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Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @freo-saffron. It's splendid to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about restoring timber flooring.
Refreshing Jarrah floors on a budget can be done if you follow the basic process of sanding and coating. The first step is preparing the room by removing all furniture, checking for any nails or staples sticking up from the boards, and giving the floor a good vacuum to clear dust and debris. Once clear, hire a drum sander for the main area and an edge sander for the skirting and corners.
Sanding is done in stages, starting with coarse-grit paper to strip off the old finish and level scratches, moving to medium-grit to smooth things out, and finishing with fine-grit grit to prepare for coating. Always sand with the grain of the timber and vacuum thoroughly between stages. After sanding, vacuum again and wipe the floor with a damp cloth to remove fine dust.
For coating, you can choose between oil-based polyurethane for durability and warmth, water-based polyurethane for quicker drying and a lighter look, or penetrating oils for a more natural finish, though these are less resistant to dog claws. Apply at least three coats, cutting in the edges with a brush and rolling the main areas, lightly sanding between coats to keep the surface smooth. Let the finish dry thoroughly, waiting at least 24–48 hours before walking on it and up to a week before moving furniture back.
By sanding the floors yourself with hired machines, you'll save a considerable amount instead of paying trades to do so for you.
Here are a couple of helpful guides: How to sand timber floors and How to seal timber floors.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
