white washed wood floor
Written by Silver Lining Floor Care

Whitewashed Wood Floor

Whitewashed wood floor – how to achieve a Scandinavian look?

There is a certain charm to whitewashed Scandinavian wood floors that have been capturing the hearts of homeowners for centuries. While the look is timeless, achieving it can be a little tricky. In this blog post, we will discuss the difference between the traditional Scandinavian whitewash technique and more modern methods. We will also talk about how to maintain your wood floor once you have achieved the desired look, and whether soap or sealant is the best option.

What is the Scandinavian look?

If you are considering whitewashing your wood floor, it is important to understand the difference between the traditional Scandinavian method and more modern techniques. The original approach uses a mixture of lime and water, which is applied to the floor with a brush. This method is not as durable as more modern approaches, and it will require more frequent maintenance. Do expect to re-soap your floors every 2 weeks.

Modern approach for white wash effect

Nowadays, there are many different products on the market that can be used to whitewash your wood floor. Pallmann offers a wide range of high-quality sealants that can be used to achieve the desired look. When choosing a product, it is important to consider how often you will need to refresh your floor. For example, if you have a busy household, you may need to re-oil your floor more often than if you live alone.

How to protect your whitewashed wood floor – Oil or Lacquer?

My personal opinion and the best advice to keep a whitewashed wood floor is to lock white pigment under 2 coats of 2k lacquer with additional white pigment built-in. Maintaining the white finish with this option is so much easier. You could decide on 2k white or pure oil which should be all right for light traffic areas like bedrooms.

Once you have chosen the right product for your needs, it is important to follow the instructions carefully. After the full sanding process of your floor, applying too much sealant or soap can damage your wood floor, so it is important to apply the product evenly and in thin layers. Once you have achieved the desired look, it is important to maintain your wood floor properly. Regular sweeping and mopping will help to remove dirt and debris, and Pallmann offers a wide range of cleaning products specifically designed for use on sealed floors.

Conclusion

So, there you have it! Whitewashing your wood floor is a great way to achieve the sought-after Scandinavian look. With a little bit of planning and the right products, you can achieve a beautiful finish that will last for years to come. Thanks for reading!

Do you have any questions about whitewashing your wood floor? Get in touch with us and we will be happy to help!

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If you enjoyed this blog post, be sure to check out our other posts on home improvement and decorating ideas! We are always updating our blog with new content, so be sure to check back often! Thanks for reading!

Have a great day! 🙂

Service related to wooden floors we offer:
dust free wood floor sanding process
Written by Silver Lining Floor Care

Dust-Free Floor Sanding

How dusty is it?

Dust-free floor sanding stands for its name. Floor sanding is not dusty anymore! It used to be years ago. The development in equipment and Health & Safety Laws evolved and as a result, it formed dust-free floor sanding procedures.

Skill & Knowledge

Knowledge is the key to everything. If unskilled technicians work with good equipment the results are going to be average, which we assume is not what you are looking for. We use state of the art equipment which minimises the amount of dust protecting you, your family and the technicians. Along with high-quality equipment, we have vacuums with HEPA filters connected to the equipment to minimise the amount of dust in the air. All of your floor sanding technicians are Pallmann Parkettprofi approved and have completed at least one Ultimate Floor Sanding Company Training.

Wood dust can hurt your lungs

Wood dust particles can be very fine and due to that fact, they may stay airborne for a very long time. You might have experienced a similar situation when you had some building work at your home. The building dust can stay airborne for even a month if not longer. You don’t want that dust to be in your lungs and your loved ones, do you?

Exposure to dust

You may think that you will be just fine with so little exposure and you might be actually wrong. Devil is in the details! It is a one-time exposure for you. Our technicians do it every day and in the long run for them, it may be critical. So, please protect yourself and others by choosing a dust-free system and make sure the technicians involved in the job are well trained and educated in this matter.

Dust-free floor sanding equipment

Our dust-free floor sanding equipment

Is it 100% Dust Free Sanding?

