5 min read
Floorboards Sanding DIY
Published on 13 Sep 2021
Pine Floorboards Sanding
The beauty of the floorboards
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 harbour untapped potential waiting to be uncovered.
When carpets are lifted, the typical appearance of a floor is as follows:
Difficulties in Sanding Floorboards & Step-by-Step Guide
Uneven floorboard covered in residue.
Sanding pine floorboards can be a demanding and time-consuming process. These floors are often littered with old adhesives, nails, screws, and staples. Before any sanding begins, always remove or punch down all nails and fixings—this is crucial to prevent damage to your belt sander and ensure a smooth start.
Once the floor is clear, the first step is levelling. Floorboards can be uneven or damaged by woodworms or tradespeople like plumbers and electricians. Levelling makes the sanding process more efficient and improves the final result. However, this step can require significant time and plenty of abrasive material.
To even out the surface and remove old finishes, start with:
- Use low-grit sandpaper—36, 24, or even 16—using a belt sander. This aggressive cut helps flatten the boards and clears away residue.
- Move through the progressive sanding grits: 40, 60, 80, and sometimes even 100, each one removing scratches from the last.
Finish the process by buffing the floor to create a smooth, even surface ready for sealing or staining.
Gap Filling Between Pine Floorboards
Older pine floorboards often have visible gaps between them—especially in homes where central heating and seasonal humidity changes cause the boards to expand and contract. These gaps not only collect dust and debris but can also make the room feel colder and less finished.
While some fillers might seem like a quick fix, they tend to crack or fall out over time due to the constant movement of softwood. That’s why, for a longer-lasting and more stable result, we use timber slivers—thin strips of wood inserted into the gaps between boards.
Once glued and set, these slivers move more naturally with the surrounding floorboards, offering a stronger, more permanent fill. We sand the floor smoothly after fitting to ensure a seamless blend. This technique is particularly effective on pine floors and is our go-to method when restoring old boards that require a clean, stable surface before staining or finishing.
Pine floorboards are softwood.
As a softwood, pine necessitates a higher quantity of sanding paper compared to hardwoods like oak. Its soft nature causes the sanding paper to clog more quickly. 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 is that acquiring new pine boards results in a noticeable disparity 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. Many hidden issues may only become apparent after work begins or when heavy machinery is used on the floor. Restoring old pine floors demands a degree of tolerance. In essence, they were never intended to serve as final flooring but rather as subfloors. Even after meticulous repair work, new issues may manifest over time. It’s vital to recognise 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 for pine floors is a natural look. However, if you prefer a stained finish, reactive stains from Ciranova work particularly well on pine. Have a look at the Ciranova reactive stains. Pine floorboards can be finished with either oil or lacquer. The easiest and cheapest stains to work with are solvent-based options like Morrells. You can also use a premium 2k oil-based stain like the Pall-X 333 range from Pallmann if there aren’t too many imperfections on the floor and the gaps are filled.
Once you’ve decided on the colour or opted for a natural finish, the next step is choosing your finishing product. Oil finishes offer a softer, more natural appearance but don’t provide strong protection on softwoods like pine—making them better suited for bedrooms or low-traffic areas. For hallways, kitchens, or other busy spaces, a durable lacquer is usually the better choice, offering long-lasting resistance to wear and tear. Learn more about varnishes here.
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 floorboard repairs will not be included until a full inspection is conducted.
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 utilising top-tier products from Pallmann to achieve a high-quality finish.
Ready to Restore Your Pine Floors?
If you’re planning to take on your own floorboard sanding and finishing project, we hope this guide has given you a clear picture of what to expect. But if it all feels a bit overwhelming—or if you’d simply prefer to leave it to the professionals—we’re here to help.
We’ve been restoring floors across London since 2004, and we’re always happy to offer advice or take care of the process for you. Learn more about us, check out our pricing, or return to our home page to explore more services. When you’re ready, feel free to contact us—we’d love to hear about your project and see how we can help.
Explore More Wood Floor Restoration Services
Explore More Wood Floor Restoration Services
We offer a full range of wood floor care solutions, including:
