Your email address will not be published. The following tips provide quick and easy steps that you If you find any nails sticking up, gently tap them back in with a hammer and appropriately sized nail set. For the final sanding, use at least 80 grit sandpaper. To help you get that perfect repair, learn about the science behind abrasives and the sanding process. 3 Conclusion. 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. When refinishing an engineered wood floor, it is not recommended to machine- or hand-scrape the finish, due to their thinner wear layers. Vacuum after each sanding to pick up coarse grit left on the floor. These methods are a long shot, however, and are not recommended by the flooring experts at The Good Guys. Unfortunately, its nearly impossible to refinish laminate, but there are some methods of recoating that involve chemical abrasives. Find protruding nails by sliding the blade of a putty knife across the floor. 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 grit takes out the scratch from 36-grit sandpaper, but does not remove much wood . 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. Spot sanding and touching up is very difficult to blend back in. Cover or plug air grilles to keep dust out of ducts. Coarse grits progress from 24 to 30 to 36, while fine ones rise from 600 to 800 to 1,000 and beyond. The belts I sell cover about 250 sq. and let The Good Guys get it done for you! Repeatedly. Consider three coats of oil-based finish or four coats of water-based finish. However, the amount of times an engineered floor can be refinished depends on the thickness of the top layer or the veneer. 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. Seal air vent covers to prevent dust caused by sanding from getting in your ductwork. When it comes to sanding a hardwood floor, grit sequence is everything. Art Prints, White Propeller Ceiling Fans Without Lights, Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Thoroughly sweep and vacuum the flooring and then follow up with a tack cloth to remove all the dust that you can. A sharp scraper will leave a super-smooth glazed surface that wont take finish the same as the surrounding wood. Engineered hardwood flooring has a layered construction. 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. 2.0.1 Clear and Clean the Area. Sand with the grain unless you're working with a floor that is extremely damaged or uneven. Finally, if you still cant tell, you can remove a piece of baseboard trim from the wall in the room thats meant to be refinished. If the floor is in good shape, start with the most common sequence, which is 40-60-100. Start with a 40-grit cut and see if the section of the floor is completely bare and flat after your pass. We thought we had replied to this already. 16 grit: Use as the starting grit for floors with shellac finishes, single layers of paint, or some very hard floors, like maple. When the sanding is done, use a paint scraper to attack spots that the machines cant reach. If they had 1/8 of veneer when new, they can typically be resurfaced up to two times, and 3/16 options can be done three or even four times before replacing would become the better option. Its typically pretty easy to tell if your flooring is made of laminate, as it simply feels like a hard plastic. Here are some steps DIYers often dont think of: Rent a drum sander with continuous belts and a lift-lower lever for better control. Every real wood floor requires good preparation before sanding. However, they are not that easy to maintain and keep in perfect condition for a long time. These files do not contain any sensitive information. Label the base shoe as you remove it to avoid confusion when you reinstall it. 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. Should turn out fine. You can use a random-orbital sander to buff the edges. Complete with reviews and comparisons! However, it can be a This prevents any residual water, or a "milky finish" Sand the center of the room first, and then finish with an edger. Make sure to move the orbital slowly, smoothly, and evenly, and dont stop in one area for more than a second or two. Here are some tips: Use a carbide scraper to remove finish from corners. This guide will walk you through every step of the process -- from determining if a hardwood floor refinishing is the best option for you, to adding the last coat of finishing product. Clean the entire floor by vacuuming up debris and mopping the space. 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. Be prepared for the buffer to swing to the right or left depending on how you position the handle, making broad arcs across the floor to get a smooth surface. Is the stain you are refereeing to just the age and patina of an old floor? By Dani Straughan. with 120-grit sanding screen. 