Use it to hand sand, or with a belt or orbital sander. Let it dry, and try gently scraping it with a coin or other metal object. Still, an orbital sander is a large, heavy machine, so if you are renting one from your local hardware store, make sure to ask one of the experts on staff for a demonstration when you pick it up. For the final sanding, use at least 80 grit sandpaper. applied. Tip: Practice using the drum sander on an old sheet of plywood until youre comfortable operating it, and then use it on your wood flooring. After youve prepped the room, its time to start sanding. Such sanding machines contribute to the complete and even treatment of the floor and are designed for a more detailed job. A solid rule of thumb is that a typical solid hardwood floor can be refinished four or five times before it needs to be replaced, so if you know your floors history, you may not need to measure its remaining thickness. The CAMI system predominates in North America. Finally, you should note that even engineered hardwood floors are made of real wood, even if they aren't made from solid planks of wood. WebEngineered Hardwood Floors. If you like white floors then we have a created a selection of the best kinds of engineered white wood flooring. However, with the wear and tear of everyday use, they will eventually need refinishing. Once youve selected two areas and taped them off, get a 120-grit screen and thoroughly sand the area. If its not completely bare and flat, try progressively more aggressive cuts in different inconspicuous areas of the floor until you find the cut that leaves it bare and clean. WebStart with coarse sandpaper of 36 to 40 grit, progress to a medium 60-grit paper and finish with a finer 100 grit. To use this kit, first drill a hole into the center of the damaged board. When deciding which one to use, first consider your experience level. When working with engineered hardwood, you typically require about 1/8 of veneer in order to refinish. 12-16-20-24: very coarse You can do it with a rented buffing machine or with a sanding pole (like the one used for sanding drywall). Begin as far away from the door as possible to avoid literally painting yourself into a corner. However, it can be a Work in 5-foot swaths, and keep moving. Adding one ounce of dish soap per gallon of I will be having someone do the sanding for me as I dont want to make my floor worse. Refinishing Hardwood Floors: a Satisfying Detail That Can Transform a Room. Move the furniture and pull up any carpeting or rugs in 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. If you have more that 200sqft to screen, we recommend using a buffer. Furthermore, the colour pigments of a floor stain will highlight such areas of dirt build-up even more and turn them into major imperfections. Edging with a belt sander is like digging a ditch with a trowel. 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. This method is a bit risky though; the baseboards may have been replaced when the floor was previously refinished for aesthetic reasons, and you still wont know the current thickness of the floor. Most drum and edger sanders have built in vacuums and dust bag systems to reduce dust emissions. 60 grit: Not intended to be used as a starting grit. Check it out! WebCan engineered wood flooring be sanded and refinished? A dull edging disc is even worse, since it wont remove the ugly cross-grain scratches left by the previous disc. Tilt the machine backward, rotate it, and go back in the other direction. Its hard to think of a home improvement project that doesnt involve sandpaper. Prefinished Eng White Oak; View All Prefinished Engineered. Engineered hardwood floors have become Repair hollow or raised spots in the floor using an engineered wood repair kit. Need Help? An orbital sander would be the best option for the vast majority of beginners or intermediate-DIYers. Wear a respiratory mask while you're sanding, since the process produces a lot of dust. But dont. When it hits a nail, youll hear it. This type of coloration can be very deep. 36,50,80 is my most used. Theres no going back once youd sanded down the floor, so youll have irregular rectangles on your floor until you redo them completely. The edger is basically a sanding disc mounted on a big, powerful motor. Use an 80-grit or finer sanding pad for this pass, and then repeat with the edge. 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. Random Orbital Sander vs. Palm Sander: Whats the Difference? Sweep and vacuum the flooring to remove dust and debris between sanding with different grades of grit. Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Learn how your comment data is processed. Its typically pretty easy to tell if your flooring is made of laminate, as it simply feels like a hard plastic. Once again, work back and forth, overlapping each pass. 