Samples on Your Own Wood
Bring reference photos to explain the direction you like. A sample on the actual wood is still needed because a screen cannot reproduce your species and room lighting.
Bring reference photos to explain the direction you like. A sample on the actual wood is still needed because a screen cannot reproduce your species and room lighting.
Confirm the stain product or mix with the chosen clear finish. The preparation and coating sequence should be recorded before the main area is treated.
Look at the sample from the doorway and near windows. A downtown apartment and a larger North End room may present very different light across the same finish.
Our one-year labor warranty follows its written terms. Natural color variation and the agreed sample should be understood separately from workmanship coverage.



Prepare a test area on the same wood and review it with the intended finish. The stain shown on a chart can look different on your boards. Bring a photo of a test under window light and the dining room fixture if it is part of the plan.
Species, grain and prior repairs affect color uptake. Test the old and replacement boards separately before approving a formula.
Compare dry samples near the window and under the room’s normal lights. Check from the adjoining hall too if the two floors meet. Bring a photo of a test under window light and the dining room fixture if it is part of the plan.
Test each surface because the woods and preparation may differ. Two formulas may be needed to bring the finished colors close.
Inspect the wood and any previous color before sampling. The available shades depend on the prepared surface and what earlier treatment can be removed. Bring a photo of a test under window light and the dining room fixture if it is part of the plan.
Pick a natural boundary and compare the new sample with the retained floor. Finish type and age can make a visible difference at the doorway.
Look at the sample with the proposed topcoat as well as the stain. Sheen and the finish itself can change how the color reads. Bring a photo of a test under window light and the dining room fixture if it is part of the plan.
Keep the sample with its species, stain and finish details. If a second area has different wood, record that sample separately.