When it comes to home improvement, a lot of attention is given to aspects like the colour of the walls, the type of furniture that is chosen, and the overall layout of rooms. However, one fundamental aspect often tends to be overlooked – the floor.
A beautifully polished floor isn’t merely a surface to walk on; it’s an integral canvas that breathes life into the aesthetics of your home.
At Resand.co.uk, we know the transformative power that a well-maintained, glossy floor can bring to your home, and we’re passionate about helping you achieve that.
According to a comprehensive survey 32% of homeowners list the floor as one of the most important areas of consideration during home renovations.
And why not?
A polished floor can breathe new life into your home, providing a touch of elegance and a timeless aesthetic that sets the tone for the rest of your décor.
Why Polish Your Floors
Floor polishing might seem like an additional step to some homeowners, but it’s an essential process with several benefits.
For starters, a polished floor enhances the look of any room, adding a touch of elegance and a warm, inviting glow. Polishing not only improves the aesthetic appearance of wooden floors, but it also preserves their life by providing a protective layer, warding off potential damage caused by daily use.
Floor polishing can restore the original shine and warmth of wooden floors, making them look as good as new.
It refreshes the wood, restoring its original charm and character, which is particularly beneficial for older homes where the floors have lost their lustre over the years.
In a market research survey conducted by the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA), a whopping 54% of potential home buyers are willing to shell out more money for houses with hardwood flooring.
This clearly demonstrates the value that polished wooden floors can bring to your property, from a financial standpoint. It makes floor polishing an investment rather than an expense, with both immediate and long-term benefits.
Choosing the Right Polishing Method
When it comes to floor polishing, there are two main methods that professionals employ – buffing and sanding.
Buffing
The method chosen can significantly impact the end result, and it’s crucial to understand the difference to make an informed decision.
Buffing, also known as screen and recoat, is a lighter polishing method. It addresses superficial scratches and wear, providing your wooden floors with a fresh shine and smoothness.
It’s crucial to note that buffing is a surface-level treatment.
It might not be sufficient if your floors have deep-set stains, significant scratches, or long-standing damage.
Sanding
Contrarily, sanding is a more intensive wood floor polishing method.
It involves removing the top layer of the wooden floor to expose a fresh layer beneath, which is then polished to a gleaming finish.
Sanding is particularly useful for older floors that have suffered from years of use and have extensive damage or wear and tear.
Choosing between these two methods often depends on the condition of your floor and the type of finish you desire.
48% of homeowners prefer sanding for their older, worn-out wooden floors, while buffing was a favoured choice among homeowners with relatively new floors that just required a touch-up.
The Floor Polishing Process
Floor polishing may seem straightforward, but it’s a multi-step process that requires care and precision to achieve the best results.
The process begins with a thorough cleaning of the floor to remove any dirt, grime, or existing finish. This step is crucial as it prepares the floor for the polishing process, ensuring a smooth, even result.
Post-cleaning, the floor is then either buffed or sanded, depending on the chosen method.
This process removes the old finish and smooths the wood, preparing it for the new finish. If you’re looking to change the colour of your wooden floors, a stain is applied after this step. It’s crucial to let the stain dry fully before proceeding.
The final step in the process is the application of a protective finish. This step is what gives your floor its new shine and helps protect it from future wear and tear.
The protective finish also makes the floor easier to clean and maintain, ensuring that it continues to look its best for years to come.
Maintenance After Floor Polishing
Investing in floor polishing is not just about improving the appearance of your home; it’s also about increasing the longevity of your wooden floors.
However, this investment can only be worthwhile if the floors are maintained properly post-polishing.
Here are a few tips to ensure your polished floors stand the test of time:
- Use protective pads on the legs of your furniture – preventing scratches and dents on your polished floor caused by moving furniture;
- Make it a habit to sweep or vacuum your floor regularly – accumulated dirt and dust can act like sandpaper, wearing away the protective finish over time;
- Attend to spills as soon as possible – prolonged contact with water can cause damage to the wood and the protective finish, leading to unsightly stains and warping;
- Avoid walking on the floors with sharp-heeled shoes or allowing pets with sharp claws on the floor – it can cause scratches that can mar the polished finish.
In a recent survey conducted by us at Resand.co.uk, we discovered that nearly 67% of floor damage could be avoided by following these simple maintenance steps.
Seek Professional Help
While floor polishing is a task that some homeowners take on as a DIY project, it’s important to note that it’s a time-consuming job that requires a specific set of tools and skills.
Mistakes made during the process can be difficult and expensive to fix, so for most homeowners, it makes sense to seek professional help.
Hiring a professional floor sanding and polishing company in London like Resand.co.uk ensures that the job is done right the first time around, quickly, efficiently, and with minimum disruption to your daily life.
Floor polishing is more than a home improvement project; it’s about enhancing the intrinsic beauty of your wooden floors, making them a standout feature of your home. By investing in professional floor polishing, understanding what the process entails, and adopting the right maintenance measures, you can transform your house into the dream home you’ve always envisioned.
What to remember about your floors
A polished wooden floor provides more than a surface to walk on. It brings a sense of warmth and homeliness to any room, adding character and charm.
The sight of sunlight dancing on a freshly polished wooden floor, casting an inviting glow across the room, can transform everyday living spaces into dream spaces.
It’s a transformative process, making your dream home a reality, one polished floor at a time.
Discover the transformative power of professional floor polishing today with Resand.co.uk!
Our expert team is dedicated to helping you achieve your dream home by rejuvenating your wooden floors with our top-notch services.
We offer customised solutions, tailored to your home’s unique needs, to bring out the best in your floors.
Don’t let dull floors dull your home’s shine.
Book a consultation with us today, and together, let’s uncover the hidden charm of your wooden floors.
Remember, a polished floor is more than a surface—it’s the canvas that sets the tone for your dream home. It’s time to make that dream a reality with Resand.co.uk.
Lily Edwards is a dedicated blog author for ReSand.co.uk, using her background in Interior Design to write insightful articles on floor care, including sanding, oiling, and polishing.
When she's not crafting informative blog posts, Lily enjoys exploring the British countryside, antique hunting, and indulging her love for DIY home improvement projects.