Maintenance or a Full Sand? When to Refresh Your Floor
Saving time and timber with the right treatment
A tired floor often leads people to think a full sand is the only answer. Often a simpler maintenance treatment will restore the look in less time and for less money. The key is catching the wear early, before it reaches the timber itself.
The benefits of a refresh
Every full sand removes a thin layer of timber. Solid floors can be sanded many times, but engineered floors have a limited wear layer, and even solid boards will not last forever. Refreshing the finish rather than the wood adds years to the floor's life.
Oiled floors
Oil finishes are made to be topped up. As the oil wears in busy areas, the timber can look dry, pale or grey, and it may start to mark more easily. Try a few drops of water; if they soak straight in, it is time for a maintenance coat.
The floor looks dry, faded or grey in busy areas.
Spills absorb quickly.
Dirt seems to cling to the surface.
The sheen is uneven across the room.
We deep clean the floor, buff it lightly and apply a new coat of oil. It is usually a one-day job. Our re-oiling service keeps oiled floors in Esher looking their best between full restorations.
Re-coating a lacquered floor
Lacquer protects by forming a layer on top of the timber. Worn lacquer looks dull and scuffed, but if the wood itself is not exposed, a re-coat will usually bring it back. We clean thoroughly, lightly abrade the surface and apply a new coat of lacquer. Our re-coating service is a fraction of the cost of sanding.
Beyond maintenance
Maintenance cannot fix everything. If the finish has worn through to bare wood, if there are deep scratches or dents, or if water has stained the timber black, sanding is usually the right answer. Changing colour or finish type also needs a sand back to fresh timber.
Bare timber is showing.
Damage that goes into the wood.
Black water stains in the timber.
An old finish that is breaking down.
You want to change the look.
What a maintenance visit involves
Maintenance treatments are quick and far less disruptive than sanding. The room still needs to be cleared, but there is no heavy sanding, very little dust and the work is usually completed in a single day. The floor is first deep cleaned to remove dirt, old polish and residue, which would otherwise stop the new coat from bonding. For oiled floors, new oil is applied and buffed into the timber. Lacquered floors are lightly abraded before a new topcoat is rolled on.
Drying times are usually shorter than after a full sand, and the room can often be used again the same evening for light foot traffic. Furniture can usually return after a day, with rugs following a few days later.
Why product choice matters
It is important to use a maintenance product that is compatible with the original finish. Some oils and lacquers do not bond well with others, and the wrong product can peel, stay sticky or look patchy. If you know which product was originally used, keep a note of it, as it makes future maintenance simpler. If you do not know, we can carry out a small test to check how the existing finish reacts.
In summary
Refreshing the finish rather than sanding the wood preserves timber and adds years to the floor's life.
Oiled floors that look dry, grey or absorb water quickly are usually ready for a maintenance re-oil.
Lacquered floors that are dull and scuffed, but not worn through to bare wood, can usually be re-coated.
Exposed timber, deep damage, dark stains and failing finishes are signs that sanding is needed.
Always use products compatible with the existing finish, and keep a note of what was used.
A maintenance schedule
In a typical home, an oiled floor may need a maintenance coat every two to four years, while a lacquered floor may go five years or more before a re-coat. Hallways, kitchens and homes with pets may need attention sooner. Not sure which treatment your floor needs? Send us some photos and we will advise.