What stain color for red oak floors?

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by hml1976

Thanks all. I think we have decided to go with a clear finish. So next question, how do we keep the floors as light as possible so they don't turn yellow/orange over time? Water based poly? A swedish finish? I even read tung oil?

Anyone have any experience with this stuff?

Thanks again!

If you want a light finish why not go with white oak?

[hml1976]

Originally Posted by golfgal

If you want a light finish why not go with white oak?

Because most of the oak is existing, we are just adding more hardwood to the living and dining areas, but the rest of the downstairs is already red oak.

[davebarnes]

You go for the nasty poly urethane because it is harder after curing.
You go for the water-based urethane because it dries faster.

[silibran]

I have what appears to be a mixed oak floor that we had refinished from practically yellow to dark. I love it! The oak planks took the stain differently and so the floor doesn't look too uniform. Some of the strips are lighter than others.

The oak is now dark, as in walnut dark, with light neutral walls. I have some carpet too. I am so tired of light floors.

The front hall, which faces north and does not get a lot of light, is dark with the dark floor, no question. But I don't think it shows dirt all that much. And the front hall was dark even with the lighter floor.