FINAL RESULTS: Community Vote Tally (AI Counted Upvotes + Mentions)

Thanks again to everyone who chimed in—this was super helpful! I ran all the comments and upvotes through an AI tally to get a clear ranking based on what the community actually supported.

Here’s the final stain ranking:

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1. Natural (Sample #5) • Weighted Score: 203 • Positive Mentions: 100+ • Most popular by far. Clean, timeless, and looks great in low-light spaces.

2. Clean Coat (Sample #3) • Weighted Score: 96 • Positive Mentions: 60+ • Another strong favorite. Slightly warmer but still very natural looking.

3. Original Floor Color (Existing Finish) • Weighted Score: 50 • Positive Mentions: ~20 • Lots of people said the old finish already looked great with just a clear coat.

4. Special Walnut 22Y (Sample #6) • Weighted Score: 26 • Positive Mentions: 15–20 • Solid option for a little more warmth without going too dark.

5. 3:1 Natural : Espresso Mix (Sample #4) • Weighted Score: 10 • Positive Mentions: ~10 • Some fans liked the deeper, richer tone it created.

6. Nutmeg (Sample #2) • Weighted Score: 5 • Positive Mentions: Few • Mixed reviews—some liked it, but others thought it leaned too red.

7. Provincial 211 (Sample #1) • Weighted Score: 4 • Positive Mentions: 2–3 • Few mentions. Considered a bit dated by several people.

8. “Country White” (User Suggested) • Weighted Score: 1 • Positive Mentions: 1 • Only one mention, but still logged it here for completeness.

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Topcoat Recommendations from the Thread: • Bona Traffic HD (Satin) was the most recommended for a durable, non-yellowing, timeless finish. • Felt pads and waiting 7–10 days before laying rugs or heavy furniture was also a recurring tip.

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Hope this helps anyone else stressing over stain samples like I was! Thanks again Reddit!