Is removing carpet and sanding/varnishing wooden floorboards as much of a nightmare as everyone says?
Question:If you have done it yourself would you do it again or pay someone else next time?
Answers:
i have done it and will do it again it;s a hard job the the rewards are great
yes and alot more. I've done it myself many times and each time i say never again, but when it's finished it looks amazing. it's really back braking work.
Its okay if your house has been gutted and you are starting from scratch but if you have all your stuff in there and its fully decorated in other parts then its a nightmare. The dust goes everywhere, you cannot use the room while you are waiting for the varnish to dry and the furniture in that room has to temporarily found a new home. .
Its not as bad as u would think u wouldn't be rushing to do it again a year later either though. definitely use a hired sander and use rollers when vanishing the small ones you can get for gloss. they fit perfect on each board good luck
p.s i did it in a new house so actually there was no furniture in the way. but if u got some one to do it for you it u would still have to clear the room for them.
It's fine if your floorboards are in good condition. But don't forget that it'll be colder without carpet and you may end up paying more heating bills, too.
it is real bad but you will be rewarded by seeing your hard found new calling. always do it yourself it is lots cheaper.
I do carpentry and still pay someone else
maybe but so worth it. i have wooden floors all the way Thru no curtains but blinds and leather suite and you would not believe the amount of dirt, dust and fluff my hoover picks up everyday. i am very houseproud and it disguists me to see what is in that hoover cylinder. just imagine that lives in your fabric settee, cushions, curtains and carpets. yuck! i'd never go back to carpets again.
The sanding is the worst bit as you need to hire an industrial sander which are heavy, noisy, vibrate a lot and generate loads of dust. The varninshing isnt so bad - I actually find it quite therapeutic.
It's not that bad if you use the right equipment and materials.
I keen diyer should be able to take care of it in a weekend, the plan should be as below
1, remove all furniture, breakables, carpets underlay and gripper.
2. check for loose boards and secure
3, check whole floor for protruding nails and either remove them or punch them 3mm below the surface
4, fill all holes
5, sand it with one of these http://floorsanderhire.com/trio.htm... they are almost idiot proof.
6, Now be careful not to mark your freshly sanded floor and give a hoover, get all the dust out
7, apply either this http://www.realoakfloors.co.uk/osmo_poly...
or this http://www.realoakfloors.co.uk/bona_spec...
8, take a well earned break.
im a builder and can tell you its a very dusty job,the sanding down is fairly easy with the right tools but the varnishing can be a nightmare,its very easy to get it wrong ,suggest if you do it you practice on some old timber same colour of course or find a section of floorboards out the way somewhere,perhaps in a cupboard or attic space.
i would pay the experts next time
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