Wood Floor Restoration FAQs | Touché Flooring

Floor Sanding Frequently Asked Questions

I'd like to have floorboards, but where do I begin?

Firstly, it is always good to get advice on any major improvement to your property. Wood floors are a significant part of your home and making the right decision on floor coverings will not only add appeal and value to your property but even save you money in both the long and short term.

Wooden floors are practical and have a natural beauty and warmth all of their own. They can enhance the most ordinary of rooms as well as adding the finishing touch to an already superb decor.

Now that you have decided to have floors sanded & refinished I would suggest to first look in an obscure part of your floor perhaps a corner or underneath the house, to check that you have floorboards under your existing floor coverings.

Yes, we have floorboards. Can we sand the floors ourselves?

Many shops will hire equipment to sand wood floors; however, this equipment is continually being used by amateurs. As a result of this, they are usually unbalanced and far from the top of the range floor sanding machinery used by Absolute floor sanding.

How do we know if our floors are fit to sand?

A quick check under your house before removing your floor coverings will give you an indication as to the condition of your boards and sub-floor structure. Moreover, this will save you and us some nasty surprises once you have removed all the floor coverings, particularly if you are purchasing a new property and intend to sand the wood floors. Some things to look for may be evidence of termites, water damage, presence of dampness etc. Please note that this is only a suggestion and that in most instances this process may not be necessary

How much will it cost to sand my wood floors?

The cost will vary depending on:

The size of your floor. You can estimate this by measuring the length and width of the room and multiplying the two together; this will give you the square meterage.

Type of floor finish to be used: polyurethane, stained, waterborne etc.

What can you expect when your floors are professionally sanded & refinished by Absolute floor sanding?

Sanding and refinishing a beautiful wood floor is a skill acquired over many years. Please bear in mind that all the work performed is by hand controlled floor sanding machines and applicators; there can be evidence of this in the floor. Further, as you live on the floor, it will gain a character and feel that is unique to your home; this is all part of the beauty of owning a wood floor.

Expert sanding and coating
Nails punched
Nail holes, knot holes and gaps at the end of boards to be filled with the appropriate filler
A coating that will give many years of beauty, providing it is properly maintained

What not to expect

A completely dust-free environment. Modern floor sanding machinery is fitted with dust collecting equipment, and our floor sanders will endeavour to clean dust away by vacuuming and wiping down surfaces. It is virtually impossible, however, to totally eliminate all dust from the job which has a couple of consequences:
there will always be some dust particles that settle on the newly finished surface.
there will be a small amount of dust throughout the rest of the house.
Removal of deep cuts such as those from carpet trimming knives or deep gouges in the boards.
Removal of stains from within the boards and around nail holes such as animal urine and watermarks.
Boards damaged by the borer will not have the same gloss level as those in good condition.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to expect the filler to have the same feel as the timber after the application of coatings.

Please be aware of the following information.

Any silicone on a floor will cause rejection of subsequent coats of wood floor finishes. Silicone or silicone-based products also include Fabulon, hair spray; fly spray etc.
12-volt downlights produce a cobweb effect on the coatings.
You may get slight markings on skirting boards from contact with the Edger. That is why it is recommended to leave the painting on skirting until after the floors are finished.
Black Japan (bitumen) or stain around the perimeter of some older wood floors may produce a two-tone effect.
You are likely to get some variation in colour and grain between new and old boards.

How long will sanding our floor take?

As most coating systems require overnight dry times, the usual project will be a minimum of one to three days. This time frame may be extended depending on the size of the job. As an estimate, most floor sanders can sand on average 30/40 square meters per day. Furthermore, please remember to add the time for the coats to be applied and to dry.

Will there be much smell? And can I stay at home while my floors are sanded?

Yes, it will smell. Waterborne finishes are the most environmentally friendly, therefore produce less odour. All other finishes will generally require you to be in a well ventilated separate area if you want to stay in your home while the floor is drying. However, as every job is different, please contact Absolute Floor Sanding for more information concerning your house layout or coatings to be used to ensure they meet your requirements.

What floor finish should we use?

