Stage 1: Free Property Visit & Consultation
Your restoration journey begins with our no-obligation consultation service, available throughout Hammersmith and surrounding W6 areas.
What Happens During Your Consultation:
Our specialist arrives at your scheduled time (we’re punctual—respecting your schedule is paramount) and conducts a thorough floor assessment:
- Visual Inspection: Examining overall condition, wear patterns, and damage extent
- Block Stability Testing: Checking for loose blocks requiring re-adhesion
- Moisture Readings: Using electronic meters to detect potential subfloor moisture issues
- Finish Analysis: Determining existing coating types to plan removal strategies
- Wood Identification: Confirming species for appropriate sanding and finishing approaches
- Pattern Documentation: Photographing complex patterns for reference during restoration
- Discussion: Understanding your aesthetic preferences, functional requirements, and timeline expectations
Following assessment, we provide:
- Detailed written quotation with transparent pricing
- Project timeline estimation
- Finish options and recommendations
- Maintenance guidance for post-restoration care
- Answers to all your questions
Consultations typically require 30-45 minutes depending on property size and complexity. This investment of time ensures accurate quotes and realistic expectations.
Stage 2: Pre-Sanding Preparation
Proper preparation determines restoration quality. Before sanding equipment enters your Hammersmith property:
Structural Repairs Loose parquet blocks are endemic in older properties due to adhesive failure, subfloor movement, or historic moisture issues. We systematically:
- Identify all loose blocks through systematic testing
- Carefully lift affected blocks without damage
- Clean both block undersides and subfloor surfaces
- Apply modern, flexible adhesives suitable for building movement
- Weight blocks during adhesive curing to ensure proper bonding
This process is crucial—sanding loose blocks damages both blocks and equipment.
Block Replacement Missing or irreparably damaged blocks are replaced with carefully matched materials. We maintain stocks of reclaimed parquet from various eras, helping us match wood species, thickness, and grain patterns in period Hammersmith properties.
For unusual species or patterns, we can source or fabricate custom replacements ensuring invisible repairs.
Gap Treatment Gaps between blocks occur naturally as timber shrinks with age. Treatment depends on gap size:
- Fine Gaps (under 1mm): Often left untreated as finish penetrates naturally
- Medium Gaps (1-3mm): Filled with color-matched wood filler
- Large Gaps (3mm+): Filled with thin wood slivers for superior appearance and durability
Furniture Management We can work around furniture where possible, though complete removal allows optimal results. Heavy items like pianos require specialist moving—we can arrange this if needed.
All remaining furniture receives protective covering to guard against any residual dust.
Room Sealing In Hammersmith apartment blocks, we seal doorways with protective sheeting to contain the minimal dust our extraction systems don’t capture, protecting adjacent rooms and considering neighbors.
Stage 3: Multi-Stage Sanding Process
Floor transformation happens here through our systematic sanding approach:
Initial Coarse Sanding (40-60 Grit) Heavy-duty sanding removes:
- Old varnish, lacquer, or oil finishes (often multiple layers applied over decades)
- Surface stains from water damage, pet accidents, or spills
- Deep scratches from furniture and foot traffic
- Surface unevenness from wear or poor previous restoration
This aggressive phase requires expertise—removing sufficient material to reach fresh wood while avoiding over-sanding that could affect pattern definition or create depressions.
Intermediate Sanding (80-100 Grit) Medium-grit passes eliminate marks left by coarse sanding while further smoothing surfaces. This stage requires patience—rushing creates visible sanding marks that show through final finishes.
Fine Sanding (120-150 Grit) Final sanding creates perfectly smooth surfaces ready for finish application. The wood at this stage is pristine—natural color restored, grain visible, surface even and receptive to coatings.
Edge Work Large drum sanders can’t reach within several inches of walls. We use specialized edge sanders to finish these areas, ensuring uniform appearance across entire floors. This is particularly important in Hammersmith properties with intricate parquet extending to room perimeters.
Hand Detailing Corners, around radiator pipes, and other inaccessible areas receive careful hand sanding with appropriate abrasives, ensuring every centimeter matches the main floor.
