How to breathe new life into timber floors

Wooden floors are a great asset in any home - they are easy to maintain and provide a rustic feel to your home decor. After many years of use, however, you might need to do some DIY if you want to keep that completely smooth and polished surface.

If you want to breathe new life into your home, the floors are a great easy place to start.

Before you paint or polish your floors, the first step you will need to take is floor sanding. This great DIY project should only take you a few hours, and up to an afternoon to complete.

However, as with any DIY projects there are a few pitfalls you could easily fall into by attempting this job on your own. Here are some tips to help you avoid any of these common issues.

Properly remove the old floor finish

Leaving dribs and drabs of the old finish could result in an uneven floor being created. In order to create a perfectly polished floor, make sure you check the surface for any exposed nail heads or raised corner boards. These can get caught in the sand-belt paper resulting in clogs.

Similarly, any holes, dents or nicks in the floor can result in a less-than-perfect sanding job being completed. If you spot any of these imperfections, fill these with natural timber putty. Mix with saw dust if you need to colour it to match.

Choose your equipment wisely

While it can be tempting to borrow the equipment needed from your mate down the road, it is important to ensure you are selecting the best quality tools for the job. Hiring this kind of technology could give you the peace of mind it has been adjusted and maintained to a high level.

An out-of-balance vacuuming system, for example, could cause unattractive chatter marks or sanding lines to form on your floor.

Completely clear the room

While it is common sense to remove all furniture and unnecessary equipment before you begin sanding, you will also want to seal all electrical outlets and switches. The openings to all heating ducts and cold air returns should also be covered with heavy plastic sheets.

This will make it easier and safer to work in the room, with less cleaning up required later.

Remove doors that swing into the room

Unfortunately, you can't completely sand underneath doors, even if you open and close them. It is best to take doors that swing open off their hinges until all work has been completed.

Getting the right sanding grit

The type of wood you are sanding may require you to try a different combination and grade of sandpaper. When you hire sanding equipment you can speak to an expert for specialist information on the subject.