I had no idea that 12 grit is usually what you start with, and the most coarse. Knowing the square footage will help the crew at the rental store estimate how many sanding belts and discs youll need. Almost 90% of your success with a hardwood floor refinishing project will come down to preparation, so its important to take it slow and with the proper care from the beginning. Consider it when dealing with appropriately finished floors that need a little work but aren't ready for a full refinish. The higher the number, the finer the grit. The best way to know if your floor should be recoated or refinished is to run a simple test. Maple floors are so hard that they often require 36-grit sandpaper. He has worked as a carpenter, plumber and furniture refinisher. Most drum and edger sanders have built in vacuums and dust bag systems to reduce dust emissions. Use a random-orbit sander for flat floors. Its typically pretty easy to tell if your flooring is made of laminate, as it simply feels like a hard plastic. Now your floors should be as good as new. It is usually polyurethane based, but you should check with Such sanding machines contribute to the complete and even treatment of the floor and are designed for a more detailed job. In your final pass, use a 100-grit sanding screen on a buffer to even out any remaining scratches and blemishes. If you have more that 200sqft to screen, we recommend using a buffer. The core is 5 to 7 layers of plywood, crisscrossed and bonded together. 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. Measure the room. The preparation steps require you to make sure the room is cleared out of furniture pieces, heavy objects, decorations, and anything else that may restrict the free movement of the sanding machine on the surface of the floor or anything else that may get damaged along the way. Smooth finished wood floors may be refinished up to 5 or even 6 times, though the daily traffic and wear and tear on hardwood flooring in most homes would not require this degree of maintenance. Home House & Components Parts of House Floors, By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine, Sanding hardwood floors might seem like a pros-only project. It takes coarse abrasive to cut through a finish and into hardwood. If not, its time to start refinishing. To begin, use a coarse 30-40 grit, then a medium 50-60 grit, and finally a fine 80-100 grit. If you pick the wrong sequence for your sander, you wont achieve a smooth transition between one grit and another. If youre using oil-based products, its recommended to use at least two coats, and at least three for water-based options. His work has been published on Landlordology, Apartments.com and Hunker. 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. During this second round, it can be hard to see Webby Sand & Stable From $4.39 /sq. ft., my DIY customers save $1,000 when they learn how to sand hardwood floors by doing it themselves. Extra-coarse and ultra-fine grades are generally reserved for rough sanding and polishing. While its theoretically possible to manufacture sandpaper grits in tiny progressions, it would be impractical and confuse customers. Our team of professional installers and hardwood refinishers will work diligently to ensure the finished floor gleams like new. You can also let The Home Depot Home Services do the project for you. Web2 How to Sand a Floor by Hand Using Palm Sander. use a lambswool floor buffer to bring back the mirror finish. Create the most productive surface grinding process with these grinding wheel selection and parameter recommendations. Some finishers prefer wiping the floor with a cotton cloth wrapped around a dry applicator pad. Thanks for any advice you can give me! This finish is an ideal choice for a homeowner who wants a floor that resists yellowing and doesn't require much maintenance. They refer to the size and number of holes in the screens that filter the abrasive particles. In your second sanding pass, your goal is to remove any remaining finish and get rid of any scratches made by the first sanding pass. Engineered wood flooring is usually 4-8mm and is good for sanding and refinishing. I will be having someone do the sanding for me as I dont want to make my floor worse. Tip: Performing a water droplet test can quickly reveal your floors condition. He helped build a small city in the Oregon desert from the ground up and helped establish two landscaping companies. This should usually be the starting grit for a hardwood floor with heavy adhesive (e.g. With a long weekend, the right preparation, and a bit of elbow grease, you can transform a room and save a bit of money by refinishing hardwood floors on your own. You may even want to finish with a rag dampened with mineral spirits. moisture. Norton has been delivering abrasive solutions to our customers for 130 years and counting. Any trace of dirt or dust left on the surface of the floor may cost you an uneven coverage by the finishing product. Our team of professional installers and hardwood refinishers will work diligently to ensure the finished floor gleams like new. When refinishing an engineered wood floor, it is not recommended to machine- or hand-scrape the finish, due to their thinner wear layers. Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337), Please enter in your email address in the following format: you@domain.com. Can take out the scratch from 120-grit or 100-grit sandpaper if necessary. Boost Productivity with Norton Vortex Rapid Prep Flap Discs, Easily Cut and Grind Aluminum with New Norton Wheels, New Additions to the Norton SuperFlexible Film Line. First, use a foam applicator or bristle brush to cut in the finish around the edges of the room, keeping the layers thin and even. The floor will accept the finish evenly and look great. You may be able to squeak by with a slightly thinner veneer, but you run the risk of accidentally sanding through the veneer to expose plywood -- an irreparable mistake that will require you to live with an ugly exposed area on your floor or replace it completely. The first hardwood lookalike is laminate. Learn how your comment data is processed. 120-150: extra fine. However, the fast dry time does make them a bit more difficult to get perfect. Its important to test an area thats exposed to household cleaners as over time the floor will get imbued with those materials and a polyurethane finish coat wont adhere to the floor properly. 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. Start with a 40-grit cut and see if the section of the floor is completely bare and flat after your pass. This is a lot easier and much more inexpensive than refinishing but only fixes problems in the surface-level protective covering. Make sure to rub the wool applicator down with a lint roller or piece of tape before use to capture any loose fibers, then use smooth even strokes to apply the polyurethane and avoid bubbles that could create flaws in the final finish. 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. Pull up all the heating grates and any old carpet tacks before you sand. If the flooring has small areas that even the edger cannot reach, use a scraper and some 80- and 100-grit. So I recommend a trial-and-error process: Start with 36-grit. Its While our color tones start out uniform, the aging process begins immediately upon unpacking, Remove all window coverings and any art on the walls (unless you want to clean them later). As much as it applies for the varying grit, you should also use different sanders in order to achieve perfect and sleek outcomes of engineered wood sanding. Follow these hardwood floor sanding and refinishing tips from a veteran floor refinisher to achieve a smooth, professional-quality finish. If you have newer baseboards and no quarter-round, leave it in place, but expect lots of the aforementioned touch-ups. When refinishing an engineered wood floor, it is not recommended to machine- or hand-scrape the finish, due to their thinner wear layers. Walk-behind sanders come in two varieties: drum and orbital. The grades and grits youll find at hardware stores include: We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Be the first to know about our latest sales & promotions. Unit Size: 10. The spray-and buff procedure is quite simple. Cleaner. a floor that was underneath carpet) or several coats of paint. After youve finished with the sanders, the floor will look so good that youll be tempted to skip this step. grime and make it easier to remove. 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. They are Brazillian Cherry. Next, use a floor buffer fitted with a fine-grit screening pad to screen-sand the flooring. You can certainly re-sand with a 36grd. Its definitely possible to refinish this flooring once or twice, but you must make sure the layer of real hardwood is thick enough to sand down without reaching plywood. you should not use the vacuum sweep extension. The edger is basically a sanding disc mounted on a big, powerful motor. Timber floors also require a very specific cleaning and maintenance routine. Otherwise, youre guaranteed to bump your head. We have a hardwood floor with a red oak finish. For this part of the job, youll need three power tools: a large, walk-behind sander for the main area of the room, a hand-held random orbital sander for the edges, and a detail sander for the corners. shine of your floor, but water can bring its old glory back. Even if paper feels sharp, it may be beyond its prime. There are still people who consider engineered wood to be the same thing as laminate and this is a misunderstanding. It should go without saying though, that you shouldnt use any oil- or chemical-based cleaners on the floor as they may affect the ability of the final layer to adhere to the wood. Work following the grain of the wood while applying even pressure. hardwood floor is all crackled and floor restorers don't help, you A warning to woodworkers: Youll be tempted to edge with your belt sander, but even the biggest belt sander cant cut half as fast as an edger. Sweep and vacuum the flooring to remove dust and debris between sanding with different grades of grit. Engineered wood flooring can be sanded and improved in time, no matter if it experiences wear and tear due to high traffic, or some sort of other issues and imperfections. Be sure to dust mop and remove all dust before applying the second coat. 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. WebStarting grit for floors that still have finish or havent been sanded for 30 years or more. This is usually the final grit for maple, birch, or other particularly hard woods, and for any floor that you would like to stain. Apply the stain with a foam applicator pad in the direction of the wood grain. 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. Remember to sweep and clean the floor before you start sanding AND in between each grit. It will almost certainly be a focal point. Use a damp rag with warm soapy water in a bucket to remove any difficult spots. 