Hardwood refinishingwith a natural finish.
Existing hardwood sanded and refinished with the homeowner’s choice of Bona NaturalSeal, followed by two coats of Berger-Seidle AquaSeal GreenStar.
A lighter appearance.
The wood’s character stays.
The starting point varied from room to room. The vaulted room and hallway had a warm existing finish, while the landing and adjoining room showed pronounced surface wear. This project focused on sanding and refinishing the hardwood already in the home.
After comparing sealer samples on the floor, the homeowner chose Bona NaturalSeal. One sealer coat and two coats of Berger-Seidle AquaSeal GreenStar completed the work, allowing the boards’ natural variation to remain visible through the connected spaces.
See the change, room by room.
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The vaulted room
BeforeAfterThe original warm finish and the completed NaturalSeal finish.
The connecting hallway
BeforeAfterThe same hallway, with the refinished floor continuing toward the vaulted room.
The stair landing
BeforeAfterHeavy surface wear before sanding and the finished landing afterward.
The room beside the landing
BeforeAfterThe worn floor retained, sanded, and refinished.
The two-window room
BeforeAfterA view through the doorway before and after refinishing.
Bona NaturalSeal.
The finish decision started with samples in the room. NaturalSeal was selected for its lighter, natural appearance, then protected with two finish coats.
- One coat of Bona NaturalSeal
The selected waterborne sealer. - Two coats of AquaSeal GreenStar
Berger-Seidle’s protective floor finish.
A closer look at the Cambridge home.
Watch the project video for another view of the work and the flooring.
Explore the completed rooms.
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The finish, the process, and the result.
What finish did the homeowner choose?
The homeowner chose Bona NaturalSeal after comparing samples on the floor. This project received one coat of NaturalSeal, followed by two coats of Berger-Seidle AquaSeal GreenStar. The sample photograph shows the options in the home before the final choice.
Were these existing floors refinished or replaced?
This was a sanding and refinishing project. The before-and-after photographs show the existing hardwood, including the worn landing and adjoining room, before preparation and after the finish was applied.
Is Bona NaturalSeal a stain?
Bona NaturalSeal is a waterborne sealer rather than a conventional wood stain. It contains a small amount of white pigment and is designed to retain the appearance of freshly sanded wood. In this home, it was the selected sealer beneath the protective finish coats.
Will the same finish look identical in another home?
Not necessarily. Wood species, age, previous work, and the room’s light affect the appearance. Comparing samples on the actual floor helps establish expectations before selecting a finish. The photographs here document this Cambridge home and its particular flooring.
Considering a similar project?
Share your town, the rooms involved, and a few photos of the existing floor.