Binder: Unlike paint this is a very small part of a stain, but is it still present. It helps to hold the pigment in the wood once the vehicle has carried it there Pigment: This is the part that provides the colour. Some people differentiate between pigments which are held in suspension and dyes which are dissolved in the ‘vehicle’ or solvent. Essentially it makes little difference to the user, except that pigments held in suspension will be large molecules and will not penetrate the structure of the wood as much which will make them more opaque. The colours are generally browns and wood effects, but you can get highly colourful stains which will colour wood in all manner of colours

You can choose to add a bit of brown stain to any grey stain to warm it up if that’s your preference.

Dark wood floors tend to show scratches a bit more than their lighter counterparts. On the other hand, light wood floors might make you feel as though you constantly have to vacuum because they show dirt. Are you a regular cleaner? If so, a light floor might work great for you. Have children or dogs? Maybe a dark floor would be better for your lifestyle. Unlike paint, varnishes and stains are designed to soak into the wood. You can even apply a clear varnish to the stain to improve the finish and also make it more durable. These are also available in solvent and water based variations and also in a variety of colours and shades. There’s really no limit on the number of colors and stain mixtures you can come up with—you’re only limited by your imagination! Warm, earthy, and comforting

You’ll find that finished wood floors are far more resistant to water damage—making them better-suited for mudroom flooring, sunroom flooring, or other high-traffic areas. Just remember that engineered wood flooring almost always comes pre-finished. We wouldn’t necessarily put that on the list of engineered wood disadvantages, but it can be annoying if you’re keen on finishing your own floors. Whether or not you choose to stain your floors, you’ll want to use some type of finish on them. A wood finish can help protect your wood from any scratches, dings, and dents; it can also give your floors a glossy or matte appearance. In essence, varnish is basically a paint without the pigment applied to it. The majority of these are polyurethane based resins and are solvent based (similar to oil paints). Acrylic varnishes, although water based, are becoming more popular for their environmental and health benefits. The most durable wood flooring options don’t scratch or dent as easily as, say, pine does (if you’ve looked into the pros and cons of pine flooring, you’ll know it’s quite soft). That means you won’t need a light finish to hide damage; you can go dark with comfort! The same is true for most types of scratch-resistant flooring.Work with the gain rather than across it, and ensure that you do not overload your brush or cloth as this might cause drips. You want to try and get as even a spread as possible so that you get an even colour across the surface; drips will ruin this if you do not catch them in time.