Floorboard sanding!

benjdr

Hi all,

Before anyone suggests it, I would love to pop down to HSS and hire the sanders and do this all myself, but I simply don't have the time at the moment.

I've just had a chap around from a flooring company to quote for sanding my bedroom floorboards.
The room is 4x3m approximately and he has quoted £300 all in. How's this price?
I get the impression that this might be reasonably expensive, from other posts I've read, but I'm open to opinions. He said it would take a day to sand, with the first coat of glaze at the end of the first day. The 2nd coat would be applied the following morning, and the 3rd coat at the end of the 2nd day.

He said the "glaze" is petroleum based, not water. It would bring out the grain better apparently. I meant to ask at the time but does anyone have an idea which product he might be using? I'll probably ring him tomorrow and ask.

Cheers

moonrakerz

A little bit pricey, but not outlandish. If he does a good job, it's worth it.

Don't know what wood your floor is but the best stuff for wooden flooring of most types comes from Bonakemi:-
http://www.woodenflooringsales.com/bonakemifloorlacquers/index.php

benjdr

moonrakerz wrote: »

A little bit pricey, but not outlandish. If he does a good job, it's worth it.

Don't know what wood your floor is but the best stuff for wooden flooring of most types comes from Bonakemi:-
http://www.woodenflooringsales.com/bonakemifloorlacquers/index.php

Hi,
Thanks for the link; I'll ask tomorrow what product he'll be using, but I'm a bit nervous about doing so. I'm afraid like I'm going to sound like I'm questioning his work. Any idea how I can not sound like an interfering !!!!!!?

moonrakerz

benjdr wrote: »

Hi,
Thanks for the link; I'll ask tomorrow what product he'll be using, but I'm a bit nervous about doing so. I'm afraid like I'm going to sound like I'm questioning his work. Any idea how I can not sound like an interfering !!!!!!?

Just ask him ! if you are paying £60 a gallon, it's not unreasonable to do that.

benjdr

moonrakerz wrote: »

Just ask him ! if you are paying £60 a gallon, it's not unreasonable to do that.

Good point!

mirabelle

My house is over 100 years old and my floorboards have been sanded and Polyurethane varnish used as this brings the boards up to a lovely nutty colour. I have used water based varnish in the past and this looks milky white when you open the tin and does not bring out the colour of the boards. If he is from a flooring company he willl know this. The finish is very important to the look of the room.

The varnish I have used with excellent results is Ronseal Trade Polyurethane Varnish in Clear Satin. I had to order this from a Builders Merchants as it is not readily available in DIY Stores.

We filled the cracks between our boards with Cork and glue which stops draughts.

£300 seems worth it to me for all the work. Hope this helps as there are so many varnishes on the market and it can be expensive if you make a mistake.

benjdr

mirabelle wrote: »

My house is over 100 years old and my floorboards have been sanded and Polyurethane varnish used as this brings the boards up to a lovely nutty colour. I have used water based varnish in the past and this looks milky white when you open the tin and does not bring out the colour of the boards. If he is from a flooring company he willl know this. The finish is very important to the look of the room.

Thanks for your comments.
This is pretty much exactly what he said. It's good to know that some tradesmen are honest and don't bull**** with customers these days!

Cheers

WaveyDave_2

I've spent the last couple of weeks sanding my floorboards. I've finished with Osmo Hardwax Oil. As the boards are pine (and pine can look a bit orangey), I used a medium oak stain first. Finish looks pretty good! Unlike varnish, it doesn't need to be sanded in between coats.

amaseal

We paid £900 for two rooms and an oak floor. This included replacing some boards around the fireplaces. We had it stained and then a satin varnish. It was a lot of work but I am not altogether happy. I would have liked to have more of the boards repaired and the gaps filled. I had assumed that they would do this but I have found that this wasn't part of the deal. It is blowing a gale but this wouldn't matter upstairs.