Although we do our best to prevent any dust in the air, it is not possible yet to remove all of it. Especially when working on the edges and stairs. Our floor sanding system is good enough to work in the commercial environment without any additional protection. We have done some work in high-end shops with the shoes on the shelves. Time limitations and deadlines didn’t really allow us to protect everything, as it was not necessary at all.

We are simply honest with you. We do not try to oversell the greatness of our system and promise you something which is not achievable. Please expect that some of the cleaning work might have to be done after the project, but it is not a massive amount. It can easily fit into your general cleaning schedule and doesn’t require any extra amount of specialised work. If you prefer, we can put you in touch with some cleaning companies in the area as we have a good network with local businesses.

Service related to wooden floors we offer:
dust free floor sanding
Written by Silver Lining Floor Care

Allergies and Flooring

All you need to know about Allergies and flooring

 

All over the world, different types of allergies are common in people. Specialists say we rear allergens or allergy stimulants in our homes. The American Foundation for allergy and asthma has suggested hardwood floors for homes where people suffer from allergies or asthma. Hardwood flooring does not only provide a beautiful and chic look to your home but it is also easy to clean and eliminates the chance of allergies. In this article, we will discuss how we facilitate allergens in our homes and what measures should we take to prevent ourselves from allergies.

Why do allergies develop?

Our immune system is an active line of defence that protects our body from invading viruses and bacteria. Whenever a disease-causing bacteria enters our body the immune system fights against it and releases the chemical histamine. Histamine causes inflammation on the skin to express that the immune system is in action. Sometimes our immune system mistakenly takes a dust particle, inert fungal mold, or pollen as a harmful substance and starts fighting against it. The resulting histamine production causes inflammation, itching, running nose, and watery eyes.

What is the relationship between Allergies and Flooring?

The flooring of your home is directly linked with allergies. You spend more than 60% of your time in your home. That means you are in contact with your home environment for more than half of your day. A carpeted floor is your worst enemy if you are allergic to dust, pollen, etc. A carpet is the best reservoir and shelter for allergy stimulating particles. This is why you should have your carpets cleaned on regular basis.

Especially, having a carpet in your bedrooms or living rooms can be seriously problematic because your chance of exposure to allergens increases. On the other hand, wooden floors are preferred and recommended to be installed in homes. They not only reduce the probability of allergy symptoms but also offer more cleanliness than a carpeted floor. But it is very important to take proper care of old wooden floors because the cracks and gaps in them can store dust and allergy stimulants.

What is the best type of flooring to avoid allergies?

A hardwood flooring is the best option if someone in your family is allergic to dust, dirt, animal hair, or pollens. The solid texture and clear surface of the wooden floor mean no allergy-causing particles will stay. It avoids allergy onset and saves you from histamine upsurge. Moreover, wooden flooring gives a nicer and more characteristic look to your home. The proper finish on your hardwood floors, for example from the Pallmann range, make them last longer and prevent scratches and cracks. Hardwood flooring is also preferred by modern architecture because it is very easy to clean and maintain.

What are the benefits of wood floors?

Wood floors offer some amazing benefits that are below:

  1. Easy to clean and easy to remove almost all the troublesome allergy stimulants.
  2. Offer no place for dust, mold, or bacteria to hide.
  3. Decrease the chance of allergies by ninety per cent.
  4. It depicts elegance, gives aesthetic look to your home, and increases the value of your property.
  5. Hardwood floors maintain the warmth of the room and give a natural vibe.
  6. If you ever change your mind or wood floor will get worn out you can always have your wood floors sanded or even change the colour.

 

 

pine floorboard sanding
Written by Silver Lining Floor Care

Floorboards Sanding DIY

pine with white finish

Pine floorboards sanding

The beauty of the floorboards hidden under

Floorboard sanding has gained significant attention in households across the UK in recent times. Intrigued by this trend, I’ve delved into the intricacies of this transformative process.

The charm of wooden floors graces numerous residences throughout the UK. Often hidden beneath carpets or other coverings, these floors harbor untapped potential waiting to be uncovered.

When carpets are lifted, the typical appearance of a floor is as follows:

Floorboards sanding difficulties 

Uneven floorboard covered in residue.

