Frequently Asked Questions

Floor sanding and polishing costs start at $35 – $60 per m², but prices can vary depending on the condition of the floor and variety of products needed. If there are additional damages to the floor, extra costs may apply. According to industry standards, the average cost of sanding and polishing a three bedroom house is around $2500 – $4500.

The job is specific to your floor, so the time frame will depend on the size and complexity of the job. Generally, jobs take between 2-4 days.

Floor staining costs vary from $15-25/m2, although the final cost depends on the specific condition of the floor. Floor limewash is the most complicated and difficult method, and prices can range from $50 to $60 per square metre.

Dark staining can help to brighten up and restore old floors, and is preferable to hide imperfections, blemishes, gouges, dents or scratches, and can create a cozy and warm feeling in the home. Classic stains such as cherry and brazilian walnut add an aura of formality and professionalism to the area and bring warmth to a large, open space.

Light stained wood is more durable when it comes to foot traffic, and is perfect for brightening up any space. We recommend light coloured wood flooring stains in rooms such as hallways and older homes with less natural light

Pets love to play and run, and when you’ve got puppies racing across your nice floors, they’re going to need a touchup eventually. In this post we will investigate pet-induced damages such as indentations in the floorboards, coating staining and deterioration and urine stains.

Of course, the main concern is damage to floors by scratch marks from dog nails. Different kinds of timber have varying levels of density and hardness; ranging from very hard, hard, moderately hard and soft. It does need to be remembered however, that even within a specific supply of timber, no two boards will be identical in hardness and density. Lower density or softer timbers are more susceptible to damage and indentation than higher density, and a prefinished floor with multilayer UV-cured lacquer may also be more resilient. (Atfa, Timber floors, 2021). Having said this, it is important to remember that no timber floor is guaranteed to be resistant to pet damage.

When it comes to how different sizes of dogs differently impact floors, it has been found that large dogs usually cause minimal damage, while smaller dogs cause significant impact to flooring. Level of activity of your dog, as well as how often pet nails are trimmed are also consequential factors in the quality of a floor. With such differentiating and unexpected facts, some owners can be mistaken into thinking the floor product or coating is of inferior quality.

Sanding is a much longer process compared to buffing. Sanding will remove the polyurethane sealant, stain and any damages or deep imperfections in the wood. Sanding will also remove certain stains from the floor, but in some cases, animal urine and water stains will not be able to be sanded out of the floor. Afterwards, the wood planks will also need to be re-stained and re-sealed.

Buffing, on the other hand, doesn’t touch the actual timber, so will not restore damaged floors but instead shines whatever polish or varnish is on your floorboards. Older floors in decent condition respond best to buffing, and it is best to buff newer floors just after they have been treated.

You should avoid walking on your floors for at least 24 hours to prevent damage while the coating is setting. Furniture can be replaced 72 hours after the final coat is applied. You should wait a few weeks before putting floor rugs back onto new floors to allow the coating to cure completely. Lift and place furniture rather than dragging to avoid scratching or leaving ruts in the new floor. We recommend that you add protective pieces of felt -which can be purchased at hardware stores- to the feet of furniture to minimise scratches and avoid leaving indentations.

Timber expands and shrinks naturally with seasonal air and temperature changes. For example, floor board gaps will be more noticeable in dry winters and will close again in humid summers, (Brisbane’s Finest Floors, 2018). We do not recommend gaps between floorboards be filled, as the natural changing in timber may cause cracks in the filler or floor.

The removal/storage of furniture is the responsibility of the owner/tenant. In some cases we can assist with small items on the day. If furniture can be stored onsite this is the most cost effective however, on street storage PODS or off-site storage may be more suitable depending upon amount/type of furniture.

Special note: Fridge, dishwasher and oven/stoves
Ideally, these items remain in position whilst the floor sanding and polishing is taking place. If the owner requests these items to be moved out for the process, the owner is responsible for this, and great care must be taken when reinstalling. It is advised that floor protection is used. E.g. soft blankets, cardboard, mdf, to protect the new coatings. Do not drag or wheel these items across the floor, to avoid indentation or damage to the coating.

In most cases it is best not to be in the property during the work because of noise, minor dust and coating odour especially if sensitive or have allergies. If the layout of the house/unit requires you to walk across the section of floor being worked on then occupants must move out. If a house is on multiple levels or only isolated rooms being done the work can be done in stages allowing occupants to remain in property (if low toxic coatings used). Generally a job done in 2 stages may incur additional charges.

Yes if you require a specific date that can be reserved with notice. Weekend and after hours work can also be accommodated (additional charges apply) Jobs can also be arranged during holiday periods eg Xmas/New Year (eg schools, child care centres, cafes, restaurants, offices). A non-refundable deposit is required for this arrangement.

Yes. Generally settlements occur in the afternoon and can arrange to meet at key handover time or the following day, to measure and quote. If work is to commence immediately it is prefered to gain access to the property with the agent ideally the week prior or assess job from floor plan and photos if available.

A virtual quote can be provided if a floor plan and photos are supplied, and can be done by either calling the office or going to the instant quote button in our webpage.

It is best to pre-sand the kitchen area prior to a new kitchen installation. This ensures the timber floor is level and clean for kitchen cabinets to be put in place and minimises risk of damaging the new kitchen. It also allows for repairs to be done if required. The 2nd stage date will be completed when the kitchen installation is fully finished.

Any major works/renovations/bathrooms/kitchens/lighting/painting etc should be done first. Generally floors are the last trade to be completed. In some cases the floors can be done prior to painting however no solvents/paint can come in contact with new floor coating. Our teams are very careful in minimising dust and damage to skirting boards. (in some cases minor painting touch ups will be required).

The only time it is advisable to do the floors first, is if the floor is in very poor condition, the timber colour is red (e.g. jarrah) or doing open tread staircases.

It is best to make arrangements for pets to be cared for away from the property. Many of our clients have pets however our teams are focusing on doing the best job possible on your floors and cannot be responsible for looking after your gorgeous pets.

There is a small amount of dust created however, all machines have dust bags or vacuums used to minimise and keep the premises clean. Due to the necessity to get close to the edges of the floor, there can be some marking on the skirting boards, however, this is generally minor, requiring light touch ups by your painter.

Depending upon the degree of use, foot traffic, pets and cleaning/maintenance practises, the floor will vary in lifespan. Generally 5-10 years of life and then your floor can actually have additional coats applied without full sanding if correct cleaning/maintenance has been followed. Refer to floor maintenance on our website.

The sanding process will remove most superficial scratches/stains etc however if the liquid has leached into the timber it may leave a shadow or dark mark. Timber being a natural product absorbs these liquids to varying degrees. Floor board replacement is sometimes required.

Special note: Pet Stains.
Animal urine, when in contact with floor coatings, may leave dark stains and discolouration. These marks often occur under rugs, mats or the legs of tables and chairs and may go unnoticed before the damage is discovered. Generally, these marks cannot be removed with solutions or chemicals, and full sanding of the entire room is required. Full removal of the marks cannot be guaranteed, and some shadowing may remain after the sanding process.

Floor/stair staining is the process of changing the timber colour by application of solvents, limewash or tinted oils. The final colour achieved is dependent on the timber type, the intensity of the stain and the number of stain coats. Customised colours can be achieved by mixing different colours or standard stock colours off the shelf. A stained floor may exhibit variations in colour, shade or finish due to imperfections within the timber. The purpose of staining is to highlight the natural grain and structure of the timber, or in some cases, to hide imperfections within the floor. After the stain is applied directly to the timber, clear coatings are applied to protect and create a durable floor finish.