Quendon, Saffron Walden, parquet floor sanding and oiling

We recently sanded and oiled a lovely kitchen floor in Quendon, Saffron Walden (see images here).

The floor was made of Canadian Maple which you don't see too often however it has become quite a popular floor in more modern high-end refurbishments.  It's chic look, subtle tones and cool light reflective qualities are a stark contrast to the more traditional golden rustic hues of Oak and Pine, and the deep auburn tones of Mahogany.

www.decobizz.com

There are 13 types of Maple grown in Canada and North America.  Hard Maple and Black Maple are very durable woods that rates highly on the Wood Hardness Scale, ranking above Oak,  making making them a great choice for both domestic and commercial flooring.

However, other species of Maple such as the Silver or Red Maple are classed as softwood and would not work well in a busy walkway as the wood would damage more easily.  Do be sure to check with your supplier what species of Maple they supply so you can make the best decision for your property.

The close uniform grain of Maple gives it it's beautiful soft & smooth finish that is so desirable.  Unfortunately, however, it is also also this quality that makes scratches and marks more noticeable.  Laquering a Maple floor would only highlight scratches even further, a matte oiled finish would be most suitable to keep maintenance costs down.

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in: 

Wood Floor Sanding,

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information on our services contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk

DIY wood floor staining - uneven sanding will lead to uneven staining

Wood floor sanding is a bit of an art to master.  But one of the key points you need to remember is -

The floor needs to be sanded evenly

To eye the floor may look pretty even, however when you come to staining you may realise that the stain is not taking evenly across the floor.

If you notice that the edges are taking differently to the rest of the floor then here is your problem:

To sand the main portion of the floor you will have used a belt sander, and around the sides you will have used an edge sander.  Both of these sanders have removed the desired top layer of wood leaving you with a nice clean surface to stain.

However....you will not be left with an even finish.

How do I even out the floor?

Use a random orbital sander to level out the floor.  The sander moved in two different directions

Sounds impossible though it gently vibrates in multiple directions and in a small circular motion. This blendsthe edge   sanding with the main floor sanding.

It is also advised to use a big rotary sander to finish the floor at around 120 grit to ensure a fine even finish.

Another method to achieve a good staining effect is to Water-pop your wood floor - This is done by applying a thin coating of moisture to the floor with a damp cloth or flat mop. Ensure you apply this evenly. The water will make the wood grains swell and once dry thefloor will   absorb more of the stain.

Staining a wood floor is not easy so if you need advice feel free to give us a call on 01222 863632.

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in: 

Wood Floor Sanding,

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information on our services contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk

See our blog for more floor sanding tips and advice:

http://artofcleanuk.blogspot.co.uk/

Can my wood floor be restored without sanding!

It is not always necessary to sand a wooden floor. If the floor has been well maintain and oil has been applied before, it is possible to carry out a deep clean with special cleaners and equipment and then we can apply a fresh coat of oil to restore the protective barriers on and within the wood floor. In nearly all cases it will restore the colour in the floor as well.

In the pictures below you can see a wood floor we gave a fresh look by cleaning and application of Pallmann Magic Oil once a year:

How can you care for your oiled wood floor without calling the wood sanding experts - Simple really:

You can apply a fresh coat of Pallmann Magic Oil Care - (Ensure the floor is cleaned very well before this is applied- Use Neutral Clean 

PallmannMagic Oil care is also available in 5 Litre for bigger floors

Oak floor before cleaning

Oak floor after cleaning and oiling

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in: 

Wood Floor Sanding,

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information on our services contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk

5 Wood floor killers to avoid (or reduce) at all cost?

Looking down at the kitchen floor you recall the days when the floor looked fresh and new after it was sanded and finished over 8 years ago. Since then the floor saw a lot of action. Where has the time gone? and what caused this damage to the floor?

