"Sarah" wrote in message
...
Thank you all for your help...

Can you just explain what different things I can coat the newly sanded
floor with. Is it varnish or stain - the varnish is more hard
wearing, the stain is more natural looking?

Staining is only meant to be used to give you the right colouring/effect,
varnish is the protecting coat. So, even if you intend to stain the wood you
will need to varnish it later. You can also buy coloured varnish that does
both in on go, but I believe that you get better finish with separate
coats.

Plan for a minimum of 2 coats of varnish - depending on the level of usage
of the room etc. Most people recommend around 2 coats for a bedroom, and,
say, 4 for a heavily used room (hall, lounge etc).

The good quality varnish is (very) expensive. From the experience of sanding
around 15 rooms in the last couple of years I will not touch anything other
than Ronseal Diamond Hard (available from most sheds). I rent the two
sanders for £80 per week (+ say, £20 for paper per room). The varnish for
such room can be 50-£60!

I usually wood sealer
(http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...09185&id=15391) as a first
coat. Costs around a 3rd of the price of the varnish, and saves you at least
one coat...

Thank you again.

Oh and any chance I can leave the skirting boards on? Most of the
ground floor had the plaster replaced during damp proof work and I
just got the skirting boards back on 8/ Will the edge sander not go
right up to the edges?

Don't worry about it. Take your time, and you can get to all but the last
1-2mm, which is not noticeable at all.

7. If you decide to varnish, then use a "diamond" type water based floor
varnish. Apply 3 or 4 coats. You MUST sand between the 2nd and 3rd coats
using a very fine sandpaper, preferably on a small palm orbital sander.
Think 150-240 grit for this. This really improves the surface.

I second that.