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State of the art machinery, traditional tools

We own all the machinery we use and have no need to hire. All our machines and tools are regularly serviced and maintained to the highest standards.

Whilst it is true that it is possible to do a job with inferior tools, more efficient equipment creates a safer, cleaner, quieter working environment. Better quality materials ensure that the job can be finished faster and to a higher standard.

Lagler Bona Festo Metabo Makita, simply the best

We mainly use Lagler machines. Das Original. The original and best sanding machines in the world. See below for the company video. We also have Bona floor sanders, Metabo and Makita hand held sanders and a full range of Festo tools, the best power tools you can buy. Whilst it is true that a good workman never blames his tools, having the best tools money can buy means there is no need to and with over £30,000 worth of investment we have all the tools required to finish a bathroom or a ballroom.

Dust free sanding

In addition to our state-of-the-art floor finishing machinery we also have several thousand pounds worth of top rated hand sanders, dust extractors, fume extractors HVLP and conventional spray units, drilling and sawing systems and portable partitioning. This means we can undertake full repair or installation of floors if required, isolation of work areas, virtually dust free working and application of factory finishes on site. We are able to work in sensitive areas like galleries, museums and retail outlets without damage to either artifacts or stock. More importantly it means we can work as dust free as it is possible to get in sensitive areas like your home, without damage to either your furnishings or your children's health.

Our customers seem in a constant state of amazement at how clean we are, we treat your house as if it were our own and aim to leave it cleaner than when we arrived. Most floor sanding operatives come via the building site, we come via nearly 100 years of antique restoration, there is a difference. We are used to being scrupulously clean, when you are working on Chippendale chairs or Vulliamy clocks worth tens of thousands of pounds you have to be.

       
Click for Lagler Video      Click to see ours              Traditional tools

Materials

We use a wide range of materials depending on customer preference/architect or surveyor specification but normally reccommend a low odour water based lacquer for medium to heavily used floors and a shellac and wax finish for very old or lightly used floors. We use Bona floor lacquers and Mylands shellac polishes, both market leaders and highest quality in their field. We also use premium quality Sia abrasives (made in Switzerland) it all helps in achieving a perfect result.

Osmo, Hardwax oil, Trip Trap, Oil Finishes, Oiling

Oil and Hard wax oil finishes are very popular these days, mostly because of ease of application and low cost. Their durability is lied about even by the largest and most expensive companies as using these finishes increases their revenue by allowing them to use lower skilled labour. They do have a particular look and some very interesting colour effects can be achieved, we are very happy to apply these finishes but bear in mind we are one of the few companies that are honest enough to tell the truth, they are not as durable as they are marketed to be and I can say that without the slightest fear of litigation.

For low traffic areas and for people without pets or young children they are fine but if you wish to have a coloured oil finish in a normal household or a commercial area like a restaurant then you should know that the colour will probably go patchy and get damaged.

I have lost count the number of multi million pound houses and commercial premises I have been to where people have asked me what can be done with their very expensive floor which is getting damaged. They are understandably upset when they realise that the very expensive and sophisticated architect/designer/designer flooring company neglected to mention the specific mechanical properties to them beforehand. Unfortunately this is a symptom of companies not wishing to pay for or being able to find highly skilled people such as myself to stain floors correctly using more traditional techniques. Irrespective of all the marketing faff, floors and interiors were invariably stained either chemically or with dyes either organic or laterly aniline, sealed in shellac and either waxed or varnished (either with high quality copal resin or lower quality pine rosin). Mahogany was one of the few woods along with walnut that was treated with boiled linseed oil which took 24 hours to dry and is a far cry from the pigmented quick drying modified finishes that puport to be traditional.

I shall shortly be publishing several pieces in a new ARTICLES section with reference to sanding, stripping, finishing, wood finishing history and traditional techniques.