Hardwood Floor Polishing (Varnish) South London

This is intended as a ‘companion’ page to our main hardwood floor cleaning and polishing services page. If you’ve not read that page already and checked out the comparison table, we recommend you do so. Before deciding to use (or continue to use) varnish:

• be sure that that varnish is the right choice for you; and
• be aware that you can switch your choice of floor seal if you wish.

For information on how we clean, degrease and remove nasty spills and stains, please refer to our main hardwood floor page.

Protecting a Hardwood Floor with Varnish

Sealing with varnish provides protection against scuffs, surface scratches and water damage, and enhances the colour, grain and natural beauty of wood. New varnish can be applied over old, so long as the older seal is not flaking or peeling, and the floor has no deep scratches or dents. The process is as follows:

1. sand the floor lightly (with fine grade paper) to ‘key’ the surface (slightly roughen it) so the varnish will stick properly;
2. apply a thin layer of your chosen varnish (we can advise on your options);
3. leave this to dry for at least four hours;
4. ‘key’ the surface again to prepare for another coat;
5. apply the second layer, which must be allowed 24 hours to dry.

Polish (top coat)

An additional (but recommended) step after varnishing is to apply a ‘top coat’ of floor polish to protect the varnish. This clear and non-slip coating is available in gloss or matt finishes, and can be applied to varnish that has been allowed to dry for seven days (this is called ‘curing’).

We will apply a thin layer to a small area at a time. When the floor is fully coated it should be left for 30 minutes before the second coat is applied. This should be left for at least 60 minutes before use, and ideally overnight.

Buffing (Polishing) Varnish

Once polished, a hardwood floor should be buffed regularly to maintain its shine. This should be done at least every three months: very busy floors might benefit from weekly buffing.

Buffing is cleaning and polishing all in one: it will clear any light soiling that has built up (and this will gradually happen even when a floor is brushed and mopped) and restore the floor’s finish. We will:

1. spray a small amount of maintenance detergent onto the surface;
2. wait few moments to allow the detergent to start breaking down the dirt;
3. use a high speed (300rpm) rotary machine fitted with a soft white pad.

The combination of professional detergent and gentle pressure from a soft but fast-spinning pad loosens and lifts dirt, which is absorbed (together with the detergent) into the pad.

Removing Old Varnish from Hardwood Flooring

Stripping

Previously applied varnish/polish that has become worn in patches or is flaking off needs to be ‘stripped’ with a detergent that will dissolve it. We typically use Clover Remove. The process is as follows:

1. apply the stripping solution to a small section of the floor at a time;
2. work the solution into the old finish with a standard speed rotary brush machine;
3. agitation from the brush hastens a chemical reaction to break down the dried polish;
4. the resulting sludgy liquid is then removed with our wet vac;
5. we rinse with a slightly acidic solution* to counteract the alkaline stripping detergent.

The rinse resets the pH across the floor and leaves a completely clean and neutral surface ready to take a new protective seal.

* There are pH neutral strippers on the market that aim to strip and neutralise in one stage, but we have found that they are not as effective in removing the polish and do not really save time.

Sanding

With the exception of very delicate sanding to ‘key’ a layer of varnish for another application (as mentioned above), sanding should be considered carefully because – unless you have a solid floor – it cannot be sanded too many times. You can find out more on our main hardwood floor service page.

Staining

If you have a light hardwood floor, staining opens up a palette of deeper/darker tones. Your floor must be completely free of any finish (so freshly stripped or sanded) and totally clean and dry. We’ll apply your chosen stain with a sponge, allowing it to work its way into the wood fibres, before wiping away any excess. Before your floor is sealed the stain must be absolutely dry.

Got Any Questions?

Most of the questions we’re asked about hardwood flooring apply to all types of seal / finish, so we’ve answered them on our main page.

Our Prices

WE COVER CENTRAL & SOUTH LONDON WITHIN THE M25 AREA, INCLUDING: