• Flooring Experts: If you are unsure if your floors need polishing, do not hesitate to contact us. We will provide advice regarding your flooring and if floor polishing is needed.
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• Personalised Services: Every floor is different, and we will recommend what is best for your type of floor. Our experienced team will suggest the best course of action to take so that you can achieve your desired flooring.

DW Floor Polishing Singapore is a trusted floor care specialist – providing reliable professional floor polishing and floor cleaning services for all types of floors such as marble, wood, vinyl, and more. Our services range from marble floor polishing, wood floor polishing, and to parquet floor polishing, among others. We also provide floor deep cleaning, vinyl floor deep cleaning, vinyl floor cleaning, and terrazzo floor cleaning – all at a reasonable price. Contact us today!

Table of contents (click on the sub-topic to get to the section you want)

• How Much Does Wood Floor Polishing Cost in Singapore
• 8 Factors Affecting How Long Wood Floor Polishing Will Take
• A Step By Step Guide To DIY Wood Floor Polishing
• 6 Tips You Should Consider For DIY Wood Floor Polishing
• 5 Ways To Prepare For Professional Wood Floor Polishing in Singapore

How Much Does Wood Floor Polishing Cost in Singapore?

Wood polishing effectively restores the glossy smooth finish of the floor. Therefore, homeowners that are interested would like to learn how to determine the cost of the wood floor polishing service to effectively plan their budget. 

Present Condition of Wood Floor

One of the main factors determining the cost of floor polishing is the condition of the floor. If the wood floor has cupped boards, is warped due to water damage, or has dents and stains, the damage will first have to be fixed before polishing. 

Wood Floor Size

Service providers charge based on the square footage of the area being polished. As a result, polishing a smaller floor area will result in a higher cost per square foot, whereas the rate will be lower for larger floor sizes. 

Wood Floor Layout

Areas with wood floors like stairs, and built-in areas, cannot be reached using machines so they have to be sanded by hand, which will increase the cost. Usually, the time and cost of polishing large flat open wood floors are much lower.

Wood Floor Polishing Tools Used

In addition to the materials used for polishing the floor, the polishing cost also varies depending on the tools used. If there is more damage to the floor, or a better quality finish is required, the contractor hired may use more sophisticated and expensive polishing tools and equipment.

Type of Wood Varnish Used

There are a wide variety of varnishes used for finishing. Homeowners with limited budgets tend to opt for solvent-based and oil varnishes, though they may cause discolouration and are softer. For those who often varnish their wood floors, it’s recommended to go for an expensive top-end water-based varnish.

Accessibility

If the wood floor is not easily accessible, more time will be taken to transport the polishing equipment and supplies increasing the overall cost of polishing. 

In order to decide if wood polishing is required, it is recommended to know the factors that also affect the duration of how long it takes as well as the cost.

8 Factors Affecting How Long Wood Floor Polishing Will Take

Until the floor polishing service is complete, and the varnish is dry, you cannot use the room where the service took place. Hence, so that you can plan your activities accordingly, knowing the factors that affect how long wood floor polishing will take is important.

Wood Floor Type

The time taken for sanding will vary depending on the type of wood. The time taken also varies depending on whether light or heavy sanding is required for the wood. Additionally, the drying time after the varnish finish is applied also depends on the type of wood used on the floor. 

Wood Floor Damage 

Polishing and sanding time will depend on the floor damage. Ultraviolet rays from the sun, and similarly, water damage or oxidation can damage the floor and change its colour, so additional sanding is needed. The same is applicable for removing scratches, dents, and scuffs.

Cleanliness of Wood Floor

If the dirt on the wood floor is not removed completely, it will adhere to the varnish when applied. This will adversely affect the appearance of the polished floor. So if the floor is not clean, more time will be required for its cleaning. 

Uneven Wooden Flooring Areas 

Cracks, buckling, cupping, and warping can make the floor uneven. So more time and effort will be required for sanding the uneven floor to make it even. 