Let's explore the reasons why your wood floor wears out:

Here is a list of 5 Wood floor killers to avoid (or reduce) at all cost:

Gravel on the outside of your homes entrance 

Gravel on the outside of your property gets stuck under your shoes and will enter the home. These small stone particles acts like sandpaper on your lovely wood floor

- How to improve / avoid? 
 Lay a hard surface path to your entrance door or implement a no shoe policy in your home

Walk off mats

Have a good look at your walk off mat at your entrance door.
If it looks tired and dirty ensure it gets replaced immediately - If you do not have one you have to get one to help you save ALL your floors in your home. That's right, the dirt you track in from outside harms all the floors in your home

- How to improve / avoid? 
Get a fresh new walk-off mat or replace the old one you have - If you have a coir mat and need it replaced call us on 01223 863632 and we can help - www.artofclean.co.uk

The wrong cleaners and dirty worn out mops
Many people belief a floor cleaner is a floor cleaner and this is sadly not the case.
Harsh cleaning products can do a great job at cleaning though it harms the protective layer on your floor. If you have a wood floor the best way is to maintain it with a wood floor cleaner followed by the correct maintenance top up sealer ( for oiled floors use Magic Oil care from Pallmann - http://www.artofcleanonline.co.uk/Floor-Care-Products/Wood/Pallmann-Magic-Oil-Care.Html?cPath= - For Laquered floor use Finish Care Stop from Pallmann   http://www.artofcleanonline.co.uk/Floor-Care-Products/Wood/Pallmann-Finish-Care-STOP-750ml.Html?cPath= )

The best cleaner for a wood floor is Pallmann Clean: http://www.artofcleanonline.co.uk/Floor-Care-Products/Wood/Pallmann-Clean.Html?cPath=

- How to improve / avoid? 

Buy the correct cleaners and care products - Spend a bit more and you will find your floor last so much longer.

Dogs (Actualy the nails on their paws)
When dogs walk on a slippery floor they naturally extend their claws to get a better grip - If this is on your wood floor you will find your wood floor scratch very fast.
It is advised to use oil on your wood floors if you have dogs - It is less slippy for your pets and it do not scratch.

- How to improve / avoid?
Opt for an oil finish on your wood floor if you have dogs.

Bad quality laquers/oils or wrong laquers/oils or sealers for the floor area
We see many clients fall in the trap of a floor sanding firm that only offer them one type of finish for their wood floor wether the  floor is in the bedroom or the kitchen. It is important that floors that are exposed to water like bathrooms to get a 2 part lacquer applied - these finishes are much more water resistant.

If Oils are used it is essential to opt for a oil that comes with a hardener. This makes the finish more hardwearing

- How to improve / avoid?
Ask many questions when you get a quote for floor sanding and get more than one opinion on what floor finish you should apply.

Pine wood floor before sanding

Pine wood floor after sanding

Pine wood floor after sanding and finishing with Pallmann lacquer

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in: 

Wood Floor Sanding,

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information on our services contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk

Pine floor sanded and oiled in Girton

Beautiful transformation on this pine wooden floor.
It was very dry and no protective finish was left on the wood floor.

We sanded the floor and reapply Pallmann Magic Oil finish. This looks natural and lovely on this floor.

See the video below on how Pallmann Magic oil is applied and the protection it offers on wood floors

Pine floor before the sanding

Pine floor after the sanding

Pine floor after the sanding and oiling

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in: 

Wood Floor Sanding,

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information on our services contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk

Pine floor sanded and lacquered in Cottenham Cambridge

We have recently sanded and lacquered a pine floor in Cambridge. Lovely results!

Pine wood floor before the sanding

Pine wood floor after the sanding

Pine wood floor after the sanding and lacquer applied

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in: 

Wood Floor Sanding,

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information on our services contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk

The difference between oiled and lacquered flooring

When deciding what finish to apply to your wood floor you need to consider the differences of oil and laquer.

A lacquer finish is basically a surface coating that will provide a high level of protection to the wood, it is highly durable however it can be accumulate scratches and dents rather easily so and so makes a poor choice for a floor that is going to receive a lot of foot traffic (especially if you have dogs as their claws will scratch the lacquer awfully).  The other down side to using lacquer is that when it wears it requires a full sanding and re-application, so long term maintenance costs are higher.

