Match a 1999 wood floor stain from a sunlit photo and order a quart with ChatGPT

Posted

Jun 6, 2026 by tmaly (Hacker News)

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Last checked

Oct 18, 2026

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Method:

How we verify

Evidence: Described by posterThe person describes what happened in words, without screenshots or video.

Outcome

A Hacker News commenter needed a stain to match the wood flooring in a house built in 1999. They uploaded a clear photo taken in bright sunlight, ChatGPT searched online for a matching stain colour and presented ordering options, and a quart was delivered the day before they posted.

Agent

ChatGPT

The source didn't share its exact prompt, so we wrote this from what it describes.

Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about anything important that's missing below. Keep them quick. Then do the task, checking in with me at the key points.

Goal: Find a wood stain that matches my existing floor from a photo, and where to buy it.

What I can give you (ask for whatever's missing):
- A clear photo of the floor in natural daylight, ideally with a white sheet of paper in shot
- The wood type if I know it, and the age of the floor
- The size of the area I need to stain

Rules:
- Suggest two or three named stain colours from widely available brands that look closest.
- Explain what affects the match (wood species, finish, age, lighting).
- Give buying options with sizes and prices.
- Tell me how to test on a hidden spot or offcut before doing the visible area.
- Ask for my OK before you pay, book, send, submit or cancel anything.
- Check facts that can change (prices, opening hours, dates, availability, rules) against the official source, and tell me anything you couldn't verify.

Output: A short list of candidate stains with product links, and a simple test plan.

You'll know it worked when: the test patch blends in with the existing floor.

Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about anything important that's missing below. Keep them quick. Then do the task, checking in with me at the key points.

Goal: Find a wood stain that matches my existing floor from a photo, and where to buy it.

What I can give you (ask for whatever's missing):
- A clear photo of the floor in natural daylight, ideally with a white sheet of paper in shot
- The wood type if I know it, and the age of the floor
- The size of the area I need to stain

Rules:
- Suggest two or three named stain colours from widely available brands that look closest.
- Explain what affects the match (wood species, finish, age, lighting).
- Give buying options with sizes and prices.
- Tell me how to test on a hidden spot or offcut before doing the visible area.
- Ask for my OK before you pay, book, send, submit or cancel anything.
- Check facts that can change (prices, opening hours, dates, availability, rules) against the official source, and tell me anything you couldn't verify.
- Ask whether the floor has a glossy or matte topcoat, since that changes the look.

Output: A short list of candidate stains with product links, and a simple test plan.

You'll know it worked when: the test patch blends in with the existing floor.

Before you finish: re-read my goal and constraints, check your answer against each one, and list anything you assumed or couldn't confirm.

Source

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48426560