Humidity Levels

The varnish contains liquids and chemicals which have to evaporate so that the varnish is properly dried and cured. If the humidity level on a particular day is more than 50%, the time taken for drying and curing increases due to the higher levels of moisture in the air. 

Ventilation

It is necessary to have enough ventilation so that it is possible to remain in the room. For all types of varnishing, the drying time will reduce to a great extent if there is proper ventilation and the fan is switched on. 

Previous Varnish Used 

The sanding time depends to some extent on the varnish used earlier. Some varnishes like aluminium oxide are difficult to remove so varnishing can take a longer time. Water-based varnishes are less durable, so sanding time will be less. 

Drying Time of Varnish

The time taken for the varnish to dry varies.

Water Based Varnish

Depending on the specific water-based varnish used, and weather conditions like temperature, and humidity levels, the drying time for the water-based varnish is between 4-8 hours. 

Oil Based Varnish 

Oil-based varnishes take between 12-24 hours to dry and in some cases even 48 hours. So the time after which the next coat can be applied is more, and it will often take 3-4 days for the oil-based varnish layers to dry so that the floor can be safely used.

After knowing the factors that will affect the duration of wood floor polishing, you can now be familiar with guides to DIY wood floor polishing.

A Step By Step Guide To DIY Wood Floor Polishing

Some people prefer to undertake DIY projects to save money on professional floor polishing services and have better control over the work. With that in mind, this detailed guide to DIY wood floor polishing is provided to help homeowners achieve this task successfully.

Step 1: Sand Your Wood Floors

First, clear all the furniture and items from the floor. Next, clean the floor to remove dust and debris. After this, fit a heavy grit sandpaper to the sander and sand the floor in the direction of the grain, and then a lighter grit sandpaper and use it to remove any blemishes. 

Step 2: Fill Any Gaps In Your Wood Floors

You can fill gaps smaller than 5 mm using wood dust or wood/resin filler, and larger gaps can be filled using an acrylic filler of the same color. One tip for DIY wood floor polishing is to test the filler on a small area to ensure that the color matches the existing floor color.

Step 3: Stain Your Wood Floors

Optionally, you can stain your floors also. When staining, remove all sawdust, dust, and debris generated during sanding using a vacuum cleaner. Test the stain on a small, hidden area of the floor to check. If satisfied, apply it to the rest of the floor and allow it to dry.

Step 4: Apply The Varnish To Your Wood Floors

After the stain has dried, apply a polyurethane (PU) based varnish or finish using a roller brush. Be sure to apply at least three layers of this varnish. In some cases, oil-based varnish is used although its drying time can be more than 12 hours.

Furthermore, along with this guide to DIY wood floor polishing, you can supplement it with additional DIY wood polishing tips.

6 Tips You Should Consider For DIY Wood Floor Polishing

In DIY wood floor polishing, it’s important to thoroughly be acquainted with guides regarding this. However, if you truly want to maximize efficiency and the effectivity your project, there are many tips that you can consider for DIY wood floor polishing.

Make Sure You Have The Right Tools and Equipment 

A suitable drum sander and edge sander are required which uses sanding sheets, sandpaper, discs, and dust bags are required for use with the sanders. It is advisable to wear suitable safety gear like goggles, gloves, safety shoes, and a vest. 

Prepare Your Wood Floor 

Clear The Room

One of the ways to prepare for professional wood floor polishing is to clear the room by removing tables, chairs, other furniture, and any other items kept on the floor. This should be done carefully to avoid causing further scratches. 

Clean Your Wood Floor

One of the DIY tips in parquet or wood polishing is to try cleaning the floor using a cleaner that is approved to remove the stains and other dirt which could not be removed earlier. This can be done after removing the dust and dirt using a vacuum cleaner.

