Our floor sanding experts are regularly asked if it is worth restoring a pine wood floor. Let’s be honest, pine is not exactly the Rolls Royce of wood floors but nonetheless it is still a natural product that can look great in the correct circumstances. So for customers who have just discovered that they have pine floor boards under their carpet and are wondering if it’s worth having them sanded and restored, here is some advice from our floor sanding team. Find out what you need to consider before deciding if it is worth restoring a pine floor.

Restoring a Pine Wood Floor – What to Consider?

It may seem obvious but before you do anything ask yourself what type of floor covering you would prefer, do you want a soft or hard surface? Carpet or wood. Don’t make an assumption based on price. Our floor sanding contractors often find that a full pine wood floor restoration can be cheaper than buying and fitting a mid range carpet. So think about what your preference is, you have to live in your home so it’s important to go with what suits you best.

Assess the condition of the pine

Have a professional look at the condition of the pine floor. On the odd occasion we have come across floors that are ‘too far gone’ and not worth restoring. There are a number of causes that might lead to this scenario. Contractors like plumbers and electricians sometimes cut or break boards under carpet for access. Pine wood floors can also be degraded by woodworm or dampness.

Replacement Pine Boards

It is true that pine boards can be replaced with reclaimed timber, however it is important to know that these can look different to the original boards when sanded. This is because they will have come from a different tree, from a different forest, in a different country. Occasionally our floor sanding contractors come across wood floor that are unsafe due to the beams underneath being weak. This causes much more expense, as it is a serious health and safety issue for you and your family and needs to be taken into consideration. Having a professional inspect the floor will help your decision making.

Pine Floor Restoration – DIY

The likelihood is your pine floor is in good enough condition to be sanded and restored. That’s what we find in most cases. Once you have had your floor assessed, talk to your professional about the best way forward, you may be able to hire a floor sanding machine from him (or her) to you if you fancy having a go at restoring a pine wood floor yourself. We would always recommend having a professional do the work; in our experience, the result will be far better, but we do understand that sometimes that’s just not possible budget wise.

Pine Floors – Filling the Gaps

When considering restoring a pine wood floor it is worth having the gaps between the boards filled. There are several advantages to this; one being it will help to insulate the room from drafts, the other is it makes the floor look much nicer, as you are effectively turning the floor into a solid floor.

Finishing a Pine Wood Floor

The type of finish to use when restoring a pine wood floor is also important. There are basically two types, polyurethane (varnishes) and oils. Polyurethane is a topical finish. In essence, it sits on the top of the wood like any paint, providing a resilient clear protective layer which is easy to maintain. Oil is a penetrating finish, it penetrates the pores of the wood protecting it from the inside out. If it’s a quality oil like the Pallmann Magic Oil that our contractors use, it will also form a cross linking layer on the surface, providing significant extra protection. Both of these finishes can be applied over a color to give you floor even more character.

Professional Floor Sanders

This article was written by Adrian Cunnington of Floor Blimey, an Ultimate Floor Sanding Company approved contractor.

To speak to Adrian about your floor restoration project, please call 0333 93 901 93 or visit his website at www.floorblimey.co.uk

If you are looking for a local Ultimate Floor Sanding Company recommended floor sanding contractor in your local area, please check out our Find a Provider page.