Sanding pine floorboards presents a challenging task. These surfaces often feature adhesives, nails, screws, staples, and more. Additionally, they can be uneven and marred by various factors like woodworms, plumbers, and electricians. The initial step in floorboard sanding involves levelling the floor and streamlining subsequent sanding phases for improved results. This phase can demand significant time and material resources.

The floorboards are softwood.

As a softwood, pine necessitates a higher quantity of sanding paper compared to hardwoods like oak. Its softer nature leads to quicker paper clogging. Consequently, attaining a refined, smooth finish during the sanding and finishing stages is more challenging, resulting in a lengthier project completion timeframe.

Repairing the floorboards.

Frequently, floorboard sanding projects entail necessary repairs. The challenge lies in the fact that acquiring new pine boards would result in a noticeable disparity when compared to your century-old planks. Instead, opting for reclaimed pine timber of similar age, thickness, and width is crucial. While sources for such timber exist, their availability can be elusive, demanding a dose of patience – perhaps even some yoga or meditation :).

Repair work might encompass board replacement, hole filling, and joist building or replacement. Numerous concealed issues may remain undisclosed during the initial quote visit, often surfacing after repairs commence or heavy machinery is applied to the floor. Restoring old pine floors demands a degree of tolerance. In essence, they were never intended to serve as final flooring but rather subfloors. Even after meticulous repair work, new issues may manifest over time. It’s vital to recognize that these aren’t shortcomings of the repair process, but rather a consequence of the floor’s unknown history and what lies beneath.

Staining & finishing your floorboards

The most common finish of the pine floor is just a natural look, however, if you like it stained, I personally think that the reactive stains from Ciranova look best on pine. Have a look at the Ciranova range here-click, and scroll down to reactive stains. It can be finished with either oil or lacquer.  Although the easiest and the cheapest to work with are solvent-based stains like Morrells. You can also use an oil-based stain like Pall-X 333 range if there aren’t too many imperfections on the floor and the gaps are filled.

Some examples of our work

Pricing floorboard sanding work

Clearly, this task isn’t a simple endeavour, making it challenging to predict every potential obstacle during the floorboard restoration process. Frequently, the floor is concealed beneath carpets, rendering the underlying condition invisible. While carpets are in place, we can provide a preliminary assessment, but please note that we won’t account for floorboard repairs at this stage.

Upon carpet removal, we can thoroughly evaluate the scope of work required and then furnish you with a more accurate quote for your wooden floor’s rejuvenation. Our preference for completing the project involves utilizing top-tier products from Pallmann to achieve a high-quality finish.

Get in touch with us for a free quote

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Service related to wooden floors we offer:
maintenance of lacquered wood floors
Written by Silver Lining Floor Care

How to Maintain Wooden Floors with a Lacquer Finish Using Pallmann Products

Wooden floors are not just a part of your home; they are a reflection of your style and taste. A well-maintained wooden floor with a lacquer finish can elevate the look of any room, but it does require some care and attention. In this blog, we’ll guide you through maintaining your lacquered wooden floors using Pallmann products, ensuring they remain as beautiful as the day they were installed.

 

Regular Cleaning: The Key to Luster

Daily Maintenance

The secret to keeping your wooden floors in top condition is regular cleaning. For daily maintenance, use a flat mop and Pallmann’s Neutral Cleaner. This gentle yet effective cleaner is perfect for removing everyday dust and dirt without harming the lacquer finish.

Dealing with Stubborn Stains

Sometimes, you may encounter stubborn stains that need a bit more attention. For these, turn to Pallmann Clean Strong. It’s specially formulated to tackle tougher stains without damaging the wood or the lacquer coating.

Periodic Rejuvenation: Bringing Back the Shine

Emulsion Polish Application

Over time, your floors might lose some of their shine and lustre. This is where Pallmann Finish Care or Finish Care Stop come into play. These emulsion polish products are easy to apply and help restore the shine to your floors, giving them a refreshed and revitalized look.