Dust Extraction Throughout all phases, our industrial extraction systems continuously remove airborne particles. These systems use multiple filtration stages to capture even microscopic dust, maintaining air quality and cleanliness.
Quality Control After final sanding, we inspect surfaces under strong lighting to identify any imperfections requiring additional attention. Only flawless preparation proceeds to finishing.
Sanding duration for average Hammersmith rooms (4m x 5m) typically requires 5-7 hours depending on floor condition and pattern complexity.
Stage 4: Color Enhancement (Optional)
Many Hammersmith clients choose to modify their floor’s natural color:
Color Restoration Matching original tones in properties where floors were historically stained. This is common in Victorian properties where mahogany or walnut tones were fashionable.
Darkening Rich, darker stains create dramatic, sophisticated appearances. Popular choices include:
- Jacobean oak for traditional interiors
- Dark walnut for contemporary aesthetics
- Smoked oak for modern Hammersmith loft conversions
Lightening Whitewashing or light stains brighten rooms:
- White oak for Scandinavian-inspired interiors
- Natural oak to enhance wood grain without darkening
- Grey-toned stains for contemporary properties
Custom Toning We can create virtually any color through stain mixing and layering, helping you achieve precise aesthetic visions.
Testing Process We never apply stain without client approval. Test areas in inconspicuous locations (under radiators or in closets) allow you to assess colors with your lighting and décor before committing.
Staining adds 1-2 days to project timelines due to application and drying requirements.
Stage 5: Protective Finishing
The sealing phase determines long-term performance and appearance:
Lacquer Application Water-based polyurethane lacquers, our most popular finish choice, are applied in three coats:
- First Coat: Seals wood grain and provides foundation for subsequent layers. Applied with professional rollers ensuring even coverage. Drying time: 3-4 hours.
- Intermediate Sanding: Light sanding with fine abrasives (180-220 grit) between coats removes minor imperfections and improves adhesion. This step is crucial for professional results but often skipped by less experienced contractors.
- Second Coat: Builds protection while maintaining smooth surface. Drying time: 3-4 hours.
- Final Coat: Provides ultimate protection and final appearance. Applied carefully to avoid roller marks or bubbles.
Total lacquer curing: Light foot traffic after 24 hours; furniture replacement after 48-72 hours; full cure approximately one week.
Oil Application Natural oils are worked into wood using specialist pads or brushes:
- First Coat: Liberally applied and allowed to penetrate. Excess is removed after 15-30 minutes.
- Additional Coats: Two to three coats total, each applied 12-24 hours apart as previous coats cure.
Oils require longer curing than lacquers—light traffic after 48 hours, furniture after 3-5 days, full cure 7-14 days.
Hardwax Oil Application Combining oil and wax benefits, these finishes are applied similarly to pure oils but cure harder and faster.
Quality Assurance Final coats receive meticulous application ensuring:
- Uniform coverage without thin spots
- No roller marks or brush strokes
- Even sheen throughout
- Complete edge coverage
- Proper curing in ambient conditions
Stage 6: Final Inspection & Client Handover
Before considering projects complete:
Comprehensive Inspection We examine entire floors under multiple lighting conditions, checking for:
- Finish uniformity and coverage
- Surface smoothness
- Proper sheen level
- Edge and corner quality
- Any areas requiring touch-up
Touch-Up & Corrections Any imperfections identified receive immediate attention. Our standards are exacting—only flawless results satisfy us.
Protection Removal All protective materials are carefully removed and disposed of properly.
Cleaning Final cleaning removes any dust or debris, leaving your Hammersmith property immaculate.
Maintenance Education We provide detailed guidance covering:
- Appropriate cleaning products and methods
- What to avoid (steam cleaners, harsh chemicals, excessive water)
- Furniture protection recommendations
- When to consider future maintenance
- How to address minor damage or wear
Client Approval Your satisfaction is mandatory. We don’t leave until you’re delighted with results.
BONUS – At the end of the service we will provide you with maintenance recommendations for long-term shine and durability.