01Nov

When to Sand and Polish or Repair Your Timber Floors

Hard wearing and long lasting, sanded and polished timber floors are one of the best investments you can make to your home. But like all natural products, if they’re not properly cared for, they’ll deteriorate over time. Here are 4 signs of damage that indicate it’s time to sand and polish or repair your timber floors.

Water damage

The problem

Timber floors are particularly vulnerable to changes in temperature and moisture variation. Ongoing dryness can cause gaps to appear in your floorboards, while increased moisture causes an effect called ‘cupping’. Rooms like your kitchen, bathroom and laundry are particularly susceptible to this kind of damage.

The solution

Maintaining an ambient temperature is the best way to preserve the sand and polish of your timber floors. Use an extractor fan in wet rooms like kitchens and bathrooms, and avoid over wetting the floor during cleaning. Wring out your mops and cloths to ensure a minimal amount of water comes into contact with the floor, and avoid using steam mops.

Scratches, dents and dings

The problem

Even with a high quality sand and polish, your timber floorboards aren’t immune from damage. Furniture, high heels and pets with long nails or claws can all damage your polish.

The solution

Protect your floor from scratches and marks by fitting protective pads to your furniture legs and placing rugs underneath furniture with castors – barrel castors are less likely to damage the floor than ball castors. If your floor is newly sanded and polished, wait two weeks before laying rugs down. Institute a shoes off policy, particularly for high heels or stilettoes, and keep your pets’ nails and claws short and blunt to avoid scratching and dulling your finish.

Dullness, fading and discolouration

The problem

Regardless of the quality of your sand and polish, all hardwood floors will fade, darken, or change colour over time. However, consistent exposure to intense sunlight will speed up the process, as will using inappropriate cleaning products.

The solution

To avoid ongoing sun damage, rotate your rugs periodically and use curtains or blinds to provide protection against direct sunlight. Never clean your polished floors with common household detergents, polishes or wax as they can be abrasive and/or make re-coating in the future difficult. Use a high quality lint free floor mop for cleaning, and wipe up spills with a dry cloth or paper towel (moisten the cloth slightly when dealing with sticky substances).

Dirt and grit and other nasties

The problem

Despite regular cleaning, dirt and grit will build up between your floorboards over time. Combined with expansion and contraction with temperature and moisture changes, it can lead to excess wear and unsightly scratches. Boarers and termites can also cause damage. Left untreated, they can cause significant structural problems that are time consuming and expensive to fix.

The solution

Minimise the amount of dirt tracked into your house by placing dirt trapping mats at all exterior doors. Place small rugs and hall runners on the inside to collect any dirt the exterior mats miss. It’s also a good idea to regularly sweep high traffic areas with a soft bristle broom or electrostatic mop.

Don’t wait for the damage to get worse – Sand and polish or repair today

Timber floors looking a bit worse for wear? Don’t wait for the damage to get worse – give us a call today. We can sand and polish your timber floors from scratch, provide a much needed re-coat, and attend to minor damage and repairs. We can provide you with a quote over the phone, or arrange an in-home visit to assess your needs, so give Brisbane Timber Floors a call on 0428 777 592 and get started today.