Cherry hardwood floors

4/22/2012 at 5:57:24 PM

First, I have never run across a factory applied finish or otherwise that can stand up to scratchs from dogs. No matter how durable they say they are. I have three 80 pounders myself, so if any one knows of a finished I'd love to know myself.

All wood floors can be stained any colour you wish, as long as it is darker than the natural wood itself. Unless you go with a solid stain, like for decks and fences, but you lose the grain of the wood with that option. If you have real cherry floors, rather than a cherry finish stained floor, the wood is not that dark naturally. The natural wood when sanded is mostly a pale red (until it's finished) with an almost white colour for the heart wood from the tree. You can just put on just a clear finish, it will darken the wood slighty from the sun over time. It will never be as dark as the fake "cherry finishes" most floors and kitchens say they have.

The best option to hide the dirt is a satin or flat finish and lighter coloured stains. Semi-gloss, gloss with dark colours, shows every speck of dirt, as you know. Go to a few hardwood stores to see the colours and finishes that you like best. You can also see natural cherry floors with out a stain.Take a sample home with you to show your flooring contractor exactly what you want.

4/23/2012 at 9:24:00 AM

Thanks so much for your advice James.

We are getting these floors done as we are selling our home. The dog will have to be banned from the living room & bedrooms until we move. These are real cherry wood floors unfortunately or we'd rip them out.

You have been a great help.... Thank you