Sanding Guide

Wood Sanding Explained

Sanding is carried out with branded equipment specialized in high-quality results without any side effects and achieves maximum wood preservation. A floor may be sanded several times (several years), and it is usually done on the entire floor to achieve a flat and smooth surface, which will bring a fresh new appearance after polishing. Each machine is designed for a stage of sanding and the elements on the level.

It's a complex process managed by a sander and a combination of different tools. Depending on the current floor condition, wood type, and the finish, there are different procedures to remove the upper surface gently and prepare the wood for the next steps.

It happens with sanding machines with different grains of sandpaper. Typically, it takes no more than one millimeter of the surface of the boards. It means that if the boards have a thickness of 22 millimeters, they can be sanded more than 5-6 times. It all depends on how much the tree is hurt and whether it has deep spots.

To achieve maximum quality, it is necessary to start with different numbers, depending on the condition of the boards. For example, for the old pine undercoat or coat preserved under the carpet for many years, it is recommended to start with 24 number, followed by numbers 40,60, 80, (gap fill is made at number 80), then number 100, and finally finishing is used 120-150 for a buffing machine.

The effect will be maximum in this sequence, and your floor will have a smooth and level surface. Then, for wood floors in good condition (engineered wood, solid wood, parquet) that need only small improvement (like light sanding), the high-end sander (60,80, 100-120-150) is used.

In the end, it's time for the corners. They have to be in the same colour and level as the rest of the floor. Otherwise, the effect will not be satisfying and the discrepancies will be obvious. There are specific machines with different sizes and structures used for corners. The large machine (the shaft machine) cannot get close to the walls. There is always a distance that must be completed with the so-called winder. It is already crucial for the sander to be good at this stage. Otherwise, the floor will look like an arena of holes because either the machine is not set up correctly or the sander cannot control it.

It is also possible to fill gaps with wood dust and resin if the gaps are less than three millimeters. It is good to know that this method is not the best with suspended floors because the floor moves when you walk on it, and the resin will peel off and fall in time. It is better to fill the gap with slivers when fitting floors by gluing them into the gap.

Then, the sanded boards are ready to apply a protective coating (lacquer, oil, wax). Also, if you want to change the colour of the floor, it will be a stain in the appropriate colour with your interior, or it can be transparent with a matt or satin effect.

After laying the finishing base (lacquer or oil) after drying, usually, 3-4 hours, sanding with very fine sandpaper 240-360 is required, and then the remaining finishing hands are applied.

The top lacquered layer of the wooden floor is removed with a special woodworking machine with large sandpaper. As a result of more delicate machining with a disk machine, all irregularities on the floor are then removed and smoothed.

Finally, the joints are filled with sawdust and resin. At least two or three hands of a quality lacquer are required to finish. The wooden floor may be stained or painted in the preferred colour.

In this sequence of the sanding process, we guarantee you a wonderful floor.

You should know that these procedures are performed during sanding to complete the final sanding before the finish with a protective coating.

The Sanding Process

The process may apply to all well-known floors in London, and it works perfectly in the following cases and premises.

Floorboards:

• Parquet, figurine, and art decors;
• Classic floors, installed in a line;
• From ancient to modern flooring types;

Usually, the floors are separated into two different types:

1. Situations:

• New flooring, ready for installation (and probably for refinishing);
• Previously installed floors (available for sanding, finish, and repair only);
• When it comes to patterns, there are many types of floors.

2. Flooring:

Each floor is a combination of floorboards from the same wood. The floorboards have different methods to attach to each other and to the subfloor level.

Depending on the mechanism, there are different types of repair, gap filling, and sanding.

Also, some floorboards do not allow the use of specific sandpapers. And that's the main reason to replace some of them during the restoration.

The floorboards are divided by width, length, and thickness.

Wood types:

• Victorian pine;
• Bamboo and all other exotic woods;
• Walnut, pecan - this one is for experts only;
• Engineered wood of any kind;
• Oak (Red, Light, Dark)
• Maple and cherry - we can do miracles with these floors;
• Mahogany, ebony, ash;
• Laminate (only for new floor installation and repairs);
• Floor sanding by type of the room;

Each property has a different purpose, and usually, it's part of its architecture. It's associated with the furniture, windows, light effects, and proper room arrangement in some cases.

Depending on the property, it's suitable in the following places:

• Family House, mansions, cottages, villas, etc.
• Apartments, lofts, others.
• Corporate buildings with huge hallways, conference rooms, small offices, and private places;
• School & Preschool Nursery (Kindergarten);
• Office spaces (small, co-working spaces, home-office);
• Local stores, kiosks, malls, grocery stores, etc.
• Coffee shops, restaurants, bars, pubs, nightclubs, piano bars;
• Big Halls & Lounges - mostly as a public space;
• Hotels & Hostels of any kind;
• Cabinets
• Bathrooms, floors around the bathtub, toilet, and pipes;
• Living Rooms with fire hearts, larger spaces, etc.
• Galleries;
• Single Room only and Hallways;

We can work on any type of wooden floorboards where they're installed on the floor, wall, stairs, decking, kitchen plot, veranda, or even the roof.

When do you need sanding:

• Keep the wood floors in good condition;
• Achieve a luxury effect, warm comfort, freshness
• Renovate the entire premises to acquire another look and appearance
• Pleasant feeling and comfort during the holiday
• We can make the floor be in harmony with the color of your new furniture
• A better reflection of light on the floor after you have installed new windows
• Restoring the floor to its original form
• Support the floor by monthly or annual subscription

Whether you want to create a new design on the floor or keep the existing one, we remain available because we can do it.

If you have any questions about the process we carry out or need further information during the service, please let us know.