The left side is newly installed red oak. The right side is previously installed red oak.

Both side were sanded and finished.

The entire purpose of the floor reno was to have the same material and color on this level of the house.

The work was done by a “professional” outfit that stated matching was not an issue.

What the %$&* happened and how do we proceed from here?

Thanks for your help in advance!

Dan (still eating frozen dinners off of plywood in the garage).

Please use link for images: http://www.pbase.com/hopes2/floor

Hi Dan. I saw your note on my site, so I came over here. Glad you were able to upload the pictures.

From the pictures, both sides looks like red oak/same grade.

It's a bit challenging to tell from pictures (easier to see in person), but it looks like you may have 1 or 2 issues.

1) new wood looks different because it hasn't aged as much. It's generally lighter.

2) did they maybe use 2 types of poly? Were both sides sanded or just one. It kind of looks like oil based poly on right and water borne on left.

If both sides sanded w/ same poly, then this probably just do to age. I'm not sure how old your place is/how long the original one has been sitting there.

A potential solution is to somehow do a screen & recoat of left side w/ a tint. If it's oil based, add a tint. If it's water borne, Bona Traffic has an amber version.

But, let us know situation - were both sides refinished or just one? What type of poly?

Debbie
TheFlooringGirl
http://TheFlooringGirl.com

FlooringGirl,

I deeply appreciate your response and viewpoint and sorry for the rather disjointed request on your blog.

The house was built in the early nineties along with the wood flooring on the right side of pic. It all is red oak and it did have a darker finish.

Both sides were sanded, Pallman used for sealer and Loba water based for the poly.

What really riles me as the added pic shows, there was carpeting to the right of the red line, to the left of the line was the old oak all the way to the door.
The carpeting defined the living room space.

Our first thought was to leave the old wood in place and just add a contrasting species where the carpeting was to again, define the living room space.

The professional urged us to remove the old wood so the whole floor on this level would be the same. Butting up to the old wood obviously would not work.
So now we have this contrast staring at us that makes no sense and defines nothing.

He is coming over hopefully tomorrow and I'm trying get a plan.

Do you feel I am way off base with my displeasure of the results?

I just have a real hard time with this result being called a match much less close.

Thanks again!

Dan

http://www.pbase.com/hopes2/image/165627949

I think it's better with it all being wood for sure, but I understand your disappointment that it looks different. And, that seems to be primarily due to old vs new.

The problem is that it shows much more when it's natural, and it shows much more on water borne poly rather than oil based poly.

I think one potential solution is to add another coat of poly w/ amberizing agent to bring it closer (i.e. screen and coat). Another more dire approach is to resand the whole floor and do a darker color show it shows less (I'm kind of doubting you would like the latter solution as you obviously chose the color you wanted).

I suppose a 3rd solution might be to add an area rug or runner so it's less noticeable.

I hope that helps. And, I feel your pain.

Debbie, http://TheFlooringGirl.com

Oh and if there is a closet it might be a good are to test.

Debbie,

Thanks for your help!

It would have been nice if I was told it would look different but not a word.
I thought you sand to raw wood and well red oak is red oak.

I will request that at the very least, he does the screen and coat with a tint.
I do have a closet and will have him test it there.

They also did a poor vac job and a bunch of debris is now encased in the floor.
Poor sander control is also evident, see the ripples in the photo. Depending on the light and time of day they show up in various locations. Finally you can see where the applicator pad stopped it's stroke in many areas.

The floor finishing was supposed to be the culmination of six long months of renovation.

Let me just say I view it as an overall poor amateur like job.

Time for a long face to face conversation with him.
No way is he getting the balance due at this point.

Thanks again,

Dan
http://www.pbase.com/hopes2/image/165628386

Well I feel that the weight of the world has been lifted from my shoulders.
The contractor is going to redo the floor and adjust with stain to achieve at least a close match.

Thank you Debbie!

Dan - Oh wow, that is so great. Thx so much for the update (and the coffee). You're the best.

Ms. FlooringGirl,

Thanks for the info and support!

He laid select on the left and the right turned out to be common, he was fooled by the original nutmeg type stain.

His plan is to sand the left side and use a neutral stain with maybe some added tint.
He will then screen both sides and apply the topcoats.

What do you think his chances are for a successful somewhat close match?

Drink up and the best to you,

Dan