Home Tools, Gear & Equipment Tools & Supplies Sanding Tools & Supplies. Consider three coats of oil-based finish or four coats of water-based finish. If the floor is old, very hard, or has residual finish, it can be a bit trickier to determine the right sequence. Be prepared for the buffer to swing to the right or left depending on how you position the handle, making broad arcs across the floor to get a smooth surface. How To Tell If Your Hardwood Floor Will Withstand a Refinish. Selecting the Correct CoarsenessExtra Coarse Sandpaper: (24-36)Coarse Sandpaper: (40-50)Medium Grit: (60-100)Fine Grit: (120-220)Extra Fine Sandpaper: (240, 320, and 400)Superfine Grit: (600 and above)Wet Dry Prefinished Eng White Oak; View All Prefinished Engineered. Avoid dragging furniture across the floor. Spot test the stain or finish to see what it looks like on the floor before applying a coat. Knowing the square footage will help the crew at the rental store estimate how many sanding belts and discs youll need. Edge or detail sanders come in handy for reaching to all corners of the room and other areas that are hard to access. This is where you can stain the floor if desired, but properly staining hardwood floors is an art unto itself, so it is probably left for a separate article. you should not use the vacuum sweep extension. Need Help? CFS Part No: NTBELT1178X2912G16SIC. Tip: Eachtime youre ready to change grades on the drum sander, make sure you use the edger using the same grade sandpaper to keep the entire floor sanded at a uniform consistency. Move the furniture and pull up any carpeting or rugs in the room. This method is a bit risky though; the baseboards may have been replaced when the floor was previously refinished for aesthetic reasons, and you still wont know the current thickness of the floor. Re Turn off the HVAC system at the thermostat; less air movement means less dust traveling around your house. You want to start with a more abrasive grit and then use successively finer grits. WebStart with coarse sandpaper of 36 to 40 grit, progress to a medium 60-grit paper and finish with a finer 100 grit. A solid hardwood floor with. Vacuum up the dust and apply the subsequent coat. Use a random-orbit sander for flat floors. This will ensure the smoothest results possible. Follow these hardwood floor sanding and refinishing tips from a veteran floor refinisher to achieve a smooth, professional-quality finish. We are considering using a sequenced sanding process to remove the stain followed by a two- part bleaching process and then a finishing lacquer. With a little know-how (and a lot of elbow grease) this is a job you can do at home. While our color tones start out uniform, the aging process begins immediately upon unpacking, Tip: Practice using the drum sander on an old sheet of plywood until youre comfortable operating it, and then use it on your wood flooring. Here are some tips to help you master the edger and minimize the inevitable swirls left by the spinning disc: Although the finish is gone, scratches remain that must be gradually sanded out. This is a lot easier and much more inexpensive than refinishing but only fixes problems in the surface-level protective covering. Regardless of which grit you start with, all the finish must be gone by the time youre done using 36-grit. Often, the only solution is to replace the woodor finish over the stain and think of it as a permanent memorial to a beloved pet. Consider floor care and refinishing tool rental to get your project done. An edger can be difficult to control, so practice your technique on scrap wood first. The edger is basically a sanding disc mounted on a big, powerful motor. Use overlapping strokes by at least 1/3 the belt width to remove scratches. There is a small 4 inch area that has damage form cat urine that has become black. products you can use. Check it out! Label the base shoe as you remove it to avoid confusion when you reinstall it. 2000-2022 Home Depot. Maple floors are so hard that they often require 36-grit sandpaper. Screening and recoating involves removing the old coat by abrading it with a floor buffer instead of doing a full sanding, and then adding a new layer of water-based polyurethane. If youre using oil-based products, its recommended to use at least two coats, and at least three for water-based options. In my home I have used 100 grit for oak hardwood flooring. As with the drum sander, start with course-grit paper and then move to finer grades. Engineered hardwood flooring has a layered construction. Wearing a dust mask, start by evenly sanding directly over the stained area with #100-grit sandpaper. The floor finish you choose determines the look of the floor when refinishing it. This time, take extra care to clean everything thoroughly, as the next step will be to apply a finishing agent. Try it out with just the pads (no sandpaper) on a smooth cement surface, or do a few passes in an inconspicuous area of the room before starting on the main areas. Be the first to know about our latest sales & promotions. Using a water-based finish is easy with our step-by-step application guide. 