Monday, July 30, 2012

Wood Floor Sanding and Repairs


Fitted carpets used to be extremely popular and almost every home in the country had them.  Today, however, they are giving way to bare floorboards in the Scandinavian style.  Carpets trap dust and are home to mites no matter how hard you vacuum them, but with gleaming, varnished floorboards you can rest assured that they are totally clean.  Also, with environmental concerns now to the fore there is no better way of confirming your concern for the environment by going down the natural route of bare floorboards.

The technologies of Wood Floor Restoration and maintenance were pioneered in Scandinavia and that expertise has been shared with the world in the form of cutting edge machines designed to maintain any type of wooden flooring.  All floor sanding companies now use machines from leaders in the field, such as Bona, Junckers, Osmo and Blanchon.  The green credentials of these companies are impeccable and their products reflect a genuine concern for the environment.

Upright sanders are used to grind down any irregularities in the floorboards, before smaller industrial sanders are used to work along the edges and into the corners of the room.  New dustless floor sanding technology ensures that clouds of wood dust are not spread into the atmosphere, but are instead collected for recycling.

When the sanders have done their work a selected wood stain is applied to the boards, followed by a varnish to finish the job off.  In less than a day, in most cases, you will have a gleaming new floor at minimal cost, all ready for attractive rugs to be laid down.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Wood Floor Sanding


Wooden floors are coming back into fashion in a big way as consciousness about the environment has been heightened and health awareness has increased.  Where preventing allergies is concerned, a clean, shiny wooden floor is the perfect surface, especially if there are children crawling around on it.  Carpets may be warm and cosy looking, but they provide a home for all manner of bugs and harbour dust and debris; even when they look perfectly clean they are usually not.  You cannot beat a hardwood floor for adding energy and sparkle to a room.

Having a real hardwood floor installed is one obvious solution and there are numerous Floor Sanding and Polishing companies around, but it is always worth having a look at the existing floorboards and deciding whether they can be renovated.  Sometimes there will be large gaps or loose boards, but with a little preparation the existing floor can soon be readied for sanding.

Clear the whole floor of furniture and remove any carpeting before doing anything else.  Hammer protruding nails flush with the wood and replace any loose and damaged sections.  If you do not like the end result, at least you will have tidied the floor up and you can always replace the carpet.

Hire an upright sanding machine from your local tool hire company and buy sufficient packs of sandpaper grades.  You will also need to rent a smaller machine for sanding the corners and edges.  A lightweight hand-sander can be used for the details such as skirting boards.  Top the finished floor with a wood stain and a coat of varnish and you will have a fantastic new floor in no time.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Transform Your Home with Wood Flooring


These are environmentally friendly and aware times, with a shift towards the use of natural materials for building and construction and an accompanying move away from synthetic products.  There is also more hygiene awareness.  These two trends come together perfectly in the choice of natural wood floors rather than carpets for many homeowners.

Wood floors are easy to clean and look very attractive if they have been treated properly.  You can do the sanding yourself or employ a company that specialises in sanding wooden floors.  Either way, whether you want a brand new floor or a wood floor restoration, there is plenty of help and advice to hand.

Eco friendly companies like Osmo, Bona, Junckers and Blanchon have been in the business of supplying outlets with the very best in materials, expertise and equipment for many years.  Wood is a supremely flexible and subtle building material and in the right hands can transform your home from the average to the spectacular.

If you live in the capital and do not need a brand new pine or hardwood floor, consider having a London floor sanding company transform your worn out floorboards into to something fresh and special.  Alternatively, if you are a reasonably competent DIY enthusiast, you could easily do the job yourself, though it will be more time consuming.