Recoating with Lacquer

Every so often, your floors will benefit from an extra coat of lacquer. This process involves applying a bonding agent such as Pall-X 350, followed by a two-component lacquer like Pall-X 98. This additional layer not only enhances the appearance of your floors but also provides an extra layer of protection.

When to Recoat?

Deciding when to recoat your floors with lacquer depends on the level of traffic and wear they experience. High-traffic areas might need recoating more frequently. A good rule of thumb is to check the floor’s appearance and feel – if it starts to look dull or feels rough to the touch, it’s time for a recoat.

DIY or Professional Help?

While daily cleaning and applying acrylic polish are straightforward and can be done by anyone, recoating with lacquer is a more complex process. For the best results, it might be worth considering professional wood cleaning, especially if you are not experienced in floor finishing.

Conclusion

Maintaining a wooden floor with a lacquer finish is not as daunting as it may seem, especially when you have the right products at hand. Regular cleaning with Pallmann’s Neutral Cleaner, dealing with stubborn stains using Clean Strong, and periodic application of polish like Finish Care or Finish Stop will keep your floors looking pristine. And, when it’s time for that extra bit of care, consider a fresh coat of lacquer to keep your floors looking as good as new.

Remember, your wooden floors are an investment, and with the right care and maintenance, they can remain a beautiful part of your home for years to come.

 

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Written by Silver Lining Floor Care

Looking After Your Oiled Floors

 

Taking care of your oiled floors is a breeze. Magic Oil, suitable for both residential and commercial environments, brings out the natural beauty of your floor while providing protection against spills and stains. Unlike lacquered floors, scratches on oiled floors add character, and patch repairs are possible. Here’s how to maintain your oiled floor:

  1. Act promptly: Clean up spills and stains immediately to prevent long-term damage. Even the toughest finishes have limits.
  2. Regular cleaning: Use a neutral floor cleaner recommended by the manufacturer to clean your floors regularly. Follow the instructions provided in the datasheets.
  3. Extra protection: Periodically, apply magic oil care for an additional layer of protection. Note that spills should still be cleaned up promptly.
  4. Cleaning process: Start by removing dry soil by vacuuming or sweeping. Then, use a high-quality microfiber mop to apply the diluted product and mop the floor. Allow the floor to dry, which should take no longer than 10 minutes.

Why oil in the first place?

Is lacquer better than oil? In the long run, the answer is no. While lacquer may offer slightly better protection initially, it requires full restoration when worn and doesn’t age gracefully. Oiled floors, on the other hand, develop character with scratches. The choice between lacquer and oil also depends on the desired sheen, with lacquer offering a shinier appearance.

  1. It reveals the natural beauty of your floor & brings the grains up and makes your floor look more natural
  2. It also seals the floor & protects it from spills and stains
  3. Scratches on oiled floors add character and become less obvious with maintenance while on lacquered it makes the floor look ugly
  4. A damaged oil floor can be patch repaired while lacquered has to be fully sanded off and redone

It’s worth noting that oil is not suitable for every type of wood, such as bamboo timber.

In terms of health, magic oil is one of the most natural and healthiest products available. It’s a step above having no finish at all, which is not as durable.

How to look after your oiled floor?

While there is no foolproof finish for your floors, it’s important to clean up spills and stains promptly. Just like bulletproof vests are not 100% bulletproof, no floor finish is completely impervious. Regular cleaning with a neutral floor cleaner is recommended, following the manufacturer’s instructions provided in the datasheets.

For added protection, you can use magic oil care periodically. This thin film finish provides an extra layer of defence for your floor. However, it’s crucial to remember that spills should still be cleaned up as soon as possible, regardless of the additional protection.

The frequency of using magic oil care depends on factors like traffic, daily/weekly usage, and maintenance. Areas with higher footfall, such as the kitchen, may require more attention compared to less frequented spaces like the bedroom. Assess the condition of your floor and adjust the usage of magic oil care accordingly.

By practising regular maintenance and attending to spills promptly, you can keep your oiled floors in great shape and ensure their longevity.

How do I clean my oiled floor?