24-grit is the recommended starting grit if there is sander flaw in the floor from previous This is usually the final grit for most standard hardwood floors. Because the affected area is so small could I do the sanding by hand? A sharp scraper will leave a super-smooth glazed surface that wont take finish the same as the surrounding wood. The reason so many people opt for engineered wood floors nowadays is the reason people get tired of the classic timber floor option real wood, in the case of solid wood flooring, can be way too sensitive to moisture, humidity, and temperature fluctuations and prone to damages. Seal air vent covers to prevent dust caused by sanding from getting in your ductwork. Finally, cost can be a differentiator. I sanded my whole floor with a starting grit of 80. You don't have to be a professional WebOur Textures Line is comprised of European Oak, in Prime and Light Rustic Grades. The belts I sell cover about 250 sq. ultra-fine) includes 800- and 1,000-grit paper. When the sanding is done, use a paint scraper to attack spots that the machines cant reach. engineered hardwood floors shine without causing any permanent and let The Good Guys get it done for you! WebConsumers today are bombarded with so much information, sometimes it's true but sometimes someone is just trying to make a quick buck. And then theres that big, scary sanding machine. Don't use cleaners which contain wax After youve finished with the sanders, the floor will look so good that youll be tempted to skip this step. Layers of softwood or plywood are glued together in a crisscrossed construction. Note: For more of Kadees wood floor wisdom, go to peteshardwoodfloors.com. Then hand-sand them out with 80- or 100-grit paper. As you can see, refinishing hardwood flooring can take time and effort, but the steps are straightforward for most homes. Learning how to refinish hardwood floors can be a time-intensive process that involves multiple steps. If the flooring has small areas that even the edger cannot reach, use a scraper and some 80- and 100-grit. A paper thats too coarse will leave the surface scratched and damaged, while one thats too fine wont do the job. products you can choose from. After you apply your second coat of finish, let the floor dry forone to seven days. After youve prepped the room, its time to start sanding. If youre interested in refinishing or recoating the hardwood floors in your home, but the thought of managing it all on your own is too much to bear. Always wear a dust mask, safety goggles and ear protection when using a drum sander. The procedure involves buffing your floor Cover or plug air grilles to keep dust out of ducts. Pet stains are darker (deep gray, almost black around the edges) and often look like a map of Indonesia, with big and small islands covering a large area. I had no idea that 12 grit is usually what you start with, and the most coarse. ft., and edger discs are spent after about 20 sq. The machine is raising dust and everything seems fine. There are a number of techniques and You can even use it in a pinch to sharpen tools or file your fingernails! Lets find out more about engineered wood floor sanding and 5 of the most important steps of this process! 12-16-20-24: very coarse A couple coats of new finish are then Not bad for a weekend of work. Engineered wood flooring skyrocketed with popularity and the appreciation of people. Find two areas on your floor and tape off a square of about 6 by 6 inches The first should be an area that represents the heaviest flaws you have in your floor to see if theyre repairable with a recoat. If you dont know your floors history, the easiest way to find how much material you have left is to look for a floor grate or vent that you can remove to expose the floorboards. Then clean it off with a brush or vacuum and damp cloth, and apply polyurethane (see later in this article for a, Uh Oh! require less upkeep than traditional hardwood floors. Replace the sandpaper when its dull. 36-grit is typical, though you can use anything between 30 and 40 grit. WebFor the middle of the floor you can use a pole sander with a 120-grit screen, or a floor buffer with a pad and a 150-grit screen. Next, the floor should be thoroughly cleaned and prepared for the sanding process. These annoying, tiny grains are can be a bit more tricky, as cheaper options will have minimal veneer that cant even stand up to one round of refinishing, but if you have a receipt, box or model number, you may be able to look up how thick the floors were, to begin with. To begin, use a coarse 30-40 grit, then a medium 50-60 grit, and finally a fine 80-100 grit. Brand: Norton. How to Install Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring, Hardwood Floor Repair: How to Patch a Hardwood Floor, How to Lay Hardwood Floor With a Contrasting Border, Refinish Hardwood Floors in One Day: How to Refinish Wood Floors Step by Step, DIY Hardwood Floors: Lay a Contrasting Border, How to Clean Carpet: Cleaning Tips for Long Lasting Carpet, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), How to Clean Floors: Wood, Tile, Carpet and Everything Else, Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 2.0.6 Apply Wood Stain Evenly. So it is still a real wood floor. to Engineered Hardwood Floors, How to Screen and Recoat Engineered 2.0.5 Apply Sealer. after the cleaning is done. Dry it If the floor is pine, it's a little more difficult to deal with, but with care, you can create a beautiful floor. Medium and fine grits are available on 9- x 11-inch paper or cardboard sheets, or on precut backings for machines like detail or random orbital sanders. Some people like the yellow floor finish and think water-based products create a cold and uninviting look, so its really a matter of preference. ft., my DIY customers save $1,000 when they learn how to sand hardwood floors by doing it