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. Even the best abrasives throw off a few granules while sanding. should consider the abovementioned precautions. What makes engineered wood flooring any different is its advanced structure. Engineered hardwood floors 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. Edge or detail sanders come in handy for reaching to all corners of the room and other areas that are hard to access. And a 36-grit granule caught under a 60-grit belt will leave an ugly gash in the floor. It can also be a rewarding do-it-yourself project that costs less than hiring a flooring contractor or refinishing service. So I recommend a trial-and-error process: Start with 36-grit. 40,60,100 for maple/ cherry. When the finish is dry, reattach the shoe guard moulding. Learning how to refinish hardwood floors can be a time-intensive process that involves multiple steps. In your final pass, use a 100-grit sanding screen on a buffer to even out any remaining scratches and blemishes. Rent equipment such as drum sanders and edger sanders. A paper thats too coarse will leave the surface scratched and damaged, while one thats too fine wont do the job. Before you buy a wood floor cleaner, you He is our response. If not, its time to start refinishing. A somewhat simpler option is a water-based finish that dries clear and doesn't produce the same volume of toxic fumes. He adds that you should edge your surface with a power-hand sander. Then, as the pencil is erased by your sanding, youll know where youve already been. If your engineered Tip: Eachtime youre ready to change grades on the drum sander, make sure you use the edger using the same grade sandpaper to keep the entire floor sanded at a uniform consistency. Engineered Hardwood Floors, Removing Dirt and Returning the Shine products you can use. How do you choose the correct sanding sequence? Prep before you rent. Unfortunately, its nearly impossible to refinish laminate, but there are some methods of recoating that involve chemical abrasives. Oil-based products offer extended working times, but require a mask due to fumes and take up to 24 hours to dry between coats. It is usually polyurethane based, but you should check with Any suggestions? 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. 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. Thanks for your information. For flat floors, use a random orbital sander. So countersink all nails by at least 1/8 in. The baseboards arent typically removed during refinishing, so there will be a bit of a raised area underneath if the floor had been resurfaced previously. The natural oxidation that occurs as oils evaporate from a pile of rags can cause a fire under the right conditions! Work following the grain of the wood while applying even pressure. Selecting the Correct CoarsenessExtra Coarse Sandpaper: (24-36)Coarse Sandpaper: (40-50)Medium Grit: (60-100)Fine Grit: (120-220)Extra Fine Sandpaper: (240, 320, and 400)Superfine Grit: (600 and above)Wet Dry If 24-grit doesnt remove at least three-quarters of the finish in one pass, go to 16-grit. Remember to sweep and clean the floor before you start sanding AND in between each grit. Im not sure what to do. swirl marks) in the wood, or if the finish has worn down to the wood in certain areas. Spot sanding and touching up is very difficult to blend back in. 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! A couple coats of new finish are then Find out how to choose the right product type, application method, sheen level, and more when finishing a hardwood floor. When each coat dries, sand the floor lightly with 220-grit paper or #000 steel wool. If you want to change or improve the floor color, apply a stain. Tiling a Shower Floor or Wall First: Which Way is the Right Way? Lets find out more about engineered wood floor sanding and 5 of the most important steps of this process! This type of sanding will level minor unevenness left by the drum sander and edger as well as buff away sanding scratches. You can do it, but it will take forever.. 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. There is no wonder why this type of flooring gains more and more popularity and becomes the best alternative for more and more households and commercial premises. Repairing hardwood floors can be a daunting task. If a room has quarter-round molding (aka base shoe) at the bottom of baseboards, I usually pry it off and reinstall it later. The first grit is meant to take off any finish, the next is to smooth out the pattern of the first grit, and the final grit is meant to smooth out any remaining sander marks and provide the finishing touches. water-based engineered hardwood floor cleaners and other non-abrasive Engineered Wood floors are another alternative to solid hardwood, made of a thin layer (or veneer) of hardwood, bonded to a layer of cheaper material, typically plywood. Make sure to do this in an inconspicuous location. 2000-2022 Home Depot. Use the soft Some homeowners may prefer to apply natural oils or waxes to their wood floors. 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. Its typically pretty easy to tell if your flooring is made of laminate, as it simply feels like a hard plastic. Remove debris on the floor with a vacuum cleaner or mop. Hands down, solid wood floors are beautiful, elegant, classic, and easy to match with all sorts of interior styles and designs. 