Southwark Floor Sanding

Why you should leave parquet floor sanding to the experts...

It can seem tempting to carry out your own DIY where possible; after all, with all the information and videos on YouTube, it's hard to not feel like an expert. Once you have mastered something seemingly complex, it can feel like you have achieved a great milestone. However, there are some procedures you should really consider leaving to the experts, and parquet floor sanding and restoration is one of them.

Parquet flooring is beautiful to look at, especially when it has been professionally restored. However, it is also hard to recover when it has been badly looked after or treated. If a sanding machine takes too much off, there's little anyone can do to change the results other than to replace it - which is more costly and time-consuming than just getting it right in the first place.

Part of restoring a parquet floor is knowing how to sand a floor properly. In order to do this, you must understand the nature of the wood and where the grain runs. You should always follow the grain of the wood when sanding - this can be difficult when it is running in multiple directions in a small surface area. 

Often, people will try to sand the wood diagonally to save time, but this can hurt the grain and become notable when you apply the final finish. This is only appropriate if the surface is particularly distressed and uneven, in which a lot of material needs removing. Some experts that follow this type of sanding will do it in both directions in order to even out what they have achieved.

The wood floor will need to be sanded with a rough, medium and fine abrasive to shape the floor into its best possible version. The best direction for it to go is in straight lines across, leaving the grain untouched. Following this process never fully strips the grain in either direction, so you will never take too much off. When using the belt sander, it should also never be left running in one place as it is constantly stripping the wood while working. If it is left in one place for too long, it can dent the floor. 

Unquestionably, a professional will be able to execute a better and more professional finish in a quicker time frame and with less risk. They also have all the necessary equipment, fully working.