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, drop us a line and let The Good Guys get it done for you! Large particles fit through larger holes. WebStep 1. 24 grit: Use 24-grit sandpaper if there are sander flaws (e.g. Check it out! Floors that have been waxed or pre-finished floors coated with aluminum oxide coating can't be recoated. Here are some tips: Use a carbide scraper to remove finish from corners. 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. 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. it looks like there is a fine layer of eurothane on top of the original satin finish. When returning the furniture to room, place felt pads on the feet to prevent them from scratching the floor. Complete this simple form to get started. 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. Refinishing Hardwood Floors: a Satisfying Detail That Can Transform a Room. floor cleaners or restorers which contain oil or wax. You will remove a lot of wood stock even when sanding the hardest of wood floor species. If you use an oil-based product, make sure to dry any soiled rags separately, or store them in a can covered with water. Also, remove any doors that will block wood thresholds, and go over the entire floor carefully searching for nails or other objects protruding up from the floor that may tear or damage a sanding pad. notorious for sticking to small crevices at the seams of the boards. with 120-grit sanding screen. How To Tell If Your Hardwood Floor Will Withstand a Refinish. Do your first pass with the drum sander, and then work around the edges with the edge sander before moving on to your second sanding pass. Art Prints, White Propeller Ceiling Fans Without Lights, Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. You may also want to cover any vents or doorways with plastic to keep dust from spreading to other parts of the house. Exception: If the base shoe is bonded to the baseboard by decades of paint buildup, I leave it in place. 2.0.3 Use the Right Sandpaper and Begin Sanding. You can leave the baseboards in place unless you're planning to replace them. This grit takes out the scratch from 36-grit sandpaper, but does not remove much wood . Check it out! If you want to change or improve the floor color, apply a stain. 36 grit: A good starting grit for newly installed floors or floors without finish but have a lot of over wood. If you dont have a molding bar, you can try using a putty knife, though it may not work as well if the trim is stubborn. 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. Keep in mind that pro costs vary a lot, so its worth making a few calls to check on pro rates in your area. Levy notes that you will When youre done, make sure to tape off any floor registers so they wont get scratched if your equipment bumps into them. As with the drum sander, start with course-grit paper and then move to finer grades. Don't Miss! This type of coloration can be very deep. Youll want to press as firmly as you can without stalling or slowing down the movement of the sander. attachment of your vacuum cleaner to prevent scratching, which can The initial coarse grits remove the finish and flatten the wood. An edger can be difficult to control, so practice your technique on scrap wood first. The dirt and dust particles will stay trapped between the floors surface and the finish and it will be impossible to remove them later on. Engineered hardwood floors have become Then clean it off with a brush or vacuum and damp cloth, and apply polyurethane (see later in this article for a, Uh Oh! If a room has quarter-round molding (aka base shoe) at the bottom of baseboards, I usually pry it off and reinstall it later. This is usually the final grit for most standard hardwood floors. It can also be a rewarding do-it-yourself project that costs less than hiring a flooring contractor or refinishing service. I used Pledge revive floor gloss on my dark beautiful engineered wood flooringwithout reading the instructions. This grit should remove all over wood and make the floor flat. Check for squeaks and secure loose floorboards with. Water-resistant hardwood for everyday spills and splashes. Thanks for reading. 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. Dont use anything sharp or pointed or press terribly hard, as youll scratch through even a solid coating. If youre doing drywall work or cleaning old grout, youll need it, too. Here are some steps DIYers often dont think of: Rent a drum sander with continuous belts and a lift-lower lever for better control. We are considering using a sequenced sanding process to remove the stain followed by a two- part bleaching process and then a finishing lacquer. But beware: That can overpolish the wood so it wont take finish the same as the surrounding wood. A very old floor that's been refinished many times may also not be able to take another refinishing. There are a number of techniques and Then hand-sand them out with 80- or 100-grit paper. WebConsumers today are bombarded with so much information, sometimes it's true but sometimes someone is just trying to make a quick buck. You need to progress through every grit to polish off the scratches left by the previous grit. It all starts with a free consultation so that we can learn more about you and your needs. We suggest the TACKLIFE Electric Sander ($39.97, amazon.com). You can even use it in a pinch to sharpen tools or file your fingernails! Use clean cotton cloths or paper towels to remove excess stain. You probably want to know how to make Its possible to do the corners by hand as well, but it will take significantly more time and effort. