Lightening varnished floor without sanding!

8 months ago

last modified: 8 months ago

The previous owners used Ronseal varnish - walnut colour - on the worn and patina’d pine floors.

There are plenty of imperfections but I’m fine with that..

But the colour.. it’s so dark and dominating. The house is a dark Victorian mid terrace.. Walnut furniture is beautiful but small doses! Not the whole house!

Is there ANY way to lighten these floors without sanding them? Some kind of chemical stripper or wash?

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Comments (5)

Daisy England
8 months ago
Sanding is the only option.
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Attention2detail
8 months ago
last modified: 8 months ago
there are a few ways to lighten walnut varnished floors without sanding them. One option is to use a chemical stripper. Chemical strippers are designed to remove varnish, paint, and other coatings from wood. Be sure to choose a stripper that is specifically designed for use on floors, and follow the instructions carefully.

Another option is to use a wood bleach. Wood bleach is a chemical that can lighten the color of wood without removing the finish. Be sure to test the bleach in an inconspicuous area first to make sure it does not damage the wood.

Finally, you can also try using a walnut brightener. Walnut brighteners are designed to remove the yellowing that can occur over time in walnut wood. They will not lighten the color of the wood as much as a chemical stripper or wood bleach, but they can make a noticeable difference.

Here are some specific products that you may want to consider:
- Chemical stripper: Bona Traffic HD Wood Floor Stripper
- Wood bleach: Restore Wood Bleach
- Walnut brightener: Howard Walnut Brightener
No matter which method you choose, it is important to wear protective gear, such as gloves, goggles, and a respirator, when working with chemicals. You should also test the product in an inconspicuous area first to make sure it does not damage the wood.

It is also important to note that lightening walnut varnished floors without sanding may not produce the desired results. The wood may still be dark, and the finish may be uneven. If you are not happy with the results, you may need to sand the floors and refinish them.

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Those are wise words Karen! am so glad it worked out for you. Love to see a photo, what colour or shade did you choose? Jools, The bitumen is a right pig, best way we found is to make it cold, so it becomes brittle, then you can scrape /chip it off. We used a window scraper, coarse wire wool and various sandpaper. We left the window open on a cold night, turned heating off in there, and you could try a cooler fan on it. Putting ice bags on it didn't work as well as we hoped. we used a round sander, but it can cause swirls, it's really awkward ! To be honest a few dips and scratches on an old floor are okay in the end, don't be too afraid of it, they are only pieces of wood stuck down on the floor, not bone china, as long as you try not to break them, or set fire to them, otherwise you can't possibly do more damage than I did, and they recovered!
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Have you thought about oiling the floor rather than varnishing it? I have found that oil doesn't tend to make the wood so golden.
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If it's dark wood... it's dark wood. It's nice to preserve an original feature but sometimes it just doesn't work anymore so it's time to update. If it was a mistake to use such a dark floor in a dark hall you shouldn't have to live with that mistake just because it's old. Option 1. Remove it and use it elsewhere in the house. Some of it can be used to make furniture or a wall feature. Replace with light floor of your choice. Option 2. Leave it as an original feature but cover over it with a new floor. Laminate / carpet etc. It's always there in case you want to bring it up again at a later date. Option 3. Use stain on it as required and accept that it's a dark floor. Use light paint on the wall and a large runner down the middle to cover enough of it so it doesn't have as much impact. Think of other ways to brighten up the hall e.g. increase the glazing in the front door or the door into the kitchen, remove the small wall next to the kitchen door and replace that with a glass panel, use mirrors, add artificial lighting etc.
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Sonia
8 months ago
I wouldn’t use any chemical strippers, apart from the fumes it would be a huge, messy job. Dare I say it, but I rather like the bit of floor in your picture. It would look fantastic in a white painted room with a simple neutral rug. If you totally hate it then hire a sander or hire someone to sand it for you. We sanded our floorboards years ago and it wasn’t difficult, just very dusty.
Overton Windows thanked Sonia
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Woodfloors4u
8 months ago
last modified: 8 months ago
I agree with Attention2detail there are options to avoid sanding but for desired results your probably best sanding. Also, Sonia makes a good point about fumes from chemical strippers.

Personally, I would look at quotes from a professional sander to carry out the work or hire costs for sanding equipment if you choose to do the work yourself.

The third option is to look at a new Engineered Oak or Soild Oak floor to clad over the existing sub-floor, we regularly have customers purchase new floors when they've looked at sanding costs which can be expensive.

At Woodfloors4u we specialise in Engineered Oak and Soild Oak flooring, please see links below to some cost-effective lighter timber options:

1. https://www.woodfloors4u.co.uk/product/natural-oak-150-x-4-15-x-1900mm-brushed-and-hardwax-oiled-classic-wood-flooring/

2. https://www.woodfloors4u.co.uk/product/natural-oak-125mm-brushed-and-oiled-engineered-wood-flooring/

We stock over 100 different wood flooring options.

If you have questions or would like to discuss the project further please feel free to get in touch:

Web: www.woodfloors4u.co.uk

Email: info@woodfloors4u.co.uk

Phone: 020 8500 1940
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Overton Windows
Original Author
8 months ago
Thank you all for your advice, I will let you know how I get on

Lightening varnished floor without sanding!

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Daisy England

Attention2detail

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Lightening varnished floor without sanding!

Comments (5)

Daisy England

Attention2detail

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Sonia

Woodfloors4u

Overton WindowsOriginal Author

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