Preparing Your Home for Floor Sanding

You do not need to do much to prepare for floor sanding, but the right steps make a real difference. Most of our customers stay at home throughout the work, and the dust-free equipment we use keeps the rest of the house clean. This checklist will help you get the rooms ready.

Furniture and belongings

Every item needs to be off the floor before the machines start. That includes furniture, rugs, plants, curtains that touch the floor and anything stored under beds or sofas. If some items are too heavy to move, mention it when booking and we will plan accordingly. Taking down floor-length curtains or tying them up avoids them getting in the way.

Old floor coverings

If your floor is currently under carpet, vinyl or laminate, decide whether you want to remove it yourself or have us do it. Lifting it yourself is fine, but watch out for sharp gripper rods and staples. We will deal with any staples or nails left behind as part of the preparation.

Before the day

• Empty the room completely.

• Remove or tie up floor-length curtains.

• Move fragile ornaments from nearby shelves.

• Arrange nearby parking for our van if possible.

• Tell us about underfloor heating or pipes and cables beneath the boards.

• Arrange a safe place for pets and children.

• Switch off underfloor heating in advance if you have it.

Planning around the household

Sanding machines are loud and the room will be out of use for a while, so it is best to keep pets and young children well away from the work area. Many customers arrange a day out, or keep pets in another part of the house. If the room is a thoroughfare, we will plan another route before we start.

Getting the conditions right

A warm room with gentle airflow helps the finish dry properly. Keep the heating on at a normal level, but avoid running fans or heaters aimed directly at the floor. If you have underfloor heating, keep it off and bring it back slowly once the finish has cured.

Choosing your finish in advance

Deciding on a few details in advance keeps the job moving. Would you like a natural oiled look or a more resilient lacquer? Have you thought about sheen level and whether you want a stain? If you are unsure, we can bring samples and talk you through the options. For stained floors, we apply test patches on the sanded boards, so you will need a little time to choose before we continue.

Repairs and extras

If you know the floor has damaged boards, squeaks or wide gaps, mention them when you book. That way we can bring matching reclaimed timber and plan enough time for repairs. Doors may also need adjusting if the floor height changes after carpet removal, so it is worth planning for this.

On the day

When the team arrives, we will walk through the room with you, confirm the plan and check anything that needs special care. We will set up the equipment, protect doorways and nearby areas and then begin preparing the floor. You are welcome to check in at any time and ask questions as the work progresses.

The essentials at a glance

• Clear the room completely, including rugs, plants, curtains and anything stored under furniture.

• Let us know in advance about heavy furniture, underfloor heating, pipes, cables or repairs.

• Sort out parking for our van and make sure pets and young children have somewhere safe to be.

• Decide on your finish, sheen level and any stain in advance to avoid delays on the day.

• Allow time afterwards for the finish to cure before putting furniture and rugs back.

Once the floor is finished

Patience at the end makes all the difference. You can usually walk on it in socks after a few hours, replace furniture after 24–48 hours and lay rugs after roughly a week. Fit felt pads to furniture legs before putting anything back.

If you have any questions about preparing for your project, our frequently asked questions cover many of the details, or you can contact our Epping team directly.