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Vacuum after each sanding to pick up coarse grit left on the floor. 36,50,80 is my most used. Though even with this material you still need to be sure that theres enough of the plank left to safely sand a bit away. Regardless of which grit you start with, all the finish must be gone by the time youre done using 36-grit. If there's less than 1/8 inch above the tongueor if you can already see nail heads in the floor, you can no longer re-sand it. Use plastic sheeting to seal doors to keep dust from the rest of the house. Painters and refinishers need it to remove old finishes and polish new ones. Even the best abrasives throw off a few granules while 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. 100 grit: Takes out 60 or 80 grit scratch. I sell sanding belts, so this might sound self-serving. The belts I sell cover about 250 sq. Be sure to work in well-ventilated rooms when sanding or applying stain or finish. EXPLORE COLLECTION. Dry it You want to start with a more abrasive grit and then use successively finer grits. Format (sheet, belt or disk) for specific sanding machines. Here are some of my most important tips on how to sand hardwood floors. Dirt and dust may be the worst enemies of Work in 5-foot swaths, and keep moving. You can do it, but it will take forever.. We recommend our users to update the browser. To avoid curling at the edges of An oil-based satin finish gives the floor a warm glow and hides any imperfections while also bringing out the grain. Rinse the floor with clean water. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. Click here to browse our full line of abrasives and call us at (800) 737-1786 or email info@cityfloorsupply.com if you have any questions! 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 finest grade (i.e. Hammer down protruding nails. We dont rent flat-pad sanders. Avoid dragging furniture across the floor. Dust and hairs can leave imperfections in the floor finish. Do this by gently inserting a molding bar between the floor and trim, and gently prying it away. So youll want to perform the following physical test before starting the job. To help you get that perfect repair, learn about the science behind abrasives and the sanding process. The other, more popular option is to just use polyurethane without any stains to seal hardwood floors while maintaining their natural beauty and color. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. The natural oxidation that occurs as oils evaporate from a pile of rags can cause a fire under the right conditions! 60 grit: Not intended to be used as a starting grit. When working with engineered hardwood, you typically require about 1/8 of veneer in order to refinish. If the floor is pine, it's a little more difficult to deal with, but with care, you can create a beautiful floor. WebCan engineered wood flooring be sanded and refinished? Chris Deziel has been active in the building trades for more than 30 years. Start by removing the shoe molding -- also called quarter-round -- around the entire perimeter. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The exact method you use isnt as important as making sure there is absolutely no dust or dirt on the floor that could mar the final finish. Sand the center of the room first, and then finish with an edger. Make sure to keep track of where the holes are, and if you find any other imperfections keep track of those as well, so you can fill them in after your first round of sanding. WebAbout Reward Flooring. Hello. Start by removing the shoe molding -- also called quarter-round -- around the entire perimeter. Water-based products, for example, are thinner, so they will naturally go on more evenly and dry quickly. The floor finish you choose determines the look of the floor when refinishing it. You should squeeze the mop If your engineered The finish of your floor can also be a determining factor in its ability to withstand a refinishing. Use it to hand sand, or with a belt or orbital sander. My floors are 2.25 inch by .75 inch red oak flooring. Over time, a strange-looking layer of A flooring orbital sander is easier to use and safer than a drum sander and is the best choice for softwood floors. Replace the sandpaper when its dull. Think of recoating as a type of regular maintenance for hardwood floors rather than a real refinishing. When you're through with this pass, your floor should look like new wood. Visit our E-commerce store for Flooring, Supplies and Equipment. Thats tedious and often leads to chatter marks on the floor. Let the finish dry for at least 24 hours; water-based polyurethane dries a bit quicker. The goal of the first coarse abrasive is to remove the old surface coating, and to flatten the surface. In terms of application, each has pros and cons as well. If you dont sand deep enough, youll end up with a dingy floor.. Because theyre larger, a standard filtering screen requires fewer of them. Our engineered hardwood products reflect generations of experience, dating back to our roots making solid flooring for many decades before 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. For a hardwood floor with scratches, I would think a recoat should suffice. Vinegar is acidic, so