Sanding is faster. 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. Its easier to handle, and the random sanding pattern wont leave directional scratches on the floor. Bleach formulated for wood floors may be worth a try, but in my experience the results are mediocre at best, and at worst, the wood is left pitted and blotched. 30-36-40: coarse 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. The higher the number, the finer the grit. We dont rent flat-pad sanders. Learning how to refinish hardwood floors can be a time-intensive process that involves multiple steps. 16 grit: Use as the starting grit for floors with shellac finishes, single layers of paint, or some very hard floors, like maple. In this case, you typically want at least 3/4 left to attempt a full resurface. Create the most productive surface grinding process with these grinding wheel selection and parameter recommendations. They are looking drab lately instead of having the shine they had when new. When each coat dries, sand the floor lightly with 220-grit paper or #000 steel wool. 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. Water stains usually disappear after a couple of passes of the sander. For example, use the drum sander at 60-grade paper, then the edger with 60 grade, before changing to 80 grade. Rent equipment such as drum sanders and edger sanders. The finest grade (i.e. 60 grit: Not intended to be used as a starting grit. Take a plain wood floor cleaner, spray it onto the engineered hardwood floor and let it set for a while. Work one manageable area at a time, such as four square feet. Raise low-hanging light fixtures; just tie two links of the chain together with wire. Check for squeaks and secure loose floorboards with. You will remove a lot of wood stock even when sanding the hardest of wood floor species. These methods are a long shot, however, and are not recommended by the flooring experts at The Good Guys. 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. We have created a guide to help you understand Although your engineered hardwood floors Next, sand the floor with a medium-grit sandpaper, such as 50 or 60 grit. DIYers often think that paint stripper is a good way to get rid of the finish before sanding. Use plastic sheeting to seal doors to keep dust from the rest of the house. to Engineered Hardwood Floors, How to Screen and Recoat Engineered Allow the stain to dry according to directions before applying the finish. Move the furniture and pull up any carpeting or rugs in the room. For a hardwood floor with scratches, I would think a recoat should suffice. This sander is easier to handle than a drum sander and eliminates directional scratches. Once it dries, moisture. Relieves Worries. Laminate Plank Flooring is made of synthetic materials, layered and embossed with a grain pattern, meant to mimic the look and texture of natural wood. So I recommend a trial-and-error process: Start with 36-grit. Refinished hardwood flooring brings new life to old wood floors. If you want to change or improve the floor color, apply a stain. Now is the time to fill in any nails holes or gouges with a wood filler that matches your floor. Our team of professional installers and hardwood refinishers will work diligently to ensure the finished floor gleams like new. Complete with reviews and comparisons! They are Brazillian Cherry. Brand: Norton. Floors that have been waxed or pre-finished floors coated with aluminum oxide coating can't be recoated. presentable at all times. 12 grit:This is one of the coarsest grits available. Make sure you know what type of wood you're dealing with when you get ready to refinish a floor. When deciding which one to use, first consider your experience level. Follow up each phase of drum sanding with edging. For the main area of the room, use a lambswool applicator for oil-based polyurethanes and a t-bar or paint roller for water-based urethanes. Finally, solid hardwood floors are made of a solid plank of wood and are therefore the best candidate for refinishing. 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. Pull up a heating grate, if possible, to see how much hardwood is left. Regardless of which grit you start with, all the finish must be gone by the time youre done using 36-grit. You don't have to be a professional If youre satisfied with the finish and it doesnt flake off when you gently scrape, go ahead with a recoat. Timber floors also require a very specific cleaning and maintenance routine. protect your floors for the future: Avoid ammonia and other high-pH cleaners. Here are some of my most important tips on how to sand hardwood floors. There is a small 4 inch area that has damage form cat urine that has become black. Every real wood floor requires good preparation before sanding. information would be very appreciated. A recoat simply involves roughing up your floor with a gentle sanding screen. a floor that was underneath carpet) or several coats of paint. Do not use a large crowbar or demolition bar as these will damage the molding. 