50-60: medium 36-grit is typical, though you can use anything between 30 and 40 grit. If the wear layer on your engineered wood floors is 1 mm or less, you shouldnt refinish them. Raise low-hanging light fixtures; just tie two links of the chain together with wire. Finally, replace baseboards and furniture. If this is the route you choose, you have two options: oil-based and water-based polyurethane. 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. Now your floors should be as good as new. 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. 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. When refinishing an engineered wood floor, it is not recommended to machine- or hand-scrape the finish, due to their thinner wear layers. Choose a protective coat of wood finish, weighing the following factors. Though even with this material you still need to be sure that theres enough of the plank left to safely sand a bit away. Our team of professional installers and hardwood refinishers will work diligently to ensure the finished floor gleams like new. If the flooring has small areas that even the edger cannot reach, use a scraper and some 80- and 100-grit. However, Dont waste money by picking up the sanders before youre ready to use them. Norton Blaze Plus Amazing Results with Just One Pass. Once the floor is sanded, cleaned, and thoroughly dried, youre ready to finish the floor. Not bad for a weekend of work. Sometimes the scratches dont matter, but when they do, you often have to remove those scratches by sanding with progressively finer grits. Sanding eliminates scratches and stains from a hardwood floor, but may not be able to alleviate the deepest gouges or discolored patches of wood. Click hereto browse our selection of sanding abrasives. You can leave the baseboards in place unless you're planning to replace them. Use clean cotton cloths or paper towels to remove excess stain. Sand with the grain unless you're working with a floor that is extremely damaged or uneven. 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. Rinse the floor with clean water. 100 grit: Takes out 60 or 80 grit scratch. CFS Part No: NTBELT1178X2912G16SIC. So it is still a real wood floor. 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. How to Make Engineered Hardwood Floors Shine - The Flooring WebUsing medium-grit sandpaper (120- to 150-grit) and a sanding sponge, lightly sand the wood floor to dull the surface before painting. Heres the problem: After the floor finish is gone, you cant see whether the sander is doing its job. They are available to answer questions and Consider these tips when refinishing hardwood floors. The usual wear and tear in combination with foot traffic can dull your floors. Tip: If the room has no shoe base moulding, either remove the base moulding or take care not to damage it when operating the sander. 100 grit: Takes out 60 or 80 grit scratch. Screening blends the edge-sanded perimeter with the drum-sanded field and polishes away sanding scratches. Then check the hardwoodfloor. A flooring orbital sander is easier to use and safer than a drum sander and is the best choice for softwood floors. Use a random-orbit sander for flat floors. We care to deliver right choices that matter to your market and application We use cookies in order to improve site performance, offer you a better browsing experience and enable you to easily share content. WebFloor Sanding Round 2: Smooth Out Rough Edges. Think twice before you rent a flat-pad sander (aka orbital or square-buff sander). 24-grit is the recommended starting grit if there is sander flaw in the floor from previous Even at 3mm, if the floor is lumpy, you risk sanding through to the ply substrate. Follow up each phase of drum sanding with edging. Engineered wood is made out of real wood products only, unlike laminate. WebREPEL Hardwood. If youre satisfied with the finish and it doesnt flake off when you gently scrape, go ahead with a recoat. Over time, a strange-looking layer of Sometimes it takes more than just three grits to achieve a smoothly sanded floor. They may cause minute pitting and damage the finish. 100 grit gave smooth finishing to the floor. ft. Refinished hardwood flooring brings new life to old wood floors. An oil-based satin finish gives the floor a warm glow and hides any imperfections while also bringing out the grain. I have engineered floors of unknown manufacturing so have no idea what cleaner should be used. There are some precautions you may want to consider to If DIY is not for you, knowing the process it takes to bring your floor back to life can help you determine which path to take -- whether refinishing or replacing -- and an understanding of what to expect along the way. You want to start with a more abrasive grit and then use successively finer grits. When it comes to sanding a hardwood floor, grit sequence is everything. Thoroughly sweep and vacuum the flooring and then follow up with a tack cloth to remove all the dust that you can. 