How Long Will My Timber Floor Sanding & Polishing Project Take in Melbourne?

One of the most common questions we get at MyFlooring is, "How long will the entire sanding and polishing process take?" It's a crucial question, as you'll need to plan around the work, including potentially vacating your home.

While every timber floor sanding and polishing project in Melbourne is unique, we can provide clear guidelines and explain the factors that influence the overall timeline. Our goal at MyFlooring is always efficiency, quality, and clear communication, ensuring you know exactly what to expect.

The General Timeline: 2 to 5 Days for the Main Work

For an average-sized Melbourne home (e.g., a 3-4 bedroom house with standard living areas), the active sanding and polishing process typically takes between 2 to 5 full days. This range accounts for the various stages involved in achieving a flawless finish.

However, this is just the active work time. You'll also need to factor in drying and curing times for the finish, which extends the period before you can fully use your floors again.

Factors That Influence the Duration

Several key elements determine exactly how long your timber floor restoration project will take:

1. Size of the Area (Square Metres):

   • This is the most significant factor. Naturally, larger homes or extensive open-plan living areas will require more time than a single room or a small apartment.

   • General Guide:

     • Small Areas (e.g., 1-2 rooms, under 40m²): Often 2-3 days of active work.

     • Medium Homes (e.g., 3-4 bedrooms, 50-100m²): Typically 3-4 days of active work.

     • Larger Homes / Extensive Areas (over 100m²): Can extend to 4-5 days or more for the active work.

2. Condition of the Existing Timber Floor:

   • Good Condition: Floors with minimal wear, shallow scratches, and a relatively thin existing finish will require fewer sanding passes, speeding up the process.

   • Poor Condition: Floors with deep scratches, significant stains, unevenness, or multiple layers of old, thick, or tough finishes (like some old glues or paints) will require more aggressive and numerous sanding passes. Any necessary timber floor repairs (punching nails, filling gaps) will also add time.

3. Choice of Finish (Water-based vs. Solvent-based):

   • Water-based Polyurethane: Generally dries much faster between coats (often 2-4 hours). This can allow for more coats to be applied within a shorter timeframe, potentially speeding up the active polishing days.

   • Solvent-based Polyurethane: Typically requires longer drying times between coats (e.g., 8-12 hours). This means fewer coats can be applied per day, extending the active work period.

4. Staining or Specialised Techniques (e.g., Bleaching, Limewashing):

   • If you choose to have your timber floors stained, bleached, or limewashed, this adds an extra step to the process. These applications require their own drying times before the final protective coats can be applied, extending the overall timeline by at least an additional day, sometimes two.

What Happens During the Process (Typical Breakdown):

• Day 1 (Rough Sanding & Preparation): MyFlooring's team will meticulously prepare the area (as per our "Getting Ready" guide), punch down nails, fill gaps/holes, and conduct the initial rough sanding to remove old finishes and imperfections.

• Day 2 (Finer Sanding & Buffing): Subsequent sanding passes with progressively finer grits will refine the floor's surface. This is usually followed by a thorough buffing to ensure ultimate smoothness.

• Day 3 (First & Second Coats of Finish): The first and second coats of your chosen durable timber floor finish are applied. Drying time between coats is factored in.

• Day 4 (Final Coat & Buff - if required): For some finishes or depending on the project, a final light buff and the last coat of finish are applied.

  
  

Beyond the Active Work: Curing Time & When You Can Use Your Floors

This is crucial for your planning!

• Foot Traffic (Socks ONLY): You can generally walk on the floors (in socks only!) after 24 hours after the final coat for most water-based finishes, and sometimes 72 hours for solvent-based.

• Light Furniture: You can usually start moving light furniture back after 72 hours to 1 week, depending on the finish. Remember to always use felt pads!

• Heavy Furniture & Rugs: Heavy furniture, appliances, and area rugs should generally wait for 1 to 4 weeks (depending on the specific finish and its full cure time). This prevents indentations and allows the finish to harden properly.

Your MyFlooring technician will always provide precise instructions for your specific project and chosen finish.

Plan Ahead with MyFlooring

Understanding the timeline helps you arrange alternative accommodation, plan furniture removal, and prepare your home for this transformative process. At MyFlooring, we pride ourselves on transparent communication and efficient project management.

For an accurate estimate tailored to your specific home and requirements in Melbourne, contact MyFlooring today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We'll assess your floors and provide a clear timeline, ensuring a smooth process and stunning results.