Parquet floor sanding and Wood Floor Repairs are the fashionable and sensible way to transform a home and the healthiest and most environmentally friendly option too.  Anyone who has stepped into a friend’s house, just after the floors have been sanded, stained and varnished, will appreciate how it can miraculously change the whole feel of a home.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Tips on Restoring Wooden Floors


No matter how much you work at keeping fitted carpets clean, dust has a habit of insinuating itself, especially in the corners.  Today, many householders are finding that getting rid of carpets altogether and exposing the underlying floorboards offers tantalising opportunities for transforming the whole look of their homes.  Floorboards are often in excellent condition, but they can still be completely freshened up with some simple maintenance and expert sanding followed by addition of a wood stain and finally a durable varnish.

Refinishing wood floors and Wood Floor Sanding are becoming highly fashionable.  DIY tool hire shops have all the equipment necessary if you want to do the job yourself.  Hire an upright sander and a smaller one; you should only need them for a day.  The upright is used for the first five or more sanding sweeps and the small one for finishing off around the edges and corners.  They are both very heavy so get someone to help you carry them.

Prepare the floor by hammering loose nails back in and filling any wide gaps with slivers of wood.  The upright machine should first be used at an angle to the boards and then run parallel with them, whilst the small sander should always be used parallel with the boards.

In order to achieve an even finish, try not to tilt either sander too much as their edges can dig into the wood and cause gouge marks.  After the two sanders have done their job, use a hand-held sander to finish off the details.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Tips on Floor Sanding


There are plenty of Floor Sanding Companies specialising in restoring wooden floors and although you can do it yourself it is essential to have some idea of how the process works before diving in.  The equipment is heavy and tricky to use, depending on the state of your floor, but it is easily possible by following some simple guidelines.

The main piece of machinery is a heavy upright sander, which has a lever in the handle for starting and stopping it.  There is a very heavy roller, wrapped in sandpaper, which makes contact with the floor and does the all the work.  A secondary, smaller sander, with a revolving circular pad to which sandpaper is affixed, is used for working around the edges of the room and into the corners.  There will be a lot of noise, but not too much wood dust, because with modern machines this is efficiently collected for recycling in a bag attached to the upright.

The sandpaper is held in place with a metal strip on the drum and should be replaced regularly.  You start with the coarsest grade of sandpaper and work your way down to the finest as the wood becomes smoother.  Push the sander at an angle to the floorboards to begin with, before working in line with them, while keeping the drum lever to avoid creating gouges.

When you have finished the main sanding, use the smaller machine for the edges and finish off with a hand-held sander to tackle any stubborn details in the mouldings.  Finally, you apply stain and varnish to create an attractive and durable surface.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Tips for Sanding Floors


There is no doubt that pulling up old carpets and making the underlying floorboards fresh and shiny can make a huge difference to any room, giving it a Scandinavian feel and making it easier to keep clean.

A Floor Sanding Company can do the job, but like most other tasks around the house you can also tackle it yourself by hiring a couple of sanding machines and taking a few basic precautions.

First of all, clear the whole floor of furniture and carpet to give yourself plenty of space to work.  Secondly, to prepare the floor for sanding, hammer any protruding nails flush with the wood so they do not cause damage to the equipment. 

Start sanding with a coarse paper and slowly work your way down to a fine grade as the floorboards become smoother.  The rollers on the sanding machines take a standard size and you can purchase as many packs as you think you will need when you hire the machine; you can always buy more if you run out.

Cut across the floor with the coarse paper rather than following the line of the floorboards.  This helps smooth out any humps and abnormalities and cleans the boards faster.  Follow the first run by going along the lines and then alternate directions for as many runs as required.  However, when using the finer grades of sandpaper, always follow the lines of the boards.

Apply the stain immediately after sanding, which is when any marks left by the sander will become evident.  Apply the stain liberally with a big brush and leave to dry before adding a second coat; three coats are usually sufficient to create the required texture.  Finally, when the stain has completely dried, brush on a coat of hard varnish to complete the job. 

