Are you wondering whether it’s possible to change the colour of your engineered wood floors? The short answer is yes, but it’s not as simple as grabbing a can of stain and going for it.
We’ve worked on plenty of floors where a fresh colour completely transformed the space, but the success of the process depends on a few key factors. The method you use—and how much of a change you can make—comes down to the type of engineered flooring you have. Some floors can handle a full refinishing, while others might only allow for minor adjustments.
Before making any decisions, it’s important to know what’s possible and what’s not.
So… Can you change the colour of engineered wood floors?
Yes, you can change the colour of engineered wood floors through a process called refinishing. This involves sanding off the existing finish and stain, exposing the raw hardwood veneer, and then applying a new stain and protective coating.
However, whether your floors can be refinished depends on the thickness of the wear layer—the top layer of hardwood on engineered flooring. If your wear layer is at least 2-3mm thick, it can typically be refinished once. If it’s 4-6mm thick, it may be refinished multiple times. Floors with a thinner wear layer (under 2mm) cannot be sanded without risking damage to the plywood core.
Methods to change the colour of engineered wood floors
1. Sanding & refinishing (best for a complete colour change)
If you want a drastic colour change, sanding and refinishing is the most popular choice—but only if your floor has a thick enough wear layer (we recommend minimum 2-3mm).
How it works
- The existing stain and finish are sanded off, exposing raw wood.
- A new stain is applied, allowing you to go darker, richer, or even lighter in some cases (may require bleaching).
- A protective topcoat (like polyurethane) is added to seal the colour.
Sanding and refinishing lasts the longest, but if your veneer layer is too thin, this method isn’t an option.
2. Glazing or tinted coatings (for a temporary colour shift)
If sanding isn’t possible, you might be able to adjust the tone using a glaze or tinted polyurethane—essentially, adding a sheer layer of colour over your existing floor.
How it works
- A tinted coating is applied on top of the current finish.
- It subtly darkens or adjusts the undertone without stripping the floor.
- This method works best for minor tone shifts (e.g., warming up a cool tone).
If you’re considering this method, it should be noted that you can’t go lighter in colour and the effect wears off over time, which is quite evident in high-traffic areas.
3. Screen & recoat (for refreshing the existing colour)
If you love your current colour but want to refresh it, a screen and recoat might be all you need.
How it works
- The topcoat is lightly abraded (but not fully sanded).
- A new lay of clear or tinted finish is applied.
- It restores the floor’s appearance without altering the base stain.
This method is perfect for floors that show signs of wear and tear—like surface scratches, dents, dullness, or minor scuffs—but don’t need a full refinishing. It’s a great way to extend the life of your flooring without committing to a drastic change.
Limitations and risks to consider
#1: Your wear layer might be too thin
If your wear layer is less than 2mm, sanding could break through to the plywood core, permanently damaging the floor. Even if your wear layer is thicker, keep in mind that engineered floors can only be refinished a limited number of times—typically once or twice before they become too thin.
If you’re unsure whether your floors can be refinished, get in touch with us. Here at Kustom Timber, we can assess your floors and let you know the best approach.
#2: Lightening wood is more difficult to darkening
From experience, darkening engineered wood floors is much easier than lightening them. We’ve worked on plenty of refinishing jobs, and one thing is always clear—stain soaks into the wood, making it simple to go darker, but lifting that colour out is another story.
Once a floor has absorbed a deep stain, fully removing it can be tricky, sometimes even impossible without removing completely or bleaching (which doesn’t work well on all wood species).
#3: DIY refinishing comes with risks
We’ve seen plenty of DIY jobs go sideways—uneven sanding, blotchy stains, peeling finishes, and even floors sanded straight through to the plywood core. In fact, we’ve had to fix more than a few botched refinishing attempts, where homeowners or inexperienced contractors went too aggressive with the sander or applied stain unevenly. Engineered wood has a thin veneer, which means there’s little room for error compared to solid hardwood. One wrong move, and there’s no going back.
When it comes to jobs like this, we highly recommend leaving these jobs to professionals to save yourself time, money, and a major flooring headache.
Maintaining your floors after refinishing
To keep your newly refinished floors looking their best, we recommend that you:
- Let the finish cure and avoid rugs and heavy furniture for at least 7 days.
- Stick to pH-neutral wood floor cleaners and a microfibre mop.
- Add felt pads under furniture and use rugs in high-traffic areas.
- Regularly vacuum / sweep to remove dirt and debris from accumulating (can dull the finish).
For a more in-depth guide on floor maintenance, check out our blog on caring for parquetry flooring—many of the same tips apply to all engineered timber floors.
Ready for a fresh new look? Here’s your next step
Changing the colour of your engineered wood floors is possible, but getting it right takes skill, the right method, and a careful approach.
If your floors need a refresh, our expert timber floor sanding and polishing services can help you achieve a flawless, long-lasting finish. Get in touch with us today to find out the best approach for your floors.
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