At The Flooring Professionals LLC, we were asked to refinish and repair this Durham home’s hardwood floors. The project centered around bringing new life to a set of hardwood pine floors that included both heart pine and regular pine. Heart pine often reads deeper and redder, while standard pine leans lighter and golden—so the key is guiding color choices and blending techniques to make everything feel unified.
Pre-Check: Verifying Stable Conditions
Before any work begins, we confirm the home’s temperature, relative humidity, and the wood’s moisture content are in a healthy range consistent with NWFA-recommended guidelines. Even on a refinish (no new wood installed), this stability check helps prevent future issues like cupping, gapping, or finish adhesion problems and ensures the color and sheen cure as intended.
Below are the “before” photos showing the original condition of the pine floors.
Step 1: Stain Sampling & Customer Choice
We started with on-floor stain samples so the homeowner could see real options in their actual lighting. Sampling first lets everyone align on tone (lighter vs. richer), clarity, and warmth before we commit to the full process.
Step 2: Full Sanding & Prep
With a direction chosen, we sanded to bare wood and prepped the surface for an even, consistent color laydown. This removes old finish, scratches, and discoloration, and it exposes both the heart pine and regular pine in their natural state so stain absorbs properly.
Step 3: Staining With Customer Input
We applied the chosen stain throughout and then walked the space with the homeowner to confirm it matched their vision. That midpoint check keeps the project collaborative and avoids surprises.
Step 4: Blending Heart Pine & Regular Pine
To make the two species feel seamless, we fine-tuned and blended stain where needed—subtle adjustments that balance the heart pine’s deeper, reddish cast with the regular pine’s lighter, golden tone. The result is a cohesive, warm look that still respects the wood’s character.
Step 5: Protective Topcoats
Once the color was approved and consistent, we finished with multiple coats of a high-quality protective finish for durability, easy maintenance, and the right sheen.
Customer Testimonial – 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Eric and his crew did an outstanding job bringing my old floors back to life—even tackling the challenging task of seamlessly matching a newer floor with the original. Throughout the process, they kept me informed with photos and asked for my input since I couldn’t be there in person. Their communication was excellent, they kept every appointment, and they completed the job on time—actually even ahead of schedule. The entire process was smooth and stress-free, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. Eric’s team is highly professional, skilled, and reliable. I would gladly hire them again and recommend them without hesitation.”
If you’re looking for hardwood floor refinishing or need help with pine floor sanding and staining, our team is here to help. We follow NWFA standards, use top-of-the-line equipment, and treat every home as if it were our own. Whether your home has oak, pine, or exotic hardwoods, we can sand, stain, and refinish them to perfection.
Call us today at (919) 706-1818 or contact us today to schedule your free estimate.