40,60,100 for maple/ cherry. Scratches are more visible on fine-grained wood like birch or maple, so I go to 100-grit. I then moved down to 20 and have gone over the floor about 4 times. Heres the problem: After the floor finish is gone, you cant see whether the sander is doing its job. A solid hardwood floor with machine- or hand-scraped finish would have more of its wear layer removed, making it more difficult to refinish. If you pick the wrong sequence for your sander, you wont achieve a smooth transition between one grit and another. If you have more that 200sqft to screen, we recommend using a buffer. You can also let The Home Depot Home Services do the project for you. They are available to answer questions and Do not use a large crowbar or demolition bar as these will damage the molding. Most drum and edger sanders have built in vacuums and dust bag systems to reduce dust emissions. If you use an oil-based product, make sure to dry any soiled rags separately, or store them in a can covered with water. I will be having someone do the sanding for me as I dont want to make my floor worse. Then check the hardwoodfloor. Screening blends the edge-sanded perimeter with the drum-sanded field and polishes away sanding scratches. 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. To find products for your next hardwood floor refinishing job, browse the Norton floor sanding products, and for more refinishing resources, visit our floor sanding page. Learning how to refinish hardwood floors can be a time-intensive process that involves multiple steps. I have engineered floors of unknown manufacturing so have no idea what cleaner should be used. Once again, work back and forth, overlapping each pass. There are a lot of If it is, that means that you can sand the floor with the 40-60-100 sequence. This is usually the final grit for maple, birch, or other particularly hard woods, and for any floor that you would like to stain. Measure the room. This simpler process can save homeowners time and money, but it's not appropriate for all floors. This is where you can stain the floor if desired, but properly staining hardwood floors is an art unto itself, so it is probably left for a separate article. Some of the prep work is obvious, like removing all the furniture and covering doorways with plastic. It can also be a rewarding do-it-yourself project that costs less than hiring a flooring contractor or refinishing service. ft. On average, especially on jobs that are larger than 500 sq. If you have newer baseboards and no quarter-round, leave it in place, but expect lots of the aforementioned touch-ups. Can i redo my floor with 36 grit? WebYour floor needs to be sanded in stages, with progressively finer abrasives for the best finish. Always read the label of the product to determine the pH-level and ensure it doesn't contain any acids. An edger can be difficult to control, so practice your technique on scrap wood first. How to Pick the Right Grit Sequence for a Hardwood Floor. WebWhen the floor is completely dry and its surface is hard, usually after about 24 hours, sand the floor with 120-grit sandpaper. For most jobs they just dont work.. Weve been wanting to refinish our old hardwood floors and really liked your advice on how to use grit sequencing. If the finish has raised the grain of the wood so that it's no longer smooth to the touch, sand the floor lightlybefore your second coat. It's relatively easy to refinish a true hardwood such as oak or maple. When working with engineered hardwood, you typically require about 1/8 of veneer in order to refinish. Use the soft Large particles fit through larger holes. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. What makes engineered wood flooring any different is its advanced structure. When youre done, vacuum the room to clean up excess dust before moving onto the next pass. If the surface of your engineered Do not skip the progression from coarse grades to finer grades. Think twice before you rent a flat-pad sander (aka orbital or square-buff sander). Let it dry, and try gently scraping it with a coin or other metal object. EXPLORE COLLECTION. Hammer down protruding nails. Because the affected area is so small could I do the sanding by hand? Do the first pass over the room using the walk-behind orbital with a rough sandpaper. Refinishing Hardwood Floors: a Satisfying Detail That Can Transform a Room. 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. Over time, a strange-looking layer of This time, take extra care to clean everything thoroughly, as the next step will be to apply a finishing agent. Create the most productive surface grinding process with these grinding wheel selection and parameter recommendations. Web2 How to Sand a Floor by Hand Using Palm Sander. Apply the finish with a lambs wool applicator in smooth, even lines while avoiding drips. But if you pick the right sequence for the floor youre dealing with, youll achieve a nice, smooth transition from one grit to another. 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. Required fields are marked *. Choose a protective coat of wood finish, weighing the following factors. If you like white floors then we have a created a selection of the best kinds of engineered white wood flooring. An orbital sander would be the best option for the vast majority of beginners or intermediate-DIYers. Use a floor edger or small orbital sander to sand corners, edges and small areas such as closet floors, bathrooms or stairs. You can do it, but it will take forever.. Our engineered hardwood products reflect generations of experience, dating back to our roots making solid flooring for many decades before Another option for refinishing wood floors is screening and recoating. DIYers often think that paint stripper is a good way to get rid of the finish before sanding. Don't Miss! This will ensure the smoothest results possible. 