Timber surfaces include plywood and particleboard sheeting and solid tongue-and-groove boards.

Solvents and strippers don't work well on timber floors, so you'll need to remove contaminants by sanding down to bare wood.

Drum sanders are best on floors that need a lot of material removed.

Belt sanders provide a finer finish, but get clogged up more easily, so they are most effective when the surface only needs to be lightly sanded.

Orbital 'edgers' are used around skirting boards and corners.

Once the sanding is completed, vacuum up all dust with an industrial vacuum cleaner.

Also check that all boards or sheets are well fixed and there are no squeaks or movement underfoot.

Re-nail or screw any loose boards or panels.

Cement-based toppings should not be used on a particleboard substrate unless the manufacturer recommends it.

This is because the particleboard is less tolerant of the high levels of moisture in the fresh underlayment than plywood or solid hardwood flooring.

Where cement-based toppings are used on wooden subfloors, a diamond metal mesh should be put down first.

Installers often use 12 mm 'tilers lath', which provides a strong support structure for the underlayment to bond to.