The average hardwood floor will be sanded at some point during its lifespan. It’s a normal way of restoring hardwood flooring back to its original state and making it more durable.
With that being said, there are a lot of potential mistakes that can be made during this process, and for some, these mistakes can lead to both poor results and damaged floors. Understanding the common mistakes during wood floor sanding can help you to avoid similar problems. There are quite a few things that can happen, and we feel that your knowledge helps us thrive, so let’s get into it.
Lack of Prior Prep Work
One of the biggest mistakes that a homeowner or DIY enthusiast will make is that they’re not preparing the floor properly for sanding. There are a handful of ways this can happen:
- Not cleaning the floors properly – you need to clean the floor to remove dust, debris, and dirt. These are all things which can clog up the sandpaper (or professional equipment) and stop the sanding from being effective.
- Repairing damaged segments – small cracks or damage to boards in your flooring can lead to a lack of even sanding and damage the wood further.
- Removing baseboards or other furniture – you’ll need to have all the baseboards and furniture taken out of the room before work starts because they can interfere with the sanding process.
Using the Wrong Sandpaper for the Job
It’s important to pick the right sandpaper for the job because it does have an impact on Liverpool wood floor sanding.
The wrong type of grit can cause scratches in the wood or create an uneven surface – neither of which is good. Generally speaking, it’s best to go from a coarse grit to get the older finish out and then go to a finer grit to smooth out the new surface.
Not Sanding Floors Properly
If you don’t sand the floor properly during wooden floor restoration Liverpool, then you risk developing a few issues:
- An uneven sanding – if you sand with too much pressure or use an uneven motion to sand, then the result is uneven. You’ll need to apply constant, consistent pressure to do it effectively.
- Sanding against the grain – if you sand against the grain, then you’ll damage the fibres in the wood and create scratch marks. You should always sand in the direction of the wood grain.
- Not sanding the floor enough – if you don’t remove all traces of the old finish, then the new finish will be uneven. You need to be thorough about it.
Incorrect Finish Application
If you want to get the best results when dealing with floor sanding, you have to apply the finish correctly. There are a handful of common mistakes that people make with this.
- Putting too much finish on – if you put too much finish on, then it either gathers in a small pool or you wind up with an uneven surface.
- Not using enough finish – if you don’t use enough finish, then it can result in insufficient protection for the flooring. You need to ensure that the proper amount of finish is used to get the right results.
- Not allowing yourself enough time to dry – if you don’t let each coat of finish dry (yes, floors do need multiple), then the result is often an uneven or cloudy appearance.
Not Buffing the Floor
If you don’t buff the floor between each coat of finish, then you won’t be able to create an even surface and smooth out the imperfections that can develop during the process.
The best course of action for wooden floor restoration is to gently buff out the floor between each coat of finish – it’s extra work, but we find it does the job well.
Using Products That Don’t Work
If you use products that aren’t compatible with what you’re doing, then the wooden floor you have can fall victim to cracking, peeling or other discolouration. If you want to avoid these issues, then you need to be sure that you do some of these things:
- Pick products made specifically for wood floors – use products which are formulated for hardwood flooring because other options can have chemicals in them that will damage the wood.
- Follow instructions carefully – the right professionals will follow instructions properly from the manufacturer and explain them all to you. These instructions exist for a reason.
Ignoring Safety Procedures
Wood floor polishing Liverpool involves the use of sometimes dangerous equipment and hazardous chemicals. It’s important to practice good health and safety when trying to re-sand a floor, and many people make common safety mistakes:
- Not wearing proper safety gear – if you don’t wear proper safety gear, it’s possible that you will be exposed to debris, harmful chemicals, and dust.
- Not ventilating properly – any expert wood sanding company will tell you that you need to ventilate the area properly. You need to make sure that you have proper ventilation working with chemicals to circulate the fumes and push them out of the room.
- Not noticing fire hazards – some of the chemicals and materials used in wood sanding are flammable. Basic awareness of fire safety is required to complete the work in such a way that mitigates the risk of a fire.
Not Doing Proper Maintenance
Getting your floor professionally sanded and finished is just one part of the process. Something else that you need to keep in mind is ongoing maintenance. These are some of the common mistakes that people make when it comes to maintenance:
- Not using any floor protectors – you should always use floor protectors or felt pads with furniture, as this will stop new flooring from being damaged.
- Using damaging cleaning tools – things like scouring pads and steel wool are harmful to your floors, so they should be avoided.
Taking too long to clean up a spill – cleaning up a spill as soon as it happens can help to prevent stains and long-term damage.
Natural Flooring Solutions Ltd
Bulloch House, 10 Rumford Pl, Liverpool L3 9DG
0151 541 6277
floorsandingliverpool.co.uk
