Red Oak Refinishing with Brazilian Cherry Border, Flowers Plantation

The Challenge

The floors had developed cupping across several rooms. Boards had lifted at the edges from moisture movement, creating a washboard surface that caught light badly and felt rough underfoot. The finish was worn through in high-traffic areas. An added layer of difficulty: the dining room had a Brazilian Cherry border. Brazilian Cherry is significantly harder than the surrounding red oak, which means the two species sand at different rates. Keeping both flat and at the same level without burning through the softer red oak takes deliberate technique and the right equipment.

What We Did

We sanded the entire main level with the Lagler Hummel drum sander, removing enough material to eliminate the cupping and bring all the boards back to a flat, even plane. Board repairs were completed before finish work began. Water popping before stain opened the grain evenly across all surfaces. DuraSeal Medium Brown was applied, followed by Bona Intense Seal as the sealer coat. Intense Seal bonds over stain more uniformly than standard sealers and creates a better foundation for the topcoats. Two coats of Bona Traffic Satin finished the job. The Brazilian Cherry border reads crisp and dark against the stained red oak field.