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Want to know how to restore a wooden floor or jazz up a boring hallway? You ask – we find the answers.

Restore your floors

Ethel Sleith of Gauteng writes My house was built in 1906 and, sadly, the Oregon pine floors are in a bad way. I was hoping to restore them without having to bring in big sanding machines and having to endure the upheaval – never mind the cost! Is there a quick and easy way to do the job without a sander?

Frikkie Greeff, Woodoc’s managing director, replies Unfortunately, there’s no quick and easy solution; the floors must be sanded properly before they are resealed. The best option is to use an industrial floor sander – there are contractors who do dustless sanding, which makes the process much less messy. But be sure to hire a contractor with a good reputation; ask for referrals and make the effort to check out previous jobs they’ve done.

Once the floor has been properly sanded and cleaned (insist that the floor be cleaned with mineral turpentine after sanding) and it has dried thoroughly, you can proceed with sealing. Depending on the type of finish you prefer, select one of the following products:

1 Woodoc 25 Polyurethane Floor Sealer is a solvent-borne product (wash your brushes with turpentine after use) that penetrates deeply into the wood and builds up on the surface for a durable sheen or matt finish. The product rehydrates the wood and will, therefore, darken it slightly, bringing out the natural colour of the wood. 2 Woodoc Water-Borne Floor Sealer is a water-borne product (wash your brushes with water after use) that also penetrates the wood and builds up on the surface, but does not change the colour of the wood. This product is available in Gloss or Matt. Both products will do the job well and provide a tough long-lasting finish, as long as the floor is adequately prepared and the product is applied according to the instructions on the label. CONTACT 041 581 0109, woodoc.com

Dulux brand manager Preneshree Pillay suggests the following alternative When it comes to previously painted or varnished surfaces in poor condition:

1 Remove the wax or polish by means of power sanding or use a suitable chemical treatment. It is not sufficient to simply wash wooden floors with paraffin as any residual polish will interfere with the adhesion of Woodgard Floorgard.

2 Treat the wood with a suitable wood stripper to remove old coats and expose the raw wood, then wash it down with water to neutralise the stripping process and allow it to dry. Sand the wood as per usual. 3 Apply a coat of Woodgard Floorgard and allow it to dry for 18 hours. 4 Lightly sand to a smooth finish, remove any dust and then apply another two coats of Woodgard Floorgard. CONTACT 086 033 0111, dulux.co.za