What was the job?

Harris Academy is a school for 11-18 year-old boys and girls in South Norwood.

The floors and stairs were worn due to heavy, prolonged use.

Challenges

Stairs always present a challenge because they offer less of a stable working area. The floors had been looked after, but there were a few loose blocks which we had to fix before beginning the assigned task.

Work in schools can only realistically take place when there are no students in the building. The noise interrupts lessons and their curiosity can prove to be an obstacle.

How the floor looked before we started work

What we did

After minor repair work, we began the sanding process with dust free machines. Lacquer was not added until we were sure there was no debris that could potentially ruin the sheen.

We took extra care when sanding the stair treads. This was for our safety and because we did not want to damage the glass panels.

During the floor restoration

The results

The smooth floors are safer, which is particularly important in a school with children running with little consideration for the surface. As the floors showed signs of being cared for, it should be many years before sanding services are required again.

The shine from the lacquer makes the floor appear as if it has just been fitted.

After we finished the job