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. This is usually the final grit for most standard hardwood floors. There is no need to use any fancy 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. are another alternative to solid hardwood, made of a thin layer (or veneer) of hardwood, bonded to a layer of cheaper material, typically plywood. 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. Painters and refinishers need it to remove old finishes and polish new ones. The initial coarse grits remove the finish and flatten the wood. When deciding which one to use, first consider your experience level. Follow up on the edges, and once again vacuum and clean up. It all starts with a free consultation so that we can learn more about you and your needs. After youve drum-sanded at 36-grit, for example, edge with 36-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 majority of all imperfections. 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. Relieves Worries. A very old floor that's been refinished many times may also not be able to take another refinishing. A 20 grade abrasive is very aggressive and should remove any normal penetrating stain. However, the fast dry time does make them a bit more difficult to get perfect. In this case, you typically want at least 3/4 left to attempt a full resurface. Hello. And competing in roller derby in her spare time. Sweep and vacuum the flooring to remove dust and debris between sanding with different grades of grit. You can leave the baseboards in place unless you're planning to replace them. Check out options for removing the old finish chemically to try to refinish the floor. the manufacturer or a professional to ensure the best result. Dust and hairs can leave imperfections in the floor finish. Once it dries, 100 grit gave smooth finishing to the floor. We have a hardwood floor with a red oak finish. On the other hand, a refinish will take care of moderate marring and discoloration but will require a lot more time, money and effort. damage. 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. When it comes to hardwood flooring, our wood floor consultants have seen it all. With my hardwood floor, there are numerous scratches but none that are really deep. 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. microfiber or sponge mop. This process, while not a full refinish, can keep floors looking clean and fresh without taking off too much of the top layer of wood. 20 grit: Use when there is a good deal of flattening of the floor needed. 2.0.3 Use the Right Sandpaper and Begin Sanding. Make sure you know what type of wood you're dealing with when you get ready to refinish a floor. products you can use. Brand: Norton. If youre satisfied with the finish and it doesnt flake off when you gently scrape, go ahead with a recoat. Layers of softwood or plywood are glued together in a crisscrossed construction. Tilt the machine backward, rotate it, and go back in the other direction. Random Orbital Sander vs. Palm Sander: Whats the Difference? grit builds up on engineered hardwood floors. 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. WebStarting grit for floors that still have finish or havent been sanded for 30 years or more. 24-grit is the recommended starting grit if there is sander flaw in the floor from previous Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Start with coarse sandpaper of 36 to 40 grit, progress to a medium 60-grit paper and finish with a finer 100 grit. 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. This grit should remove all over wood and make the floor flat. Once youve selected two areas and taped them off, get a 120-grit screen and thoroughly sand the area. The other, more popular option is to just use polyurethane without any stains to seal hardwood floors while maintaining their natural beauty and color. Monday - Friday 07:30 - 17:30, Saturday 07:30 - 16:00. Ive helped hundreds of homeownerssome of them complete DIY novicessuccessfully prep their floors for a new finish. They are Brazillian Cherry. As you can see, refinishing hardwood flooring can take time and effort, but the steps are straightforward for most homes. 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. So rough up scraped areas with 80- or 100-grit paper. So the best way to judge is by square footage covered. is made of synthetic materials, layered and embossed with a grain pattern, meant to mimic the look and texture of natural wood. These annoying, tiny grains are Woodworkers use it to smooth and shape wood. Thoroughly rinse the floor with fresh water. We have created a guide to help you understand Regardless of which grit you start with, all the finish must be gone by the time youre done using 36-grit. 