How Much Stain Should I Use When Finishing My Floors?

Oil-Based Stains

• Oil-based pigmented stains and penetrating stains soak into the surface of wood, adding richness and color as they become part of the wood. Most oil-based stains require the user to paint or rub on a thin layer of stain and wipe away the excess stain before it dries. Since oil-based stains darken the wood as they soak into it, the user can decide how much to use in order to achieve the desired amount of tint. If one layer of stain leaves the floor too light, add another coat of stain.

Water-Based Stains

• Water-based stains require the user to sponge or paint them on with a synthetic brush. Water-based stains soak into the wood quickly and dry more rapidly than oil-based stains, so it sometimes takes more water-based stain to apply a layer of stain to the floor than it takes oil-based stain. However, water-based stains often require only one coat and do not require the user to wipe up the excess. Therefore, the typical single coat required to use a water-based stain often uses a smaller volume of stain than a double coat of oil-based stain.

Wood Type

• Floors made from open-grained woods such as oak, walnut, ash and pecan, soak up stain more easily than closed-grain woods such as maple, birch and beech. Hardwoods absorb less stain than softwoods. Therefore, you will possibly use more stain on softwoods and open-grained woods while also getting a darker color than on closed-grain and hardwoods.

Other Considerations

• Since the first coat of stain always soaks into the wood more than a second coat of stain, keep in mind that the first coat will use more stain than the second. Also remember that if a pigmented oil stain is too dark in color, it is usually possible to dilute the stain with turpentine. The turpentine will increase the volume of liquid, so you'll need to purchase less stain to cover the floors.