Frequently Asked Questions

We are based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, and cover a 20-mile radius from our base, taking in most of Hertfordshire and parts of Bedfordshire, as well as North, North West, and West London. If you are not sure whether we cover your postcode, call us on 01727 482660 or email info@handy-floors.com and we will confirm quickly.

Yes. We work with homeowners, landlords, letting agents, and businesses across Hertfordshire and London. Different settings have different requirements and schedules — tell us about your property or premises when you enquire and we can discuss what works for you.

Yes. We arrive fully equipped with all the professional equipment and products needed for the job. You do not need to provide anything. The products we use are appropriate to each floor or fabric type — we do not use a single generic product across every job.

Call us on 01727 482660 or 07897 954433, or email info@handy-floors.com. Quotes are free and there is no obligation. For some jobs we may want to assess the floor or furniture in person before quoting — we will let you know if that is the case.

For most jobs, access to the relevant rooms is needed at the start. Please discuss your situation when booking and we will confirm what access is needed and for how long.

We use professional products appropriate to each floor or fabric type. Where a product requires the area to be vacated during or immediately after treatment, we will let you know in advance. Once the area is dry, it is safe for normal use.

Hard floor cleaning removes surface and ingrained dirt from an existing floor using professional machine-cleaning equipment — suitable for floors that are soiled but have a sound, intact surface and intact sealant. Hard floor restoration goes further: it involves stripping the existing sealant or coating, deep-cleaning the bare surface, and applying a fresh protective sealant or finish. Restoration is the right choice when a floor looks dull, porous, or discoloured even after thorough cleaning.

No. Handy Floors is a restoration and cleaning specialist. We clean, restore, polish, and re-seal existing floors — we do not supply, fit, or install new flooring of any kind. If you need new flooring fitted, you would need a separate flooring retailer or installer.

We carry out restoration on Victorian encaustic and geometric tiles, natural stone including marble, limestone, and travertine, and hardwood and parquet flooring. We assess the surface condition and material before starting and will advise if a floor is not suitable for the restoration process.

Many etch marks, dull patches, and general wear respond well to professional polishing, which lifts the surface back to a level, even finish. Depth of etching varies by stone type, so we assess the floor first and will advise honestly on the likely result before starting.

No — refurbishment works with your existing hardwood or parquet floor. We sand back the worn surface finish and apply a fresh lacquer or oil to restore the wood's appearance, checking and re-securing any loose parquet blocks as part of the process. The original boards or blocks stay in place.

We use hot water extraction — also known as steam cleaning. This method injects hot water and cleaning solution into the carpet pile and simultaneously extracts the water along with dislodged dirt, leaving the carpet significantly cleaner than surface-only methods achieve.

Yes. We clean commercial carpet tiles in offices, waiting rooms, and similar settings alongside domestic carpets. Commercial jobs are assessed individually — please enquire with details of the area size and carpet type and we can discuss the most practical approach.

Our upholstery cleaning service is designed for fabric-upholstered furniture. Leather and specialist materials require different treatment — please enquire directly with details of the piece and we can advise whether it falls within our service.

Yes — we match the water temperature, dwell time, and cleaning solution to the carpet's fibre type before starting. Fine wool and other delicate carpets are treated with a gentler approach than heavy-duty synthetic carpet, and we will advise if a particular carpet needs special care.

Drying time depends on the carpet or fabric type, pile depth, and ventilation in the room. Good airflow — opening windows or using fans — significantly reduces drying time. We extract as much moisture as possible during the process to minimise the damp period.