finishing oak floor boards

[jicms]

We have just sanded our original 1930s oak floorboards in our living room. They are now a very light wood colour. They will need to be returned to a light oak shade then finished.

Can anyone recommend the easiest and/or least expensive way of doing this? I've read reviews and there seem to be lots of negative comments about varnishes. Are we best to stain then apply clear varnish or wax to penetrate the wood rather than using an all-in-one product?

What are the best products to use? Should we stick to a known brand. Ronseal sounds like it works out very expensive.

We also have very large gaps between the floorboards and the skirting boards.

 

[vinn]

Make certain that all prep and painting above the floor is finished before you drop onto the floor itself and start finishing.
The sanded floor in the photo needs more work with a lighter paper.
Staining for some DIY'ers can bring pain when they see the dry result. Practice in a quiet corner or in a closet.
Buy the best branded finish that you can afford - dont go cheap.
Moisture cured urethanes used to be the DIY'ers best bet. But call a finish manufacturer for better advice.

Skirtings often shrink over the years usually due to heating added post build.
Using a stained to match scotia beading or small section trim can cover the gap.