Monday, April 22, 2013

The Benefits of Hardwood Flooring

Even though the UK property market is beginning to pick up a little, it would be fair to say that 2013-14 will continue to prove difficult with marketplace jostling and competition between sellers still very much in evidence. With two or sometimes even three houses for sale on the same street it is wise to give your home a USP (unique selling point). And what better selling point can there be than a beautifully constructed real wood floor.


Endorsed by a survey carried out in 2011 by the National Wood Flooring Association, wise sellers who add a real wood masterpiece to their home sell more quickly. In some cases the owner decides to stay and enjoy the benefits of their new floor themselves! But homeowners who definitely wish to sell can take heart from the encouraging numbers in this survey. Almost all estate agencies who took part in the survey said that their own statistics showed that homes with real wood flooring were an easier sell. A whopping 90% agreed that a house with wood flooring sells for more money than a comparable house without wooden flooring.

Move or improve?

With many people choosing now to stay and improve rather than move to a new property entirely, extensions and annexe constructions have never been more popular. So with this in mind many astute homeowners have taken the opportunity to install hardwood flooring throughout their homes as part of the improvement process. Viewed as profit enhancing if you sell and a lifetime investment if you don’t, all types of hardwoods are enhancing homes throughout the UK. And with more eco-options available than ever before, now is a great time to install that wooden floor you have always wanted.

If you have never had a wooden floor in your home but have always wanted one you may be surprised to know how easy it is to maintain and clean a good wood floor. A well-kept floor will last around 100 years. Installing laminates and types of engineered wood will give a decade or so of good service with normal wear and tear, which surpasses the claims of even the very best carpets!

Wood floor has so many advantages, many of which you will already know including the health benefits, especially in homes with asthmatic and allergy sufferers. Correctly installed hardwood flooring will, with just a little TLC, last you a lifetime and beyond. When time comes that the floor does begin to lose its lustre and sheen then it can easily be revamped with a sanding and refinishing makeover without changing any of the boards.

In addition, the range of hardwoods available is so vast there is something out there to suit every taste and budget. Formal rooms, hallways, dens, bedrooms as well as outdoor flooring such as decking and pathways all benefit from good quality hardwood flooring.

Advice is always available

If you are unsure as to the type of wood best suited to your home then you can choose expert advice in the form of a free quotation and assessment of your home and the room in particular. This way you know you are choosing the right type of wood for you and your family. Professional Floor Sanding and installation companies will be delighted to help you make the best choice for your home and within budget.


If you have flooring that is tired and dulled by years of high heels, children’s toys and pet paws then you can restore that floor with the minimum of fuss and bother. If you have some carpentry experience you can re-do the floor yourself, or if you prefer to trust your hardwood to the specialists who will care about your floor as much as you do then get a quote – you may be pleasantly surprised. The price of a quality Wood Floor Refinishing may not be as costly as you imagine, giving you in return many years of elegance and real wood beauty.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Rejuvenate Wood Floors in Your Rental Property

A shiny and healthy wood floor is a real asset to any UK rental property and such an attractive feature should be well presented to ensure your property remains in demand. Consequently if you have a rental property with wood floors that need a bit of a facelift then a little care and attention now will minimise costly repairs and maintenance later on.

In addition to attracting desirable tenants, a properly maintained real wood floor adds considerable value to the property should you decide to sell. While this can never be set in stone, particularly in today’s sluggish market, it would be fair to say that any additional value will always outweigh the expense of rejuvenation and repair.

Wood flooring can last for 50 years

Generally speaking a reasonably well maintained Hardwood Floor Sanding should have a lifespan of around 50 years. Surface marks, scratches, cuts, bevels and other small damages can be eradicated by sanding and refinishing, but it may be necessary to replace any boards which are heavily damaged or rotted.

However most floors fall prey to small blemishes caused by things being dropped onto the surface, spillages, water damage and surface scratches. These can be taken care of with relative simplicity and minimum expense. Marks and scratches that do not go deep into the boards can be sanded away by shaving off 1mm and recoating the wood using the same finishing as the rest of the floor. This method is effective if the floor is not badly damaged and you know what type of finishing was originally used.

If the floor is more seriously damaged or is simply tired due to natural wear and tear then you will need to carry out a complete re-sanding of the floor. This can be done by a DIY-er with reasonable knowledge of carpentry and involves hiring a sanding machine which you then ‘walk’ along the board lengths, sanding as you go.

