• How Often Should a Sports Hall Floor Be Sanded and Sealed? • November 11th, 2025
Most timber sports floors need sanding and sealing every seven to ten years. This process removes the worn top layer, restores grip and appearance, and applies a new protective finish.
The exact timing isn’t the same for every facility. Usage levels, cleaning routines and surface type all influence when sanding becomes necessary.
Schools and leisure centres with heavy daily use often need sanding closer to every five to seven years.
Community and lighter-use halls can usually reach the ten-year mark or beyond if resealing is carried out in between.
This sanding frequency gives decision-makers a reliable benchmark for planning both maintenance schedules and budgets.
Several factors determine how soon a floor will need a full renovation:
Surface type:
Granwood and Timber can all be sanded and resealed multiple times.
Pulastic floors can also be sanded and re-poured.
Vinyl floors cannot be sanded. Maintenance focuses on specialist cleaning and refurbishment.
Usage levels: High daily traffic causes faster wear.
Cleaning regime: Using approved products and removing grit daily extends the life of the finish.
Line markings: Heavy multi-sport use may require markings to be refreshed earlier, sometimes prompting sanding sooner.
It’s time to plan a sand and seal when:
The surface has lost grip during play
The finish looks dull even after cleaning
Markings and seal appear visibly worn in high-traffic areas
Delaying sanding beyond this point risks deeper damage, higher costs and non-compliance with Sport England standards.
Floors should only be sanded when it is necessary. Timber and hardwood can only be sanded a set number of times before the surface becomes too thin. Over-sanding reduces lifespan and may eventually force replacement.
Between major renovations, resealing keeps surfaces safe and extends the period before sanding is required.
Many facilities carry out resealing every one to three years, usually following annual inspections. It is the most cost-effective step, far less than sanding, and sanding itself remains considerably less expensive than full replacement.
For the complete maintenance cycle, see our sports hall floor maintenance guide.
The most reliable way to confirm whether sanding is required, or whether resealing will be enough, is through a professional survey. A detailed inspection gives you certainty, helps you budget accurately and allows work to be scheduled with minimal disruption.
Adding a survey into your maintenance plan also helps spread costs sensibly, addressing issues early with resealing, and only investing in sanding when it’s genuinely required.
As a general rule, plan for sanding and sealing every seven to ten years for timber, hardwood and Sportsdeck floors, supported by resealing in between. The exact timing depends on your surface, usage and maintenance regime. A survey will give you the clarity you need, and we’ll guide you on the right next steps.
Find out more about our sanding and sealing service
Return to All News