Process of Floor sanding

Floor sanding is actually the process of having the top surfaces of the wooden floor removed by the method of sanding with the help of abrasive materials. You can easily sand different types of floor materials which include cork, timber, particleboard and parquet. Some of the floors are designed and laid for sanding. Even older floors are sanded once the former coverings are taken off and appropriate wood is present beneath. Floor sanding involves 3 stages, namely, preparation, sanding and in coating with the assistance of a protective sealant. 

Stages involved in floor sanding

The first stage involved in the floor sanding process is preparation. The nails which seem to protrude above the wooden boards are beaten down. However, care needs to be maintained, as the nails could severely damage the floor sanding machines that are used. Tacks or staples used for tightening the previous coverings are removed in order to reduce the chances of damage. 

Sanding starts after the preparation of the floor. The first cut begins by using coarse grit papers for removing the old coatings and for making the floor flat. The variables in the heights between the boards that are found are removed. The common paper used for the first cut is 40 grit. Large sanders are used for floor sanding the areas that are not reachable in far off areas. Filling of the holes is done at this juncture. Papers of 80 grits are used for doing the second cut. Then a finishing machine for creating the last finish is used and the grit paper that is used depends on the personal preference and the commonly used are 100 to 150 grit papers. 

The sanded floors are then coated with various sealants, oils or polyurethane. However, some are considered to be poisonous and hence, an appropriate face mask is highly recommended. 

Machines involved in sanding

Almost all of the current sanding jobs are done with specialized floor sanding machines. Most of the materials are removed by drum sanders or huge belts. However, there are some areas like the corners, stairs and edges where the huge sanders do not reach. For final sanding, finishing machines are used.

Tips to safe floor sanding

Many people have the tendency to think that polishing and sanding is an easy process and could be done by them without much trouble. But the fact is that floor sanding is a hazardous process and might impact the health of your family. This is why, you are strongly recommended to hire experienced and reliable sanding experts with proven credentials.

A Guide to Floor Sanding

Wooden floors look elegant and natural. However; if you want them to stay that way for a long time, you must employ certain maintenance measures to take care of them. One great way to preserve your wood floor is to subject it to regular sanding. Here’s a quick look at what floor sanding entails. 

Defects can cause serious damage to the floor and make it less durable. Sanding can help you avoid this by taking care of dents; loose wooden planks and other cracks that may appear with time. If you don’t use it; your floor could become shabby in appearance and damaged beyond repair before too long. 

The Sanding process offers many benefits for your wooden flooring. For starters, it can bring back the shine and make the wood look as good as new. So any luster lost due to day to day wear and tear and cleaning is instantly regained. It can also help keep the floor intact and protected for the long run. The sealing part of the process prevents water from seeping into the floor and also keeps the floor free of mildew, fungal infections and general dirt and dust. If you do it regularly enough; you may even be saved from having to spend more money to replace your flooring. 

Furthermore, with the emphasis on eco friendly measures around the world; you may want to use sanding to do your bit. Floor sanding is considered to be an environmentally sustainable measure.  It’s a great recycling process that allows you to maintain existing material (read: wood) in your home and refurbish it for future use. This flooring type can last for hundreds of years with proper care and maintenance. 

There are various ways to get sanding done for your wooden floor. You could try doing it by hand; use floor sanding equipment or hire a professional company to do it for you. If you choose to do it by hand, you will need a sand block and sand paper for the task. The sand block will allow you to grasp the paper more efficiently. 

If you’re using sanding equipment; you can choose between small pad sanders and belt sanders. Make your decision according to your floor condition. If you’re unsure, do consult with flooring professional for the same.

If you’ve decided to hire a floor sanding company; always remember to check for references first. Ask them for a client list and get in touch with them to find out about how good the services really are. Also check for the materials they use, their staff and their ability to meet deadlines before you make a decision.

Floor Sanding Tips

How to:

Exclude draughts : -

In case of any drafts coming up under the house gap filling could be a solution. Successful gap filling is one of the skilled parts of floor renovation that bring a uniform finish to the floor. Filling gaps on a floor is an option and could be done in traditional, ordinary way using Filling with Resin Method (gaps under 4mm). However, wood is a natural material and it can expand and contract. In a matter of months filler can crack, work loose and fall out. We recommend using a mixture of polyvinyl resin and sawdust. Despite adding time to the overall job it is the most successful way and well worth it. Solid Wood Strips Method is recommended where possible and is suitable for gaps larger than 4-5mm - slivers of wood glued on both sides are carefully hammered in and sanded smoothly after. Old pine slivers blend in well.

