Floor Sanding Cheltenham

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Wooden Floor Gap Filing

Closing the gaps in your sanded floors

Gap filling a floor is an option that many people like since it brings a uniform finish to the floor and helps exclude drafts. Warning! Since wood is a natural material it can expand and contract. Over time, ALL filler can work loose and fall out. Strip filling is most reliable. If working with resin, make sure you work in a ventilated room.

Method 1 - Filling with Resin

The conventional way of gap filling sanded floor boards is to use a resin mixed with the dust that comes off the floor with the 80 grit or finer sanding. This is the least costly method, but also the least effective since it can easily crack and fall out. A very simple procedure, simply mix the resin with the dust and apply it into the gaps with a flat spatula. Usually done after sanding to at least 80grit.

Hint 1: make sure that all boards are firm and secure since any movement will cause the gap filling to crack and fall out.

Hint 2: make sure that you fill any gap bigger than 6mm with papier mache, string or strips of wood before you fill over the top with the resin filler. This will give the best chance of stopping the filling cracking.

Method 2 - Flexifill

The second method is to work with a flexible filler, with approx. 12% flexibility, that comes in a tube/gun. This has the advantage of being less prone to cracking out and the disadvantage of being very expensive. Again this procedure is completed after the 80grit sanding. The filler is applied via a gun and smoothed over with a filling knife. This filler must be left for at least 12 hours to set. After setting, the filler can be sanded and polished.

Method 3 - Solid Pine Strips

For those who really want the best result, closing with solid pine is the best method. Using specially manufactured strips of reclaimed pine, the strips are glued with a D3 PVA glue and hammered into the gaps and then unlike most companies we pin the strips before being chiselled off and sanded back. The results are spectacular - a solid pine floor without relaying! Note: due to the natural movement of wood, strip filling can still fail. Strips are still the most reliable but what can happen is the appearance of small splits rather than complete failure as with resin.

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