If you have limited DIY experience but would still like to rejuvenate the Floor Sanding yourself then you can use a hand-held orbital sander, which is easier to use with less chance of the machine ‘running away with you’ and damaging the planks. However with this method you will have to get down on your hands and knees and be prepared to put a bit more effort into the process. However, despite it taking longer than using a sander, a good refinishing can be achieved by using a small hand sander and a fair bit of elbow grease! If the room is small to medium-sized then this may be a viable option, but orbital sanding is not recommended for large rooms or function rooms.

When the floor has been fully sanded the topcoat can then be applied. Be aware you may have to re-sand more than once, depending upon the floor’s condition. So it is always best to do this work when the property is empty of tenants.

When you are ready to apply finishing there is a wide selection of non-toxic products on the market which are suitable for rental premises. The most popular finishing is varnish, which provides tough and long-lasting protection to the wood. If you are applying the finishing yourself then don’t be tempted to spread across large areas with a brush. All types of finishing should be introduced to the floor with a lint-free cloth and covering small areas at a time. Many a good sanding job has been ruined by a hastily applied finishing layer, so it is always worth spending time on the finishing.

Do not expect to get the whole job completed in a day or even in a weekend. Taking drying times into consideration you would be better placed to set aside 4 days for the rejuvenation of your wood floor.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Renovating London Period Homes from the Ground Up!

London has a fascinating variety of period homes, ranging from stately manors to terraced Victorian homes. In many cases, these homes have been built with real wood flooring. What an asset for London homeowners! So it is no wonder that a huge percentage of homeowners in London are reverting to the original hardwood flooring. hardwood which has been hidden beneath tiles, carpeting or rugs can be beautifully restored to pristine glory by a little specialist know-how and a fair bit of TLC.

Most commonly used wooden Flooring Sanding in London homes built during the Regency era was oak and elm. Oak wood flooring was the more expensive option with, elm being a cheaper alternative. If your London home was built during Georgian or Victorian times it is more likely your floor will be oak (both red and white oak was popular although red oak was more commonly used in beams) or pine. Because pine is a softwood it is more easily damaged and older pine flooring often suffers from damage, rot and bevels – all of which can be treated reasonably easily. Boards that are beyond repair can be removed and replaced with matching wood.

Start by stripping

Whatever the type of wood floor, a renovation begins with a removal of the old finishing, sanding to remove stains and blemishes, repair/replacement of planks as necessary and applying a new finishing coat.

If your floor has been covered up for many years and looks as if the veneer has long gone, don’t be fooled into thinking it has completely disappeared. There will be patches of varnish or stain dotted throughout the floor and secreted in corners that must be completely removed before continuing with the Floor Restoration process.

If the floor has not seen daylight for a number of years then a wise option is to have a professional wood floor expert cast an eye over it to discern its current condition before carrying on. This is especially important for old flooring. You can choose to have a free quotation on a refurbishment and in this way you can discover what your floor really needs to bring it back to new, as well as making an informed decision on whether you have the DIY skills required to complete a successful restoration by yourself.

It is likely that stubborn veneer will resist most attempts at removal, and you should be prepared to sand, scrape, rub and (gently) dig in when necessary! Even domestic equipment such as steel wool and paint scrapers can be harmful to your floor if too energetically applied. Real wood flooring, especially aged wood, should be treated gently. Remember that the older your floor the less likely it is to be completely level. Old floors were cut from sheets of planking by hand using hand saws, and part of their charm can be their unevenness.

It is likely therefore that to successfully remove all old coverings you will need to use a selection of electrical tools such as a sanding machine and orbital sander, as well as hand held chisels, hammers, scrapers and saws.

Chemical stripping

If the floor is very badly stained you can use a chemical remover to strip off the old veneer. This works more quickly than manual methods, although care must be taken. Wood stripping chemicals do contain toxic materials and appropriate safety equipment and respirators must be worn. A distinct advantage of using a chemical product is that it is very gentle on the floor boards and will not cause additional damage.

Solvent stripping

Using a solvent solution to remove old veneer is perhaps not as quick a process as using chemicals but again it will not damage wood. The added advantage of choosing solvent is that it will not discolour the wood, although depending upon the original condition of the floor this may or may not be a consideration. A solvent based product also cleans right into the individual grain marks, leaving your floor extremely clean and is the remover of choice for antique restoration projects.