Polyurethanes are currently the most widely used floor coatings. They are incredibly durable, readily available and come in a range of finishes from high gloss to matt.
If you are using new wood floors, please check with your wood floor supplier as to their recommendation for a suitable coating. Some recommend only waterborne, or oil-based coatings to be used because of their flexibility should movement in the wood floor arise.

What type of gloss level should we use?

The sheen (shine) level on a floor is entirely a personal choice. Factors which could affect your decision include: whether the areas have downlights – a lot of light on a high gloss floor will cause glare. Whether you clean the floor regularly – gloss floors show a lot of dust, due to their reflective nature. If you have pets inside – pet’s nails can easily scratch the harder finishes, causing them to look worn more quickly. Currently satin is the sheen level in highest demand on wood floors.

What will I have to do to prepare the floor?

You can save money by removing all existing floor coverings including tacks, staples and any smooth edge carpet strips from the floor. Remove all furniture and other items on walls, or hang a cotton sheet over pictures.

Once the job is complete, when can I move my furniture back?

Most coatings will dry overnight assuming mild weather conditions (15 to 25 degrees C). However, 7 to 14 days for full curing in the case of polyurethane is usually suggested by most manufacturers. Any normal traffic should be avoided during this period. Small items residing in fixed positions may be put in place carefully provided they have protective tips underneath them within 3 to 5 days. Always check first with Absolute floor sanding or your coating manufacturer to make sure there is no misunderstanding on this matter as many floors can be damaged in this crucial period.

Is floor sanding a messy job?

Our floor sanders are 90% dust-free; however, there will be remaining dust floating during the sanding process, which unfortunately cannot be avoided. If possible, we will leave windows open in the rooms that we are working. By doing this allows for ventilation and release as much dust as possible. We will always maintain an immaculate service; ensuring that all furniture is covered and doors sealed. We clean up as much as possible during the project and then an extensive clean up once our work is complete.

How reliable are your floor sanding services?

Absolute Floor Sanding & refinishing have a very reliable and professional team. We pride ourselves in our work as well as reliability and efficiency. We always treat our customers as a top priority and nothing less. We aim to satisfy our customers 100%. Check out our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ accounts to see some of our customers who tag themselves in our posts.

How booked up are you?

Absolute Floor Sanding services cover London, Surrey, Sussex, and Essex so we can be in high demand. That’s why we ensure we have enough of the most excellent and professional floor sanding teams — making sure that we can fit you in at the time and date that suits you best, or at least the closest.

How costly is your floor sanding & refinishing services?

We are one of the most competitive and reasonable floor sanding companies with our costs. We aim to beat any other quote that you have received from another floor sanding company. Not only are we unbeatable in price, but we are also unmatched in quality. Take a look at our floor sanding cost’s page for more info.

What about all of my furniture'?

We can assure you every single possession in your property will be completely taken care of. However, we do require the wood floor clear for our floor sanding team. We will gladly help take care of moving any heavy furniture that you may not be able to manage to move yourselves. Alternatively, if any furniture cannot be removed from the room we are working in, don’t worry; we can carefully move it to the side and work around it. In fact, this has been the case on many occasions, so we certainly understand your concerns. We will cover up any furniture to prevent dust from getting to it from the floor sanding process.

What colour wood floor can I have?

That is entirely your choice, whatever colour suits your taste we will match it. We can assist with this by laying down as many samples as you like on your wood floors to help you decide. We have a range of stains, so plenty of options that you can choose from and make a decision.

What are the payment arrangements?

Payment for our work is due on completion; we accept cash or bank transfers. We ask for a deposit on all work, (generally £100-£150) this is for our security on materials. Also, if you require any flooring and require us to provide this for you, then we ask for this payment upfront or on the arrival of our work. We can then collect what is needed from our supplier’s efficiently and as quickly as possible.

Do you work at weekends?

We certainly do, Sunday’s also. If we are halfway through your project on a Friday but you would prefer us to come back on Monday, let us know and this can be arranged.

What are your working hours?

Office Hours: Monday – Saturday 8:30am – 7pm and Sunday 10am – 4pm.

