"smig" wrote in message
newsuvle.885$zb.288@trndny06...
A contractor who evidently had no idea what he was doing did something
terribly wrong when he refinished my wood floors in my apartment. We asked
for a white finish -- I don't know what the "pickled" part of the
description means since no brine was involved (bad attempt at humor) --
and wound up with something that was white when we paid the man but turned
yellow in many areas shortly thereafter. I believe the fellow used the
wrong kind of urethane finish.

Is there anyway to salvage this without starting all over again? Heck,
I'd be happy if I could just address the exposed areas between rugs and
furniture to start with.

He probably used an OIL based varnish. Oil based varnishes will yellow over
time. Actually they immediately change the color a bit when applied.

A WATER based varnish will normally yield a crystal clear non yellowing
finish.