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.
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