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.

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.

Sustainable Hardwoods for London Homes

Love your London home even more with eco-friendly Hardwood Floor Sanding that look great and don’t cost the earth. By choosing hardwoods that have been responsibly sourced and harvested London homeowners are saying YES to a fantastic range of hardwood flooring and NO to deforestation, pollution and illegal logging.

The Forest Stewardship Council

At the time of writing, the American continent leads the way with in excess of 40million hectares of forestry responsibly harvested and maintained across the US and Canada alone. The regulatory body, the Forest Stewardship Council, recognises the importance and is attempting to re-educate foresters to maintain an equitable balance of trees around rivers and canals, as well as consistent re-planting projects and social and enhanced knowledge of environmental culture. Only lumber that meets all the criteria is issued with an FSC certificate. This documentation allows the consumer to follow a paper trail from harvesting right through to end-user sale.

Now this proactive attitude is taking hold in the UK as well. There are a large percentage of homes across London which have been traditionally built using hardwood flooring, as well as an army of environmentally aware homeowners who want to repair or replace damaged boards or who are looking to lay a floor from scratch – but without damaging the environment. So here is a short list of the most sustainable types of hardwood.

Types of sustainable source hardwoods

Ash

Although ash, in particular white ash, is a popular choice for furniture, an ash floor can bring striking good looks to any room. Ash is a rough, porous wood with a well-defined grain that looks particularly good when finished with varnish, lacquer or wood stain. Ash is also finer than oak, which makes it more pliable and easy to work with. 

Cherry

Popular as a fast-grower and planted across razed areas such as old mines and disused plants, 12-month old cherry saplings can quickly replenish dilapidated woodland areas. Black cherry is the most commonly used cherry variation for flooring, although consumers should be aware of this wood’s sensitivity to natural light and cherry will darken considerably if exposed to prolonged sun. Black cherry is relatively easy to sand and gives a smooth finish to any floor.

Mahogany

Perennially popular for its warm burnished sheen and timeless elegance, this tough tropical hardwood is a robust and beautiful addition to both family and formal rooms. Mahogany wood is best worked with fine tools and blades in order to cut cleanly and without tearing the delicate veneer. Mahogany polishes up extremely well.

Maple

Maple is extremely versatile and is available in both hard and softwood varieties. If you are looking for a light coloured flooring with a distinctive grain then maple is a fine choice. The density of the wood means pre-bored holes for nails and screws are a necessity. As with the mahogany, work with maple using only fine tools to avoid splitting and shearing. Maple is not the best wood to stain as it is not particularly porous, but it does look good with a coat of clear Floor Sanding and Varnishing as protection and polishes up well.

Oak

The epitome of strength and resilience, the mighty oak is one of the hardwood stalwarts and remains the most popular choice in UK kitchens and living rooms. Oak offers variety too, with white oak as light as pine, red oak, burnished gold like mahogany as well as the classically beautiful dark brown colour. The texture of oak is coarse and defined to the touch. Oak offers a wide range of looks and styles and can take wood stain, lacquer, oil and varnish finishings. Bear in mind though that white oak does repel water.

Whatever your choice of hardwood and whether you are purchasing whole flooring or individual planking, select only certificated hardwoods to ensure your floor is sustainably produced.