We know you can’t always find the exact product you want, so we carry a great range of unfinished solid wood flooring products to make your interior design life a little easier. Unfinished oak flooring is a signature option from our studio, so here’s how to do a great DIY staining job on your unfinished oak floor. There are two types of stain – oil-based and water-based.

Equipment
•    Mop (if “water popping” is required)
•    Cotton rags (t-shirts work well)
•    Natural Sponge

Water Popping
When applying a water-based stain, it’s necessary to prepare the surface by sanding and then “water popping”, which is really just a fancy name for running a wet mop over the newly sanded surface to bring out the grain. Thirty minutes drying time and you’re ready to apply the stain.

Applying the Stain
Remember to stir the stain before application to blend the pigment. The idea is to apply the stain using the cotton rags (smoothing with the natural sponge if necessary) evenly, moving from one side of the room to the other. We find working in 2/3ft rectangles works well.

•    Apply the stain in the same direction the grain and boards run. If you don’t, little accumulations of stain could cause colour irregularities.

•    Don’t slap on a huge puddle and work it out. Only apply the stain in small, even amounts.

It should take about 4 hours for each coat of the stain to dry, but try to leave overnight if possible.

There’s one member of the household who doesn’t care how expensive your solid oak wood flooring was, or even how you’ve only just finished colour staining the new wood block flooring in the lounge – the household mutt!

Pets and household flooring can be a pretty troublesome mix, but as a studio of dog owners, we’ve certainly amassed a few priceless hints and tips for making sure your canine chum gets along with your new natural wood floors!

•    Persistent exposure to liquids can damage even the hardiest of wood floors, so be sure to mop up “accidents” and site drinking bowls etc. on top of a decent sized mat. The best thing to mop up spills with is a slightly damp cloth.

•    If you bought unfinished wood flooring from us, think about applying a full three coats of an oil-based finish for protection.

•    If you notice a patch of the floor where Fido frequently paws or leaves scratches (e.g. as he scrambles around the corner at top speed to greet you at the door!), put down a rug. Be sure to research backings though, as some non-slip backings can damage DIY surface finishes.

•    Clip your dog’s nails to minimise the risk of scratching.

Hardwood and engineered wood flooring is very healthy for all your pets. Natural wood typically doesn’t allow fleas and germs to grow, acts as a great insulator during the chilly winter months, and can even cool your pooch during the heat of summer.

There are many benefits of having solid wood flooring in your home rather than carpeting. Many people prefer carpeting as it’s softer to the feet, but here are some reasons why finished or unfinished wood flooring can be a lot better.

Wood flooring is actually a lot easier to clean than carpeting. While you can vacuum and shampoo your carpet, there are some things that may never come out of your carpet without a highly professional cleaning which can be extremely expensive. Dust mites, fleas, and other unwanted house guests can live in your carpet without you even knowing they are there.

Wood flooring, such as unfinished oak flooring, can easily be cleaned using a vacuum or a broom, and you can wipe it clean when there are spillages. Many times carpet stains will not come out no matter how many special chemicals you try. But some types of wood flooring, stains are a none issue.

Carpets can also carry smells long after something has been cleaned up. For instance, a pet accident on your carpet can still smell bad years later, even if you have cleaned it to the best of your abilities. But a lacquered or varnished wood floor can easily be wiped clean, leaving no stains or bad smells.

This also makes wood flooring better for dining rooms where people eat and drink often. You will have a lot less to worry about when someone spills wine or tomato sauce on a wood floor rather than on a carpet.