When oiling your wooden floor the product will penetrate the wood, nourishing and protecting it from within.  You will have a more natural wood floor finish however the oils is not quite as durable as lacquer.  On the plus side however you can re-oil your floor with little to no sanding and will successfully fill light scratches, deeper scratches will require sanding prior to re-oiling but this can be done locally so does not require a full floor restoration.

Below Pierre discusses the differences between oil and lacquer with Terry Gifford, owner of The Ultimate Floor Sanding Company.  Terry offers a medium ground option of from Pullmann with their Magic Oil that soaks in and leaves a thin protective layer on the surface of the wood making it more durable than standard oil options...

Magic Oil 2K is a perfect hybrid of natural oils and waxes. This unique two component finish produces a uniform matte, velvety surface that repels dirt and water. It is suitable for all raw wood floors, solid or engineered, solid cork flooring and is rated for use on radiant heat floor systems. Magic Oil’s rapid drying properties allow for refinishing to be completed quickly, making it a perfect product to use for commercial applications.

If your floor requires a clean and maintenance contact Art of Clean for more information on our services on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in: 

Wood Floor Sanding,

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

Glue down Vs Floating Wooden Flooring

If you’re in the process of investing in a new wooden floor, you’re likely to have fitting methods high on your agenda.  Two common methods of fitting wood flooring are glue down and floating and no matter whether you’re planning a DIY installation or you’re getting the professionals in, it’s handy to know a bit about each of these methods so you can decide which might work best for you.
In this article, we’ll describe how each of these two fitting methods work and will give you an idea of the situations in which one might be more effective than the other.

Glue down as a way of fitting your wood floor

Glue down as an installation method for wood floors involves using a bonding agent, adhesive or glue that you put directly on to your subfloor before laying your floor.  As an installation method, glue down wood flooring is particularly suited to either concrete or wood subfloors.  That said, if you’re using this method over a concrete subfloor, you do need to make sure that there’s no dampness in the subfloor whatsoever.  If there’s any doubt about dampness, we recommend that you install a two-part epoxy damp proof membrane to make sure that none of the residual dampness rises into your new floor, causing future damage.
When it comes to glue, we like Bona R850T, which comes in a handy 7kg pot, which means it’s a really cost effective way of gluing down your floor. The reason we’re fans of this particular glue is because it withstands thrust during expansion, but doesn’t shrink.  What this means is that tension to the subfloor is reduced.  Add to this, the fact that it doesn’t generally need a primer and you start to see why we like it so much.
One of the great things about gluing your wood floor to the subfloor is that the end result is really stable.  The downsides are: if you’re not a pro, it can be a messy business and also, you need to allow in your planning, time for the glue to dry before walking on the floor.

Floating as a way of fitting your wood floor

Floating sounds like an odd term to use for fitting a floor, but what it essentially means is that your floor isn’t fixed to the subfloor, instead relying on the weight of the floor itself to keep it in place.  This way of fitting is well suited to engineered wood flooring and is ideal for any room that would benefit from a bit of ‘spring’.  Floating floors are often found in gyms and dance halls.  In the home though, floating as a way of installing your floor is highly popular because it’s so quick.
When you choose a floating installation method, you can easily and conveniently introduce a moisture barrier to your subfloor if you suspect you might at some point have dampness issues.  One of the other advantages of floating flooring is that when it expands and contracts, it’s less likely to become damaged, because it’s not straining against nails or glue, it’s simply working within its own limits.  Add to this the speed that we’ve already mentioned and the fact that floating as a fitting method can be used over pretty much any subfloor and your really begin to see the attraction of this option.

How do you decide?

