Hardwood flooring is designed to last for years, if not decades. If you choose a material like oak or maple, you can be sure that you are getting a floor that is hard, strong and resilient to anything that hectic family life or a bustling working environment can throw at it.

Real wood flooring requires care and maintenance in order to keep it in prime condition. There are some circumstances, however, where marks, scratches, dents and other problems can’t be avoided. The only way to fix imperfections and damage like this is through floor sanding.

Floor sanding is a process by which the top layer or layers of the wood surface are sanded away. Any marks in the surface of the wood are eliminated by this method, giving your flooring a ‘brand new’ appearance and a new lease of life.

There are a few things to remember if you are considering restoring your hardwood flooring through floor sanding:

1. Use a professional. Unless you know what you are doing and have the right equipment, you should always consult an experienced floor sanding expert. Fail to do this and you could end up ruining your floor.

2. Your floor will need to be re-finished once sanding is complete. The process takes off the top layers of wood, so your glossy finish will have to be reapplied.

3. Your floor can only be sanded a certain number of times. Ask the manufacturer or supplier of your wood flooring about this.