Protect Surrounding Furniture

If the remaining furniture is fixed and cannot be removed it should be covered using tarpaulin or other methods to protect it from dust

Avoid Improper Edging 

Common mistakes made during DIY wood floor polishing involve improper edging, thus, an edge sander is required. The sanding of the edges should be done carefully since it will cause colour differences and an increased risk of degradation if done improperly.

Avoid Uneven Sanding 

According to the DIY parquet varnishing guide, sanding should be done uniformly so that the floor is level. If done unevenly there it will be noticeable when the stain or varnish is applied. Over-sanding is a greater problem than under-sanding since only an expert can fix it

Remove Any Signs of Dust Before Polishing 

The wood dust generated during sanding can get embedded in the stain/finish, so it should be removed using a vacuum cleaner or mop, similar to the steps involved in DIY parquet polishing.

Use Proper Wood Floor Polishing Products 

Always use the products recommended by the floor seller for polishing the floor, since the wrong products can damage the floor reduce its lifespan.

Call A Wood Floor Polishing Expert 

In addition to being time-consuming, DIY floor polishing is risky and potentially more expensive. So it is better to hire experts, well-trained in floor polishing, and familiar with popular types of wood floors.

Thus, it’s better for you to spend your time preparing for professional wood polishing instead as these DIY tips can only go so far.

5 Ways To Prepare For Professional Wood Floor Polishing in Singapore

When hiring a professional service, it is advisable to prepare so that the professionals can complete their work quickly. In addition, following the ways in preparing for professional wood floor polishing ensures that furniture and other things are safe and handled properly. 

Cover or Remove Furniture 

First, remove all the furniture like chairs, tables, cupboards, shelves, and other items kept on the floor from the room so that the floor is clear. If some items cannot be removed because they are fixed to the wall, they should be properly covered and vacuumed. 

Keep Pets Out of The Area

When the experts begin working, your pets should be removed from the home and kept outside while the room is being polished. If they enter the room while it is being polished, the pets may get injured by the sanders and the finish on the floor will potentially be damaged. 

Take Down Wall Decors and Curtains 

Remove the curtains, photo frames, wall decor, and other things so they are not covered with dust and keep them safe from damage when the floors are being sanded.  The curtains should be wrapped in plastic bags. 

Clean Your Wood Floor

Vacuuming your floors is one of the steps on how to DIY polish your parquet or wood floors. Using a vacuum cleaner or broom remove all the dust, dirt, sand, and debris after the room is cleared. Any remaining dirt and dust can be removed by mopping the floor.

Make Sure You Have Enough Ventilation 

While the floor is being sanded, a lot of dust is being generated. Therefore during this process, the room should have enough ventilation. The windows should be kept open, and the fans switched on so that the dust doesn’t accumulate, as this can potentially damage the floor’s polish.

Conclusion

Determining the cost of wood polishing involves considering various factors. The condition of the floor plays a crucial role, as any existing damage needs to be addressed before polishing. The size and layout of the floor also affect the cost, with larger areas generally having lower rates per square foot. The tools and varnish used during the process can impact the cost, with more extensive damage or higher-quality finishes requiring advanced equipment and materials. Accessibility to the floor area can also influence the overall cost. Additionally, understanding the factors that affect the duration of wood floor polishing is essential for planning purposes. Factors such as floor type, damage, cleanliness, unevenness, humidity levels, ventilation, previous varnish used, and drying time of the varnish can impact the time taken for the process.

For those considering a DIY approach, a step-by-step guide and additional tips are provided to ensure successful wood floor polishing. However, due to the frequency of committing common mistakes during DIY wood polishing, if possible, you should opt for professionals instead. Finally, when preparing for professional wood floor polishing, it is recommended to clear the room, protect furniture, keep pets away, remove wall decorations, clean the floor, and ensure proper ventilation. If you’re looking for reliable wood floor polishing in Singapore, contact DW Floor Polishing Singapore. We take pride in our attention to detail and customer service, you can be assured that we give our best in all our services, as seen in all the past projects we worked on.