Friday, July 13, 2012

Swedish Style Wooden Floors


Companies such as Osmo have a deserved reputation for eco friendliness and their products are used widely in the Wood Floor Restoration industry.  From solid wood to multi-plank and mouldings, Osmo natural wood products are used by every good floor restoration company to create the perfect flooring solution.  The industry also draws on the expertise of other companies, such as Bona, Junckers and Blanchon, all of them renowned for their green affiliations.  The machinery and materials produced by these leading companies will work to transform your home, whether you are installing new flooring or sanding wooden floors that were installed many years before.


The latest heavy sanding machines that are essential to the restoration process incorporate leading technologies to make them more efficient than ever.  Significantly, they also feature dust free Floor Sanding, which means that all the wood dust that is produced is captured and prevented from getting into the atmosphere.

Both the large upright and small sanders, which are used to finish the edges and corners of rooms, can be hired from most DIY tool hire shops.  A normal wood floor sanding will take five thin layers off the surface of the floorboards, before a stain is applied and finally a coat varnish that is designed to protect the newly exposed surface and provide hardness and durability.

The Scandinavians know all about the transformative powers of natural wood and have been working with it for many decades.  Now, their expertise and products are available to the wider world to create an eco friendly, truly green and supremely attractive flooring solution to any home.  

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Spruce up a Wood Floor


Anyone who has gone to the trouble of sanding and staining their floorboards will know what a transformation it can have on the entire house.  Carpets have their advantages, but many people are choosing to move in a more environmentally friendly and green direction by unlocking the potential of their natural flooring.  It creates levels of freshness and cleanliness that are unsurpassable and there are plenty of Floor Sanding Services available to help you realise your vision of a beautifully finished, natural floor.

When choosing which floor sanding company to go with, bear a few pointers in mind.  Pick a wood floor restoration company that has been in business for some years and has acquired a good reputation.  Do not make a final decision until you have seen examples of the work they have done, they should have a portfolio of completed work and satisfied customers.  Finally, they should use the latest dustless floor sanding equipment.

With leading companies, such as Osmo and Blanchon supplying top quality products, this is a great time to bring your natural flooring back to life and refinishing wooden floors is all the rage.  You will be thrilled by the amazing effect a freshly sanded and finished wood floor can have on a home.  Renovating a wood floor can transform a home simply by exploiting a natural material in an eco friendly way.

The health benefits are obvious for hay fever and asthma sufferers, but anyone interested in a fresh look can do no better than get in touch with Wood Floor Restoration company for some help and guidance on the many options available. 

Monday, July 9, 2012

Sanding Your Floors


Floor sanding companies across the country provide an excellent range of services.  Sanding Wood Floors has becomethe thing to do in recent years as a more minimalistic sense of domestic decorhas taken over and environmental issues have moved to the fore.  Wood floors are the ultimate in environmentalfriendliness and are certainly much more hygienic than carpets.  Carpets are great at trapping dust and mites, but bad news for toddlers and asthma sufferers.  A beautiful, shining, clean pine or hardwood floor is an asset to any home and you can add attractive touches to finish it off.

Wood Floor Restoration is something of an art and there are a number of floor sanding companies that will happily arrange an appointment and come in to take a look at the state of your floorboards.  If you decide to go ahead, they will first of all prepare the existing floorboards by hammering home any nails that are protruding from the timber.  They will also replace sections of diseased or damaged wood with new and fill in the larger gaps with strips of the same type of wood.  Smaller cracks can add appeal, but will be filled in if you wish, often with a papier-mâché mixture that is left to harden before sanding begins.

Usually, heavy sanding machines will be used; the first is a large upright with a roller, to which the sandpaper is attached.  This is a powerful machine designed to sand and clean the boards without damaging them.  A smaller sander is used for the edges and stairs.

You will never regret having a beautiful new hardwood floor installed or restoring your existing floorboards, whether you do it yourself or get a floor sanding company to do it for you. 

