My Floor Just Got Water-Popped, What Now?

Here are some things that you need to know right now.

First, stay off the floors until they are completely dry. If you have to walk on the floors, do so with clean, dry socks, no shoes and absolutely no BAREFEET. The oils from your feet will negatively affect the wood floor stain and/or finish. Also do NOT drag your feet, or slide anything across the floor as this will also leave marks in the finished floor. Do not push on or apply any pressure to the wood floor in any way, you will crush the wood grain and this will show up after staining as a distress mark. Do not spill anything on the wood floor. If you do, please tell one of our team members ASAP. Generally, after water popping the floors, we are usually back with an hour or so to start the staining/finishing process.

You may be wondering why did we do this to your floors and what are the advantages?

1. Enhanced Stain Absorption: Water popping opens the wood pores, allowing the stain to penetrate more deeply and evenly into the wood. This leads to a richer and more consistent coloration.

2. Improved Grain Definition: This process will accentuate the natural grain patterns of the wood, providing a more pronounced and attractive appearance.

3. Smoother Finish: By raising the wood fibers, then knocking them down with the staining process, this will facilitate a smoother, polished finish.

4. This technique will also remove the smaller scratch patterns/swirls from the sanding process.