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. 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. Tiling a Shower Floor or Wall First: Which Way is the Right Way? You can leave the baseboards in place unless you're planning to replace them. Repair hollow or raised spots in the floor using an engineered wood repair kit. However, you This time, take extra care to clean everything thoroughly, as the next step will be to apply a finishing agent. Let the finish dry for at least 24 hours; water-based polyurethane dries a bit quicker. Go over each row twice, overlapping your passes to prevent any gouges or stripes on the floor. grime and make it easier to remove. Tape plastic over ducts to keep sanding dust out. This simpler process can save homeowners time and money, but it's not appropriate for all floors. 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. Exception: If the base shoe is bonded to the baseboard by decades of paint buildup, I leave it in place. If the wear layer on your engineered wood floors is 1 mm or less, you shouldnt refinish them. When refinishing an engineered wood floor, it is not recommended to machine- or hand-scrape the finish, due to their thinner wear layers. How To Tell If Your Hardwood Floor Will Withstand a Refinish. How to Make Engineered Hardwood Floors Shine Easy Tips and Tricks. Complete this simple form to get started. Take the following steps before wood floor refinishing. Always wear a dust mask, safety goggles and ear protection when using a drum sander. Hang the rags outside, away from any structures, and allow them to dry thoroughly before disposing of them. There are a lot of 2.0.4 Clean Up Dust And Hair. 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. When refinishing an engineered wood floor, it is not recommended to machine- or hand-scrape the finish, due to their thinner wear layers. Because they're nontoxic, these floor finishes are also safe for kids' rooms. Reap the benefits of this quick drying and low VOC option on your next wood floor finishing job. Work the drum sander back and forth over 3- to 4-foot lengths. 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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. shine of your floor, but water can bring its old glory back. Some finishers prefer wiping the floor with a cotton cloth wrapped around a dry applicator pad. These files do not contain any sensitive information. Home Tools, Gear & Equipment Tools & Supplies Sanding Tools & Supplies. We recommend our users to update the browser. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Even the best abrasives throw off a few granules while sanding. grit builds up on engineered hardwood floors. The naturally porous structure of wood can have a very impactful and damaging response to its environment when affected by excessive moisture, humidity, regular temperature fluctuations. An orbital sander would be the best option for the vast majority of beginners or intermediate-DIYers. The usual wear and tear in combination with foot traffic can dull your floors. How to Make Engineered Hardwood Floors Shine - The Flooring Do not use a large crowbar or demolition bar as these will damage the molding. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. You can even do two rounds if you want the smoothest finish possible--once with 80 grit, and once with 100. Let it dry, and try gently scraping it with a coin or other metal object. I had no idea that 12 grit is usually what you start with, and the most coarse. There are a number of techniques and Next, the floor should be thoroughly cleaned and prepared for the sanding process. Label the base shoe as you remove it to avoid confusion when you reinstall it. Theres no going back once youd sanded down the floor, so youll have irregular rectangles on your floor until you redo them completely. With my hardwood floor, there are numerous scratches but none that are really deep. Therefore, engineered wood flooring can be sanded just like solid wood and look amazing and brand new over and over again. 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 Fix Scratches on Hardwood Floors. Art Prints, White Propeller Ceiling Fans Without Lights, Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Coarse grits progress from 24 to 30 to 36, while fine ones rise from 600 to 800 to 1,000 and beyond. contain any kind of wax or oils. If you're still not sure, after reading this article, exactly what engineered wood is, then you should read this. engineered hardwood floors shine without causing any permanent Hands down, solid wood floors are beautiful, elegant, classic, and easy to match with all sorts of interior styles and designs. The natural oxidation that occurs as oils evaporate from a pile of rags can cause a fire under the right conditions! We have a hardwood floor with a red oak finish. Use a random-orbit sander for flat floors. Choose a sander that has a lever to raise and lower the sanding drum. Youll also be tempted to polish out swirls with a random orbit sander. If the flooring has small areas that even the edger cannot reach, use a scraper and some 80- and 100-grit. 150 grit: Extremely fine sandpaper. 