White oak takes grays and browns more evenly. Maple can blotch with dark stains. Even two oak floors from different decades absorb stain differently.
That's why, after sanding, we lay out tape squares on your actual floor and apply three or four stain options side by side. You can look at them in morning light and evening light, next to your cabinets and furniture, before anything is committed.
A few rules of thumb help. Natural and light tones make small, foggy San Francisco rooms feel bigger and hide dust. Mid browns hide everyday wear best. Very dark stains look dramatic but show every pet hair and scratch, so they suit low-traffic rooms.
Whatever you choose, the finish coat changes it a little too. We'll show you how your chosen color looks under matte, satin, or gloss before the final decision.