Solid Wood Floors Restoration
We restore, repair and replace solid wood flooring in residential homes, schools & workplaces
Solid wood flooring is an investment, a timeless feature that adds warmth, character, and value to any property. However, over time, even the most robust timber can succumb to the wear and tear of daily life – scratches, dullness, scuffs, and general deterioration can diminish its once vibrant appeal. This is where professional solid wood floor sanding and restoration services come in, offering a transformative solution to revive your floors and enhance your living space.
A reputable flooring company like Floorworks™ provides a comprehensive suite of services designed to bring your solid wood floors back to their former glory, and often, even better. This isn't just about superficial cleaning; it's a meticulous process that addresses every aspect of your floor's condition, from minor blemishes to significant damage.
What is Solid Wood Floor Restoration?
Solid wood floor restoration is a multi-faceted service that goes beyond simple cleaning or polishing. It's a comprehensive overhaul that involves:
Dust-free Floor Sanding: The core of restoration, this process removes the old, worn finish, deep scratches, dents, and discolouration, revealing the fresh, unblemished wood beneath.
Repairs: Addressing structural issues, loose boards, creaks, and damaged sections to ensure a stable and even surface.
Gap Filling: Eliminating unsightly gaps between floorboards for a seamless look and improved insulation.
Staining: Applying a new colour to the wood, allowing you to completely change the aesthetic of your room.
Sealing: Applying durable protective coats that enhance the wood's natural beauty and shield it from future damage.
The Transformative Benefits of Professional Restoration
Investing in professional wood floor restoration offers a multitude of advantages for your home or business:
Enhanced Aesthetics: Restore your floor's original lustre, remove unsightly marks, and achieve a fresh, inviting look that complements your interior design. You can even change the wood's colour through staining for a completely new feel.
Increased Durability & Longevity: A new, high-quality finish protects your floors from scratches, spills, and daily wear, significantly extending their lifespan by 10-15 years or more.
Boosted Property Value: Beautiful, well-maintained wood floors are a significant selling point, offering a high return on investment and attracting potential buyers.
Cost-Effectiveness: Restoration is considerably more affordable than replacing your entire floor, saving you significant time and money.
Improved Indoor Air Quality: Sanding removes trapped dust, allergens, and pet dander from the floor's surface and cracks, contributing to a healthier living environment.
Eco-Friendly Choice: By restoring existing floors, you reduce waste and the demand for new timber, making it an environmentally responsible decision.
Easier Maintenance: Newly finished floors are smoother, more resistant to stains, and much easier to clean and maintain on a daily basis.
Preservation of Character: Especially for older properties, restoration helps retain the unique charm and history embedded in the original wooden floors.
Our Restoration Process: A Step-by-Step Approach
A professional restoration typically follows a meticulous process to ensure optimal results:
Preparation: The room is cleared of furniture, rugs, and curtains. Skirting boards and lower sections of walls may be masked, and protective sheeting applied to doorways and vents to minimise dust spread. Any raised nails are hammered down.
Rough Sanding: Using a powerful drum sander and coarse-grit sandpaper (e.g., 24-40 grit), the old finish, deep scratches, and unevenness are removed. This reveals the raw wood.
Medium Sanding: Subsequent passes with medium-grit sandpaper (e.g., 60-80 grit) smooth out the floor, eliminating marks left by the coarser grit and further preparing the surface.
Fine Sanding: The final sanding pass uses fine-grit sandpaper (e.g., 100-120 grit) to achieve a perfectly smooth, ready-to-finish surface.
Edging & Detailing: An edger sander is used for areas the main sander cannot reach, such as edges and corners, followed by hand-sanding for intricate details.
Repairs & Gap Filling: At this stage, any loose or damaged boards are secured or replaced. Gaps between boards can be filled with a specialist wood filler mixed with sanding dust for a seamless match, or with flexible fillers for areas prone to movement.
Thorough Cleaning: After each sanding stage, the floor is meticulously vacuumed using industrial-grade vacuums to remove all dust and debris, ensuring a clean surface for the finish.
Staining (Optional): If a colour change is desired, a wood stain is evenly applied, allowing time to penetrate for the desired depth of colour.
Finishing/Sealing: Multiple coats of the chosen professional-grade finish are applied, with adequate drying time and light abrasion (buffing) between coats to ensure optimal adhesion and a smooth, durable surface.
Addressing Common Floor Issues Through Restoration
Professional restoration effectively tackles a range of common wood floor problems:
Scratches & Scuffs: Sanding removes the damaged top layer, eliminating surface scratches and scuffs entirely. Deeper gouges are filled and then sanded smooth.
Dullness & Lack of Sheen: The removal of old, worn finishes and the application of new protective coats immediately restore the floor's natural lustre and shine.
Water Stains & Discolouration: Surface-level water stains and sun-induced discolouration are removed during the sanding process, revealing the wood's original tone. For deeper stains, more aggressive sanding or localised board replacement may be necessary.
Gaps Between Boards: Professional gap filling techniques, using appropriate fillers, create a more uniform appearance and prevent dirt and debris from accumulating.
