The warmth, elegance, attraction, and beauty of wooden floors have no match, but timber floors require more care and attention as compared to other flooring types. High-traffic areas wear quickly due to constant foot traffic, dirt, water exposure, and furniture movement. Corridor And Lobby Timber Floor Sanding and polishing are crucial for timber floors’ longevity and beauty. Home entrances, corridors, and lobbies get the most traffic, and the floor wears often. These places require more care than others through regular professional inspection and treatment procedures (sanding and polishing).
Budget Floor Sanding Brisbane brings a comprehensive guide to the problems in the high-traffic areas timber floors, their care and maintenance, and treatment through the sanding and polishing process.
Common Timber Floor Issues In High-Traffic Areas Of Home
Timber floor issues that homeowners usually observe are more in doorways, living rooms, and hallways. The constant footfall damages the timber in many ways, some of which are the following:
- Surface wear and tear
- Fading and discoloration
- Loosening of screws and nails
- Noisy floorboards
- Cupping and warping
Sanding And Polishing Timber Floors
Repair and renovation of damaged, worn-out timber floors require expert intervention that can identify the issues and stipulate the best solution. Floor treatments are necessary when their surface damage is severe and unavoidable. Timber floor sanding and polishing are the floor treatments that reverse the damages and restore the original beauty and durability.
Floor Treatment Plans For Certain High-Traffic Areas In Home
High-traffic areas at home receive constant footfall, dirt, debris, small stones, and moisture. These manifestations are detrimental to hardwood floors and decrease their life span. The entrance, lobby, and corridor face the worst exposure to damaging entities that can ruin the appearance. Sanding and polishing treatment plans are essential before things go out of hand, and there is no option left except floor replacement.
Entrance Floor Sanding Brisbane
The home entrance is the main area constantly exposed to outdoor elements. It requires regular cleaning and repair to avoid costly treatment later.
The key considerations for sanding and polishing entrances are:
Preparation of the area: The first step before sanding the entrance is the preparation through cleaning. Brooming or vacuuming removes the dust, stone particles, and debris that cause scratches and scuffs.
Sanding the entrance: The Budget Floor Sanding professional team uses specialized tools and equipment to complete work on time and efficiently. Home entrances are usually small spaces, so it doesn’t take long for a professional to sand them.
Finishing with a good polish: The final step is the application of a good polish. Water-based polyurethane finishes are moisture-resistant and protect the floor from external elements.
Corridor Floor Sanding Brisbane
A corridor is a transition space between rooms in a home that faces impact from foot traffic and furniture dragging. Dents and scratches are most visible here and can distort the appearance. Sanding and polishing with regular cleaning keep the corridor timber floor gleaming.
Area Preparation: Corridors have furniture and other household items that are difficult to move. Therefore, our team moves all the furniture and obstacles that are not fixed and covers the non-movable items with protective sheets.
Sanding the Corridor: Depending on the area size, a belt sander or orbital sander is used to sand the corridors. The dustless sanding method prevents the spread of dust in other areas of the house, and the sanding process finishes in a day or two.
Finishing: A good floor polish like Sikkens Cetol protects the busy corridor timber floor from early wear and creates a lustrous look.
Lobby Floor Sanding Brisbane
A lobby area is near the entrance and serves as a sitting place. It is usually more spacious than the corridors. Continuous foot traffic and furniture movement damage the corridor floor and create an unpleasant appearance in the home. Sanding and finishing the lobby consists of the following steps:
Preparation of the area: Area clearance is necessary for even sanding and polishing. Removal of carpets, rugs, and furniture makes space for heavy-duty sanding machinery. The sanding team carefully relocates the furniture to other rooms until the floor is completely sanded and the polishing dries.
Sanding the lobby: Coarse sanding removes old scratches, imperfections, and dents and prepares the floor for fine sanding. Fine sanding creates a smooth surface for staining.
Finishing: Oil-based or water-based polyurethane, hard wax, and oils are the finishes that provide durability and a luxurious appearance to the lobby. Two to three coats of polish are sufficient to create a durable and resilient layer.
Maintenance tips for high-traffic timber floors
- Use felt pads under furniture to prevent dents.
- Area rugs minimize the spread of dirt and dust particles on the floor.
- Place entrance mats to prevent the entry of dirt and foreign particles from outside.
- Avoid furniture dragging. Lift and move the items for relocation.
- Keep the pet nails trimmed to prevent them from scratching the floor.
- High heels have pointed ends that can ruin your timber floor polish. Use separate indoor shoes and leave the boots outside on the shoe rack near the entrance.
Why Budget Floor Sanding Are The Best Quality Sanders in Brisbane?
Floor damages result from the homeowner’s negligence and lack of professional care and maintenance. For high-traffic areas, timber floor treatments require professional intervention that meets the high-level damage demands and provides an expert approach.
Budget Floor Sanding Professional Services recommends an annual inspection of your timber floors to prevent long-term damage and expensive treatments. We provide a free quote for all the timber-related issues in your bathrooms.
Contact Budget Floor Sanding today for a free quote and consultation or call 0418 882 678.
Frequently Asked Questions about High Traffic Areas (Entrance, Corridor, And Lobby)
How long does sanding and polishing high-traffic areas take?
Timber floor sanding and polishing duration in high-traffic areas depends on the area size and the damage. High-level damages with subfloor issues require more time, while surface treatments take less time. Usually, floor sanding and polishing takes 4 to 7 days, including the drying time for polish.
Which finish is best for high-traffic areas in your home?
Constant foot traffic in the entrance, corridors, and lobby scratches and fades the timber floor. These areas require a durable and quality polish that takes the impacts and environmental changes well and doesn’t wear soon. Water-baed polyurethane, oil-based polyurethane, and waxes are popular choices for Brisbane homeowners. The water-based finish dries faster, while the oil-based finish takes longer to dry, penetrates deep into the floor, and gives a rich tone.
Do you provide services for removing old floor coverings?
Yes, our professional team can remove the old floor coverings like carpet, underlay, and vinyl & pull out all staples and tacks. Additional service fees will be applied for the removal of floor coverings, as indicated in the quotation provided by our team during a phone consultation or an on-site assessment.
When is floorboard replacement necessary?
Floor sanding can remove surface-level scratches, dents, and imperfections, but deep damages( gouges, infestations, and water issues) require floorboard replacement. We can source the floorboards from reclaimed wood or an inconspicuous area of your home.
Will sanding change the color of my floor?
Yes, floor sanding removes the finishes and the wood veneer, exposing fresh wood underneath. This color is lighter because of the lack of stain and polish. You can apply a stain before the finish to achieve the desired color.
How can I access it if my timber floor needs sanding?
There are signs which indicate the need for floor sanding. These indicators are surface imperfections, visible scratches, fading of the color, and dents.