Professional Hardwood Floor Staining in Ottawa

Hardwood Floor Staining Process

For homeowners considering remodeling a room in their home, hardwood floor stain may be an affordable and transformative option. Whether you want to update the look of your hardwood floors to match your room’s new design aesthetic or you want to improve the shine of a dull floor surface, our expert hardwood floor contractors have the tools and experience to help. Our comprehensive hardwood floor staining process includes:

Sanding Chances are, your hardwood floors have an old, faded stain and seal coat. We’ll begin by removing them to expose the wood underneath.

Staining – With the hardwood floor exposed, the new stain you choose can absorb into the grains of the wood, creating that signature hardwood floor look.

Sealing – Once the hardwood stain has dried, we use a high-quality sealant to protect your floors and help ensure it maintains its vibrant color.

Our Hardwood Floor Staining Gallery

What Type of Hardwood Floor Stain Should I Choose?

There are a near-infinite number of hardwood floor stain colors available to homeowners. At Royal Hardwood Floors, we have access to dozens of colors to match your desired look. If you’re unsure what color you want for your remodeling project, we can help you decide. For over three generations, we have been working with homeowners to find the perfect floor stain color. In that time, we’ve seen everything, and we’ve developed the skills to stain some of the most challenging types of wood. We can change the color of engineered wood floors with our hardwood floor restoration techniques. However, there are a number of considerations when thinking about the stain color that’s right for your home.

The Size of the Room
The size of the room plays an important part in determining the right color for your home. For smaller rooms, we would recommend a light stain color. A lighter stain will make the room feel larger. A darker stain can be used in a larger space such as your kitchen or dining room.

Do You Have Any Pets?
 Every pet owner knows that pet hair can get everywhere you don’t want it. That includes your hardwood. Pet owners may want to choose a lighter floor stain, which is better at hiding pet hair. Scratch marks from your pet’s nails will be less visible than they would with darker stains.

What’s Your Style?
Most importantly, you want to find a stain color that will match your home’s aesthetic. At Royal Hardwood Floors, we have a variety of colors that’s right for your home. We can even create custom stain colors to meet your needs.

Our Happy Customers

Derrick Rideout

Jean and his team did a really great job installing new sand on site hardwood throughout the upstairs of my home. I was really happy with the color match to the existing railing and the overall finish. They did the stairs as well - it looks amazing. Jean was excellent to work with during the process. I would highly recommend them. I'm hoping to get them to refinish the floors on the main floor in a year or two.

Mostafa Faghfoury

Jean and his crew came on time. Did a great and flawless job. My wife and I came back to a new floor as promised. All the issues with a 17 years floor turned out to be what we had in mind. They finished their task to our satisfaction. They cleaned the place in perfect condition ready for the same afternoon move in. All with a very reasonable price. Highly recommend the company and Jean and his wonderful smiling crew.

Tony McElera

We had another company drop the ball with the finishing of our new stairs and railings. When others would not touch it, Royal Hardwood said yes. They completed the stain touch-ups and varnished the whole job in a single day. Excellent quality!! Maxime knew exactly how to fix all of the issues, answered all of my questions patiently and the final product looks great. Thank you so much for coming to our rescue and finishing our stairs. I would recommend these guys in the future.

FAQs For Staining Stairs And Hardwood Floors

How long does it take to stain stairs and hardwood floors?

Most projects take 2–4 days, depending on the size of the area, stain colour, and drying conditions. Stairs often require more time because of detailed handwork and multiple coats.

Do I need to leave my home during the staining process?

Not always. Modern low‑VOC stains and finishes have reduced odours, but some homeowners prefer to be away during sanding and the first coat. We can help you plan around ventilation and access needs.

Can you match the stain colour on my stairs to my existing hardwood floors?

Yes. Colour‑matching is common, though stairs and floors may absorb stain differently. We test samples first to ensure the closest possible match.

How long before I can walk on the floors again?

Light foot traffic is usually allowed after 24 hours, but full curing takes 7–14 days. We recommend waiting before placing rugs or heavy furniture to avoid marks.

What’s the difference between oil‑based and water‑based finishes?

Oil‑based finishes offer a warm tone and strong durability but take longer to dry. Water‑based finishes dry faster, have lower odour, and maintain a more natural wood colour. We help you choose the best option for your home and lifestyle.

Contact us today to schedule your free quote.

If your home’s floors are beginning to lose their shine or you simply want to update the look of the hardwood in your home to match the aesthetics of a remodel, the experts at Royal Hardwood Floors can help. Since 1922, we have been Ottawa, ON’s leader in residential hardwood floor staining. Our experienced team of licensed professional have the tools and knowledge to complete any size job. As a third-generation, family-owned business, we’re dedicated to providing you with the best service possible. We live in the communities that we serve, so our reputation is vital to our success. We will arrive at the job site on time, prepared to work, and provide you with a stunning new look for your hardwood floors.