Add some Colour :-

If you would like to completely re-style your Floor standing so that it fits with your interiors, here is when staining is recommended. We use a water-based wooden floor stain that applies quickly and easily with a roller, sponge or paint brush. We also use a number of stains produced by leading brands in the industry and carry out a stain-tonal test to help you decide on the best colour. Staining pine floorboard with an oak stain will make the pine floorboards look like real oak boards. . Lighter colours can be achieved by diluting the floor stain with water.

Match different coloured woods :-

To obtain a closer colour match, using a product from the same range on each type of wood is recommended. It is best to use a coloured coating on the lightest wood and a clear coating on the darkest wood. If the match is not close enough after the first attempt, you can also apply a second coloured coat. Oil based product is a good option if you prefer the darker tone because it penetrates well into the wood, colours it and protects it at the same time.

Maintain sanded floors :-

All sanded wooden floors require correct maintenance which is the key of durability. Cleaning and protection of your sanded floor are vital in order to maintain the beauty of your wooden floors. By using mats at the front and back door you can stop dirt and mud spreading around and prevent scratches. We advise you to sweep, dust or vacuum your Floor standing daily, damp-cleaning if necessary. Use cleaning products suitable for wood floors. You should never use chemicals to clean your floor. To avoid risk of nasty scratches, do not let your pets to sharpen their claws on the floor and also never drag heavy furniture or appliances across hardwood flooring. Adding an extra layer of finish on top of your existing floor without re-sanding is recommended, when the finish on your floor starts to wear down. However, once an existing finish is worn through, the floor has to be re-sanded.

When properly looked after, wood floors can last a lifetime.

Floor sanding services

A floor sanding service is a process of many stages, starting from arranging an on-site visit, quotation and getting the time booked.

Preparation:

Preparation of floors for sanding firstly involves lifting carpets or moving furniture if required and is time consuming.

Wood repair: 

Before a floor can be sanded, it should be checked for damaged and loose boards and, followed by nailing down, replacing broken boards or fixing loose ones. All damaged boards should be replaced with real reclaimed floor boards in order to keep the natural patina consistent.

Sanding:

The first stage is sanding with rough grit Floor sanding belt which removes dirt and all scratches. Sanding continues with different grit paper, gradually getting finer until the floor is totally even and smooth.

Pine floorboards:

Where pre existing floorboards in older houses exist, it is the Victorian boards that are the most usual type of wooden flooring and they can be found hidden under carpets in many British homes. If you renovate the floor for the first time, heavy  Floor sanding is needed because of many years staining and unevenness. However, you should not normally need to replace the boards, just repair, unless there is any particular water or rot damage.

Hardwood flooring:

Where hardwood flooring is found, oak in the most common type, but during years of experience we have also restored different species as teak, maple and walnut.

Parquet flooring:

This always required an extra effort in order to get a stunning result but the techniques and equipments remain the same.

Gap filling:

This process uses clean, fine sawdust from the floor, mixed with resin to fill in the separations (gaps) between the boards. If gaps are wider than 7mm reclaimed slivers of wood can be used and then sand down again:

Staining and varnishing is the last stage of the process. There are many finishes from our sample boards. If lacquer is required, three coats will usually be applied or two if an oiled finish is chosen.

Dustless Floor Sanding

When we sand wooden floors we always have a key objective in mind, to ensure our work is dust free. Any fresh paintwork will not be affected as the floor sanding nowadays is a modern process and technology that dramatically reduce the dust created during sanding. However, it is extremely difficult to paint ceilings or walls without getting paint on the floor, prevent spillage or scratches. That is way we strongly recommend floors to be done last.

As professionals in wood Floor sanding we use The Bona dust free sanding machines which collect 90% of all dust produced. Any power tools we use are fitted to powerful vacuum cleaner. That means your curtains, electrics and bookshelves don’t need covering before sanding or cleaning up afterwards.

Bona Super 10 Belt Sander means faster sanding, offering 25% more sanding drum surface than standard 8” machines. The Super 10 is engineered to provide maximum performance, efficiency and manoeuvrability. In addition to the increased drum size, the Super 10 has an enlarged dust tube and increased fan speed for superior dust pickup.

Dust collection system protects not only you but also our workers from microscopic particles of dust generated by Floor sanding. No mess, no allergy reactions or irritation. This makes us happy while we carry out the work and keeps you, our clients, happy after the work is finished and we have left.

Be aware of company still using old drum sanders which create a lot of dust and can damage your floors if not used properly.