Your timber floor bears the brunt of family life. Kids’ toys, high heels and washing machine leaks can all leave permanent scratches and marks on even the best quality timber. But that doesn’t mean you have to live with them forever. Repairing or updating your timber floor might seem like a big undertaking, but it doesn’t have to be daunting. All you need is a bit of time and the right tools for the job.
Should I use a water or oil-based finish?
Refresh badly scratched floors by adding a maintenance coat. This will cover up marks, enhance the natural timber grain, and give a durable protection. Cabot’s CFP Floor is available in both oil and water-based formulations. If your floor already has a water or oil coat, you’ll get the best results by sticking to the same technology.
Prepare
Application tools:
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6-10mm nap microfiber rollers for smooth, even coverage
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Quality brushes for edge work and detailed areas
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Pad applicators for professional-grade finish quality
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Broad flat paddle for proper product mixing
Preparation equipment:
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180-240 grit sandpaper for surface preparation
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Drum sander for larger refinishing projects (rental option)
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Vacuum cleaner with brush attachments
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Tack cloths for dust removal
CFP Floor Water Based
CFP Floor Water Based is a clear polyurethane that’s suitable on all interior timber and cork flooring. Highly durable, hard-wearing, with a fast-drying finish it maintains the natural colour of the timber and won’t yellow over time. The best bit? There’s no need to sand the floor before using it.
- Recoat after only 3 hours.
- Resists stains & scratches.
- Virtually no odour for a more comfortable working environment. Will not yellow.
How to recoat with a Water-Based Finish:
- Use Cabot’s Floor Clean to thoroughly remove any dirt, wax, or oil.
- Let the floor dry completely before proceeding.
- Test a small, hidden area with one coat of CFP Floor Water Based.
- Let it dry for 3 hours, then press sticky tape firmly to the surface and pull off quickly.
- If the coating sticks: Proceed to apply CFP Floor Water Based over the entire floor.
- If the coating comes off: Sand the floor back to bare timber to ensure proper adhesion.
- After applying one full coat, use Cabot’s Wood Tone Putty to fill nail holes, cracks, or other defects.
- Choose a tone that matches the timber for best results.
- Finish with a final coat of CFP Floor Water Based for a smooth, durable surface.
CFP Floor Oil Based
CFP Floor Oil Based adds warmth to timber, parquetry and cork flooring, allowing a variety of colours to be highlighted in the timber, and adding depth to darker timber. It is highly durable and hard-wearing, and takes longer to try than a water-based coat. To ensure a smooth surface, floors need sanding before it’s added to timber.
- Highly durable.
- Resists stains & scratches.
- Enhances the natural colour of the timber grain.
- Enriched with oil to nourish and protect the timber.
How to recoat with an Oil-Based Finish:
- If the floor has an oil-based coating, sanding is required.
- Clean with Cabot’s Floor Clean and let it dry completely.
- Use 180–240 grit sandpaper to sand the surface.
- Remove all sanding dust thoroughly.
- Choose a small, hidden area and apply one coat of CFP Floor Oil Based.
- Let it dry for 12 hours.
- Press sticky tape firmly to the surface and pull off quickly.
If the coating stays intact to the floor:
- Sand the entire floor again with 180–240 grit sandpaper (most floors need sanding twice).
- Remove dust and proceed to application.
If the coating comes off:
- Sand the entire floor back to bare timber.
- Repeat the adhesion test until the coating stays on.
- Stir CFP Floor Oil Based thoroughly with a broad flat paddle before and during use.
- Do not shake the can.
- Use a good quality brush to cut into the corners of the timber.
- Keep a wet edge to avoid lap marks.
- Use a pad applicator, quality brush, or 6–10mm nap roller.
- Apply to the length of 3–4 boards at a time.
- Let the first coat dry for at least 12 hours.
- Lightly sand with 240 grit paper.
- Remove all sanding dust.
- Apply the final coat evenly for a smooth, durable finish.