Unevenness & Cupping: While severe structural issues may require subfloor work, sanding can effectively level minor inconsistencies and reduce the appearance of cupping.
Professional Floor Finishes: Industry Recommended Options
The choice of finish is crucial for both the aesthetic and protective qualities of your restored floor. Professional companies recommend and apply high-performance finishes, each with distinct characteristics:
Water-Based Polyurethane Lacquer:
Characteristics: Dries quickly, low odour, clear finish that won't yellow over time, available in various sheens (matte, satin, semi-gloss, gloss).
Benefits: Excellent durability, good scratch resistance, eco-friendlier due to lower VOCs.
Suitability: Ideal for high-traffic areas and homes where quick drying times are important.
Penetrating Oils / Hardwax Oils:
Characteristics: Penetrates into the wood fibres rather than forming a surface film, often contains natural waxes, matte to satin finish, enhances the natural grain.
Benefits: Very natural look and feel, allows the wood to "breathe," easy to spot repair, durable and breathable.
Suitability: Popular for a natural, authentic aesthetic, can be re-oiled without full re-sanding, suitable for homes seeking a more organic feel.
Oil-Based Polyurethane Varnish:
Characteristics: Slower drying time, imparts a slight amber hue that deepens with age, stronger odour during application.
Benefits: Extremely durable, very hard-wearing, excellent water resistance.
Suitability: Best for very high-traffic areas, commercial spaces, or if you prefer the warmer, amber tone.
Floorworks: Distinguishing a High-Quality Flooring Company?
When choosing a company for your solid wood floor restoration, look for these hallmarks of professionalism:
Advanced Dust Extraction & Floor Sanding Equipment: Truly professional services utilise powerful, industrial-grade dust-free sanding machines connected to high-powered vacuums with HEPA filtration. This significantly reduces airborne dust, ensuring a cleaner environment during and after the process, and a superior finish.
Specialised Equipment: Beyond standard sanders, a reputable company uses a range of modern, well-maintained professional equipment, including edge sanders, rotary buffers, and specific tools for intricate detailing and repairs.
Experienced & Certified Technicians: Look for companies with a proven track record, expert knowledge of different wood types, and technicians who are fully insured and ideally, hold relevant industry certifications.
Comprehensive Service Offering: A good company will offer the full spectrum of services, from repairs and gap filling to various staining options and a choice of high-quality finishes.
Transparent Communication & Quotation: They should provide a detailed, itemised quote after an on-site assessment, explain the process clearly, and be available to answer all your questions.
Strong Reputation & Testimonials: Check online reviews, testimonials, and ask for references. A company with a history of satisfied clients is a strong indicator of quality.
Commitment to Customer Service: From initial consultation to post-restoration advice, a professional team prioritises your satisfaction and offers clear guidance on ongoing floor maintenance.
Post-Restoration Floor Care & Maintenance
Once your solid wood floors are beautifully restored, proper maintenance is key to preserving their renewed beauty and durability:
Regular Cleaning & Spray Mopping: Sweep or vacuum daily with a soft brush attachment to remove grit and dirt that can scratch the finish. Always use a spray mop with a pH-neutral wood floor cleaner, which avoids excessive water, as it can damage wood and finish.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Never use abrasive cleaners, ammonia-based products, or steam mops, as they can strip or damage the finish.
Protect from Scratches: Use felt pads under furniture legs, place mats at entryways, and consider removing shoes indoors.
Manage Spills: Wipe up spills immediately to prevent water damage or staining.
Control Humidity: Maintain a consistent indoor humidity level (ideally between 35-55%) to prevent excessive expansion or contraction of the wood.
Regular Re-coating / Re-oiling: Depending on traffic and finish type, professional re-coating (for polyurethane) or re-oiling (for oil finishes) may be recommended every few years to extend the life of the finish without requiring full re-sanding.
We Service Homes, Educational Establishments, Business & Public Spaces
Floorworks an established flooring company with over 20 years of experience providing comprehensive commercial flooring services for residential homes, schools & other educational establishments, public libraries, community halls & churches, restaurants, offices & retail and other public spaces.
Our flexible service approach to businesses and organisations of various size and footfall, allows planning of works 7 days a week, 365 days a year with free site visit for inspection, aftercare avice and additional layers of protection with the most durable floor finishes in the industry.
Your Local Flooring Experts
For homeowners in London, Surrey, Hertforshire, Berkshire and Essex, entrusting your solid wood floors to local experts like us means benefiting from tailored advice and prompt service. Many local flooring companies pride themselves on providing dust-free sanding, meticulous repairs, and offering bespoke finishing options to match your home's unique style. Our service comes with on-site surveys and quotations, allowing you to understand the full scope and cost of restoring your beloved wooden floors.
Get Started Today
Whether you’re a homeowner looking to revitalise your interiors or a commercial client aiming to impress with pristine floors, Floorworks is your trusted partner in solid wood floor restoration.
Professional solid wood floor sanding and restoration is an investment that pays dividends in beauty, durability, and value. By choosing a reputable flooring company like Floorworks™ that employs advanced techniques, uses high-quality materials, and prioritises customer satisfaction, you can ensure your solid wood floors continue to be a cherished feature of your home for many years to come.
