I have an old apartment with the original strip wood floors from 1911. The floors are dark, worn, and have not been refinished since 1911 (at least it appears)

My question is, if I get them refinished will it remove the color and bring it back to its original color (I assume they are oak in color ?)

Guess I am trying to figure out if they need to be restained to dark and if I would have an option to have them be a lighter color if I choose.

Thanks

If the flooring is thick enough to resand, and it should be if they have never been refinished, then the color will be lightened and most, if not all, of the old stain will be sanded out. Once the flooring is fully sanded, you then can choose from a multitude of stain colors or even keep it "natural" and not use stain at all. You may have a beautiful "work of art" under that old stain from 1911. Look what this guy found.
http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com/hardwo ... .php?t=172
http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com/hardwo ... .php?t=297
Read this:
http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com/hardwo ... re_old.htm

Thank you, I will be sure to share what I find