Sanding a floor back to bare timber is the one chance to change its colour completely. A stain can take pale Tasmanian oak to a rich walnut, and a lime wash or whitewash can push yellowing pine towards a soft, Scandinavian look. Getting the colour you pictured takes more care than a clear finish, though, and not every timber takes colour evenly.
Geelong Floor Sanders is an enquiry service, not a flooring contractor. With your consent, we pass your enquiry to an independent local floor sander, once one is appointed, who can show you samples on your own boards and quote the job. Here's what to know first.
Your colour options
Darker stains
Stains are pigments brushed or ragged onto freshly sanded timber before the clear coats go on. They range from a light tint through to deep brown and near-black. Darker colours are popular for a dramatic look and for disguising variation between old boards and patched-in new ones, although they won't hide every repair.
Lime wash and whitewash
These use white pigment that settles into the grain and softens the natural colour. On pine and pale hardwoods they create a light, washed look that suits coastal and Scandinavian-style interiors. The effect is subtler on darker species. Lime wash is usually sealed with a water-based clear coat, because solvent-based polyurethane would turn the white yellow.
Grey and other tones
Grey washes and tinted coatings are less common but are offered by some contractors. They're the hardest to get even across a large area, so a test patch is essential.
Bleaching
Some contractors use timber bleach to lighten boards before coating. It's a specialist process that takes longer and is less widely offered, but it can produce a very pale result without a heavy layer of white pigment.
Why some floors go blotchy
Timber doesn't absorb stain evenly. Softwoods such as pine soak up pigment in some areas and resist it in others, which can look patchy. Hardwoods with tight grain, such as some eucalypts, may barely take a stain at all. Sanding marks that would be invisible under a clear finish can show up clearly once pigment settles into them. That's why staining relies on a very good final sand, and why many contractors use a fine orbital or multi-disc sander for the last pass before applying colour.
Other causes of blotching include old glue or wax left in the boards, patched boards from a different species, and water-damaged areas that absorb colour differently.
The test patch matters most
The only reliable way to see a colour is to try it on your own floor. A good contractor will sand a small area, often in a wardrobe or a less visible corner, and apply your shortlisted colours with the clear coat you've chosen. Look at it in daylight and at night under your own lights before deciding. Online photos and colour charts on a different timber can be badly misleading.
Pine floors in Geelong period homes
Many older homes in Newtown, Geelong West, Drumcondra and Herne Hill have Baltic pine or similar softwood boards. Pine naturally darkens and turns orange with age, which is the main reason owners ask about lime wash. A whitewash sealed with a non-yellowing water-based finish can keep pine looking lighter for longer, but it won't stop the timber ageing completely. Pine also dents easily, and a pale finish shows dents and dirt more than a mid-tone one. Balance the look you want against how the room is used.
Hardwood floors in post-war and newer homes
Victorian ash and Tasmanian oak are pale and fairly even, so they take stains predictably and suit both darker colours and light washes. Spotted gum, blackbutt and jarrah have strong natural colour, and stains tend to blend with it rather than replace it. If you want a very light floor, start with a pale species.
Changing your mind later
Stain is in the wood, not just on the surface. Going lighter later means sanding deep enough to remove the pigment, which takes off more timber than a standard re-sand. Going darker is easier. If you're unsure, choose a mid-tone or natural colour now. A recoat can freshen it without a full sand, but it won't change the colour.
Costs
Colour adds labour and drying time. Published 2026 Australian price guides list staining as an extra of about $8 to $15 per square metre on top of a full sand and finish. LeadKit's 2026 guide puts a specialty stain or lime wash job at about $50 to $65 per square metre all-in, and hipages lists lime wash at up to about $55 to $110 per square metre on complex jobs. These are national ranges, not a quote. Our prices page shows the sources.
Related services
Colour work starts with a full floor sanding job and finishes with the clear coats described on our floor polishing page. If boards need replacing first, see floorboard repairs, and mention staining in your enquiry so the replacement boards can be matched as closely as possible.
Frequently asked questions
Can you make pine floorboards lighter with lime wash?
Yes. A lime wash or whitewash can make pine look much lighter and cooler, especially when it's sealed with a non-yellowing water-based finish. Pine will still age slightly over time, and a pale finish shows dents and dirt more readily than a natural one. Always ask for a test patch first.
Will a stain hide damage or patched boards?
It helps, but it won't make repairs invisible. A mid to dark stain blends colour differences between old and new boards better than a clear finish. Different species and grain patterns will still be noticeable up close, and deep stains in the timber may still show through.
Why do some floors look blotchy after staining?
Some timbers absorb stain unevenly, especially pine. Sanding marks, leftover glue or wax, and patched boards from a different species can also take colour differently. A careful final sand, a test patch and an experienced applicator make the biggest difference.
Can a stained floor be changed back later?
Yes, but it takes a deeper sand to remove the colour, which uses up more of the board's thickness. It's easier to go darker than lighter. If you're unsure about a colour, choose something closer to the natural timber.
How much extra does staining cost?
Published 2026 Australian guides list staining as an extra of about $8 to $15 per square metre on top of a full sand and clear coats. Lime wash and complex colour jobs can cost more. A contractor can only give a firm price after seeing your floor.