Renovation of Medium Oak Floorboards

Before the restoration works...

The oak floorboards in this Wandsworth home was overall looking tired and in serious need of refinishing. During our obligation-free survey, we did detailed inspection of the floors and discussed with the client all possible options.

Our client has decided to go for gap filling, staining, of 74 sqm oak floorboards and finishing the floors in matt lacquer.

How the renovation of the floors went...

The thickness of the pine floorboards used for residential properties is approx. 20 mm when laid. Pine timber shrinks with the time and also becomes thinner every time the floors are restored. The nominal thickness, after which floorboards cannot be restored any further is approx. 15 mm.

Depending on the overall condition and level throughout, the initial floor sanding of the floorboards may start with coarser or medium grid. The aim of the introductory floorboards sanding stage is to remove the previous finish and level the floorboards throughout.

Unless the pine victorian floorboards have been sanded in past 10 - 15 years, they will usually not have a good level. Floorboards covered previously by carpets, will be uneven, with larger gaps.

Next stage in the process of wood floor sanding was the application of the gap filling. We aim to apply the resin filler with saw dust in the end of the working day, so it settles properly overnight and in case it is needed we can repeat it on the following morning , if required. The resin gap filling is after that removed by next step of the finishing process with medium grids .

Our team prepared few samples on the unfinished sanded timber surface for the client to approve prior to application of the finish. The client chose to go for a beautiful stain colour to compliment the room interior.

Sanding the floors with fine grids (80 - 120 gr) and a good rotary buff to the oak timber surface with high grid buffing screens is the most important stage in the preparation of the wooden flooring for finishing.

The floorboards was consequently sealed with 1 coat of primer and 2 coats of Junckers HT700 lacquer in matt sheen with another light screen buff between the coats, for an excellent final touch to the finish.