Sanding is a critical step in any hardwood floor refinishing job. It removes stains, dents and gouges and helps the stain or varnish adhere to the wood better.
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner, several sanding techniques will help you create a flawless refinished floor.
Using a Floor Buffer
A floor buffer is a powerful machine that can sand, strip, and polish hard floors. It also removes wax buildups and stains from commercial hard floors.
Buying a floor buffer that will last for a long time is essential. If you purchase something made cheaply, it will not work well and may break down or wear out quickly.
To use a floor buffer, first clean the floor thoroughly with a vacuum cleaner. This will ensure that your floors are dry before you begin sanding.
When sanding, start on one side of the room and sand in a straight line, clocking the buffer so that the most aggressive cut is parallel to the grain. Overlap each course by about 6 inches.
You can also use a screen on your buffer to rub and blend marks on a surface. This technique can be helpful, but keeping the screen at an angle is essential. Over-screening can cause a dish-out of spring wood and close the grain, which is not what you want.
Using a Pole Sander
Using a pole sander is an excellent option if you need to sand very lightly or in an area that is difficult to get a floor buffer to. A pole sander is a powerful yet lightweight tool that can save you a lot of back strain from sanding by hand.
Before sanding, experts in floor refinishing, like those from Soen Hardwood, wear protective goggles, a face mask, gloves, and ear protection. The dust produced by these machines can be pretty toxic, especially to sensitive sinuses.
The sander should be operated by gently moving it toward the wood grain. Sand the floor patch by patch, overlapping each pass slightly to ensure you get an even finish across the entire room.
Using a pole sander to sand the floors can be challenging, but it’s well worth it in the end! Once the floors are sanded, sweep them regularly and use a vacuum to remove any debris left behind.
Using a Hand Sander
When sanding a flawless refinished hardwood floor, using the right tool for the job is essential. Hand sanders are great for smaller projects and can be used in areas where an electric sander would be too expensive.
First, decide on what grit sandpaper is best for the job. Start with coarse grit for rough wood, then work up to finer papers depending on how smooth you want the finished product.
After deciding on your sanding paper, please attach it to the sander and begin sanding your floor slowly and evenly with the wood’s grain. Make sure to move the sander in straight, even strokes and avoid using rapid or back-and-forth movements.
Also, thoroughly sweep and dust mop the floor before you sand it. This will help remove any dirt or debris from the wood floor, which can prevent you from getting a smooth finish.
Using a Dust Collection System
When sanding a flawless refinished hardwood floor, using a dust collection system is essential to minimize the amount of wood dust you create. If you don’t, this fine dust will travel anywhere it can, clogging furnace filters and causing your family to breathe in harmful irritants.
A dust collection system begins by capturing the wood dust from your power tools and other shop machinery. It then moves the dust through a series of ducts. The ducts hit a set of baffles that slow the dust and make it less likely to blow off the filters at full speed.
Once the dust is filtered, the air enters a clean air plenum. This space contains a hopper or drum where the collected dust drops out. Then the filtered air goes back into the facility or is vented outside.
