Professional sanding removes worn coatings, scratches and a controlled amount of timber to reveal a clean surface for refinishing. The right process depends on the boards, their remaining thickness, previous coatings and the condition of the subfloor.
What happens during floor sanding?
- Assessment and preparation: the team checks board condition, clears the space and deals with protruding fixings.
- Initial sanding: professional belt and edge sanders remove the existing finish and level appropriate surface variation.
- Progressive sanding: finer abrasives refine the surface and reduce sanding marks.
- Edges and details: smaller equipment reaches perimeters, corners and other restricted areas.
- Finishing: after final preparation, the selected stain (if any) and compatible protective coating are applied.
How long does it take?
Many residential projects take several days, but area, repairs, coating choice, temperature and curing requirements all affect the programme. Access restrictions continue after the last coat: light foot traffic, rugs and heavy furniture may each have different waiting periods. FlooringPro will confirm the schedule for the specific finish.
What affects the cost in Auckland?
- Floor area and room layout
- Board condition, repairs and exposed fixings
- Existing coating and contamination
- Edge, stair and detail work
- Stain and coating system selected
- Furniture movement and site access
Online square-metre figures can be misleading because they rarely capture preparation and minimum project costs. A site assessment provides a more reliable, itemised price.
How to prepare
Remove furniture and fragile items, discuss appliances and fixed cabinetry in advance, and keep children and pets away from the work zone. Confirm power, access, dust management and whether adjacent rooms need protection before work begins.
Is every timber floor suitable?
No. Thin engineered wear layers, severely cupped boards, loose flooring, moisture problems and some contaminated surfaces may limit or rule out sanding. An inspection should come before promises about the result.