Wood Staining · London & the Home Counties
Hand-Applied Wood StainingFor Timber That Earns the SpotlightAcross London & the Home Counties
Even tone, deep penetration and a finish that brings out the grain rather than masking it — on doors, joinery, floors, decking and exposed beams.
28 years' experience · Sample test areas on request
28
Years finishing timber
500+
Projects completed
—nths
Workmanship guarantee
Made to order
Sample boards
About this service
What wood staining really involves — and who it's for.
What it is
Full wood staining, finishing and refinishing — internal doors, staircases, panelling, joinery, exposed beams, hardwood floors, decking, fascias, garden buildings and bespoke cabinetry. Sanded back where needed, stained evenly and sealed with the right system.
Who it's for
Homeowners with character timber to preserve, designers specifying a precise tone, landlords protecting hardwood assets, and commercial clients with exposed timber to finish.
When you need it
When timber is dry and bare, when an existing finish has worn or yellowed, before flooring is sealed, after joinery is installed, or as part of a heritage restoration.
Why it matters
Stain is unforgiving. Once it's on the wood it can't easily be lifted. The skill is in preparation, sample-testing and application — not in the bottle.
What happens if it's done badly
The mistakes that cost the most — and how we avoid them.
Blotchy, uneven absorption
Soft and dense areas of the same board absorb stain at different rates. Without a conditioner the result is a mottled, patchy finish that can't be evened out.
Wrong stain, wrong room
Interior stains on exterior timber, water-based on oily woods, oil-based on resinous knots — wrong specification leads to lifting and discolouration within months.
Skipped sample boards
Stain colour in the tin is rarely the stain colour on your timber. Without a sample board you're committing to a guess.
Our process
Five quiet, considered steps from first call to sign-off.
01
Inspection & sample
We assess the timber species, condition and existing finish, then make a hand-finished sample board for sign-off before any stain hits the wood.
02
Surface preparation
Sanding back to bare timber where required, dust extraction, conditioner applied where the timber is prone to blotching.
03
Stain application
Stain applied with brush, cloth or spray as specified, worked into the grain evenly, surplus wiped off before drying.
04
Sealing
Two or three coats of the appropriate sealer — oil, varnish, hard-wax or lacquer — depending on use and finish.
05
Inspection & handover
Full inspection in raking light, touch-up where required, walk-through with you and care guide left.
Why clients choose us
Specific, concrete reasons — not vague promises.
Even, blotch-free tone
Conditioner applied where needed so soft and dense grain absorb stain at the same rate.
Grain enhanced, not masked
We bring out the figure of the timber rather than burying it in colour.
Long-life sealer systems
Interior sealers good for 10+ years on doors and joinery; exterior systems on a 2–4 year maintenance cycle.
Sample boards as standard
Every project gets a hand-finished sample board so you approve the exact tone before commitment.
Heritage-friendly
Reversible methods and traditional finishes for listed and period timber where appropriate.
Workmanship I stand behind
On every interior finishing project.
The detail behind the work
Materials, methods and the variations that matter.
Wood finishing is a specialist trade because every timber species and every grain pattern behaves differently with stain. The right specification depends on the wood, the room and the use.
Materials we work with
- Water-based and oil-based stains in spirit, gel and penetrating formulations
- Hard-wax oils — Osmo, Treatex, Fiddes — for floors, worktops and high-touch joinery
- Polyurethane and acrylic lacquers for high-wear surfaces
- Pre-stain conditioners for blotch-prone species (pine, birch, maple)
- Exterior penetrating oils and weather-shielding stains for decking and garden timber
Methods we apply
- Sample board production for sign-off before any commitment
- Mechanical sanding with grit progression to fine finish before staining
- Brush, cloth and spray application matched to the surface and effect
- Inter-coat denibbing between sealer coats
Variations of this service
Internal doors & joinery
Stripped, sanded, stained and sealed to a furniture-grade finish.
Staircases
Treads, risers and handrails refinished while keeping the stair in use overnight.
Hardwood floors
Sand, stain and seal in one programme — usually 3–5 working days per floor.
Exposed beams & panelling
Character timber sympathetically refinished, often with lime-wash or wax.
Exterior decking & timber
Cleaned, sanded, penetrating-oil treated for a 2–4 year cycle.
Situations this service applies to
- New joinery first-finish before installation
- Existing door and stair refinishing without replacement
- Heritage panelling restoration
- Hardwood floor sand, stain and seal
- Decking refresh and exterior timber renewal
Residential vs commercial
Residential
Residential timber work is led by sample-board approval, dust-aware sanding and low-VOC finishes safe for lived-in spaces.
Commercial
Commercial timber work uses contract-grade hard-wax oils and lacquers, with out-of-hours programming for hospitality and retail.
Frequently asked
Straight answers, conversion-focused.
If your question isn't here, call 07730 008046 or get in touch.
How much does wood staining cost?
Internal door staining typically runs £180–£320 per door fully prepped, stained and sealed. Floors are quoted per square metre. I'll give you a clear written quote.
How long will the finish last?
Interior stained-and-sealed timber holds 10+ years on doors and joinery, longer on lightly used surfaces. Exterior finishes are on a 2–4 year maintenance cycle.
Can I see a sample first?
Yes — we make a hand-finished sample board for every project so you approve the exact tone on your actual timber before commitment.
Can you stain over existing varnish or paint?
No — stain needs bare wood. Existing finishes are sanded back first as part of the project.
Can you stain hardwood floors?
Yes — full sand, stain and seal programmes from one to multiple rooms. Typically 3–5 working days per floor.
Will it smell?
Modern hard-wax oils and water-based stains have minimal odour. Oil-based systems are more pungent but dissipate soon of last coat.
Can you refinish decking and exterior timber?
Yes — cleaned, sanded and re-oiled, typically on a 2–4 year cycle to keep it weather-shielded.
Do you cover my area?
Yes — across London, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Essex, Middlesex and Northamptonshire.
Related services
Often specified alongside wood staining.
Decorating
One craftsman, one standard — detail-led decorating that respects the property, the palette and the people living in it.
ExploreExterior Painting
A 10-year exterior finish built on full preparation, the right specification and one experienced craftsman on site from start to finish and scaffold-ready.
ExploreFeature Wall Design
A single wall that earns the room — designed with you, finished by one specialist, photographed-ready in days not weeks.
ExploreNext step
Timber finished the way the timber deserves.
Free on-site consultation and a hand-finished sample board before any commitment.
28 years' experience