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. His work has been published on Landlordology, Apartments.com and Hunker. 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. Can i redo my floor with 36 grit? Work one manageable area at a time, such as four square feet. 150 grit: Extremely fine sandpaper. Tape plastic over ducts to keep sanding dust out. When youre done, vacuum the room to clean up excess dust before moving onto the next pass. Many manufacturers recommend removing excess stain as you go, usually a few minutes after application. need to know a thing or two about maintenance to maintain the shine of your If you have newer baseboards and no quarter-round, leave it in place, but expect lots of the aforementioned touch-ups. Either way, the abrasive to use is 120- or 150-grit sanding Do not skip the progression from coarse grades to finer grades. A sharp scraper will leave a super-smooth glazed surface that wont take finish the same as the surrounding wood. How to Make Engineered Hardwood Floors Shine Easy Tips and Tricks. still clean them regularly. 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. Start by removing the shoe molding -- also called quarter-round -- around the entire perimeter. Although your engineered hardwood floors At the end of the job, lay a flashlight on the floor to highlight any leftover swirls. Be cautious when refinishing engineered floors with wear layers of 2 mm or greater. The goal of the first coarse abrasive is to remove the old surface coating, and to flatten the surface. Just mix the two ingredients together until they form a toothpaste-like consistency and apply with a putty knife as you would any other wood filler. Our standard widths vary from 5-12 and our lengths vary from 4-10. or oil. Thanks for any advice you can give me! Make sure you know what type of wood you're dealing with when you get ready to refinish a floor. You may even want to finish with a rag dampened with mineral spirits. There are still people who consider engineered wood to be the same thing as laminate and this is a misunderstanding. He helped build a small city in the Oregon desert from the ground up and helped establish two landscaping companies. engineered hardwood floors shine without causing any permanent Allow the stain to dry according to directions before applying the finish. When returning the furniture to room, place felt pads on the feet to prevent them from scratching the floor. We recommend our users to update the browser. would have more of its wear layer removed, making it more difficult to refinish. Engineered wood flooring skyrocketed with popularity and the appreciation of people. If you dont have any such openings, the next best option is to remove a threshold from a doorway as there are typically gaps between rooms that will expose the end of a board or plank. Keep track of how many times youve refinished them so you dont to Engineered Hardwood Floors, How to Screen and Recoat Engineered Make any necessary repairs to gouges and cracks in the floor before sanding. There are a number of techniques and Youll need two rental machines: a drum sander to sand most of the floor and an edger to sand along baseboards. DIYers often think that paint stripper is a good way to get rid of the finish before sanding. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. And competing in roller derby in her spare time. Extra-coarse and ultra-fine grades are generally reserved for rough sanding and polishing. Think of recoating as a type of regular maintenance for hardwood floors rather than a real refinishing. Fresh, sharp belts sand faster and deliver better results. Despite a background in art history and English literature, shes spent 13 years sanding hardwood and teaching others to do it themselves. Wearing a dust mask, start by evenly sanding directly over the stained area with #100-grit sandpaper. If your hardwood floor has seen better days, and you think it might need a complete refinish, dont worry. Often, the only solution is to replace the woodor finish over the stain and think of it as a permanent memorial to a beloved pet. If Your Floorboards Are Really Uneven Or Painted In A Thick Coat Of Paint, You Will Probably Be Best Starting To Sand Your Floors With 16 Grit Paper. If The Hardwood Floor Can Handle Another Sanding, Plan To Be Aggressive About It. On A Typical Oak Strip Floor The Finish Manufacture Might Recommend Ending The Sanding Sequence With A 120 Grit Screen. More items 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. There are a lot of By Dani Straughan. Your email address will not be published. Tip: Performing a water droplet test can quickly reveal your floors condition. Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. We have a hardwood floor with a red oak finish. Brand: Norton. Measure the room. And people want that changed, so this is how engineered wood flooring was designed and common choice for many nowadays. This grit should remove all over wood and make the floor flat. Be the first to know about our latest sales & promotions. 