  1. First, remove the dry soil. Either by vacuuming or sweeping.
  2. We recommend that you use a flat, microfibre, good-quality mop.
  3. Spray some diluted Neutral cleaner like Pallmann Clean Neutral on the floor and then mop it, leaving the floor to dry.
    1. Drying times should not take longer than 10 minutes.
  4. You may use Magic Oil Care undiluted or diluted 1:2 with water for extra protection
    1. Leave 1h before walking

You can purchase all the needed products recommended by us.

Just click on the links below and add them to the cart.

  1. Pallmann Flat Microfibre Mop
  2. Pallmann Clean Neutral
  3. Magic Oil Care

What about the health factor?

In terms of health, Magic Oil is one of the most natural and healthiest products available. It’s a step above having no finish at all, which is not as durable.

 

 

I hope this gives you all the information you need to look after your floor. If you have any other concerns please do not hesitate to ask the question. Just send us an email at . We may not know the answer, but we are very keen on educating ourselves all the time.

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Service related to wooden floors we offer:
Written by Silver Lining Floor Care

Basics of Cleaning Everything

Basics of Cleaning

  • Chemicals
  • Heat
  • Agitation
  • Time

CHAT – these are the 4 basics when it comes to cleaning everything. Whether it is dishes, wood floor, or your skin. It is all about balance, like everything in life.

Chemical

At Silver Lining Floor Care we try to stay as eco-friendly as possible, following ‘Zero Waste’ idea, we try to minimise on chemical input. Chemicals have no benefits when it comes to health, and our ultimate goal is to protect your health and those you love. At the same time, we try to do as much thorough cleaning as possible when it comes to your wood floors, stone floors, porcelain, carpet, rugs or any 0ther floor.  This will directly benefit your health. That is why we use….

Heat

As we minimise our chemical input we increase on the heat for water used for cleaning to allow better penetration. With higher temperature water tension changes which allow water to penetrate surfaces that are being cleaned. To achieve this while cleaning your carpets, we have a truck-mounted machine to increase the heat of our water to maximum instead depending on your water tap. Depending on the fibre we will make sure it is safe to use. Water is the most common solvent and is actually very powerful, yet many people forgot about it and add sometimes unnecessary chemicals.

Time

Since our chemical input is low, our heat is high, how about time? Instead of working with strong chemistry, while decreasing its power, we shall just give it a bit more time. Time cure everything. If you are to wash your dirty frying pan, you often leave it in the sink overnight so it dissolves in most common solvent (water) mixed with a cleaning product. Dishwashing chemicals are usually very strong, sometimes too strong to safely use on wool carpets. Either we leave the pre-sprayed weak chemicals or we just dedicate more time for cleaning.

Agitation

This is a mechanical part of the job. It is a sponge when it comes to dishes or your skin. We use different types of brushes, pads for our rotary machine. We have carpet brush for agitating the pre-spray for carpet cleaning, diamond brushes at different grids when it comes to stone and hard floor to agitate the cleaning solution. For wood we use different grids of sanding paper to achieve the desired effect.

CHAT – basics of cleaning – summary

You could wash your oily, dirty frying pan with slowly running cold water but it would just take forever and probably wasted a lot of water. You could also use some chemicals, increase temperature, leave it to dwell in the warm water with some cleaning products and use the sponge to clean and rinse at the end. As I said at the beginning…. It is always about finding the right balance in these four. Very often a good chemical can be water. It is healthier and we may spend a bit more time during agitation and boost up the heat to achieve very same results as with high chemical input in order to save on time, often with less agitation. The ‘high chemical’ methods are not necessarily great for your health, your family’s health, for the technician’s health and for the health of our planet.

Can you put a price tag on your health? Probably not. Can you put a price tag on time? Probably yes. This may be one of the reasons why some cleaning firms might be more expensive than others. Some will use strong chemistry in order to save time.  We’d rather spend a bit more time and value the biggest treasure which is our health. Health is the new wealth. Price and value are very different aspects. It all depends on priorities.

The best way to minimise chemical use is good maintenance.

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