wooden floors, sanding and varnishing - top tips please

weegie_2

We have decided to sand and varnish our living room, dining room and very small entrance hallway. We've lifted most of the carpet and the floorboards are in really good nick. Couple of wee problems but nothing that can't be easily sorted.

I've had a search through all the threads on here re floor sanding which has already given me some great tips. Just looking for some further advice if there are any experts out there...

1. We plan on hiring the floor sander and edger from HSS for the weekend. Website says hire for £71. When I phoned them women said all in (once I include safety equipment, sanding sheets etc) it would work in at approx £180 but that I would get some money back as I probably wouldn't use most of the sheets. Fair enough. But an extra £100 for sheets of sandpaper and googles, mask etc sounds a bit much. Cheaper buying from somewhere else or waste of time?

2. I can't figure out what is the best. Floor Varnish, Wood Stain or even waxing the sanded floorboards. We have two small kids and I suppose there is a fair amount of traffic so it has to be something that is going to last well and if there is any accidents I can repair easily! And can anyone recommend brands that dry quickly?

Any other tips gratefully received.....

Cheers

mvteng

We hired from a local company in Edinburgh, & it was only £25 for the weekend + pay for any sanding sheets. In the end I think all in it was abour £40, so you may be worth shopping around.

For a medium size hall, it took pretty much all day, but it was a lot easier than I had anticipated.

We went for an expensive ronseal matt finish varnish as the floors are soft wood. Even with that, a friends f-me heels have made marks all over it. i suppose it adds to the character.

moonrakerz

The best stuff to use is :

http://www.woodenflooringsales.com/bonakemifloorlacquers/

it 'aint cheap, but it is the best !

homeworker

Hi, we've just had our floors sanded and varnishet by a couple of builders , they did a louzy job but they did hire the sander and went through £200 worth of sheets . Word of warning does create a hugh amount of dust and it is hard work. These builders didn;t go in the right direction of the grain so you can see the scratches and burn marks. And then they stained and varnished it , it would of have been great if you know what your doing. I had a quote from the professionals and they quoted £300 with the varnish and staining. I wish I had went with them in the first place.

ps its best to varnish as the finish is better and more durable with kids.

whufc_3

I hired a dust free floor sander, from these guys http://www.floorsanderhire.com/ it saves on all the cleaning up afterwards and I remember them being cheaper than HSS.

weegie_2

Didn't get a chance to post yesterday - thanks for all the comments and advice so far. Very much appreciated

tomsolomon

I'd like to sand out upstairs but live in a council built property and you can fit you fingers between some of the gaps between the boards. I'm tslking 5 to 7mm. Is there any way of grouting or filling these gaps before sanding?
I dont realy want to be lifting the floor boards if something goes down the gaps. thnx.

[Deleted User]

tomsolomon wrote: »

I'd like to sand out upstairs but live in a council built property and you can fit you fingers between some of the gaps between the boards. I'm tslking 5 to 7mm. Is there any way of grouting or filling these gaps before sanding?
I dont realy want to be lifting the floor boards if something goes down the gaps. thnx.

Those are large gaps, I would remove the skirting boards, lift up the boards and place them closer together. Of course you'll have to add some more, but once they are all sanded and varnished/stained they will look the same and the small gaps will be filled with a mixture of saw dust and glue.

vansboy

We did the bathroom at last house. Not with a machine, just me by hand!! Only small area though!

Stained it with Mahogony Ronseal stuff, several coats, which meant it got darker, with each coat. So varnish if you want to maintain the natural colour, is best.

VB

benood

Friends of mine did this a while ago and their comment was make sure you've hammered all the nail heads below the wood otherwise you may damage the sander and will tear the paper.

weegie_2

cheers guys!