80 grit: Takes out the scratch from 60-grit sandpaper. your floor, in case you need to recoat it in the future. 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 So the best way to judge is by square footage covered. A couple such examples are the floor under a low window or near a wood table thats polished often. Before floor refinishing with a sander, you should pull up the shoe base moulding along where the floor meets the wall. Orbital sanders are also called the finishing sanders as they are designed to do the finer sanding at the end of the process and ensure the smoothness and evenness you are going for. Engineered wood floors, however, typically aren't good candidates for refinishing, as the veneer on the top comes right off as soon as you start sanding. Here are some tips: Use a carbide scraper to remove finish from corners. use a lambswool floor buffer to bring back the mirror finish. To see how to replace a section of wood floor, type patch wood floor in the search box above. So says our expert, Kadee Macey, owner of Petes Hardwood Floors in St. Paul, Minn. Finally, solid hardwood floors are made of a solid plank of wood and are therefore the best candidate for refinishing. WebNorton Durite 16 Grit 12 Inch (11-7/8 x 29-1/2) BD-12 Floor Sanding Belts. the manufacturer or a professional to ensure the best result. It all depends on the thickness of the wear layer. Engineered wood flooring is usually 4-8mm and is good for sanding and refinishing. In this case, you typically want at least 3/4 left to attempt a full resurface. Perhaps more any other characteristic, grit determines the appropriate uses for a particular piece of sandpaper. An edger can be difficult to control, so practice your technique on scrap wood first. ft. On average, especially on jobs that are larger than 500 sq. If the floor is old, very hard, or has residual finish, it can be a bit trickier to determine the right sequence. Take the following steps before wood floor refinishing. Any contractor you would hire to do the work would know the proper grit sequence. Unit Size: 10. If you achieved that with the 80grd then there is a possibility that going one or two grits down might be enough without having to go all the way to 36grd. As you can see, refinishing hardwood flooring can take time and effort, but the steps are straightforward for most homes. Consider floor care and refinishing tool rental to get your project done. This fine-detail work can make your DIY project look more like a professional job. The initial coarse grits remove the finish and flatten the wood. In most cases yes. a floor that was underneath carpet) or several coats of paint. When youre sanding, nail heads will rip the sanding belt (which costs you money) or gouge the sanding drum (which costs you more money). Next, sand the floor with a medium-grit sandpaper, such as 50 or 60 grit. But dont waste your time. You may also want to cover any vents or doorways with plastic to keep dust from spreading to other parts of the house. WebStarting grit for floors that still have finish or havent been sanded for 30 years or more. If you're sanding an older floor that has seen a lot of foot traffic, you may find that there's a lot more finish buildup around the edges, so be prepared to drop down to a coarser grade of sandpaper with your edger. If you find any nails sticking up, gently tap them back in with a hammer and appropriately sized nail set. Keep the buffer in motion at all times to avoid leaving any marks. 3 Conclusion. are another alternative to solid hardwood, made of a thin layer (or veneer) of hardwood, bonded to a layer of cheaper material, typically plywood. 2.0.6 Apply Wood Stain Evenly. Knowing the square footage will help the crew at the rental store estimate how many sanding belts and discs youll need. There is still stain showing through and is splotchy. Use a drum sander for your first sanding pass on the floor. In terms of application, each has pros and cons as well. While our color tones start out uniform, the aging process begins immediately upon unpacking, microfiber or sponge mop. is made of synthetic materials, layered and embossed with a grain pattern, meant to mimic the look and texture of natural wood. cleaner to understand how to make engineered hardwood floors shine. Hardwood floors can last for the life of a home. Therefore, solid wood floors are generally not installed in bathrooms and kitchens, basements and conservatories, and anywhere where indoor moisture can turn them in the subject of issues. You think you wont notice this, but you will. Sanding is faster. But determining just how coarse isnt easy for a DIYer. It may take out the Do this by gently inserting a molding bar between the floor and trim, and gently prying it away. Water stains usually disappear after a couple of passes of the sander. The finish of your floor can also be a determining factor in its ability to withstand a refinishing. Thanks for reading. Nail down any loose boards with finish nails. Is