If you are going to refinish your hardwood floors, then you need to learn how to do some sanding. The reason for this is that sanding is the first major step in hardwood floor restoration, and is also the step that takes the longest to complete. Keep in mind that while it isn't all that difficult (as long as you have the right tools) it can take a few days to get everything done right.
Materials needed:
- Deck brooms
- Wide brooms
- Dust pan
- Dust mask
- Gloves (rubber or polyurethane your choice)
- Safety goggles
- Floor sander (Drum sanders are quick, but need high control. Orbital sanders take longer, but allow easier control.)
- Floor edger
- Shop vacuum
- 2 large fans
- Sand paper (36, 60, 80, and 100 grit)
Procedure:
- Remove everything. The first step in sanding wood floors is to remove everything from the room. Not only does this make it a little easier to move around, it helps protect your furniture, electronics, and other knickknacks from getting covered in wood dust that can be a pain in the rear to remove. At this time you will also want to hang some plastic sheets over any doorways into or out of the room so that the dust doesn't spread throughout the house. You will also want to close off any vents that you may have in your room as well.
- Inspect your floor. Once you have your floor cleared of all rugs, furniture, and other items, it is time to do a thorough inspection. When you are inspecting your floor take time to seriously look at it. You are looking for any nails that may have come loose (if you find any, replace with a screw instead; they last longer) or cracks that need to be repaired. Fix any problems that you have, but be aware that if a crack is too large you may need to replace that piece of wood.
- Clean your floor. After you have inspected your floor and repaired any problems you may have found, it is time to do a little cleaning. Go over the floor with a deck broom, then a wide broom, and sweep up everything that you can find. This will help remove any dirt or debris that could damage the floor as you are sanding it.
- Prepare to sand. Place a large box fan near one door, and the other in a semi-open window. This will help create a breeze that should help clear out any free-floating dust that will get kicked up when you start sanding. Make sure that the breeze is going from the door out the window, or you could end up spreading some wood dust throughout your home. Be sure that you are also wearing your gloves and dust mask when sanding, it is also a good idea to wear some eye protection as well.
- Sand the floor. Using your preferred type of sander, clip on the heaviest grit sand paper, which is 36 grit, and begin sanding. Make sure that you are continually moving the sander in a steady motion, and that you cover the entire floor. You will need to periodically change out the sand paper but that is ok. Whenever you need to switch the sand paper, use your shop vacuum to clear out as much of the dust as you can.
- Sweep and inspect the floor. Clean off your floor as much as you possibly can using the deck brooms, wide brooms, and shop vacuum. This will allow you to clearly see any areas of your floor that you may have missed, as well as getting it ready for the next stage of sanding.
- Repeat as necessary. Repeat steps two through six using increasingly finer sandpaper until you have a perfectly smooth floor. Once you have finished sanding, make sure that you do a thorough job cleaning up, or you will have some serious problems staining or sealing the flooring.
Author Bio
Lee Wyatt
Contributor of numerous Tips.Net articles, Lee Wyatt is quickly becoming a regular "Jack of all trades." He is currently an independent contractor specializing in writing and editing. Contact him today for all of your writing and editing needs! Click here to contact. Learn more about Lee...
Organizing Storage Closets
Storage closets are a great and wonderful thing, when they are actually organized. When they are not though, they can be ...
Discover More
Cleaning Home Siding
Have you ever noticed how the siding of your home has a tendency to become dirty, or even moldy, over time? Often, ...
Discover More
Removing Salt Stains
While the snow and ice of winter can be a beautiful sight, the salt that generally comes out at the same time can create ...
Discover More
More Home Improvement Tips
Walnut Wood Flooring
Walnut wood flooring is a wonderful option that any home owner can use to help enhance the look of their home. But what ...
Discover More
Floor Removal
Floor removal is a fairly basic step in home renovations and one that can lead to a surprising amount of complications if ...
Discover More
Fixing Squeaky Flooring
Just because you have a squeaky floor, and don't think that you are very good with a hammer doesn't mean that you have to ...
Discover More
Comments