Floor Sanding
Manchester

FAQs

My floor looks a mess I think it may be too bad.

The majority of floors are bad, most haven’t seen the light of day for years, when they have they have been neglected. Sanding a floor strips away layers of wood to reveal a clean surface. Yes it will come up good.

It’s in a bad way what can be done?

If you have floorboards chances are there will need some repairs or replacement boards. In the past boards were lifted to lay pipes or power cables leaving a floor that needs attention before sanding can commence. Block or strip floors are usually ok maybe a few loose blocks which can easily be stuck back.

How long will it take?

An average size room say 12 by 12ft or 4m by 4m will take a couple of days, depending on the amount of repairs that need attention.

What are the benefits of a sanded floor?

Sanded floors are hygienic, practical, sleek, they do not harbour parasites like carpets, they are low maintenance, easy to clean, they do not smell of the previous occupants dog or smoke, they are great for potty training, cool in the summer, warm in the winter, they have a character all of there own.

And the drawbacks?

They can be noisy especially in kids rooms, sanded stairs can be slippery (consider a runner) if you have children, apart from that not much.

Will Furniture need to be moved out completely before sanding?

Ideally yes, although I know sometimes that isn't possible. If you have a sofa that you can’t get out I can work round it. If you have a through room, all of the furniture can go at one end of the room and a sheet dropped down the dividing wall to seal off the two spaces. I have worked a round many sofas and pianos in my 7 years of sanding wooden floors.

What about filling gaps between the boards?

Gap filling is an extremely effective way of cutting down on draughts, if you have a cellar or lots of air bricks at ground level there will be a constant stream of air passing under the house, when you pull up a carpet that air will rise through the gaps. Filling them stops the cold air coming into the room making it warmer than it would if the gaps had not been filled. In an upstairs room this stream of air is not present so it would be purely a cosmetic exercise. Having said that gapped floors look great where ever they are in the house.

How are they filled?

With strips of wood that are glued as apposed to the filler method that cracks and drops through after a while.

What colour will the floor be when it’s sanded?

Old pine floorboards have a nice glow to them sometimes they are a reddish brown, sometimes a rich warm brown to a yellowish brown, you cant tell until you start sanding, the colour depends on the climate the tree grew in before it was felled, how much light the wood has seen once laid in the house etc. Block or strip floors are usually oak, beech, ash, maple, cedar, or dark hardwoods mixed together and laid in herringbone patterns or in the case of strips length ways. Again look at the gallery to get a better idea. If you have a particular colour in mind I can stain the floor to match your ideas.

How long will the room be out of action?

An average room with floorboards without gaps filled takes a couple of days. As the varnish is quick drying you can walk on the floor about 4 hours after its dry. However it takes an extra couple of days for the varnish to fully cure before placing furniture.

How long will it last?

The general rule is the more traffic the greater the wear. In a house with adults a couple of children maybe a dog a hall floor which receives most traffic in a house, without regular vacuuming or washing might last 4-5 years, a bedroom 9 years or more, sitting room 6-7 years. The floor will last longer with regular cleaning as the dust and grit from outside wears down the varnish, felt pads on chairs, castors on sofas also helps. If there were two occupants the floor will last a lot longer.

Is it dusty?

It can be but I am a professional working in your house and I always respect that. The machines have effective vacuums on them; I empty the dust bags a lot, if there are wardrobes or cupboards I mask up the gaps, in a hall I’ll put a sheet up around the stairwell to stop dust spreading. I also sweep up a lot and vacuum as well as having windows open which draws out the dust.

Is it noisy?

Yes, I spend most of the day wearing a mask and ear defenders. You should warn your neighbours what is going on; if you live in a flat I strongly recommend you check the lease to see if there is any mention of wooden flooring.