Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Sanding is effective on all solid wood floors: hardwood (oak, beech or walnut) or softwood (pine, yew or Douglas fir).

It also works well on engineered floors (those with a layer of hardwood over ply); strip floors; herringbone; parquet blocks; mosaic and even cork.

It could be even better. Floor restoration techniques have improved immeasurably since many wooden floors were first installed. Stains and modern sealants are more attractive, harder wearing and suitable for all kinds of domestic and business environments.

Allow us to surprise you with our expertise in restoring floors in a seemingly impossible condition. Floor Sanding Specialist Co. have been in the business for 20 years and have worked on hundreds of floors. Our staff are full members of the National Wood Floor Association – NWFA.

And don’t worry about old unsightly features such as concrete fire hearths. We can remove them and fill in the gap with matching flooring.

It’s up to you. You can leave them or fill them, depending on whether you prefer an even look. Filling helps prevents draughts in ground floor rooms and hallways.

It protects against spillage in kitchens and bathrooms.

Certainly. Just ask us during your free assessment.

Pieces of old carpet can be large, heavy and messy. We can clear them completely (do you have the tools to removed chunky carpet staples?) – and dispose of them safely.

We must work on a completely clear room – so all furniture has to be removed. Spare your back and let us do this for you. Replacing furniture also needs care on a newly-treated floor. Leave this to the specialists. You’ll want no scrapes, however small, on your perfect surface.

Sanding is a major job but we endeavour to minimise the disruption you will experience.

Allow us at least a full day – with several days for larger rooms in large properties. Stains and sealants need time to dry and bond to the floor surface, so a little patience is needed before the floor is ready.

Sanding is a notoriously dusty process. The older-style drum sanders can spread dust that lingers for days. You won’t want a dusty atmosphere to welcome returning family, staff or customers.

We use modern cylinder machines with a unique dust collection system. The collection bags remain outside the rooms and take 98% of all dust.
Its spread is further minimised as we also use dust covers and mask off doors and windows.

Whatever its age, species of wood and style, we make every effort to match your existing floor. A large variety of wooden flors have been in use for hundreds of years – as fashions have waxed and waned.

We can call on members of our extensive network of reclaimed wood suppliers throughout the UK.

Sometimes this can be quite a challenge. When asked to restore the floors in a London office building, we discovered an area of missing blocks in its 1930s parquet floor. The right replacements were unavailable in the capital, so we had to explore further afield.
Suitable blocks came from a demolished mews in Nottingham. At twice the required size, each had to be cut in half by hand. The effort paid off: the company now has a beautiful period floor to complement its 21st century glass partitioned offices.

Decking is easily damaged by sun, frost and rain. We sand away the whole top layer of old, weakened wood fibres – to reveal ‘like-new’ fibres below the surface. Stain or decking oil then completes the new finish.

Stairs often lie under carpets or layers of old paint. Stripping is a painstaking task, but the results justify the hard work.

The entire tread and risers are stripped, sanded and coated in a clear natural or stained finish. To create a showpiece feature, the riser can be painted white – with the tread left coated in a clear or stained sealant.

You can have your wooden floors restored at cut price, but, as is inevitable, you get what you pay for. If you look on your floor as of value and worthy of investment – you’ll be willing to spend a little more for a better job. Most important, you’ll have the peace of mind from knowing that your floor will last for many years.

And this investment is based on the kind of floor you want.

Examine your personal desires: the finish and look you expect from the floor -and how it will complement your existing or planned decor.

And how much wear is it likely to experience? Is it for children? How about your pets with their hairs and endearingly sloppy habits? Is it intended as a showpiece or for hard everyday wear?

We have fixed rates for every step in the floor sanding and restoration process. The overall job can be adjusted to meet your budget. After your free assessment, you’ll receive a fixed quote – so you’ll know the exact cost of your restoration project.

This follows on from your answers above.

The durability of a floor depends on its maintenance and the amount of traffic. And of course assaults from spills, chemicals and pet hairs. See the section on sealants for details of the pros and cons of various floor finishes.

As with any item of value, it comes down to the amount of care you wish to take. Deal with minor damage immediately and undertake regular maintenance – and your floor will give you years of service.

A little careful aftercare goes a long way. Just contact us for advice. We remain available to help you get the best from your new floor.