Which Papworth floors can be sanded
In the older houses, timber boards are often hidden under carpet. In the 1980s and later homes, which make up most of the village, floors are more likely to be engineered boards, laminate or vinyl. Engineered floors can sometimes take a light sand, depending on the depth of the top layer, but laminate and vinyl can't be sanded at all.
Solid hardwood laid more recently can be sanded and refinished like original boards. Chris will tell you plainly if sanding isn't the answer for your floor.
How Chris handles floor sanding and oiling
Proud nails are knocked down and loose boards secured. A belt sander takes the main floor back through grades of paper, an edging sander gets into the corners, and gaps are filled with the floor's own sawdust mixed with Induro Morrells Mix & Fill. A Mirka dust-free sander gives the final finish before Osmo oil goes on in thin coats.
His gold-oiled floor in Haddenham, near Ely, is a good example: see the Haddenham floor restoration, or our floor sanding page for the oil finishes.
Papworth Everard at a glance
- 20 milesby road from our Landbeach base, about 25 minutesOSRM routing
- 4%of properties were built before 1919VOA Council Tax stock
- 6%date from 1919 to 1939VOA Council Tax stock
- 19%are terracedCensus 2021
- 6listed buildingsHistoric England
- 1,530householdsCensus 2021
How we approach floor sanding
Chris starts by working out what the floor is, checking at a threshold or an edge to see whether it's solid timber or an engineered board with a limited wear layer. Solid floors are then sanded in stages, filled, smoothed dust-free and oiled. Where rooms are being decorated too, sanding is booked before the final coats on the skirtings. The full method, products and FAQs are on our floor sanding page.