Floor Sanding

Floor Sanding Information

Some of the information below is a guide only. Other parts of the information needs to be followed if you’re looking for a near perfect finish. ALL-Auckland Floor Sanding  standard finish is 3 coats of urethane, spirit or acrylic finish. The 3 different finishes are Matt, Silk (Satin) or Gloss. If there are a couple of large gaps we do fill them, but if it’s a quantity of gaps then you must bring it to our attention as we do have to charge for filling as its time consuming and the filler is expensive. Please remember over filling can have an adverse reaction to your floor.

We start the process by making sure the preparation to the floor is correct. We then Sand the floor using a Rough to medium Sand-paper then finish with a fine paper. We then buff the floor between each coat. If you require the nail holes filled then you must bring it to our attention. Timber is a natural product and old under-lays, chemicals, oil stains, or plant pots can leave their marks which only show up after varnishing the floor.

 

• Carpentry, electrical, plastering, plumbing and glazing needs to be completed before work on the floor should start. Silicone or silicone based product which comes into contact with the floor after sanding but prior to any of the 3 coats will cause rejection of the coating. Silicone is often found on the footwear of carpenters, builders, plumbers and glaziers.
• It is recommended that all painting except the final coat on skirting boards be completed. The final coat can be applied to the skirtings after completion of the floors. If the painting of your skirtings are complete it’s a good idea to have your skirtings covered prior to our arrival.
  You should also note that floor-sanding machines can buff the skirtings.
• Carpets – if being laid should be completed (laid) after the Varnished floors are dried.
• Tongue and Groove boards and nail holes are filled at the clients request, prior to starting the work. There maybe a small charge per meter according to the size of the area and the amount of holes completed. We will free of charge fill nail holes or T & G gaps in the floorboards but that will be on a job-by-job basis.
• Cupping of boards may occur when the floor below has a high moisture level.
• All furniture should be removed together with all floor covering including staples, tacks etc.
• Gas and electrical appliances need to be disconnected by qualified personnel and removed. All pilot lights (including hot water system) need to be turned off.
• Adequate lighting and power to be available.
• In many instances arrangements should be made for alternative accommodation, bearing in mind the wet floor areas cannot be walked on.

Once the job is completed...

 

• Do not walk on the floor for 48 hours or allow any dust onto the floors.
• Do not spray any kind of aerosol can ie fly spray, or nice smelly stuff as this can land on the polyurethane and can cause a reaction. It takes 7 days for the polyurethane to fully cure.
• Do not drag your furniture across the floor as it takes 7 days for the polyurethane to fully harden and you will risk scratching or gauging your floor.
• Avoid wearing stilettos or high heels on wooden floors.
• A useful tip which minimises scratching of your newly polished floors is to cut small pieces of felt and stick or glue them to the feet of your furniture. Felt can be readily purchased from your local sewing or craft shop. Avoid using plastic protection as this will scratch the floor.
• Parquet floors. It sometimes happens that parquet floors expand or contract which may have an effect on the supporting glue to the floor. However if it happens we will make small repairs under one square meter free of charge.
• If moisture or water has penetrated the floor between the blocks this can have a reaction when sanding the floors. It can at a later stage break the blocks adhesive allowing the blocks to become loose.

Staining

If you do not receive much light in your home choose colours carefully as to not go too dark. Dark colours can also give the appearance of the area being smaller. Leave painting of your skirting boards till after your flooring project. The floor machine can buff the skirting plus while applying the stain the tradesman will most likely paint stain on the skirtings in the attempt to get to the edge of the timber. We cannot take any responsibility for varnish, stain or buffing marks to skirting.

Colours vary on different timbers and depending on the kind of timber’s and the condition, the colour you have chosen can look quite different on your floor.

When colour is demonstrated also inspect with lights on and off to ensure colour is to your liking as under light or in strong sunlight the colour will appear different.