Steps To Sand Hardwood Floors
Before starting to sand the hardwood floors it is important to inspect and ensure that the floor is fit for sanding. The steps are mentioned below for sanding hardwood floors:
Step 1: Initial Sanding
- Consider The Chance Of Lead: Many years ago lead were used in the floor finish. If this type of finish is available in the hardwood floors than the customer needs to hire the floor finisher who is having a lead certification and can safely test and refinish the floor.
- Check For Nails And Staples: Next step is to look for the nails, metal fasteners, and staples on the floor surface. If the metal fasteners and staples stick up they need to be removed from the flooring as these can pull the sandpaper from the machine.
- Rent A Drum Sander: The customer needs to reach a rental store and bring a drum sander on rent. The customer needs to check the wheels of the drum sander and also needs to check the sander is flat on the floor surface.
- Install Grit Sandpaper Onto The Sander: Before installing sandpaper on the drum sander clean the dust from the sander if any, and then install sandpaper on the drum sander and align it perfectly. The customer can start with the 36-grit sandpaper to remove the scratches and make the surface smooth.
- Practice On A Hidden Area: Now test the small area which is most of the time covered by the furniture. Raise the sander away from the floor till it reaches the full speed and then lowers it. Move the sander on the floor surface at a constant rate. When the Sander is to be turned off raise the sander and then turn it off. If the Sander is turned off on the floor surface it will result in creating marks on the wood floor surface.
- Decide Where To Start: Make decision from where to start the sanding. Most of the sanding machines have one side slightly lower than another side. If the right side is lower start from the right wall and if the left side is lower than start from the left wall.
- Sand At A Slight Angle: For sanding move at an angle of 7 to 15 degrees with the direction of the grain to maintain the variations in the floor.
- Move Constantly: Then sand the whole floor surface to remove the old finish and make the uneven surfaces smoother with the same angle.
- Finish The Shorter Side: Sand the shorter area by turning the sander to that area with the same angle.
- Vacuum The Dust: Clean the sanded dust particles from the floor surface by using a professional vacuum cleaner.
Step 2: Sanding The Floor Smooth
- Switch To Medium Grit Sandpaper: After removing the old finish from the floor surface there may still occur some scratches on the floor surface. So install 60-grit sandpaper on the drum sander to remove those scratches.
- Start On The Opposite Side Of The Room: After finishing the first pass, start the second pass from the opposite side of the wall and start to sand across the grain. If the customer follows the same pattern then the lines on the floor may become visible.
- Buff With 80 Grit Sandpaper: Now rub the floor with 80 grit sandpaper in order to take away the 60-grit sandpaper scratches and clean the floor.
- Finish Certain Floors With 100 Grit Paper: For applying the stain on the floor surface 80-grit scratches needs to be removed from the floor surface by using 100-grit sandpaper.
Step 3: Sanding The Floor's Edges
- Use An Edge Sander: To remove the finish from the edges and corners the customer can use the edge sander.
- Start With 36-grit: Install 36-grit sandpaper on the edge sander and remove the old finish from these small areas.
- Sand In A Clockwise Zigzag Pattern: Hold the edge sander and move it in a clockwise zigzag direction along the edges of the floor surface.
- Repeat With Finer Sandpaper: Then use high-quality sandpaper and sand the edges of the floor until it matches with the remaining floor.
- Vacuum Up The Dust: Now the hardwood floor is ready and the customer can apply wax or stain on the floor surface. Make sure to keep dust and heavy objects away from the floor until the finish is applied properly on the floor surface.