Timber Floor Sanding and Preparation

Sanding removes the old surface finish and a controlled amount of timber to prepare a suitable floor for refinishing. It can be worth considering when a timber floor has worn areas, accumulated scratches or a finish you want to change. The first question is whether there is enough usable timber left to do the work appropriately.

I assess the floor type, existing condition, previous sanding where known and any loose or damaged boards. Solid timber needs sufficient material above its joints and fixings; engineered flooring needs a suitable remaining timber surface layer. The preparation and sanding sequence are planned around those findings, with edge work and any agreed repairs included in the scope.

Laminate, hybrid and vinyl floors cannot be treated as solid timber and sanded back in this way. Deep stains, significant dents or damaged boards may still need separate repair or replacement. Sanding changes the surface; it cannot promise that every old mark will disappear or that every floor will look identical afterwards.

Send some overall and close-up photos, and tell me if you know the flooring product or its history. We can discuss whether sanding, a lighter surface treatment or another repair approach is suitable.