Will the stain come out...

[NickH]

I have recently removed the lino in my kitchen and wish to sand & polish the floorboards underneath. However, the lino was placed directly onto the old boards and thus I have a a square pattern on the floorboards where water has seeped between the tiles!! Is it possible, through sanding, to remove and polish so I have an immaculate floor??
<!-- / message -->

[Ray153]

Nick,
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I suspect the answer is most likely no. If the water has leaked through the lino seams enough to leave a square outline, then chances are it has been happening for some time and as a result the staining has most likely penetrated fairly deeply into the grain. Any attempt to sand away the stain will only leave you with a noticeably thinner section of flooring.
Thinking about it some more though, if it has only marked a neat straightish line then may be it has only happened recently or just the once...... Are you able to get under the floor and look at the underside of the flooring? Where the boards sealed somehow prior to the lino going on or have they never seen varnish?
Staining that I have seen in the past in a laundry was pretty heavy and certainly wasn't in nice straight lines, the water marks looked a little like the outline of squashed cauliflower if you get what I mean......
Other options you might have to consider are staining the timber a darker colour or perhaps consider some sort of chemical process to try and remove the stain. I don't know nearly anywhere enough about that sort of thing except to say that I reckon it would be fraught with risk and would most likely be pretty damn hard to get right. There are certainly plenty of others on this forum who can give an opinion on these sort of processes though.
Good luck with it

[Cabbie]

I am not too sure myself but you could try staining the timber darker or bleaching the timber which may take away the dark stain left behind by the water. I can't think of anything else but as was said before the water will have probably seeped through fairly deep and you will be sanding forever if you wanted to sand it back and you will be left with dips ect in the floor also if you don't sand it even. My suggestion would be staining but there could be another way.

[martrix]

I have recently removed the lino in my kitchen and wish to sand & polish the floorboards underneath. However, the lino was placed directly onto the old boards and thus I have a a square pattern on the floorboards where water has seeped between the tiles!! Is it possible, through sanding, to remove and polish so I have an immaculate floor??
<!-- / message -->

What sort of timber do you think it is?

I'm guessing it is Vic Ash/Tas Oak and that the stain is a grey to dark black?

[NickH]

Not sure as to the type of timber, but yes the stains are black...preparing myself for the worst when the floor guy comes around to sand and polish next week (can always tile the kitchen and leave the lovely boards in the lounge room, just not sure how it will look as is one room).

[totoblue]

I have recently removed the lino in my kitchen and wish to sand & polish the floorboards underneath. However, the lino was placed directly onto the old boards and thus I have a a square pattern on the floorboards where water has seeped between the tiles!! Is it possible, through sanding, to remove and polish so I have an immaculate floor??

One of the products for cleaning decks prior to refinishing might get it off. They are quite good at removing the grey oxidation on timber that has been outside. IIRC some are based on oxalic acid (poisonous) so follow the instructions. I'd go to a paint store rather than trying your luck at the big green warehouse (sometimes you can be lucky and sometimes not). Try it out in an inconspicuous area.

Also it might be worth asking a timber advisory service.
e.g. http://www.timber.asn.au/TAC/ in Blackburn

[NickH]

It would appear that I am a very lucky person indeed!!
The stain came out!!
My advice to anyone who has come across the ugly "square look" when removing lino on floorboards is to sand and polish regardless...if it comes up good, then happy days. If not, then at least you gave it a go.