Underneath a tired, scratched or grey-looking wooden floor there is very often a beautiful floor waiting to be rediscovered. Sanding and refinishing is one of the most satisfying things we do, and it is usually far cheaper and more sustainable than replacing a floor. Here is how the process works.

When does a floor need sanding?

If your floor is scratched, worn back to bare patches, water-marked, cupped, or simply looks dull and lifeless, it is a good candidate. Floors that were previously painted or varnished can also be stripped back to the natural wood. As long as there is enough thickness left in the boards, they can usually be refinished.

The sanding process, step by step

• Preparation: we clear and protect the room, punch down any protruding nails and fix loose or squeaking boards.
• Coarse sanding: the first pass removes the old finish and any surface damage.
• Fine sanding: successively finer grades smooth the wood and open up the grain.
• Edging and detailing: specialist tools reach right up to skirtings and into corners.
• Finishing: the floor is cleaned and sealed with your chosen finish.

Keeping the dust down

The biggest worry people have about sanding is mess. We use modern, dust-managed sanding equipment with extraction that captures the vast majority of dust at source, so it is far cleaner than the sanding of years gone by. We still protect adjoining rooms and tidy up at the end of each day, so your home stays liveable throughout.

Choosing your finish

Once the floor is bare, you have options: a natural oil that nourishes the wood and is easy to patch-repair, a hard-wearing lacquer, or a coloured stain to change the tone entirely. We will show you samples on your own floor so you can see the result before we commit.

Want to know if your floor can be saved? We are happy to take a look and tell you honestly. Learn more on our sanding and restoration page, or book a free site visit.