A timber floor is a great feature in any home. Timber has a rustic appearance and holds heat, which means that walking around barefooted when it is cold isn't a problem. Timber is also amazingly durable. However, if your timber floor is located in a hallway or other area which gets a lot of use, it will eventually start to look tired and worn. However, do not despair. With a little effort, you can soon restore your timber floor to its former glory. Below is a guide to the steps you will need to take.

Sand the floor

Sanding is the first step. Ideally, you should use a handheld electrical sanding tool, which are available to buy or hire from any DIY tool supplier. If you attempt to sand a large floor space by hand using standard sandpaper, it is likely to take you a very long time. When hiring the tool, you should familiarise yourself with the different grades of sandpaper which are available. You should start with the course paper, changing to finer sandpaper on the second and third sweeps of the floor.

First, you should use the drum sander to sand the main section of the timber floor. Once you have completed this part of the job, you can use the edge and corner sanding machines to sand those hard-to-reach places. When sanding the floor, you should move diagonally across it to prevent streaks or lines appearing on the timber. You should always sand in the same direction as the grain of the wood. Sanding can create a lot of dust. The majority of modern sanding tools feature a dust bag which captures this dust. If the machine you are using is not fitted with a dust bag, you should make sure you are wearing a mask to protect your nose and mouth.

Polish the floor

When you have completed the sanding, you should give the floor a quick once-over with a hoover to pick up any remaining dust and debris. You can then apply a coat of polish to the timber floor. There is a wide range of different polishes available such as oil-based and polyurethane polishes. You should speak to the staff in the DIY store if you are unsure which is the best option for your floor. Once the polish has been applied, you should wait for a number of hours (the precise time will be listed on the tin of polish) before applying the second coat. The polish will help to protect your floor while also making it look great.

If you would like to find out more, you should contact a floor polishing company.