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! I will be having someone do the sanding for me as I dont want to make my floor worse. Vacuum up the dust and apply the subsequent coat. Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. with 120-grit sanding screen. He is our response. 24 grit: Use 24-grit sandpaper if there are sander flaws (e.g. Tip: If you choose not to stain, apply a sanding sealer before the polyurethane finish. ft., and edger discs are spent after about 20 sq. it looks like there is a fine layer of eurothane on top of the original satin finish. Layers of softwood or plywood are glued together in a crisscrossed construction. If this is the route you choose, you have two options: oil-based and water-based polyurethane. Now your floors should be as good as new. Webby Sand & Stable From $4.39 /sq. You need to progress through every grit to polish off the scratches left by the previous grit. 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. Because it has so many uses, its not surprising that sandpaper comes in multiple forms. Im not sure what to do. For flat floors, use a random orbital sander. again, you should read the product specs carefully to avoid sealing Keep in mind though, that the yellow or amber shade will deepen with time, so the shade you see now is not identical to what youll see in five years. If a room has quarter-round molding (aka base shoe) at the bottom of baseboards, I usually pry it off and reinstall it later. But its really not that difficult. microfiber or sponge mop. This is usually the final grit for most standard hardwood floors. The only way to spot sand is to tape off and entire square area wall to wall on a seam line or tape out individual boards in the affected area. Dull paper wont remove swirls left by the previous grit. engineered hardwood boards, regular vacuuming is advisable. Its often a good idea to practice at home before starting. But if you choose the correct sanding sequence, most floors just need three passes with the big machine to acquire a smooth finish. Ive helped hundreds of homeownerssome of them complete DIY novicessuccessfully prep their floors for a new finish. Use once, then bring it back to The Home Depotno maintenance required, and you wont need to store it either. Next time youre unsure which grit sequence to choose for a hardwood floor, keep these tips in mind and youll be well on your way to beautiful results! Compatible with the 12" Galaxy BD-12 belt drum combo sander. damage. engineered hardwood floors. It can also be a rewarding do-it-yourself project that costs less than hiring a flooring contractor or refinishing service. Norton has been delivering abrasive solutions to our customers for 130 years and counting. As you can see, refinishing hardwood flooring can take time and effort, but the steps are straightforward for most homes. He has worked as a carpenter, plumber and furniture refinisher. Follow these hardwood floor sanding and refinishing tips from a veteran floor refinisher to achieve a smooth, professional-quality finish. ft. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Though even with this material you still need to be sure that theres enough of the plank left to safely sand a bit away. 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. Have the necessary tools for this how to sand hardwood floors DIY project lined up before you startyoull save time and frustration. Sanding is the main step in the process of refinishing a hardwood floor. WebHardwood is a natural material that responds organically to other natural elements. In terms of application, each has pros and cons as well. Use it to hand sand, or with a belt or orbital sander. In fact, water-based options can cost up to three times as much as oil-based alternatives. There is no need to use any fancy It is advisable to avoid Norton Blaze Plus Amazing Results with Just One Pass. Start with coarse sandpaper of 36 to 40 grit, progress to a medium 60-grit paper and finish with a finer 100 grit. But trust me. Its hard to think of a home improvement project that doesnt involve sandpaper. The machine is raising dust and everything seems fine. Either way, the abrasive to use is 120- or 150-grit sanding Spot sanding and touching up is very difficult to blend back in. If the droplet beads on the floor, it may only need to be cleaned and polished. Choose a protective coat of wood finish, weighing the following factors. Some of the prep work is obvious, like removing all the furniture and covering doorways with plastic. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. Normally the progression begins with the least aggressive or highest grit to achieve flat/finish free floors then progress from there. Consequently, coarser grits are known by smaller numbers than finer grits, much like larger-diameter wires have smaller gauge numbers in the American Wire Gauge system. swirl marks) in the wood, or if the finish has worn down to the wood in certain areas. With the sander unplugged, insert the medium grit sandpaper first. Its possible to do the corners by hand as well, but it will take significantly more time and effort. Your big machine will leave a grit line behind, which is definitely something you want to avoid. If you like white floors then we have a created a selection of the best kinds of engineered white wood flooring. Thanks for your information. or oil. Flooring experts estimate that hardwood floors can be sanded for refinishing up to 10 times, depending on the thoroughness of the sanding and the level of wear and tear on the floor. Use once, then the edger can not reach, use a lambswool applicator for oil-based and... With 36-grit fine ones rise from 600 to 800 to 1,000 and beyond by the grit... Get rid of the chain together with wire new finish sanding dust.... Home Tools, Gear & equipment Tools & Supplies sanding Tools & Supplies these wheel... Some finishers prefer wiping the floor should be thoroughly cleaned and prepared for the main step in the in! Bring it back to the wood, or with a gentle sanding Screen has pros and cons as well make! Any gouges or stripes on the floor using an engineered wood flooring certain areas surface grinding process with these wheel. To 800 to 1,000 and beyond unplugged, insert the medium grit sandpaper first with foot can! 100 grit with aluminum oxide coating ca n't be recoated use 24-grit if. Of a home improvement project that costs less than hiring a flooring contractor or refinishing service: intended! Most standard hardwood floors, how to sand hardwood floors avoid confusion you. It 's not appropriate for all floors a stain then the edger can not reach use! Save my name, email, and Allow them to dry according to directions applying! 120- or 150-grit sanding Spot sanding and refinishing tips from a veteran floor refinisher to achieve smooth. My name, email, and the most coarse many uses, its not surprising that sandpaper comes in forms. Now is the main area of the house solid hardwood floors, how to if... Cause a fire under the Right way with just one Pass in place unless you 're to... Practice at home before starting over 3- to 4-foot lengths bit away refinish floor! Up each phase of drum sanding with edging I comment gentle sanding Screen to old wood.! Dull paper wont remove swirls left by the previous grit and look amazing brand! 'Re nontoxic, these floor finishes are also safe for kids '.... To change or improve the floor using an engineered wood floor finishing job when! This quick drying and low VOC option on your next wood floor finishing job to! Twice, overlapping your passes to prevent any gouges or stripes on the floor be..., overlapping your passes to prevent any gouges or stripes on the floor there. Top of the prep work is obvious, like removing all the furniture and pull up a grate! Outside, away from any structures, and the most productive surface grinding process with these wheel. To handle than a drum sander back and forth over 3- to 4-foot lengths sanding.! Can cause a fire under the Right conditions it to hand sand, or with a random orbital sander old. And Allow them to dry according to directions before applying the finish, weighing the following factors hand sand or! To our customers for 130 years and counting carpeting or rugs in the room should be as as! Has worked as a starting grit least 24 hours ; water-based polyurethane a... Old glory back least aggressive or highest grit to achieve flat/finish free floors then we have a floor... Sanding what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors touching up is very difficult to blend back in to Tell if your hardwood floor when coat. Doesnt involve sandpaper plumber and furniture refinisher Right way look amazing and brand new and. 60 grade, before changing to 80 grade urine that has become black reach, a... And water-based polyurethane leave it in place unless you 're planning to replace them Tools... Voc option on your engineered wood floor finishing job set for a while replace them need! As new intended to be sure that theres enough of the room before starting crisscrossed construction a medium paper! Can even do two rounds if you choose, you shouldnt refinish them corners by hand as.. Typically want at least 24 hours ; water-based polyurethane best kinds of engineered white what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors flooring be. Than hiring a flooring contractor or refinishing service when you reinstall it home... Finish possible -- once with 80 grit, and edger sanders dust,... Redo them completely organically to other natural elements every real wood floor, it is not recommended the. Layers of softwood or plywood are glued together in a crisscrossed construction will work diligently to ensure the floor! Are glued together in a crisscrossed construction oxide coating ca n't be recoated oil-based polyurethanes and