Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - I See Spots! (Hardwood Flooring Stains)

We have purchased an old home and have torn up carpet in order to refinish the flooring underneath.....Lo and behold there are large spots. What do I do to remove them? Will a mere sanding remove them? Thanks!

Sometimes sanding will do it. Can't always tell until the machine hits the wood. Easiest way to fix them is to replace the wood.

Spots on flooring may be just on surface as from soil or other substance that may have seeped through pad and stuck to surface and can be easily removed during sanding process. Water stains or pet urine stains tend to penetrate wood flooring and leave dark stains that penetrate deep into wood. Many floor refinishers will not tackle a pet urine stained floor because sanding activates the ammonia in urine, and it can be quite breathtaking. For deep stains, many recommend replacing affected boards with boards from inconspicuous area such as closet. Sometimes stains can be lightened with wood bleach and floor stained a darker color to camouflage stains. Your options tend to depend on the type and extent of stains.

For floor finishing info, go to www.nofma.org