5 tips to make more of reclaimed wooden flooring

5 tips to make more of reclaimed wooden flooring

Whether you already have an old wooden floor created from reclaimed wood or are looking to create one there are a number of steps you should work through. Those old battered planks can be brought back to their former glory easier that you thought, and the beauty of a real wood floor is unsurpassed. Here are our 5 tips to turning old reclaimed wood into a floor of beauty.

Laying/leveling

If you are laying the wood from scratch there are several great guides to ensure the floors are level to accept the wood and the best way to lay the planks depending on their length and width etc. If you have discovered this floor, beneath a carpet for example, you need to re-affix any loose boards and replace any broken planks. Do not worry if these are different colour as the following steps will remedy that, but try and get the same kind of wood.

Sanding

This is the most exciting step as you see the woods natural wood start to shine through the layers of whatever it has been covered with, be it paint or stain. You can attempt this yourself but to be honest you are best off engaging the services of a top quality floor sanding company who specialise in this area.  It can be easy to get carried away with a sanding machine and go to far in certain areas leaving the surface uneven, so leave it to your experts.

Staining

At this point you have the choice of selecting the colour you want or leaving it natural.  If you aren’t sure it may be worthwhile spending the time building it up in layers to achieve the exact hue you are looking for. This will be time consuming however as you MUST ensure each layer is completely dry before you add the next coat otherwise the whole effect will be ruined by blotches and patches which are darker than others.

Sealing

Possibly the most important step of them all yet one that if often omitted. So keep that wood looking great over time with the battering it will get from feet, furniture etc sealing it properly is vital. Look for a top quality sealant and follow the instructions implicitly. If it says 2/3 coats then don’t stop at one because you’re bored, you want this floor to last you for yours so it is common sense you will have to put in the work at the beginning to allow it to do this.

Flooring

Polishing

There are pros and cons with polishing and how high a sheen you want on your floor is, once again, down to personal choice. You may find after the sealing process that the floor has the effect you are looking for, whereas others will think it is too much off a matt finish for them. Remember the more highly polished a floor is the more slippery it is underfoot, so if you are going for a high gloss and intend laying rugs down make sure you buy the runners and fixers you can get now to stop them from slipping when stood on.

By following these tips you can be sure that you will make the most of your old wooden floor and ensure it’s an eye catching part of your home.