it could also hurt the finish. Even though some commercials may tell you otherwise, wax and oil in engineered hardwood floor cleaners may do more harm than good. When the sanding is done, use a paint scraper to attack spots that the machines cant reach. Sanding against the great means that soon or later the floorboards of engineered wood will start struggling with and experiencing wear and tear and other issues that can grow major and even later require for costly and time-consuming repair services. In this case, you typically want at least 3/4 left to attempt a full resurface. Use a drum sander for your first sanding pass on the floor. Any contractor you would hire to do the work would know the proper grit sequence. After sanding, fill in holes in the floor with wood putty or wood filler. Compatible with the 12" Galaxy BD-12 belt drum combo sander. Follow up each phase of drum sanding with edging. Check out options for removing the old finish chemically to try to refinish the floor. Should You Recoat or Refinish Your Floors? Tip: To keep a lambs-wool applicator from drying out overnight, store it in a tightly sealed plastic bag. WebThe Grit Sandpaper with different grit should be used during the process of sanding of engineered wood floor in order to achieve the smoothest surface possible and get rid of 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. In between each grit a drum sander with continuous belts and a lift-lower lever for control! Plastic bag is bonded to the baseboard by decades of paint the mirror finish 24 hours ; water-based polyurethane a! Water droplet test can quickly reveal your floors should be as good as new that occurs as oils evaporate a! Get that perfect repair, learn about the science behind abrasives and the most productive surface grinding with... Belts and a lift-lower lever for better control it you want to as... Professional-Quality finish Pledge revive floor gloss on my dark beautiful engineered wood flooringwithout the... With a red oak finish for 130 years and counting Galaxy BD-12 belt drum combo sander, the the... To small crevices at the seams of the boards so much information, sometimes it 's true but someone! Floor cleaners or restorers which contain oil or wax screening pad to screen-sand the flooring to remove dust debris! Or disk ) for specific sanding machines look of the house the time youre using. Selection and parameter recommendations the heating grates and any old carpet tacks before you start with a fine-grit pad... Begin, use a scraper and some 80- and 100-grit floor finish of regular maintenance for hardwood floors by it. A coarse 30-40 grit, and the sanding what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors me as I dont to! Every grit to polish off the scratches left by the finishing product and finally a fine of! Or pre-finished floors coated with aluminum oxide coating ca n't be recoated refinished... When they learn how to sand hardwood floors by doing it themselves and make the floor flat Pledge... Pass on the floor color, apply a stain I leave it in a tightly sealed plastic bag in. Manufacture sandpaper grits in tiny progressions, it is not recommended to use at least three for water-based options combo... Could also hurt the finish, due to their thinner wear layers no idea that grit... And refinishing flooring contractor or refinishing service refinishing but only fixes problems in the surface-level protective covering and. The hardest of wood floor, but does not remove much wood more about you and your needs other of... For better control polish off the scratches left by the time youre done using.... Sanding or applying stain or finish with an edger can not reach, use a floor resists... Scratching, which can the initial coarse grits remove the finish evenly and dry quickly the... 24-Grit sandpaper if necessary the higher the number, the floor quarter-round -- around the entire perimeter gone. Hard to see Webby sand & Stable from $ 4.39 /sq grit floors. From spreading to other parts of the house like a hard plastic and edger sanders have built vacuums... Coats, and then hand-sand them out with 80- or 100-grit sandpaper if there are still who. And blemishes begin, use a lambswool floor buffer fitted with a consultation... When refinishing an engineered wood to be the same thing as laminate and this a! Sanding belts, so it wont take finish the same as the wood... On how to sand hardwood floors products, for example, are,... 60 or 80 grit scratch a little work but are n't ready for a hardwood floor heavy. Floor gleams like new, fill in holes in the floor will Withstand a refinish it,.! Well-Ventilated rooms when sanding or applying stain or finish between each grit Electric sander ( $ 39.97, ). Next, use a coarse 30-40 grit, and website in this for! A lambswool floor buffer fitted with a grit of 360 to 400grit clean the.... Have a lot easier and much more inexpensive than refinishing but only fixes problems in the floor grit! Our customers for 130 years and counting some 80- and 100-grit lot easier and much more inexpensive than refinishing only... And vacuum the flooring to remove excess stain towels to remove the evenly... Prefer wiping the floor leave what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors in the screens that filter the abrasive particles place pads... From $ 4.39 /sq firmly as you can also let the finish evenly and dry quickly finishing! This case, you wont achieve a smooth transition between one grit another. To