Helsinki and Uusimaa
Wood floor and plank floor sanding
Wood floor sanding and refinishing brings an old plank floor back into use: the craftsman sands off the old lacquer or oil, replaces broken boards, fills cracks and finishes the floor with lacquer or oil. In most cases this costs considerably less than a new floor.
- Old plank floors
- Board replacement
- Crack filling
- Lacquer or oil
An old floor has value
Old wooden houses of the kind found in Käpylä and Puu-Vallila often hide their original plank floor, covered with linoleum and carpet over the decades. If the boards are sound, they are worth keeping.
When an old wooden floor is sanded, the original wood stays, only broken boards are replaced and the whole floor is sanded even. Restoring is usually considerably cheaper than a new floor, creates less waste and keeps the original character of the house.
In a newer house, too, a plank floor is often worth sanding. Surface scratches, worn lacquer and a darkened surface are sanded off. Deep dents and stains may remain visible.
Replacing boards and filling cracks
Broken boards are replaced with suitable wood, then sanded and finished together with the rest of the floor. New wood starts out a different shade and darkens over time, but an exact colour match cannot be promised.
The gaps that open between boards in the winter heating season are a natural property of wood. They partly close again when the air is more humid. That is why only nail holes and small gaps are filled with filler. Over time, even the filler in small gaps can crack as the boards move. Wide cracks are not filled with filler, because dry filler breaks and falls out. Wide cracks can be filled with wooden slivers.
Replacing boards and filling wide cracks are extra work. They are not included in the sanding price and appear on a separate line of the quote. Nail holes and small gaps are filled within the price.
How plank floor sanding works
A plank floor needs more preparation before sanding than parquet.
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Check
The craftsman assesses the photos and, before starting, checks the condition and fixing of the boards, the gaps and the old finish on site.
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Preparation
Nail heads are punched below the surface so that they don't tear the sanding belt. The skirting boards must be removed before the work so that the edge along the wall can be sanded clean too. Loose boards are fixed, broken ones replaced. Fixing and replacing boards is extra work, priced separately in the quote. The machines need a proper power supply: the main fuse must be at least 16 A. The room must also have working lighting.
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Sanding
The old lacquer or oil is sanded off with progressively finer abrasives, without skipping a grade. The edges are sanded with an edge sander, the corners with a scraper and by hand.
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Crack filling and fine sanding
Small gaps and nail holes are filled with filler, included in the price. Wide cracks can be filled with wooden strips as extra work. The surface is then finely sanded.
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Finishing
Oil, lacquer, wax or a colour tone. In an old house, oil is often a good fit, as it keeps the natural look of the wood.
When a plank floor is not worth sanding
Not every floor is worth sanding. The craftsman tells you plainly if sanding does not make sense and explains what should be done first. For example, when:
- the boards have become so thin from earlier sanding that the tongue or the nail heads would show
- the subfloor is rotten or moving and needs building work first
- the floor is laminate, vinyl or another covering that is not wood
What affects the price of wood floor sanding
Full sanding costs from €36/m², usually around €39/m², lacquer or oil included. The price of a plank floor depends on what it needs before sanding. The craftsman works out the price from photos, free of charge.
- Several layers of old lacquer take more time and abrasive
- The number of boards to replace
- Punching in nails and fixing loose boards
- Filling wide cracks
- The finish you choose: oil, lacquer, wax or colour tone
- Minimum order €1,000
Plank floor sanding: questions
Can an old painted plank floor be sanded?
Yes. The paint is removed by sanding, but it takes more sanding passes and more abrasive than removing lacquer. Paint left in the gaps may not disappear completely. However, the craftsman does not sand painted floors.
Will a new board stand out among the old ones?
At first, yes. New wood is a different shade and darkens over time, so the difference shrinks. An exact colour match, however, cannot be promised.
Do the gaps between boards need filling?
Small gaps and nail holes are filled with filler, but the filler may crack over time as the boards move. Wide cracks are not filled with filler, because dry filler breaks and falls out. They can be filled with wooden slivers. Gaps that open in winter are a natural property of wood and partly close again when the air is more humid.
Which finish suits an old plank floor?
In an old house, oil is often a good fit, because it keeps the natural look of the wood and a worn spot can later be re-oiled on its own. If the floor gets heavy use, for example in a hallway or kitchen, lacquer is easier to look after. The craftsman will recommend what suits your house when preparing the quote.
Is sanding a wood floor cheaper than a new floor?
In most cases, yes, often considerably. Sound boards stay, only broken ones are replaced and there is less waste. The craftsman works out the price from photos. See also the prices page.
Do you have an old plank floor?
Send a photo or call. The craftsman will tell you whether the floor can be restored and what it costs. We work in the Helsinki capital region and the rest of Uusimaa.