Floor Sanding Preparation: What to Do Before We Arrive
A great floor sanding result starts before we even arrive. Proper preparation ensures the job runs smoothly, finishes on time, and keeps your home safe and clean.
Here is your comprehensive checklist to get your home ready for restoration.
1 Week Before
- Clear the Schedule: Ensure you have alternative accommodation if you are doing the whole house. You cannot walk on the floors during the coating/drying phase.
- Book Movers: If you have heavy furniture (pianos, large sofas), arrange for movers or strong friends to help relocate them to the garage or a storage unit.
- Check Power: Our machines require standard power points. Ensure they are working and accessible.
48 Hours Before
- Remove Old Floor Coverings: If you are ripping up carpet yourself, do this now. Remove all staples and tackle strips. (Or ask us to include this in your quote).
- Clear the Floor: Remove all furniture, rugs, lamps, and breakables.
- Clear the Walls: Vibration from sanding can sometimes knock pictures off walls. It's safer to remove mirrors and artwork from the rooms being sanded.
- Window Coverings: Tie up long curtains or remove them.
The Day Before
- Vacuum: A quick vacuum helps us see the floor condition clearly.
- Pets: Arrange for pets to stay elsewhere. The noise is stressful for them, and one paw print on wet polyurethane ruins the whole floor!
- Food: Seal pantry items. Use masking tape to seal kitchen cupboard doors if we are sanding the kitchen.
During the Job (Our Access)
- Keys/Alarm: Provide keys or lockbox code. Ensure we have alarm codes.
- Parking: We need a parking spot close to the door for our heavy machinery.
- Ventilation: We may need to leave windows slightly ajar for air flow during drying.
Special Note: Gas & Pilot Lights
If using solvent-based polyurethane, all open flames (pilot lights for gas hot water, gas fires) MUST be turned off due to flammable fumes.
Questions check prepping?
Call us if you are unsure about any item on this list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to remove all furniture?
Yes. The room needs to be completely empty. Sanding machines are large and we need edge-to-edge access. We can sand around very heavy items like piano (if necessary), but the finish line might be visible if it ever moves.
What about curtains and blinds?
We maximize dust containment, but we still recommend taking down floor-length curtains or tying them up high to prevent any potential dust from settling on them.
Do I need to remove the skirting boards?
No. We sand right up to the skirting board with edging machines. There might be minor scuff marks on the paintwork afterwards, so plan for some touch-up painting.