Floor Sanding Services

A large percentage of London homeowners who have original solid wood flooring in their homes have recognised it for the asset it is and have painstakingly coaxed it back to life, making a truly unique showpiece in every room. In general terms it is expected that a professionally restored wood floor should last, with minimal cleaning and good maintenance, for a decade or more. In a nutshell, the busier the room the shorter the lifespan of the restoration. For example, busy hallways may need resanding and refinishing after only five years, whereas a quiet bedroom may stay pristine for much longer.

 London homes, and terraces in particular, do enjoy solid wood floors of a quality that would be prohibitively expensive to install from new in today’s market. Therefore, the shrewd householder realises the worth in spending time on carrying out careful repairs and restoring such flooring back to its beautiful best.

Whether you feel this is a project you would like to undertake by yourself or believe that it is best left to a professional London wood sanding and flooring company, you will lose nothing by asking for a no-obligation quotation to start with. This gives you the additional benefit of having a real flooring expert assess the current condition of the floor and offer advice on the best way to restore the natural beauty of the wood, as well as answering any questions you may have.

From grass roots to the finished article

If the planks have been covered up for many years it is more than likely they will be discoloured, and there could also be damaged or missing boards. There is also a high probability of protruding nails and other hazards so do not let children or animals into the room until the work is completed.

If you are undertaking the restoration yourself then make sure you allocate sufficient time for the whole process. If you are working alone it would be wise to allow a week to 10 days from beginning to end. If you have some willing assistance then you can probably get the job done in a shorter space of time.

The golden rule is never rush any part of the process or the whole job will be spoiled. Clear the room of all furnishings, doors and skirting boards too if possible. Carefully remove all vestiges of old carpeting or tiles before damp dusting the boards. When the floor is try then thoroughly vacuum, paying particular attention to the gaps between the boards.

The next task is to examine the floor carefully, with a magnifying glass on your hands and knees if you have to, and repair/replace boards as you go. It is likely that there will also be uneven spaces between the planks where the floor has moved through the years. Unsightly gaps can be treated with an epoxy solution applied with a putty knife, with the residual solution wiped off before it dries.

Now the floor is ready to be sanded. If the room is small, like a box room or an upstairs landing for example, sanding can be undertaken by an orbital sander by hand. This work does involve spending extended periods of time on the knees. However, if the room is medium to large size then a better option is to hire a large sanding machine which can be walked along the boards, sanding as it goes. Both a belt and a drum sander are suitable for this type of job and operate by means of a sandpaper disc attachment which rotates and sands as the machine moves. These sanding machines can be loud, so it might be a good idea to warn the neighbours first!

If you have never used a floor sander before ask for operating instructions at the hire outlet before you take the machine away.

When the floor has been sanded to a uniform smoothness (a floor hidden under decades of carpeting will require several sandings) the wood will be a degree lighter in colour than before and should be even and splinter-free to the touch.

At this stage the finishing veneer can be applied. Whether using varnish, lacquer or an oil-based product the rule of thumb in every case is to apply sparingly and work well into the wood grain and knots. Remove excess finishing with a lint free rag and apply over small areas at a time for a perfect result.