What Your Van Says About Your Floor Sanding Kit

Every contractor knows the feeling. You get the keys to your brand-new van. It smells fresh. Everything works. You’ve got it specked out the way you want it. Ply-lined. Sign written. A valet every few weeks. It’s not just a van. It’s part of your reputation.

That’s where we meet Greg.

Greg bought his van brand new. Didn’t cheap out. Had it professionally ply-lined. Got the logo put on clean and simple. Thick mats, seat covers, dashcam installed. He even took it in for a monthly valet. One day there was a recall for a minor software thing. Greg booked it in. While there, he grabbed new wipers and floor mats. Not because they were worn. But because he knew looking after it meant keeping it sharp.

Clients noticed. Pulling up outside a job, Greg didn’t just park. He presented. A van that clean and organised told people, “This guy’s going to respect my floors too.”

Over five years, Greg looked after that van. Two full services, brake checks, upgrades when needed. Cost him some time and money? Of course. But when he got a valuation recently, it was still worth over eleven grand. And it’s still going strong.

Now meet Brad.

Brad also bought a van five years ago. Same model. Same price. But from the start, it was different. Tools chucked in loose. No ply lining. Lacquer on the steering wheel. Oil on the seats. When a recall notice came, he ignored it. MOT? Missed it once, had to reschedule a job. The van now? It’s dented. Smells of old oil. No signage. No pride.

And it shows.

A client once posted a Google review that said, “I didn’t even want to sit in his van. If he looks after his gear like that, what’s my floor going to look like?”

Brad’s van is now worth just six and a half grand. No resale. No trust signal. No jobs won from the side of the road.

So why are we talking vans?

Because your sanding machines tell the same story.

Same Tools. Different Futures.

Five years ago, Greg and Brad both bought full sanding setups. Roughly twenty-five grand apiece. Same gear. Same start. But that’s where the similarities end.

Greg treated his machines the same way he did his van. Cleaned them after every job. Learned how to replace worn belts and fix minor parts. Kept a log. Put aside three hours a month for maintenance. Took them in for a full service every year. Small parts, occasional repairs, a bit of downtime — sure. But he caught issues early. And it paid off.

Over five years, Greg spent about £9,700 maintaining his machines. £7,200 of that was his own time. Another £2,500 on parts and pro servicing. That might seem a lot. But his machines are still in excellent condition. Still working. Still trusted.

And just like his van, they win him work.

Clients say things like, “That machine looked immaculate. I could tell he knew what he was doing.”

Greg’s had four callbacks in five years. Three weren’t even his fault. The one he fixed? A cat walked across wet lacquer. He screened and recoated. No drama. No damage to trust.

Brad on the other hand

He had endless callbacks.  Several days a year is spent removing lines and chatter marks, Re sanding – re finishing – all this cost time product and abrasives.

His machines looked fine for the first year or two. But he never cleaned them properly. Never replaced anything until it broke. Didn’t book a single service. And they started letting him down.

In year four, things got rough. On one big job — a school, worth over £6,500 — the main sander wouldn’t start. He drove a 180-mile round trip trying to get it fixed. But by the time he got back the next day, the site manager had hired someone else.

Stress levels went up. Brad stopped enjoying the work. Blamed the clients. Blamed the jobs. But the truth? The machines couldn’t be trusted. And people noticed.

He’s now looking at a new setup. Quote came in last week: £32,000. His old machines? Scrap. Zero value.

The Real Cost of Doing Nothing

Let’s stack it up.

Greg:

• £25,000 on machines
• £9,700 over 5 years in care
• Machines still working, still winning jobs
• Total: £34,700

Brad:

• £25,000 on machines
• £0 in maintenance
• Machines now scrap
• New kit needed: £32,000
• Lost school job: £6,500
• Total: £63,500 (and climbing)

Greg spent £9,700 to save over £30,000. And that’s before you count the referrals.

Brad saved pennies — and paid for it in stress, reputation, and revenue.

Why This Matters to You

If you’re running a floor sanding business, your machines aren’t just tools. They’re part of your brand. Your finish doesn’t start at the drum. It starts the moment you pull up outside.

Clients don’t always understand grits or oils. But they notice the state of your van. The hum of your sander. The way you place your tools. They notice if something rattles. If a cable’s split. If the gear looks tired.

And here’s the thing — good machines feel better to use. You’ll do better work. Quicker. Smoother. Less noise. Less risk.

You don’t need to become a mechanic. But if you:

• Learn basic servicing
• Replace worn parts before they break
• Book a proper check-up once a year

… you’ll avoid the kind of week that Brad had.

If This Feels Like a Lot…

We get it. You’re busy. It’s another thing on the list. But we’ve seen it time and again:

The guys who look after their gear get looked after by their clients.

You don’t have to do it alone.

Want to talk about a service plan or replacement part kit? We’ll walk it through with you. Quietly. No pressure.

Because we’re not just here to sell machines. We’re here to help you keep them working — so you can keep working.