Our team of floor sanders work: – Monday – Saturday 8:30am – 6pm and Sunday 10am – 4pm.

If you require us to start at an earlier time, that’s not a problem. Whatever is more convenient for you, we will try to fit in with your schedule.

Do I have to be there while the floor sanding is carried out?

No, not necessarily, as long as we can gain access, then you can leave us to it. Absolute Floor Sanding only uses its own team, we do not sub-contract our work out.

Should I paint it before or after the floor sanding?

Generally speaking, as we have much heavier floor sanding equipment to work with it is helpful for us to be in first. However, if you are not planning on decorating, then we use dust-free floor sanding equipment, so it is up to you!

Do you undertake commercial and domestic floor sanding & refinishing?

Absolute floor sanding works in both domestic and commercial properties, often having to work alongside many other trades.

I have a commercial floor sanding project, do you work nights?

Absolute floor sanding has undertaken many floor sanding projects for commercial customers during the night, usually during closing hours of the business. We have the area completely clear and clean ready for customers the next morning.

Google Reviews

    
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Sarah Conner 
 
 
 
  Excellent customer service and the finished floors look beautiful. Fantastic company I will use again.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   BP 
 
 
 
  David & his team done a great job, restored our oak floor in the kitchen extension as we expected, looking new and very happy with the finish!  The team are professional, efficient, clean and also provided good advise how to continue managing & cleaning our floor. Thank you
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Will Young 
 
 
 
  David did a fantastic job on sanding and refinishing our wood floor. Very minimal dust and its ready for the next 60 years of life! Would recommend without question
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   James Skaife 
 
 
 
  Great service and really helpful, demonstrated how to use the equipment. Will use them again when we restore the remaining floor
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jemimah Dipchan 
 
 
 
  David & his team were very professional. From the quotation to commencement of the work, all communication was clear, polite and efficient. They arrived on the dot, at 8am, as planned and worked efficiently, producing fantastic results! We are absolutely delighted with how our oak, basket-weave, parquet floor has been fully restored to its original beauty! The machines used extract all the dust, providing a brilliant dust free service. Thank you David, Matt & Shane for all your hard work! We are looking forward to receiving the quote from you for restoration of the oak parquet in the next 2 rooms 👍🏻 Mr & Mrs D, Meopham, Kent
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   PluckyBrit 79 
 
 
 
  Recently used David and his team to conduct some floor sanding in a listed building in the Brentwood area, given the nature of the task and the age of the flooring we were rather concerned that the original appearance could not be restored, but I’ve been delighted with the results, the finish maintains the original intention and has bought a real sense of renewal to the room, thank you once again for your professionalism and efforts, highly recommended.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Harriet Cook 
 
 
 
  Whilst in the process of moving into our new home in Brentwood, I contacted absolute floor sanding to get a quote using my floor plan. Once we finally had the keys, David and his team restored the old wooden floors and I am over the moon. From start to finish the process has been so easy with David explaining everything to us and even completing colour samples before the work started so I could choose the right colour. Would highly recommend and will definitely use them again in the future.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Laura Taylor 
 
 
 
  Floor Sanding were amazing. Such a professional company. My floors look incredible. Was considering changing them completely, but the guys did the best job in bringing them back to life. I’m so glad I chose them. Plus they were local to me, I’m based in Witham. Thank you so much 😊
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   steve bracey 
 
 
 
  David and his team have done an amazing job sanding down our old worn yellow pine floor boards and re varnishing them to make them look lighter with a little white tinge to the finish - so so impressed with the speed and efficiency of the whole job. Would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone. Thanks. Steve and Jane.

What Restoration Includes

Repairs

Gap Filling

Sanding Process

Staining

Oil vs Lacquer

Dust Control

FAQs

Before & After Examples

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Wood Floor Installation

LVT Installation

David’s Story

Company Values

Service Areas

Contact Us

Floor Sanding Frequently Asked Questions

Many shops will hire equipment to sand wood floors; however, this equipment is continually being used by amateurs. As a result of this, they are usually unbalanced and far from the top of the range floor sanding machinery used by Absolute floor sanding.

Google Reviews