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Hi Community,
We recently bought a house and would like to renovate it ourselves. The flooring is cypress pine floorboards, upon which a carpet was laid. We have removed the carpet, staples, and nail strips and sanded a bit to clear the built-up debris. There are some stains or discolorations on the timber surface, which may be caused by the carpet padding and water in certain areas. We need some guidance on our DIY project. 1) If we sand the surface, will we have the original timber color and texture visible, or will the discoloration still be evident if it has penetrated the surface? 2) How to fill the gaps between floorboards. 3) We want to keep the natural look of the timber and would like to finish with tung oil, How to prep the floor and how to apply oil? 4) Can we apply wax after tung oil application for better protection? 5) Should we buff the surface for a glossy/satin finish? Any guidance will be helpful.
Thank you for your guidance,
Kaushik.
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @kaushiktilwa. It's terrific to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about restoring a floor.
It looks like most of the stains and discolourations on your Cypress Pine floorboards are only on the surface. With a more thorough sanding, you should be able to expose fresh timber underneath, bringing back the natural beauty of the wood. Cypress is quite forgiving in that sense, and a professional-quality sanding will typically restore it to a near-perfect condition. The gaps between your boards appear to be quite standard and not excessively large. Timber naturally expands and contracts with changes in humidity, so it’s best to avoid using solid fillers that could crack over time. Professional floor finishers often collect fine sanding dust, mix it with an adhesive, and use that as a filler before the final sand, which helps achieve a colour match and smooth finish. For DIY purposes, you might consider leaving the gaps as they are, only filling any noticeably large cracks or imperfections.
To achieve the natural look you’re after with a tung oil finish, preparation is key. Begin by punching any exposed nails below the surface and lightly filling any holes or imperfections before your first coat of oil to ensure the colour match is consistent. Sand the floor evenly to a smooth finish, then thoroughly vacuum and wipe to remove all dust. Once prepped, you can use a ready-to-use tung oil blend like Feast Watson Timber Floor Oil, which provides a subtle matt finish that enhances the timber’s natural grain and offers resistance to water and spills.
To apply, stir the oil thoroughly and apply a generous first coat with a brush, roller, cloth or Feast Watson Floor Finish Applicator, ensuring even coverage. Allow it to soak into the timber for about 60 minutes, then wipe away any excess with a clean cloth. Once dry, apply a second coat in the same manner. After the final coat has dried for 24 hours, you can buff the surface using a floor buffer (around 300 rpm) to achieve a soft satin sheen. If you prefer a bit more gloss and extra protection, you can apply a wax layer after the oil has fully cured, then buff again to the desired sheen. For ongoing maintenance, clean the floors regularly with Feast Watson Floor Clean. When the floor starts to lose its lustre, simply clean and reapply another coat of Timber Floor Oil, no sanding required. This will help keep your Cypress Pine floors looking warm, natural, and well-protected for years to come.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
