North Leeds Plumbing & Heating – Home Improvement and DIY Advice

A natural wood floor is a great feature in any house and if you are lucky enough to have floorboards lurking under the carpet, why not uncover them and let their beauty shine. Sanding them down will get rid of old stains and marks, ready for a protective coat of varnish. There are plenty of people who can sand your old wooden floorboards for you but doing it yourself saves money and can look just as good as a professional job.

First, check for any loose, missing, damaged or rotten floorboards. You may need to replace some boards and nail down any loose ones. Also check for signs of woodworm, as this can be easily treated. Finally, hammer in any nails that sit proud of the surface, so they are at least 3mm below, and remove any old carpet staples. All these things can damage your sanding equipment.

Having prepared the floor, you are now ready to start sanding. Remember that this is a very dusty and noisy job, so wear a dust mask and consider the neighbours. Hire an industrial drum sander and a hand held rotary sander for the edges and corners. However, if you are only sanding a small area, less than 3m square, you will only need a hand held sander. Make sure you follow all the safety instructions, particularly when fitting the sandpaper. Start with coarse grade sandpaper to get the boards level, then use the medium, and finish off with the fine.