If you’re contemplating the pros and cons of glue down versus floating floor for a DIY installation of engineered wood flooring, then it’s highly likely that floating will be the better of the two options.  Not only does it mean you don’t have to struggle with copious amounts of glue, but it also means you can work swiftly and are able to walk on your floor immediately once you’ve finished.
If on the other hand you’re contemplating a solid wood flooring installation over a concrete or wooden subfloor, there are strong arguments for tackling the glue down method, so you get a good stable result.
Finally, if you’re bringing in the pros, while it’s good to have a working knowledge of the different options available to you, you should be able to sit back and let them describe your options to you and help you to make the very best decision.

Sourced from: http://www.woodandbeyond.com

If your floor requires a clean and maintenance contact Art of Clean for more information on our services on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in: 

Wood Floor Sanding,

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

Bad quality wooden floor under carpet?

We see a great shift where people remove the carpets in homes - in particular the ground floor living areas to expose beautiful wooden floor underneath.

In most cases these wooden floors that have not seen the light of day for many years are actually not intended to become finished wooden floors. The "sub-floor" was intended the have flooring installed over it and it was (and in most cases is still) covered with carpets.

These pine floors do restore well and can give a lovely character to a home. Here are a few things to take note of when you decide to make your sub-floor your main floor.

Previous repairs and damage or cuts in the boards

Some trades people (electricians and plumbers) will lift your carpet and to install cables and pipes beneath the floorboards simply hack through the floorboards - It is understandable as at the point this happen there will unlikely be an intention to sand and finish these floors

In some cases some boards gets replaced with much cheaper softer and lighter pine (most older floors are made up of Pitch Pine)

Gaps between boards

As your underlay and carpet stopped air moving through the floor - once you lift the carpet you will find there is more air movement and the room is then much more likely to have a cooler feel to it.

- See our blog post here on how we filled gaps between pine boards - http://artofcleanuk.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/pine-floor-board-sanding-filling-and.html

Sanding Quotation Pre-Inspection
We experience many home owners lift parts of the carpets in the home and phone for a quotations after they discover what they belief was a hidden treasure - Once we inspect the floors we will only see parts of the floor and it will not be possible to make an informed decision and it will not be possible to provide you with a quote


If you are serious to get your newly discovered wood floor restored it is strongly advised that all of the carpets will have to be removed.

Once the whole floor is exposed we will happily provide you advice on what can be done on your floor and this will allow you to make an informed decision.

Very important: the carpets need to be out of the way for us to see what repairs will be 
required.

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in: 

Wood Floor Sanding,

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information on our services contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk

Pine floor board sanding, filling and finishing in Cambridge

We completed a work on a pine floor in Cambridgeshire that had been recently sanded and sealed by another floor cleaning company. This floor had several unique challenges; the first one was the fact that client had already had this floor sanded 6 weeks before by another company. The company had sanded a really large room in only one day, and then on the second day only spent a few hours to seal the floor. The following day the customer walked on the floor to find that her socks stuck to the surface. The reason was because it was water based and resulted in the grain rapidly raising in the wood giving it a very rough surface.  They then failed to key the wood floor back.

The client also asked us for the floor to be a darker color - We therefore advised the following:

Pine strips between the boards

For a more superior finish we filled the pine floor boards with strips of special pine slithers, then we carried out the sanding of the floor. There were also some repairs we had to carry out to the floor boards. Some knots where filled with our special Knot Kit glue gun. The final filling process included filling the floor with a special Pallmann Allkit resin mixed with very fine wood dust from the floor. This helped to hide the imperfections in the floor like woodwork holes in some boards.

After this preparatory stage the wooden floor was ready for the application of a special DARK brown Pallmann magic oil (see photo below). The benefits of using a product such as Magic oil from Pallmann is that our client could use her floor much quicker.

Pine board and pine strips sanded

The downside of using some oils for finishing your wood floor is that several coats need to be applied and many hours of drying is required. With Pallmann Magic oil we do not to wait that long before normal foot traffic can return.

The benefit of using a contractor that uses Pallmann Magic oil is:

You can use the floor much sooner - light foot traffic can commence within 4 hours after the oil was applied (in ideal drying conditions)

Oil applied on pine floor

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in: 

Wood Floor Sanding,

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information on our services contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk