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Expert Advice
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| Welcome to Our House online's Expert Advice. We have brought together a number of independent experts* in a variety of fields, who are available to answer your individual queries on a wide range of home improvement topics. Read through previously asked questions, or submit your own. *Please note that these experts are completely independent of the Our House television show, and any segments that have been shown on the TV programme. If you are looking for information on a TV segment, search our archives. |
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DIY polished floors (Submitted on 10/02/2001)
Question :
How do we go about creating polished wood floors (the steps involved and what products do we need to use). The house currently has hardwood floors that are in good condition and covered by carpets/lino.
Answer :
This is one of the most satisfying (and somewhat challenging) parts in a renovation. It turns a building site into a graceful home instantly.
Steps involved are:
1. Removing floor covering and any 'black japan' (black tar like stuff used to adhere floor coverings), nails, staples, etc. Keep in mind that you'll be sanding, and things like this will rip the papers to shreds!
2. Kennards have a good range of sanders — and good staff to guide you. You'll need a big Drum sander and an Edger. Make sure they give you a good range of grits (very course through to fine). The process is one of the course grit ripping off a layer of wood — with the finer ones sanding this new surface.
3. Surface coating selection. This does come down to personal preference — you can go for a polyurethane or a tung oil. Personally, I prefer Tung Oil (Feast Watson brand in particular). It feeds the wood, is natural and should you want to spot sand in the future, you can do so (more difficult if you go the poly way)
4. Waxing — only required if you tung oil. This is not as hard as it sounds! The wax solution is poured into a bucket and mopped on. Lovely job.
And that is that!
Handling the big drum sander is the most difficult part of the job. If possible, get familiar with how this feels in a not so obvious part of the house (ie not as I did inside the front door!) It can run away on you — and kind of dig in. It comes down to a matter of balance, which you can only understand when you feel it.
Good luck — hope it goes well for you.
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