Sanding and polishing
We sand every day a variety of solid timber floors, floating floor, particleboard, and parquetry. We also sand old existing floors after we remove the previous coverings and we often find a suitable wood hiding beneath the old coverings. Floor sanding usually involves three stages: Preparation, sanding, and coating with desired product.

 
All our sanding jobs are completed with specialized sanding machines, tools and equipment what allows us to work clean and without dust. By this process the majority of material is removed. The areas where we can't reach with large machines such as, edges, corners, and stairs we sand with little machine called an edger. A finishing machine is then used for the final sanding.

 
Preparation: We punch all nails which are protruding above the boards. Otherwise the nails can severely damage our sanding machine. We remove the staples or tacks which were once used to fasten previous (if any) coverings and so we reduce the possibility of damage. Some brands or types of adhesives which have been used to secure coverings may need to be removed, otherwise they would clog papers and running gear of the machines used. Some of these adhesives while present make sanding impossible.
As soon as we finished with preparation we can start with sanding.
Sanding: The first cut is done with course grit papers to remove old products and to make the floor flat. Through that we reduce the differences in height between the boards. The large sanders are used across the grain of the timber. The areas which cannot be reached by the large sanders are sanded by an edger, at the same grit paper as the rest of the floor. If filling of holes or boards is desired this is the stage where this is usually done.
And at least:
Coating which usually our customer chooses or we can advise what is suitable according the circumstances.
 
There are many options such as:
Synteko Solid oil finish is an alkyd-based natural high solid oil, matte floor finish with excellent properties. It has extremely high solids (90%) and therefore gives up to three times more coverage compared to normal wood floor oil. The product is oxygen curing and provides a beautiful smooth surface with an excellent resistance to wear. Synteko Solid oil is formulated for treatment of wood and cork floors and also wooden stairs, sills, benches, decks, etc. Due to the excellent wear resistance of the product, it is especially recommended for use in commercial areas like offices, stores, museums and other areas where high wear resistance is needed coupled with low maintenance costs.
 
We would recommend if for households with animals and heavy traffic areas. Unfortunately solid oil finish doesn't offer satin or gloss finish. It gives timber raw, rustic look.
 
 
Polyurethane water-base finish is a two-component, water-based, low-odour, non-yellowing aliphatic polyurethane hardwood floor finish for use in high traffic and commercial areas. This finish is highly desirable because it emphasises the timber's natural colour and not the coating on top. It comes in three gloss levels: Matte, Satin and Gloss. Polyurethane finish gives maximum resistance to wear, scratching, scuffing, marring and chemicals. It is, therefore, ideal for surfaces subjected to unusually heavy wear. It can be used on untreated or previously finished timber surfaces.
 
Advantages:
  • t is a non-toxic timber floor finish, does not contain isocyanates.
  • 100 % polyurethane
  • Proven resistance to wear
  • Non yellowing
  • Maintains natural timber colour
  • Fast drying (1-3 hours)
  • Non-flammable
  • Safer for the environment
Modern Polyurethane finish is a fast-drying, two-component, acid-curing hardwood floor finish for interior use based on modified amino and alkyd resins in a solvent mixture. This finish has an amber colour, enhancing natural wood colours. It delivers an extremely durable, long lasting, smooth, very glossy and beautiful finish. Suitable for finishing of hardwood and other timber floors in residential as well as in commercial areas. It is self-sealing and its excellent workability and fast drying time provide the benefit of one-day job application. It is available in three gloss levels: Matte, Satin, Gloss.

Disadvantages:
However because these finishes flow into the tongue and groove joint between boards and glue the boards together, when natural shrinkage occurs, boards tend to clump together causing unsightly gaps between some boards at irregular spacings or splitting within some boards.
  • Toxic fumes contain isocyanates = are harmful to the respiratory system and are particularly dangerous for asthma sufferers.
  • Necessary to vacate premises
  • Yellowing by UV-light
  • Long drying times 6-8 hours
  • Unnatural plastic appearance
  • Highly flammable
  • Harmful to health and environment
Tung-oil finish - produce subdued or semi-gloss appearance. Tung-oil is drying oil which is extracted from the seeds of a tree. When applied, it is absorbed slightly into the surface of the timber and allows the natural seasonal shrinkage and expansion to occur without highlighting the gaps between boards. Although this finish may show marks more easily than hard surface finishes, most marks are generally easily removed with little methylated spirits on a damp cloth. Provided tung-oil finishes have not been waxed, areas which received most traffic can be recoated to restore their appearance, and these will generally blend quickly with the surrounding original finish. If the floor was waxed, the waxing process has to be repeated every year. After while the waxed surface turns dull.
Liming is type of bleaching process carried out before a finish is applied to the floor. Liming generally gives a floor a lighter, slightly milky appearance.
Environmentally friendly finishes:
 