themselves. Take the following steps before wood floor refinishing. Its a big job that creates big disruptions in your household. Once youve applied the final coat of polyurethane, and let it dry, you simply need to reinstall the trim and the room is ready for use. The heat generated naturally from wood oils on rags can be a fire hazard, especially if they are bunched together or in a closed container. is there a way to remove this gloss without damaging the finish beneath? Refinished hardwood flooring brings new life to old wood floors. Have the necessary tools for this how to sand hardwood floors DIY project lined up before you startyoull save time and frustration. Do not skip the progression from coarse grades to finer grades. However, it can be a very popular recently. Im not sure what to do. This prevents any residual water, or a "milky finish" Even plumbers require it to remove corrosion from metal pipes and smooth the ends of plastic pipes before gluing them together. Any suggestions? damage. Because theyre larger, a standard filtering screen requires fewer of them. There is no need to use any fancy Use once, then bring it back to The Home Depotno maintenance required, and you wont need to store it either. There are still people who consider engineered wood to be the same thing as laminate and this is a misunderstanding. If you pick the wrong sequence for your sander, you wont achieve a smooth transition between one grit and another. Use a drum sander for your first sanding pass on the floor. Waxing may make engineered hardwood WebFloor Sanding Round 2: Smooth Out Rough Edges. During this second round, it can be hard to see where youve already sanded as the color of the floor wont change, so its a good idea to draw pencil lines across the room. Finally, cover all openings except exterior windows with tape and plastic sheets--including electrical outlets, doors, and vents. Wear safety gear, as splinters can go anywhere. Its typically pretty easy to tell if your flooring is made of laminate, as it simply feels like a hard plastic. Vinegar is acidic, so it could also hurt the finish. Can i redo my floor with 36 grit? Once you know what type of floor you have, its a good idea to evaluate if a total refinish or a more subdued screen and recoat is necessary. When it comes to sanding a hardwood floor, grit sequence is everything. For flat floors, use a random orbital sander. Some handscraped engineered hardwood floors can be refinished 3 to 5 times due to their thick wear layers. So But if you choose the correct sanding sequence, most floors just need three passes with the big machine to acquire a smooth finish. Youll need two different types of sandpaper: medium and fine grit. Tip: If you choose not to stain, apply a sanding sealer before the polyurethane finish. The second should be in an area thats regularly exposed to cleaning products, such as window cleaner overspray, oil-based cleaners, or other heavy detergents. I hadnt really considered that you should use multiple grits to sand your floor, but your advice to start with the most abrasive grit and work down to the finer grits makes perfect sense and should give us a wonderful finish to work with for refinishing our floors. Start with coarse sandpaper of 36 to 40 grit, progress to a medium 60-grit paper and finish with a finer 100 grit. Either way, the abrasive to use is 120- or 150-grit sanding Next, use a floor buffer fitted with a fine-grit screening pad to screen-sand the flooring. Get a drum sander that uses a continuous belt or sleeve, not one that requires you to wrap a strip of abrasive around the drum. How do you tell water from pee? These problems occur when the glue fails to bond to the subfloor during installation, or when a single board is damaged by moisture or humidity. Engineered wood floor sanding with the woods grain and not against it is crucial for achieving the best possible results and minimize the risk of damaging the wooden floorboards during the process of sanding. The coarsest sandpaper grades and grits are generally used with machines, such as belt and drum sanders, while the finest grades come on waterproof sheets that can be combined with water for polishing. Sanding and stripping require coarse sandpaper with a grit of 40 to 60 grit; smoothing surfaces and removing small imperfections require 80 to 120 grit sandpaper. Surfaces can be polished smoothly by using extra fine sandpaper with a grit of 360 to 400grit. Engineered wood is made out of real wood products only, unlike laminate. Most drum and edger sanders have built in vacuums and dust bag systems to reduce dust emissions. Edging with a belt sander is like digging a ditch with a trowel. How to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring on Concrete Step-By-Step Guide, Tips and Tricks on How to Clean CoreTec Flooring, Removing Mortar from Concrete Slab Floor: A Practical Guide. You may even want to finish with a rag dampened with mineral spirits. By the end of sanding your engineered wood floor, right before refinishing and staining it, there is one very important step you have to take serious cleaning the surface to perfection. Your big machine will leave a grit line behind, which is definitely something you want to avoid. Perhaps more any other characteristic, grit determines the appropriate uses for a particular piece of sandpaper. Even the edger is basically a sanding disc mounted on a big, scary sanding machine crew the! 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