All furniture and fabrics should be removed from the rooms being restored. Although our machines generate very minimal dust, cupboards and doors should be taped up and existing floor coverings need to be uplifted then removed. After this we punch down any raised nails and fixings then fix down or replace any loose or broken planks, blocks or cork strip. We are now ready to begin the floor sanding operation using our top of the range Lagler belt sander for large areas and an edge sander in borders and corners. We start using a coarse grit to remove the worst marks from the floor then gradually work our way down through medium and fine grit sanding belts. During the sanding stage, sanding dust is mixed with a resin filler to fill any cracks and holes in the floor resulting in a high quality smooth finish in the newly sanded floor. Once the sanding stage has been completed, the floor is swept, vacuumed and dry-mopped prior to the application of any stains selected by the client.

After the wooden floor has been sanded, it needs to be protected with a wood floor seal. The two most popular types of finish are lacquers and hardwax oils. Some people might call lacquer floor varnish, but in professional terms, varnish is only one type of wood floor seal. The quality of the seal that goes onto your floor is perhaps the most important part of the entire sanding process and commercial seals will be far more durable than those used in the domestic environment. Artisan Timber & Flooring only use top quality lacquers to protect the finished wood, offering a stain resistant durable finish that should, with the correct maintenance, last years. Hardwax oils provide a more traditional floor finish that retain the natural character of the wood whilst increasing its’ durability as well as water and dirt resistance. Floor oils are available in matt, satin-matt or semi-matt finishes, with the main advantage being that the floors coated can be patch repaired when damaged as opposed to lacquered floors that need entirely re-sanding and finishing. Generally two coats are applied and a range of coloured oils are available of which the lime effect is the most popular.