FLOOR SANDING FAQ'S
My floor looks in very bad condition, I think it may be too bad to sand?
Most of the floors we see are not in great condition, most haven’t seen the light of day for years, and have sometimes been neglected. Sanding a floor strips away layers of wood; around 2-3mm is taken off revealing a clean surface.
How long does a floor take to do?
An average size room for instance 4.5m by 4m, will take a couple of days, depending on the condition and the amount of repairs that are needed.
What benefits do sanded floors have?
Finished Floors are hygienic, practical and very stylish, they do not harbour parasites like carpets do and they are virtually maintenance free. Very easy to clean, they do not have unpleasant odours from the previous occupant's pets or tobacco. Wood is also a great heat conductor, cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Is it a good idea to fill the gaps?
Filling gaps is an effective way of eliminating drafts. Also, filling gaps stops the warm air leaving the room, maintaining the temperature of the room as with carpet. Gap filling actually looks great on most floors.
How do you fill gaps?
This is probably the most frequent question we get asked. We fill the gaps using three methods depending on the floor type using strips of wood that are glued in to position on pine flooring. This method is without a doubt the best looking and for providing greater reliability. We use gap master for really small gaps where strips of wood can’t be used and also for fine line repairs in the boards, we use resin.
What color will the floor be after sanding?
Its hard to say as every floor is slightly different, golden brown is common, antique honey pine is also common, you cant tell until you start sanding, the colour depends on the age of the wood and its acclimatization with oxygen. Block or strip floors are usually oak, beech, ash, maple, cedar, or dark hardwoods mixed together and laid in herringbone patterns or basket weave or in the case of strips length ways.
Do you use high quality varnish?
We want to give your floors years of protection and therefore we do not use any of the varnishes found in D.I.Y shops or stores. We use only high quality professional varnish produced by Bona, Junckers and Morrells which are water based and provide a hard wearing finish.
When will I be able to move my furniture back?
On average we sand and finish a room with floorboards in a full day. As our varnish is quick drying you can walk on the floor about 2 hours after its last coat, light traffic and ideally wearing just socks. However it takes an extra couple of days for the varnish to fully cure to its peak hardness so we advise allowing this period before placing furniture back.
How long will the sanded wooden floor last?
This depends on the general traffic, cleaning and the general maintenance of the floor. On average, domestic sanded and varnished wooden floors should last 5-10 years and commercial areas 3-5 years.
Who will do the work?
Floor Sanding Partners will send a trained operative to come and give you an estimate. Members of our highly skilled sanding team will arrive on the day to do the sanding works.
Should I decorate before sanding or after?
We recommend decorating first. We would ask that the last coat of paint to go on the skirting board is applied after the floor is finished.
How much dust is there going to be?
As professionals working in your house we will endeavour to ensure that there is as little dust as possible. Our machines are dust free but we always say it's around 98% dust free as sometimes the use of hand tools are required which can produce a small amount of dust.
How soon can I walk on a newly sanded and varnished floor?
This depends on the type of floor lacquer we use. Usually 1-2 hrs will be fine walking with socks.
Does the varnish/lacquer have a smell?
Waterborne and oil based products have low levels of odour and clear as the varnish dries. Solvent based varnishes can be quite strong and this is exaggerated with the catalysed version that have a rapid drying time, because of the accelerated evaporation, so be aware of this and ventilate the room with open windows/vents as much as possible. At the same time we suggest that the heating is on to accelerate the drying time and speed up the evaporation and the extraction.
Does the sanded floor go yellow when varnished and if it does how can I avoid this?
Some standard varnishes naturally make certain timbers yellow or they produce an orange tint. This is not necessarily down to the quality of the varnish as many think (several varnishes at the top of the price and quality range, yellow floors) but more down to the actual make-up of the varnish itself. All varnishes and lacquers that we use are the top range of varnishes available and if you specifically want to avoid yellowing or orange tinting, we have non-yellowing products and methods to help achieve this. In contrast, if you want to specifically create this effect, then we have methods to create it. In some cases we might use stain.
I’ve got marks/scratches/stains on the floor, can you remove this when sanding?
We will remove any floor marks/stains/scratches that are less then 3mm deep.
Can all stains be removed?
It all depends on the type of stain, the level of saturation and the time that’s elapsed since the stain was made. Water stains on the wooden floors can be problematic as there is a high saturation level, this is also true with ink. However stains are generally not as bad as you think therefore the saturation levels are normally minimal and removable as part of the floor sanding process.
What do you do with badly damaged or rotten floorboards?
We will replace these with reclaimed boards [please note matching the colour it is not generally possible].
I have a piano and heavy furniture, which I can’t move. Can you help with this?
We are happy to help with moving any heavy furniture upon request. Every care is taken when doing this, but unfortunately, our insurances do not cover us for any damage that does occur, we would not be able to cover the repair or replacement cost of the item. Items like pianos and grandfather clocks are generally moved minimally to avoid disturbing any delicate mechanisms, and we have a process that we use to floor sand and varnish in, around and under these items.
I have a fire hearth. Can you do anything with this?
Yes, we are able to remove a top section of the concrete and prepare it to have reclaimed boards installed. There is an additional cost. Please do mention this when requesting a quote.
There are staples in the floor and nails on the floor surface. What should I do?
Floor Sanding Partners will charge an hourly rate to remove the staples or nails
Will you remove my carpets?
Yes we can remove them. Dumping commercially, we are charged at refuse sites for disposing of trade waste and, therefore, a minimal charge is made for this service.
