The Brotherhood of Floor Sanding: Has It Been Lost?

Have You Ever Been Misunderstood?

Last weekend, my wife, Laurence, and I experienced something that hit home. It was a simple moment that most people might have brushed off, but it left me thinking deeply about our trade and how things have changed over the years.

It started last summer when we walked past apple trees in a park near our home. I had never really paid much attention to them before, but this time, something caught my eye—the trees were struggling. The apples were small, underdeveloped, and falling to the ground before they could ripen. Clearly, no one had taken care of them for years.

I thought, Over the coming winter, I'll do some work on them.

So, we picked up some of the apples, cut out the bad parts, and made homemade apple pies and purées. It was simple, but it felt good—making something useful out of what others would have ignored. And it got me thinking: If these trees were cared for, they could produce so much more.

Fast forward to this year. After returning from our holiday, I knew it was the perfect time to feed the trees with natural fertiliser and give them a proper pruning. So, I got to work—with my dad's guidance.

(Yes, we're truly blessed—my dad is 80 years old and still fit and active! He studied agriculture and worked with fruit trees for many years.)

Together with Laurence, we trimmed overgrown branches, removed unnecessary growth, and gave the trees their best chance to thrive.

Then, just as we were finishing, a neighbour walked past with her daughter and, to our surprise, loudly said, "Look at how they're ruining the trees!"

She didn't stop to ask what we were doing. She didn't know the care and effort we had put in. She just assumed the worst.

And I won't lie—it stung. Even though we were doing something to help the community, we were met with judgment instead of understanding.

As we sat in our lounge that evening, Laurence was still unsettled by the comment.

But after thinking about the incident, I finally decided to write a kind, understanding letter to the lady. I saw her return home, so I knew where she lived. At that moment after writing the letter, something clicked - and I thought...

What Happened to the Brotherhood of Floor Sanding?

As I thought about what had happened, I realised that this isn't just something that happens in everyday life—it happens in our industry too.

There was a time when floor sanding professionals had each other's backs.

• The experienced pros would teach the younger guys the right way to do things.
• There was respect for experience, a willingness to share knowledge, and a sense that we were all in this together.

Now?

• You see more floor sanding professionals struggling on their own, trying to figure things out through trial and error.
• You see competitors tearing each other down online instead of lifting the trade up.
• You see clients questioning your expertise, thinking they know better because they watched a YouTube video.

It's like those apple trees—left to fend for themselves, slowly getting weaker, producing less, and eventually being forgotten.

I know some people will say, "That's just the way it is now. Nothing's going to change."

And I get it.

A lot of us learned the hard way. No one handed us an easy route into the trade. Some guys struggled for years to get good at this work, and now they're thinking, Why should I help anyone else? No one helped me!

But what if we could change that?

What if we could make it so the best professionals—those who work hard and take pride in their craft—are the ones who succeed?

What This Means for You & Me

We can't control how people react to what we do.

Some people will judge without understanding. Some will tear others down instead of lifting them up. And some will think they know better, even when they don't.

But here's what we can control:

✅ How we respond—with integrity, professionalism, and confidence in our skills.

✅ Who we choose to surround ourselves with—people who want to grow, learn, and improve their craft.

✅ How we pass on what we know—because the strength of our trade isn't in the tools, the machines, or the products. It's in the people who keep it alive.

Now, I know this might sound like just another 'feel-good' article, but this is about more than just community spirit. It's about protecting your business. It's about making sure your skills are valued. It's about making sure floor sanding professionals are paid what they're worth.

So, whether you've been sanding floors for 20 years or you're just getting started, ask yourself:

Are you feeding the trade—helping it grow and thrive?

Or are you just watching from the sidelines, waiting for it to take care of itself?

Because I can tell you this—left alone, our industry will weaken just like those trees.

But if we take care of it, if we support each other, if we share knowledge and show respect for the craft, then it will continue to produce strong businesses, skilled professionals, and opportunities for the next generation.

And isn't that what it's all about?

Looking Ahead—What's Next for Our Trade?

The world isn't what it was 30 years ago.

Back then, we relied on each other—not just in our communities, but in our profession. Now, it's easy to work alone, struggle alone, figure things out alone.

But that's not how this trade was meant to be.

The best floor sanding professionals aren't the ones who know everything—they're the ones who never stop learning. The ones who lift others up. The ones who choose to be part of something bigger than themselves.

Look, I know blogs like this won't magically fix everything. No one's going to wake up tomorrow and suddenly start supporting each other.

But what we can do—what I can do, what you can do—is take small steps.

✔ Share advice instead of keeping secrets.

✔ Back up good work instead of tearing people down.

✔ Be the kind of professional that makes clients respect this trade again.

And that's why we run floor sanding training at Ultimate Floorcare—to help professionals level up their skills, connect with like-minded people, and strengthen the industry as a whole.

So, let's look for the good in our world.

Let's be the change we want to see in this industry.

Like those apples—we can throw them all away because of a few bad spots, or we can cut out the bad and turn the good into something amazing.

Let's make sure this trade thrives—together.