High Foot Traffic Areas

Polished timber floors add elegance and warmth to any space, but their beauty can be marred by visible wear in high-traffic zones, such as entryways or hallways. The contrast between the worn areas and the rest of the floor, which may remain in good condition, can detract from the overall aesthetic.

To understand wear in worn polished timber floors, it’s helpful to break it into two categories: superficial wear and excessive wear of the surface coating.

Superficial wear

This type of wear manifests as a subtle variation in gloss levels. When viewed from an angle under reflected light, these areas might appear duller compared to the surrounding floor. While this wear is minor, it can still impact the floor's uniformity and appearance.

Excessive wear

This more severe form of wear involves significant degradation of the surface coating. In such cases, some layers of the finish may be heavily worn down or completely absent.

Polished timber floors with high wear floor finish

When this happens to worn polished timber floors, the exposed timber underneath is vulnerable to further damage, including discoloration and moisture-related issues, especially if the timber species is porous.

Re-coat or re-sand?

Addressing wear appropriately is crucial to restoring and preserving the look and longevity of your polished timber floors. Here’s how to approach each scenario:

Re-coating for Minor Wear

If the wear is superficial, a re-coat is a practical and cost-effective solution. This process involves applying a new layer of finish over the existing surface, which not only revitalizes the floor's appearance but also restores uniformity in gloss levels across the entire area. Re-coating is a preventative measure as well, helping to protect the floor from further wear and tear.

Re-sanding for Severe Wear Wear

When excessive wear is present in worn polished timber floors, re-coating alone isn’t sufficient. In such cases, a complete re-sanding of the entire floor is necessary. This involves sanding back the floor surface to remove the damaged coating, followed by refinishing the floor to achieve a new, smooth, and consistent look. However, it's important to note that re-sanding can sometimes reveal discoloration in the timber, particularly if raw wood has been exposed to moisture. The extent of discoloration often depends on the timber's porosity and the duration of exposure.

Preventative Floor Care

Regular maintenance is key to prolonging the life and beauty of polished timber floors in high-traffic areas. Using rugs, runners, or mats in entryways and other heavily used zones can help minimize wear. Additionally, periodic inspections and timely re-coating can prevent minor wear from escalating into more significant damage that requires costly and intensive re-sanding. Get back to our central Brisbane floor polishing services page to find the right solution for your timber flooring.

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Brisbane Polished Floors F.A.Q.

How long does sanding and polishing take?

Generally, floor sanding in Brisbane takes 4 to 6 days to complete a full house (to sand floors, coat/polish) depending on size. Also, see our home preparation guide for customers with helpful advice + more.

Can we stay in our home during works?

Generally, no. Although, where a two-story house can ‘seal off’ each level, then yes, of course. While inspecting your floors however, we always confirm this.

Do the sanders create much dust?

Besides our floor sanders being vacuum assisted, we also use room barriers, as well as refined methods to control it. Nevertheless, we always guarantee a dust-free home after completion.

Can you fill the gaps between floorboards?

In brief, no. Because timber will always expand and contract, then, as a result, the filler will always crack and break out. Read more about filling gaps between floorboards.

Can you remove our old floor coverings?

Yes. Our quotes always include options for extra services such as floor covering removal and disposal.