Change the colour of your commercial hardwood floor without replacing it. On-site sampling, expert preparation, and durable finishes specified for the environment.
When a commercial space is refurbished, rebranded, or brought under new management, the floor often needs to change with it. A dark Victorian board that suited one occupier looks wrong for the next. A bleached Scandinavian finish that was on-trend five years ago dates a hotel lobby. A floor that simply doesn't match the new interior scheme undermines an otherwise well-executed fit-out.
In most cases, replacing the floor entirely isn't necessary. Professional staining, applied after thorough sanding, can dramatically change the colour and character of an existing hardwood floor, at a fraction of the cost and disruption of a full replacement.
Any hardwood floor that can be sanded can be stained. The result is a floor that reads as new, integrates with the surrounding scheme, and carries a durable, commercially specified finish built to handle the footfall and cleaning regimes of your environment.
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Staining is unforgiving. More than any other stage of floor restoration, it exposes the quality of what came before it. Sanding marks, uneven preparation, inconsistent grain raising or a poorly specified product will all show up clearly in the finished colour, and cannot be corrected without sanding the floor back and starting again.
This is why preparation is everything. Our floor sanding team ensures the surface is perfectly level, uniformly abraded and correctly raised before any stain is applied. We then apply colour on-site using sample boards cut from the actual floor, so you see precisely what the finished result will look like on your specific timber before we commit to the full application.
Every stain specification is matched to the finish being applied over it (oil, lacquer or hardwax) since different topcoats interact with stains differently and affect the final tone. We manage this as a single, coordinated process, not two separate jobs.
Colour charts and brochure photography are unreliable guides to how a stain will actually look. The same product applied to oak reads differently than it does on pine, ash or beech. Lighting conditions, grain density and board age all affect the outcome.
Before any staining begins, we apply several colour options directly to your floor in a discreet area (ideally beneath where furniture will sit) and allow them to dry fully under your site's actual lighting conditions. You make your selection based on the real result, not a photograph. We don't proceed until you're satisfied with the choice.
This matters particularly in commercial settings where the floor colour has to integrate with fixed architectural elements, such as wall finishes, joinery, reception desks and signage, that can't be changed to accommodate a floor that came out differently than expected.
We work with a range of professional-grade products from manufacturers whose systems we know and trust. Product selection is made on the basis of the timber species, the environment, the desired finish and the topcoat being applied.
A professional two-component oil finish offering exceptional durability alongside a natural, low-sheen look. Well suited to high-traffic commercial areas where a hardwearing yet sympathetic appearance is required.
Compatible with Bona's maintenance system for ongoing floor care.
Premium colour pigments combined with high-quality oils for rich, consistent colour results across all hardwood species. Particularly effective for achieving deep, even tones on mixed-grain floors.
Ideal where consistency of colour is critical.
Natural oil-based tints formulated to enhance the wood grain rather than obscure it. Suitable for environments where a more organic, natural appearance is preferred.
Osmo's eco-friendly formulation relevant for clients with sustainability requirements.
We're happy to work with other specified products if your architect, interior designer or principal contractor has a preference. Contact us to discuss.
The following represent frequently chosen colour families rather than a fixed menu; staining is an inherently bespoke process and the range of achievable results is wide. On-site sampling is always the definitive guide.
Warm, light tones preserving timber character
Richer honey tone, popular in hospitality
Medium warm brown, versatile
Deep, rich tones with formality
Warm red-brown, traditional environments
Dramatic near-black, contemporary interiors
Cool neutral tones, modern offices
Light Scandinavian look
Custom colours and bespoke blends are available. If you're working to a specific interior scheme or brand palette, bring us the reference and we'll work towards it.
Floor staining almost always forms part of a broader restoration project rather than a standalone job. The most common contexts we encounter commercially:
A new occupier wants the floor to reflect their brand or design scheme without the cost of replacement. Staining during the sanding programme adds relatively little to the overall project cost.
A business updating its interior identity across multiple sites. We can maintain colour consistency across locations using the same specified product and application method.
A floor that was stained poorly in the past can be corrected by sanding back and re-staining properly. One of the more common jobs we're called in to fix.
A freshly fitted hardwood floor that needs staining to integrate with an existing interior scheme before the topcoat is applied.
Our wood floor staining specialists work across a wide range of commercial environments throughout London and the Southeast.
Corporate offices and co-working spaces where custom staining creates a distinctive brand environment.
Hotels, restaurants and bars where floor colour contributes to the overall aesthetic and brand identity.
Schools and universities with large floor areas where staining adds warmth and character to learning spaces.
Listed buildings and period properties requiring specialist stain colours to complement original features.
High-end retail environments where bespoke floor colours create memorable customer experiences.
Gyms and sports halls where custom staining can incorporate team colours and court markings.
Whether you're working to a specific design scheme, correcting a previous staining job or simply exploring what's possible with your existing floor, we'd like to help. We offer free site surveys and on-site colour sampling across London and the Southeast.
