Rejuvenate your timber floor with a new coat

You have been faithfully polishing your timber floor for years now. The effort has never failed to reward with that even, brilliant sheen. But of late, you might have noticed that larger and larger portions of your floor coating won't just respond to even the most thorough of polishing sessions. On close observation, these portions feel rough and pitted, are discoloured and are generally a far cry from the floor you knew years back. Well, that kind of deterioration is quite normal with timber floor coating. There comes a time like now when the accumulated effects of repeated scuffing, exposure to sunshine and spills begin to show clearly. As such, the aesthetic appeal of your timber floor   is compromised, so to speak, while factors such as seasonal temperature swings and moisture may threaten the very integrity of your floor. Now is the time to consider timber floor repair.

Preparing the surface

Before restoration, remove the furniture, carpets and wipe off dust and small foreign objects. Scrape off wax globs, carpet glue and sweep them clear off the floor. Do not wash, even with oil. This is because sanding, your next step, works best on dry material. Next check to see that there aren't any carpet tacks forgotten in the wood, and drive protruding nailheads back under the timber boards' surface.

Sanding

Effective correction of surface imperfections on your timber floors coating is best achieved if you first remove the current coat completely. For this purpose you may use scrapers and hand-held sandpaper, but since your floor runs to many square feet, get a sanding machine. This you can hire from a building contractor, or purchase a small model which you could keep for personal use. Commence sanding with the coarsest paper, and finish off with the smoothest. Next, use vacuum cleaner to clean off the dust. Be careful to not introduce any marks or stains on the exposed surface. Besides removing the old coating material, sanding will even out deep scratches, raised grains and discolouration

Coating

After aesthetics, the main attribute of the coating substance is longevity-the duration before another sanding is required. The common types of timber floor coating are lacquer and polyurethane. Both offer protection to your timber floor, but the latter is known for greater resistance to scratches. Your next step is the actual application of your chosen coating substances. Use a sprayer, rag or brush to apply coating according to type and manufacturer's instruction. Don't touch or use the floor  until it dries sufficiently.

Timber floors embody style and class.  Good care ensures you enjoy them longer.

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