There’s black (or brown) paint round the edges of the floor – what is this, and can it be removed?

Before the days of fitted carpets, it was customary to have a central rug and to paint an insulated bitumen type product around the edges of the room. This was usually in black or brown. When sanded, this immediately turns into a liquid tar-like product and, in doing this, quickly clogs the sanding belts/discs. The bitumen can be removed but there may be a small premium payable to cover the additional cost of materials. Please be aware that, in some cases, there may be a very slight difference in tone. This is because the wood underneath the bitumen has not been exposed to the same levels of air/moisture as the remaining floor has.