general maintenance & cleaning, sanding, gapping, asthma, varnish, dust.

1. Q. I want my floor sanded and I'm having a room decorated as well. Which should I do first?
A. Decorate first. In fact any major work like plumbing or wiring should be carried out before the floor is sanded. The sanding process can cause a few scuffs to the skirting board but touching these up after the sanding will not harm your floor and is an easy task.
decorating should be done first
2. Q. How long will the room be out of action while the floor is being done?
A. A room measuring 10ft by 12ft (3 by 4 metres) would take about 2 days to sand and varnish, using a water based varnish, plus a further 2 to 3 days for the varnish to cure properly before placing furniture.
3. Q. How should I maintain my floor?
A. Everyday dirt and grit will eventually wear away the finish. Even pet hair has been found to be abrasive. Vacuum or sweep regularly. Invest in a good door mat and try to get into the habit of removing street shoes when entering the house.
4. Q. How much does it cost to have a room sanded and varnished?
A. Professional charges range from £25 to £50 per square metre. Doing it yourself would cost about half that.
5. Q. should I have the gaps between the boards filled?
A. We would recommend filling the gaps in ground floor rooms and hallways as there could be a cold draft. In kitchens and bathrooms gap filling is recommended as a protection against spillage. We do not recommend wood fillers that are available in high street shops as they tend to shrink and fall through or get sucked out with the vacuum cleaner. If you do use a filler we recommend lecol which is a professional filler .
6. Q. How should I fill the gaps ?
A. Use ply and MDF, it needs to sit on the joists, or use a quality filler , Peter uses lecol, a trade product, but we have made it available to members of the public from this site. shop for this product. Get the download or order the interactive DVD for more info on this subject of gap filling, it shows you all you need to know. See trailer before you buy
7. Q. I would like my floor to have a stain. Is this something I could do myself?
A.This is a job we would not recommend you undertake if you are a novice. Peter has stained hundreds of floors and knows how much skill you need to tackle this job. He has also seen a lot of floors that have been badly stained and it's not a pretty picture. When a floor is stained well it has a beautiful even colour with depth to it. Stained badly and it can look patchy and dull with a dirty appearance. If you decide to get a professional to do the staining, make sure you can see a floor they have stained recently. If they haven't stained a floor before but tell you it will be a push over then it's time to look for some one else. If you feel you really want to try this yourself, it might help to read the emails we have received from customers about this subject. Peters answers might be of help to you.
INFORMATION ABOUT STAINING CLICK HERE.
8. Q. How do I calculate how much varnish I will need to buy for my floor if I sand it myself and which varnish should I use?
A. there's a whole page devoted to this question so follow the link to have your question answered. CLICK HERE
9. Q. Should I use reclaimed boards to replace badly damaged boards.
A. No, we do not recommend using reclaimed boards. They usually come from industrial sites and are actually thicker than the pine boards used in houses. They are also pre sanded which brings them up very pale and looking like brand new boards. We recommend using old floor boards from houses un cleaned, and not sanded.
10. Q. Can you tell me how to sand a floor and fill the gaps myself and get the same results you do?
A. Yes, we sell a fully interactive DVD containing both films, sanding and gap filling, that you can buy from this site for £18.50, sent by first class post as soon as we receive your order, so virtually next day delivery, or you can download both films separately straight from the internet for £5 each. It will take 30 minutes per film if you have a 56k modem, much quicker with broadband. It shows you all you need to know including all the techniques we use to get a really great finish. Topics covered in the learning films :
Preparing boards prior to sanding.
Machines: use and safety.
Dry run of techniques.
See the floor actually sanded from start to finish and learn how to avoid common mistakes that can often lead to a disappointing finish.
Points to be aware of and watch out for (avoid those plumbing disasters)
Black edging
A great technique to remove it easily. This needs to be seen to understand the technique properly.
Varnishing techniques.
What to use and how to use it. Tools needed for the job. Plus the chance to see it actually done.
Filling the gaps.
Peter demonstrates three methods and shows minor restorations. One of these methods uses power tools. Step by step demonstration shown, along with safety measures and health awareness. View the trailer
BUY THE DVD OR DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE
11. Q. My floor boards look such a mess. Can anything be done with them or would it be better to just buy and lay new wooden flooring?
A. In the vast majority of cases floors look a mess when you pull back the carpet. Dirt and paint are all removed during sanding and damaged boards can be repaired or replaced. Most houses other than some brand new houses have wooden floor boards which look great when sanded. If you decide for some reason that you want to have a brand new floor then do check first that the flooring you are buying comes from an environmentally friendly source.
Choices we make about the timber we buy have a direct impact not just on the forests of the world, but also the people and wildlife who live in them. When buying timber or paper products , make sure they are recycled or look for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label - the only label that guarantees environmentally responsible and socially just forest management. Go to our links page to find UK outlets where you can buy FSC wood.
FOR FSC OUTLETS CLICK HERE