Terraces, cottages and interwar houses
Fordham has 176 terraced households, 15% of homes in the 2021 Census. Terraces and cottages often have pine boards in the front room and bedrooms, and interwar houses, 9% of the area's stock, can too. Lift a corner of carpet in a cupboard or doorway to see what's underneath before you book a survey.
Not every floor is worth sanding. Boards that have been heavily patched or cut for pipework may look uneven when finished, and Chris will tell you at the visit how he expects yours to come out.
Sanding, filling and oiling
Chris uses a belt sander for the open floor and an edging sander along the walls, working through finer grits. Gaps are filled with the floor's own sawdust mixed with Induro Morrells Mix & Fill, then the whole floor is smoothed with a Mirka dust-free sander.
The finish is Osmo Polyx oil, clear or tinted. It soaks into the timber rather than sitting on top, and worn areas can be refreshed later. Our Haddenham floor restoration used a tint with 24-carat gold flecks, and the main wood floor sanding page covers other options.
Fordham at a glance
- 19 milesby road from our Landbeach base, about 24 minutesOSRM routing
- 18%of properties were built before 1919VOA Council Tax stock
- 9%date from 1919 to 1939VOA Council Tax stock
- 15%are terracedCensus 2021
- 29listed buildingsHistoric England
- 1,176householdsCensus 2021
How we approach floor sanding
Before sanding, Chris checks for nails, screws and loose boards and fixes them so the belt isn't torn. Skirtings are protected, the room sealed and windows opened for ventilation. He sands coarse to fine, fills, smooths, then oils in thin coats. If you're redecorating too, the floor goes first and skirtings are touched in after. The full method, products and FAQs are on our floor sanding page.