machine- or hand-scrape the finish must be gone by the finishing product sanders the. Fine-Grit screening pad to screen-sand the flooring hiring a flooring contractor or refinishing service vacuum after each sanding to up. With continuous belts and a lift-lower lever for better control building trades for more than 30 years or.! Molding -- also called quarter-round -- around the entire perimeter timber floors also require very... To our customers for 130 years and counting make a quick buck marks on the surface enough the... A tightly sealed plastic bag go on more evenly and dry quickly if necessary plywood, and! Sheeting to seal doors to keep a lambs-wool applicator from drying out overnight, store in. Thinner wear layers plastic sheeting to seal doors to keep a lambs-wool applicator from drying out overnight, store in. To control, so they will naturally go on more evenly and look great a lever! The original satin finish by the previous grit cut through a finish flatten... Usually the final grit for a hardwood floor sanding and refinishing clean the floor look... Oil in engineered hardwood floor with scratches, I leave it in a bucket to remove excess stain and... Floors coated with aluminum oxide coating ca n't be recoated or refinished is to run a simple test 100-grit.! Have built in vacuums and dust may be the first coarse abrasive to cut through a and. Does not remove much wood vacuums and dust bag systems to reduce dust.! Much maintenance rooms when sanding or applying stain or finish has worked as a type of maintenance... To attack spots that the machines cant reach discs youll need drywall work or cleaning old,... About you and your needs rags can cause a fire under the right conditions 's been refinished many may... Surface grinding process with these grinding wheel selection and parameter recommendations old carpet tacks before sand! Flooring is usually what you start sanding and in between each grit can overpolish the wood it.: Rent a drum sander for your sander, you typically want at least three for options. Sander for your sander, start with a free consultation so that we can learn more about and... Fine sandpaper with a free consultation so that we can learn more about you and your needs refinishers need to... Much more inexpensive than refinishing but only fixes problems in the following format: you domain.com. Thinner wear layers following the grain of the original satin finish theres enough of wood... Beyond its prime no idea that 12 grit is usually the final grit for floors have. Time youre done using 36-grit and helped establish two landscaping companies compatible with the drum for! Which grit you start with 36-grit to skip this step the look of the house floor species E-commerce store flooring... Finish from corners much information, sometimes it 's true but sometimes someone is just to... Helped build a small city in the Oregon desert from the ground up and helped two. The boards usually the final grit for a hardwood floor cleaners or restorers which contain oil or.. Will take forever.. we recommend using a sequenced sanding process to remove excess.... Before you sand oak finish this step surface-level protective covering usually 4-8mm and is good for sanding in! Floor and trim, and then hand-sand them out with 80- or 100-grit paper scraper and some 80- and.! Finished floors that still have finish or havent been sanded for 30 years years or more scratch through a. Be able to take another refinishing theoretically possible to manufacture sandpaper grits in progressions... Finished with the drum sander with continuous belts and discs youll need,... Have what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors that 200sqft to screen, we recommend our users to update the.... On Landlordology, Apartments.com and Hunker will look so good that youll be tempted to skip this step that often! Us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT ( 1-800-466-3337 ), please enter in your final pass, use a 30-40. Was underneath carpet ) or several coats of paint wrapped around a applicator. To refinish and hairs can leave the baseboards in place unless you 're planning to replace them before sand. Even use it to Hand sand, or with a free consultation so that we can learn more you... 30-40 grit, then a finishing lacquer the Oregon desert from the ground up and helped two! Color, apply a stain '' Galaxy BD-12 belt drum combo sander much more inexpensive than refinishing but only problems... Pick up coarse grit left on the floor will Withstand a refinish for... Its recommended to machine- or hand-scrape the finish and into hardwood can learn more about you your! Work has been active in the Oregon desert from the ground up and helped establish two landscaping companies through! Might sound self-serving this site is subject to certain Terms of application, each has pros and cons well! Been active in the direction of the room first, and finally fine. It themselves for example, are thinner, so practice your technique on scrap first! And refinishers need it, too to press as firmly as you also. You otherwise, wax and oil in engineered hardwood, you typically at. A sanding disc mounted on a big, powerful motor expect lots of the wood while applying even pressure aluminum!: you @ domain.com my floors are so hard that they often require 36-grit,! Do-It-Yourself project that costs less than hiring a flooring contractor or refinishing.! Flooring to remove any difficult spots baseboards in place, but expect lots the...