Will I need to move my furniture?
Some of our customers prefer to move the furniture themselves; others prefer if we do the moving. It is up to you. We are happy to help either way.
When can we walk on the floors?
If it is a restored timber floor that has been sanded and sealed, it all depends on the product used to finish the floor.
Oils can be anything between 6-24hrs between coats. A lacquered floor is walk-able after approx 3 hours, but can take up to 72 hours to fully cure.
When can we put our area rugs back down on the floor?
On freshly finished timber floors, we recommend at least 72 hours before putting area rugs back in place. If it is a pre-finished floor, you can put the area rug back straight away.
Is there a lot of dust when sanding the floors?
All of our larger sanding machines have very powerful dust extractors fitted on them and the smaller machines have a vacuum attachment. Whilst no sanding is 100% dust free, we guarantee a 99% dust free experience when we restore floors. For peace of mind we also protect all surfaces to minimise any dust.
How long will the finish last?
With regular maintenance cleaning, a floor can last many years, often 7-10 years. When the finish becomes dull there are several professional service methods, such as a buff and re-coat which can restore the lustre with re-sanding. It can be carried out relatively quickly, without the inconvenience of a re-sand. Saving time and money, at the same time prolonging the aesthetics and life of your floor.
Can you change the colour of the hardwood?
This depends on the species of wood. Oak and pine are acceptable to most stains and oils, however, all red woods (Mahogany, cherry, merbau, Teak) have high volumes of natural oils in them, therefore would not take well to colour. In addition to this beech and maple are extremely dense, so would not absorb a colour well.
What if there is damage to the floor or sections where hardwood is missing?
The only thing to do Is to remove this as a board replacement and weave the new boards in. From there after the floors have been sanded and refinished the floors should integrate well.
What if we have pet stains on the floor?
Once a pet stain has penetrated the surface the only thing to do is to remove this as a board replacement. We then weave it into your current floor. From there, after the floors have been sanded and refinished the floors should integrate well. If, however the foul is detected straight away there is a big possibility it won’t damage the floor.
How many coats of finish are applied and is it water or oil based?
Usually, we add 1 coat base prime and then 1 coat of polyurethane, but occasional customers prefer 2 coats, especially if it is a heavy traffic area such as kitchens. You may choose from 4 sheen levels: Gloss, Semi-Gloss, Satin and Matte. If the floor finish is an oil, then we would apply one coat of maintenance oil after the oil application.
How long after maintenance can I walk on the floors?
Lacquer: Light traffic from 3 hours, heavy traffic after 24 hours.
Oil: From 6 hours depending on drying time of product
What advice do you have to prolong the finish on hardwood floors?
The best piece of advice we can give you is to take your shoes off while inside. It is amazing what a big impact this can have. Also, it is important to use felt pads underneath furniture (especially chairs) and entry mats at the doorway. If you spill anything on your floor, clean it up straight away.
Can plastic tips on chairs prevent scuff marks on my floors?
Industry experts say felt tips on chairs are a better option than plastic tips, which can mark floors. Also, we recommend that you stay away from rolling chairs as these tend to do a lot of damage to hardwood floors.
What is floor Buffing? Would that work for my floors?
Floor buffing is a process which is carried out when maintaining or cleaning a timber floor. It is a non-invasive method where you buff/abrade the hardwood floors so that you can add an extra coat of polyurethane. It allows you to add a sheen to the floor and an extra layer of protection. It works if your floors are in good condition from a colour perspective, it will not solve scratches, but it will protect the colour for longer. This process can also work on sheet vinyl. It depends on the amount of foot traffic on the floor to how often a floor should be maintained. On a high traffic floor we would recommend an annual maintenance.
Do I have to move all my furniture out for a buff and recoat?
Yes.
How can I tell if my floors need a buff and re-coat rather than a complete re-sand?
A buff and re-coat is a cosmetic method that adds a clear coat of poly. Not all floor conditions are candidates for this process. Floors should be in decent condition with the existing colour in good shape. It will take care of minor scratches and dullness; it will not solve deep scratches nor gauges in the colour. If the lacquer has been penetrated or worn down to the bear timber, then the floor would require a full re-sand.
Is there a lot of dust with a buff and re-coat.
The buffing and re-coat is a pretty clean process. The floors are NOT sanded; rather they are just lightly buffed to abrade the existing finished allowing additional coats of finish to adhere. The give the floor added protection and sheen.
How log does a Buff and re-coat take?
Most jobs only take one day to complete, but it ultimately depends on the size of the floor and size of the job.
