Project: Restoration of Deep Smoked Oak Flooring

Before the works

The deep smoked oak engineered wood flooring in this Barbican home was overall looking tired and in need of sanding and sealing. During our free home survey, we did thorough inspection of the oak flooring and discussed with the client all possible options.

We have advised our client that this type of flooring does not need to go through staining process as the colour comes from its timber treatment and will be preserved after the application of clear lacquered finish. The client has decided to go with Bona Mega lacquer in silk-matt sheen.

How we did it...

Engineered flooring planks come in 3 main standards of thickness, which also defines how thick is the available for sanding oak top layer of the product. Depending on the overall condition of the floors, the initial floor sanding may start with coarser or medium grid. The task of this stage is not only to remove the previous finish and get the floors to bare wood, but also to provide a good level throughout the entire floor. In the case of engineered wood flooring, the level of the floor is usually good, due to the "click" or "tongue-and-groove" locking between the planks.

Gap filling was not required on this floor.

Sanding the floors with fine grids (80 - 120 gr) and a good rotary buff to the new oak timber surface with high grid buffing screens is the most important stage in the preparation of the wooden flooring for finishing.

Floors were consequently sealed with a coat of solvent based primer and 2 coats of Bona Mega water-based lacquer in silk-matt sheen with another light screen buff between the coats, for excellent final touch to the finish.