No matter what material you have for your flooring, over time your flooring will deteriorate due to wear and tear as well as damage. Your floor receives all the weight, the scratches, and the tampering from daily use, especially in high-traffic areas. Polished timber floors are immaculate when in good condition and are fairly forgiving in terms of wear and tear with the right protective coats, but just like any other flooring material, timber flooring ages and deteriorates from wear and tear.
Timber is a long-time favourite for homes and commercial spaces across Townsville, loved for its elegance, simplicity, feel, and durability. To get the best durability out of your timber flooring, consider investing in the restoration of your timber to prolong the shiny and neat appearance as well as preserve and protect the timber itself. The extent of the restoration required to get your floors looking immaculate again will depend on the current state of your flooring.
The timber floor restoration options you can choose from include: light sand and re-finish, or complete sand back and recoat. The condition of your timber flooring, the desired outcome, and the budget you have will determine which service is most appropriate for your situation.

Light Sand and Re Finish (re-coating)
When timber flooring is lightly scratched or just needs a little freshen up with a new coat of varnish or stain, light sand and recoat is all you need. Recoating, in a nutshell, is reapplying a fresh coat of polyurethane to remove any smudges, stains, scratches, or scuffs. This method is usually done for floorings that are mildly scuffed or dented.
If you have discolouration on your floorboards, it may be a sign of water damage or moisture, which happens when the sealant or varnish is no longer protecting the timber and the water penetrates and discolours the timber. In this situation, you are likely to need more than light sand to address the water-damaged panels. In sanding, the topmost layer of wood is sanded back, to uncover the fresh wood lying underneath.
When is a light sand all that is needed?
A light sand is an easy fix for floors that show little to minimal signs of wear. Some light scratches here, minor stains over there, and there’s no minor scuff a light sanding could not repair. Many homeowners try their hand at DIY for a light resand, but if you’re not confident to do it by yourself, trust floor sanding companies to work their craft for your floor, as it is important to do it right, because one mistake can lead to a larger dent in the timber which then requires either a replacement or sanding back even more to rectify the damage. Industrial sanding machines are powerful and require knowledge on how to operate them effectively and safely, even for a light sand.
When is light sanding not enough?
If the condition of your floorboards is beyond a few scratches here and there, if they have water damage or uneven surfaces, you will need to consider sand back and refinishing instead of a light sand to get an aesthetically pleasing outcome. Many floor sanding companies will offer free onsite quotes, make use of this service to see what the contractors will suggest that you do in order to get your desired outcome.
The benefits of a light sand and re-coat of your timber floor
Efficiency is the major advantage when your floor undergoes a light sand and refinishing. You save money as the cost of refinishing is less than sanding back and recoating simply due to less labour involved, fewer materials, and equipment. You also save time because a recoat will also cure faster than an initial varnish. Achieve that shiny new look for your home with a light sand and re-coat in order to maintain and preserve the aesthetics and integrity of the timber.

Sand back to timber and polish
When do you need to sand back your floors to timber?
When the damage on your timber floorboards is deep and extensive, such as with uneven surfaces, and moisture penetrating the timber, it’s time to sand back a layer or two of timber. Bring back the former glory of your prized timber floors by sanding them back and uncovering their glory. You can hide these damages through carpet or lino, but the longer you stray away from maintenance, the more serious the effect on your flooring would be by not addressing the problem promptly.
The benefits of sanding back and polishing
Sanding your floorboards back has more benefits than pure aesthetics. You get rid of annoying visible deep damage (both surface and internal scratches), realign uneven floor boards to fit properly, and obviously, it adds aesthetic value to your home. Through sanding, you give those stunning floors a breath of life after keeping it covered with carpet or linoleum for years. It might be the element of your renovation that will elevate your property from mediocre to premium. Talk about hitting two birds with one stone!

Things to keep in mind when sanding your floors back
If you’re trying to save more on refurbishing costs for your home, sanding your floors back might not be an economically friendly option because it usually costs more than usual light sanding. The process will also take more time, with the duration lasting a good 3 to 5 days, not including the curing time of about a week. Sanding is not for the DIY league as it is very labour-intensive and time-consuming. If you are considering getting your floors sanded back and polished in a property you live in, you might have to search for a temporary space to work and stay in to preserve your sanity.
Timber floors can be restored a few times to reveal deeper layers of timber, however, timber floors can generally take between 5 to 10 times of being sanded back, due to the thinning of the floorboards themselves, the amount of time is dependent on how skilled the person is doing the sanding and the condition of the flooring. Aesthetic and durability-wise, timber is a quality material for your home. Timber floors are an investment worth taking care of. It is advised that hardwood/timber floors should be retouched every 5 to 10 years to preserve their beauty and strength.
Hire professional for the best finish
When you want the best finish possible it’s best to hire a professional Townsville floor sanding company to sand and coat your timber floors. Professional companies have the specialised equipment and the experience necessary to make a seemingly difficult timber restoration job seem like child’s play. Plus you can save yourself weeks of aches and pains that are often associated with the task of sanding your timber floors DIY.
Call us today to organise a 100% obligation free quote for your timber floor restoration project in Townsville. We can give you the right advice about whether your timber floors will need to be sanded back to timber or if they just need a light sand and recoat. Call today!