Hello - newbie here to hardwood floors, but a longtime carpenter/generally handy guy.

My family home has hardwood floors and a short run of hardwood stair treads.
We're starting to get traffic patterns in parts of the floor and additionally the hardwood stair treads have worn to bare wood in some spots on each tread.
I'm most concerned with the stair treads. They're going to be toast soon if I don't get a finish on the bare spots.

Here's the question: Can anyone take a guess what topcoat my floor has on it currently from pictures? And what can I use to build up the bare spots or topcoat? I don't want to end up with a gummy mess by repairing the finish with something incompatible. The house was built in 1937. Probably the original floors. Not sure if they were ever refinished. In the time I have lived here, I have never waxed the floor or done any refinishing/stripping. The current finish is a totally non glossy look. It picks up the light, but not in the candy coated/plastic dipped way. When I run my hand over the boards I can feel a smooth topcoat of some kind - just not sure what it is. It doesn't look plastic anywhere on the floor - even in closets. Would that mean it's definitely not poly? Or could it be a satin poly? What other finish would it be then and what could I use to safely build up the bare spots?

Any help appreciated.

Here are some pictures:

I don't think it really matters what you have on there now (although it looks like a light stain w/ oil based poly - maybe colonial maple or golden oak or golden pecan) or else natural that has oxidized a lot. The reason I say that it doesn't matter, is that you need to sand and refinish the steps completely. They are worn down in areas below the stain. You can't just add more poly - it won't change the color and it probably won't adhere that well, even if you screen. So, you need a full sand and refinish. I'd recommend oil based poly if you want them to last longer.

On a side note, those steps don't look they they were installed well. First, they look thin - maybe they are 3/4" (looks like it's the same as floor above). I believe stair treads are usually thicker - I think usually 1 1/4." Also there are no stringers on the side.

Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl

That looks very much like natural oil based urethane coated floors. The color varies in your pictures depending on lighting .Chances are however that coating over any greyed out areas will not correct the problem as mentioned above.

Once the finish wears down to bare wood , the wood oxidizes and turns grey like fire wood.If that is the case in some areas, the wood itself must be sanded clean because coating over the oxidation wont restore color.

Otherwise, if you want to coat over existing poly, any good oil based poly like Duraseal,Lenmar or Fabulon will do.

Ok - thanks for the answers. Will consult a pro.
Out of curiosity - have you all crossed paths with this product (Rustoleum Transformations - Floor) :

[youtube]ntHmTCAPexw[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntHmTCAPexw

Any thoughts on it in general?

I would be wary of that product - looks to good to be true. Regardless, this would be used on top of a floor that is in good condition/hasn't worn down. In your case you have worn down to the wood - it's gray in some areas on steps and even on the flat areas. So you need to do a full sand and refinish.

Also, I don't know what "aluminum oxide technology" is. I thought it wasn't legal to apply aluminum oxide in a house and it can only be done in factory. aluminum oxide technology sounds like marketing mumbo jumbo

Funny thing is the floor in the video is a laminate not even a wood floor. And I agree you just have a natural finish, if you choose to just topcoat it make sure you scuff it up well using 180-220 grit paper along with the grain.

I think the stairs look installed great. Out west we rarely have any stringers. And no one likes them either because they collect dust.
Now yer hardwood floor has got some really long lengths. Must be an older floor by the looks of it. I never see wood that long out here.