OSMO  oil-/wax-based finishing system
 
Natural raw materials
  • All Osmo finishes are based on oils and waxes Oils maintain the value of wood as a natural raw material
  • Natural, environmentally-friendly and harmless to health
  • Manufactured based on purified, renewable raw materials
  • Harmless for humans, animals and plants when dry
Top quality product features
Workability and compatibility of the colour are of major importance
  • No water as a solvent due to the lack of workability at high temperature (reduced open time) and roughening of the surface
  • No preserving agents, thus no unpleasant smell, high storage stability and low allergy potential
  • No “eco” - solvents such as orange peel oil, as they are very often irritant and allergenic
  • No normal white spirit as a solvent because the aromatic compounds are
  • With disaromatized white spirit that makes the colour more workable and minimizes health risks
  • With pigments that are registered for the food sector
  • With linseed oil, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, sunflower oil, soybean oil, thistle oil
“Osmo is neither a traditional varnish manufacturer nor an eco-manufacturer but keeps the balance between functionality and ecological awareness.”
 
Open-cell character (microporous)
  • The binding agents of Osmo finishes are based on natural, vegetable oils that penetrate deeply into the wood and protect it.
  • The binding agent keeps the components of the finish together and guarantees the adhesion with the surface (oils link and net with the wood fibres)
  • Pigments and waxes as a filler are the solids of the Osmo-finishes. They are the structural substance for the binding agent and cure the finish additionally.
  • The oils fill the pores of the wood and protect it from stagnant moisture which would otherwise damage the wood, however, the oil does not form a watertight film
  • The wood remains open-pored and can still absorb and release moisture. Colour “works” with the wood.
Coverage
High-solid product
  • High solid content (up to 99 %)
  • The amount of substances remaining on the surface (oil and waxes) is very high
 
Finely ground raw materials
  • All raw materials are finely ground in bead mills
  • Therefore an optimal penetration and filling of the pores is achieved which increases the coverage of the colour substantially
Renovation
In general, Osmo finishes need an absorbent surface.
  • Lacquers have to be sanded off before treatment with an oil
  • Oil finishes from other manufacturers can be re-finished after cleaning (release film)
Wood remains “breathable” with Osmo.
When renovating, cleaning the surface is sufficient in order to avoid a release film.
Advantage for interior: easy to renovate - even partial renovation, e.g. in high traffic areas.
Advantage for exterior: Osmo finishes do not peel off but weather over years. Thus, a new coat can directly be applied without sanding (over time the coat of paint lightens as pigments are being washed out).
Prerequisite for this process is that the wood moisture is under 20 % so that the oil can net with the wood.
Osmo in comparison to lacquer
Lacquers and thick film finishes are film-building coatings that do not net with the wood but lay on the wood surface.
  • Resulting in a closed film that protects the surface against weathering and other influences - will be a problem as wood “lives”.
  • Swelling and shrinking in connection with moisture cause small cracks to develop enabling moisture to penetrate. The film surface is not sufficient for releasing the moisture. Resul: moisture damages the wood (rotting).
  • Emerging vapour pressure loosens the colour from the wood (flaking).
  • There is the risk that traces of brush marks are visible

Those problems do not occur with Osmo finishes:
  • The microporous finish enables the wood to work without harming it and moisture can be absorbed and released naturally, complying with the natural characteristics of the wood
  • Optimal connection between wood and colour
  • No flaking or peeling
  • Prerequisite: wood moisture content below 20 %
  • No brush marks due to a longer open time
  • Even a layman can create a professional surface
 

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Osmo hardwax oil and different finishes  
Treatex Hardwax Oil
 
  • Treatex Hardwax Oil is manufactured on a base of linseed oil, sunflower oil, jojoba oil and alkyd resin modified with natural oil. It contains beeswax, carnauba wax, dandelilla wax and the siccatives cobalt and zirconium.
  • Volatile components: isoparaffin, white spirit, free from aromatics.
Features:
  • manufactured and processed with the least possible risk to humans and the environment
  • on base of natural sustainable raw materials such as linseed oil, sunflower oil, jojoba oil,  beeswax, carnauba wax and dandelilla wax
  • contains no pollutants and very few solvents
  • virtually odourless
  • quick drying
  • easy 2 coat application
  • no sanding between coats
  • microporous or closed porous surface possible depending on application quantity
  • will not blister, peel or flake off
  • complies with regulation DIN 68861-1B: resistant to substances such a wine, coffee, fizzy drinks, tea, beer etc.
  • complies with regulation DIN 53160: sweat and saliva proof
  • complies with regulation DIN EN 71-3: safe for use on children's toys.
  • durable
  • slip resistant
  • will not discolour
  • easy to clean with Treatex Floor Care - spot repairable
  • suitable for use on stairs, wood, cork and OSB floors
  • recommendable for those with dust allergies, dirt and dust can be removed easily
  • available in clear, matt, lustre and gloss
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Whittle Wax hardwax oil and other finishes