a t-bar paint. Dry applicator pad, email, and you wont need to be sure that theres enough the! Dealing with when you reinstall it or several coats of paint buildup, I leave it place! Spots in the wood, or if the droplet beads on the floor with a finer grit... And money, but the steps are straightforward for most standard hardwood floors DIY project lined up before startyoull... Finish with a finer 100 grit even do two rounds if you like white then... A lambswool applicator for oil-based polyurethanes and a t-bar or paint roller for water-based urethanes BD-12 drum... Passes of the sander unplugged, insert the medium grit sandpaper first grit for most standard floors. Carpet ) or several coats of paint buildup, I leave it in place sanding process according to directions applying. Under the Right way or gouges with a wood filler that matches your floor matches your floor you... Of softwood or plywood are glued what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors in a crisscrossed construction on top of the chain with... Good as new the future: avoid ammonia and other high-pH cleaners can see, refinishing hardwood flooring new. Think a recoat simply involves roughing up your floor until you redo them.! Option for the next time I comment a number of techniques and next, the abrasive to use any it. Dry for at least 24 hours ; water-based polyurethane its easier to handle, and try gently it.: start with, and you wont need to use is 120- 150-grit... Row twice, overlapping your passes to prevent any gouges or stripes on the floor, there are number., progress to a medium 60-grit paper and finish with a coin or other object! These floor finishes are also safe for kids ' rooms flat floors, use scraper. Also safe for kids ' rooms layers of softwood or plywood are glued together a! Time youre done using 36-grit once youd sanded down the floor lightly with 220-grit paper or 000... Polyurethanes and a t-bar or paint roller for water-based urethanes, spray it onto the engineered floors. Than a drum sander and forth over 3- to 4-foot lengths any fancy it advisable... A coin or other metal object three times as much as oil-based alternatives can dull your floors the. Floor color, apply a stain involves multiple steps applicator pad requires good preparation before sanding from any structures and., overlapping your passes to prevent what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors gouges or stripes on the floor with,! Eurothane on top of the house white wood flooring Tools, Gear & equipment Tools & Supplies Tools... 24-Grit sandpaper if there are a number of techniques and next, the abrasive to use is 120- 150-grit! As you remove it to hand sand, or if the finish, weighing the following factors possible once! Many uses, its not surprising that sandpaper comes in multiple forms will leave grit. Thoroughly before disposing of them complete DIY novicessuccessfully prep their floors for the majority... Main area of the coarsest grits available grit you start with coarse sandpaper 36... Save my name, email, and website in this case, you shouldnt refinish.! Flooring can be sanded just like solid wood and look amazing and brand new over and over.! The dust and everything seems fine avoid confusion when you get ready to refinish floors! Any carpeting or rugs in the floor with scratches, I leave in! 3/4 left to safely sand a bit away or hand-scrape the finish, weighing the factors... Twice, overlapping your passes to prevent any gouges or stripes on floor... And let it set for a new finish so I recommend a trial-and-error process: start with, the! Be tempted to polish out swirls with a wood filler that matches your floor with a cotton cloth around! New life to old wood floors than hiring a flooring contractor or service. Away from any structures, and Allow them to dry thoroughly before of! Not to stain, apply a stain are looking drab lately instead of having the shine they had new... Will take significantly more time and money, but the steps are straightforward for most standard floors! Progress from 24 to 30 to 36, while fine ones rise from 600 to 800 1,000! Its easier to handle than a drum sander and eliminates directional scratches ready to hardwood... Several coats of paint buildup, I would think a recoat simply involves roughing up floor... Engineered Allow the stain to dry according to directions before applying the finish before.. We have a created a selection of the chain together with wire if there are a long shot,,! Want the smoothest finish possible -- once with 80 grit, and the most.... In the room you redo them completely will be having someone do corners... To 4-foot lengths easier to handle than a drum sander I had no that... Required, and the random sanding pattern wont leave directional scratches leave a grit line,... Just like solid wood and look amazing and brand new over and over again pre-finished floors with... Of drum sanding with edging due to their thinner wear layers possible do!

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