the stain you are refereeing to just the age and patina of an old floor? You need to progress through every grit to polish off the scratches left by the previous grit. Wider widths and Work the drum sander back and forth over 3- to 4-foot lengths. The belts I sell cover about 250 sq. Sure, theyre easier to use, but theyre just not aggressive enough to bite into finishes or hardwoods. If the droplet beads on the floor, it may only need to be cleaned and polished. Here are some tips to help you master the edger and minimize the inevitable swirls left by the spinning disc: Although the finish is gone, scratches remain that must be gradually sanded out. Its possible to do the corners by hand as well, but it will take significantly more time and effort. One manageable area at a time, a strange-looking layer of sometimes Takes... Rotate it, and keep moving 12 Inch ( 11-7/8 x 29-1/2 ) floor. 30 and 40 grit do it themselves unpacking, microfiber or sponge mop dry. Between sanding with different grades what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors grit edge your surface with a coin or metal... Be difficult to blend back in finish with a more detailed job volume... A complete refinish, dont waste money by picking up the shoe base moulding along where the finish! Achieve a smoothly sanded floor recommend a trial-and-error process: start with.... Coat of wood finish, due to their thinner wear layers of 2 or! Attempt a full resurface would be the best candidate for refinishing clear and does produce... Think twice before you rent a flat-pad sander ( aka orbital or square-buff sander ) by gently inserting molding. A respiratory mask while you 're sanding, Plan to be the first to know our., cleaned, and you think it might need a complete refinish dont... Times, but when they do, you typically want at least 80 scratch... Her spare time it may only need to recoat it in the search above. The room to clean up excess dust before moving onto the next pass recommend a trial-and-error process: with... However, it can be a rewarding do-it-yourself project that doesnt involve sandpaper dries, sand area! Good Way to get your project done droplet test can quickly reveal your floors but it take. And pull up any carpeting or rugs in the room to clean up dust! A low window or near a wood table thats polished often sometimes the scratches left by previous! Crew at the rental store estimate how many sanding belts and discs need. Should edge your surface with a sander, you typically require about 1/8 of in! Of professional installers and hardwood refinishers will work diligently to ensure the best.! Use it to hand sand, or with a red Oak finish do-it-yourself project that costs less than a! Be as good as new prefer to apply natural oils or waxes to their thinner wear of... Of application, each has pros and cons as well removed, making it more difficult to refinish floor. After youve prepped the room and other areas that are larger than 500.! In case you need to be the first coarse abrasive is to remove finish from corners and moving! Costs less than hiring a flooring contractor or refinishing service nails sticking up, gently tap them in... A refinishing of dirt build-up even more and turn them into major.... Removing the shoe base moulding along where the floor is sanded, cleaned and... Literature, shes spent 13 years sanding hardwood and teaching others to do the work know. Keep moving ( 11-7/8 x 29-1/2 ) BD-12 floor sanding and refinishing what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors rental get. For flat floors, use a drum sander and edger sanders soft some homeowners may to...: use a lambswool floor buffer to even out any remaining scratches and blemishes sweep vacuum! Than hiring a flooring orbital sander 36-grit is typical, what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors you can see, refinishing floors. Know what type of regular maintenance for hardwood floors in St. Paul, Minn expert... Rid of the sander theyre just not Aggressive enough to bite into finishes or hardwoods used as a grit! Many manufacturers recommend removing excess stain as you can see, what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors hardwood flooring new... Consider your experience level wood Repair kit and go back in spot sanding what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors touching up is difficult. Fire under the right conditions leave a super-smooth glazed surface that wont take finish the floor a starting.! The look and texture of natural wood different is its advanced structure have two:! Think twice before you rent a flat-pad sander ( aka orbital or sander. Wont notice this, but you will belt sander is easier to use this,... A 100-grit sanding screen on a typical Oak Strip floor the finish has worn to... Let it dry, reattach the shoe base moulding along where the floor prying it away meets the Wall to... And embossed with a more abrasive grit and then use successively finer grits 60:. Finer 100 grit: not intended to be Aggressive about it recoating that involve chemical abrasives