Friday, July 6, 2012

Sanding Wood Floors


Sanding down existing floorboards can completely transform any room and once you have experimented with one you will probably be so impressed that you will go on to do the whole house.  The type of flooring you choose will depend on personal taste and inclination.  Some people prefer a completely new hardwood floor, laid over the top of the existing floorboards; you can employ a Wood Floor Sanding company to do this for you.  For others, the preference is for wood floor repairs or refinishing wood floors.

To get started with your Floor Sanding and Polishing project just pull the carpet up and check the floorboards for wide cracks and protruding nails.  Hammer the nails in, fix loose boards and fill wider gaps with papier-mâché and thin strips of spare wood.  Next, pop along to your local DIY tool hire company and book two sanders for the day, a heavy upright sander and a smaller one for the edges.  It might also be useful to buy a small hand-held sander for the finishing touches.

Once the floor has been prepared, roll the upright sander in all directions across it, keeping the movements as smooth as possible and the drum parallel with the floor.  You then use the smaller sander to finish around the edges.  The secret is to work steadily and take numerous breaks, as these are very heavy machines and if you try to do the whole job in one go you are likely to end up exhausted quite quickly.  Also wear a mask, because there will be some fine wood dust flying about, despite the collecting bags attached to the machines.

Use wood-stain and a coat of gloss or sating varnish to finish off for the perfect renovated floor.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Sanding Parquet and Other Wooden Flooring


It has never been easier or more fashionable to give your home a whole new look and feel by sanding floorboards and restoring them to their full beauty.  In these eco friendly times this is the perfect solution and makes perfect sense.  You can carry out the work yourself or employ a Floor Sanding Company to do it for you.  Either way, the result will be a sparkling new surface that not only looks fabulous, but will also be significantly more hygienic than carpeting, especially if there are asthma or hay fever sufferers in the house.  What’s more, if you have toddlers crawling or stumbling around it is essential to keep the pollen and mites well away.  A thorough, dustless floor sanding will do wonders for your home environment and for your health.

Companies involved in floor sanding in London and around the UK use the latest equipment to do the perfect job of general hardwood floor sanding or delicate Parquet Floor Sanding.  In fact whatever type of wooden surface you have they will be able to completely transform it.  Sanding machines developed by Scandinavian companies like Osmo, Junckers, Bona and Blanchon are eco friendly and offer dustless floor sanding; they are the result of years of research into wood floor restoration.  Large upright sanders are used for the first phase of the work, stripping off the surface irregularities, while smaller sanders are brought in to create the perfect finish.  Finally, hand-held sanders are used to finish off around the edges of the room and in the corners.  All these machines can be hired from DIY too; hire outlets if you wish to do the job yourself.

Monday, July 2, 2012

Sanding Older Floors


Things have moved on since the days when fitted carpets were de rigueur and nowadays, having gleaming wooden floors is all the fashion.  This actually makes perfect sense, because a wooden floor not only looks great, but is also easy to keep clean.  There are no hiding places for mites and asthma sufferers will soon notice a big difference.  If you have toddlers crawling around, the advantages of a dust and mite free surface will be obvious.

A Floor Sanding Company will provide all the expertise and manpower required.  They will first come to your home to discuss what your requirements are and either install a new hardwood surface of your choice or renovate an existing wooden floor.

There are several eco friendly Swedish companies that have a long history of expertise in this area and they supply most of the latest sanding equipment.  Junckers, Osmo, Blanchon and Bona have each developed state-of-the-art technologies that, as well as being environmentally friendly, are the best currently available, to create the perfect sanded finish.

Collection bags in the big upright sanders are increasingly effective at trapping the wood dust that comes off in clouds as the sanding process progresses, so the whole job is now significantly cleaner than it used to be.  However, it is always best to wear a mask whenever you are operating a sander of any description.

The upright sander will be used to make the first runs across the floor, usually at an angle to the boards and then parallel with them.  A smaller sander with a rotating base, held in both hands, will finish the job off and the details are completed using hand-held sanders.