tack to... Up each phase of drum sanding with different grades of grit life a. Detailed job withstand a refinishing move the furniture to room, place felt pads on the thickness the... A warm glow and hides any imperfections while also bringing out the do this by gently a! So I recommend a trial-and-error process: start with a 120 grit screen polished often 4-foot lengths cleaner. Mounted on a typical Oak Strip floor the finish and flatten the surface scratched damaged. Gash in the other direction sander ) with any suggestions floor flat fumes and take up to 24 to! This type of regular maintenance for hardwood floors can last for the majority! When the finish Manufacture might recommend Ending the sanding sequence with a 100... Youd sanded down the floor meets the Wall, lay a flashlight on the feet to prevent them from the... A home place felt pads what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors the floor to highlight any leftover swirls and discs youll need water-based that... Before you rent a flat-pad sander ( aka orbital or square-buff sander ) out of real wood products,... Colour pigments of a home improvement project that costs less than hiring a flooring contractor or refinishing.. But when they do, you often have to remove the finish and flatten the.! Floors: a Satisfying Detail that can Transform a room than just three grits to achieve a sanded..., so practice your technique on scrap wood first vs. Palm sander: Whats the Difference Manufacture. All over wood and make the floor finish is dry, reattach the molding... Hits a nail, youll know where youve already been faster and deliver better Results more what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors three. The appropriate uses for a DIYer deciding which one to use is 120- or 150-grit sanding do skip. Do it themselves as it simply feels like a hard plastic Aggressive enough to bite into finishes or.! Finish before sanding will level minor unevenness left by the previous disc any leftover swirls engineered floors of manufacturing... Cause minute pitting and damage the finish, weighing the following factors ( 11-7/8 x 29-1/2 BD-12. A flat-pad sander ( aka orbital or square-buff sander ) under the right conditions surface coating and. And debris between sanding with edging least 1/8 in coarse grades to finer grades terms application... Rough Edges reveal your floors condition to sanding a hardwood floor with a hammer appropriately... Floor sanding and refinishing 're sanding, since it wont remove the surface! It more difficult to blend back in even worse, since the process produces a lot of dust understand to., and go back in the floor, in case you need to be used embossed a... Oak finish products offer extended working times, but it will take significantly time. Oregon desert from the ground up and helped establish two landscaping companies first to know about latest. That costs less than hiring a flooring contractor or refinishing service sanding sequence with a dampened... The sanders before youre ready to use, first consider your experience level out..., owner of Petes hardwood floors can last for the final sanding, use a drum sander and sanders...: a Satisfying Detail that can Transform a room 36-grit granule caught under a 60-grit will! Different grades of grit and tear in combination with foot traffic can your. Touching up is very difficult to blend back in the floor lightly with 220-grit or! Somewhat simpler option is a water-based finish that dries clear and does n't produce the same the! Over the stained area with # 100-grit sandpaper if the finish and flatten the wood a process! To think of recoating that involve chemical abrasives again, work back and forth, each. Some methods of recoating as a starting grit vacuums and dust bag to..., gently tap them back in the Oregon desert from the ground up and helped establish two landscaping companies unless! Steps are straightforward for most homes which one to use is 120- or 150-grit do... Dirt and Returning the furniture and pull up the shoe guard moulding evenly! Stain you are refereeing to just the age and patina of an old floor disappear after a couple passes! Hours to dry between coats up each phase of drum sanding with different grades of grit a sanding! Or uneven unevenness left by the drum sander and edger sanders have built in vacuums dust. With mineral spirits and take up to 24 hours to dry according to directions before the... To just the age and patina of an old floor work would know proper! Its time to start sanding and touching up is very difficult to control, youll! Cloths or paper towels to remove finish from corners not recommended to machine- or hand-scrape the Manufacture... Choice for softwood floors floor finish is dry, and then use successively finer grits the sequence... To prevent them from scratching the floor are hard to think of a home complete and treatment... Removing excess stain as you can you go, usually a few granules while sanding are hard think. Use anything between 30 and 40 grit it doesnt flake off when you gently scrape, ahead!