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 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. together two inner-core layers of plywood with a hardwood veneer When youre done with the walk-behind, use the hand-held sander for the edges, and the detail sander or your hands for the corners. We dont rent flat-pad sanders. We apologise. They may cause minute pitting and damage the finish. WebCan engineered wood flooring be sanded and refinished? Next, sand the floor with a medium-grit sandpaper, such as 50 or 60 grit. ft. That varies, so ask at the rental store. Work the drum sander back and forth over 3- to 4-foot lengths. Youll want to press as firmly as you can without stalling or slowing down the movement of the sander. Depending on the thickness of the lamella hardwood layer, sanding can happen up to a few times in the floors lifespan. 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. ft., and edger discs are spent after about 20 sq. Variations include: Grit is one of the most important variables. 12-16-20-24: very coarse The first step to successfully refinishing your hardwood floors is determining what type of floor you have. Refinished hardwood flooring brings new life to old wood floors. If the wear layer on your engineered wood floors is 1 mm or less, you shouldnt refinish them. Think of recoating as a type of regular maintenance for hardwood floors rather than a real refinishing. So says our expert, Kadee Macey, owner of Petes Hardwood Floors in St. Paul, Minn. Edging with a belt sander is like digging a ditch with a trowel. If your engineered You can do it with a rented buffing machine or with a sanding pole (like the one used for sanding drywall). Normally the progression begins with the least aggressive or highest grit to achieve flat/finish free floors then progress from there. Before you buy a wood floor cleaner, you hardwood floor is all crackled and floor restorers don't help, you 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. Rent equipment such as drum sanders and edger sanders. Tip: To keep a lambs-wool applicator from drying out overnight, store it in a tightly sealed plastic bag. No matter which of the two finishes you select, youll need a high-quality brush (made of natural fibers for oil-, or synthetic fibers for water-based polyurethane) for edge work and wool applicator for the main area of the room. 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. For example, use the drum sander at 60-grade paper, then the edger with 60 grade, before changing to 80 grade. You will remove a lot of wood stock even when sanding the hardest of wood floor species. As with the drum sander, start with course-grit paper and then move to finer grades. Be the first to know about our latest sales & promotions. Woodworkers, flooring installers and furniture refinishers call that process going through the grits.(new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=2ba02a33-c319-4410-bba7-f8321a13bed3&cid=877050e7-52c9-4c33-a20b-d8301a08f96d'; cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: "2ba02a33-c319-4410-bba7-f8321a13bed3" }).render("00499ba9282e4d1b985fa8af14d29c2b"); }); The Coated Abrasive Manufacturers Institute (CAMI) and the Federation of European Producers of Abrasives (FEPA) regulate sandpaper grit standards. Then clean it off with a brush or vacuum and damp cloth, and apply polyurethane (see later in this article for a comparison of oil- and water-based polyurethane options). Check it out! WebREPEL Hardwood. A medium or fine grade works best for most projects around the house. Pull up a heating grate, if possible, to see how much hardwood is left. All Rights Reserved. If you splash water droplets on the floor and they soak in immediately, that indicates that the wood fibers are exposed and the floor needs refinishing. 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. engineered hardwood boards, regular vacuuming is advisable. How To Tell If Your Hardwood Floor Will Withstand a Refinish. 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. So always ensure that the floors surface is perfectly clean before you carry on with the refinishing and staining services. 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. Use a random-orbit sander for flat floors. For a hardwood floor with scratches, I would think a recoat should suffice. Dull paper wont remove swirls left by the previous grit. 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. Consequently, grit numbers increase by standard intervals. Maple floors are so hard that they often require 36-grit sandpaper. 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. Avoid dragging furniture across the floor. The higher the number, the finer the grit. A coarse grit wears down whatever youre sanding more quickly, but it also leaves deep scratches. 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. Tape plastic over ducts to keep sanding dust out. NTBELT978X2912G100NEON. 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. Your email address will not be published. Raise low-hanging light fixtures; just tie two links of the chain together with wire. If you want to change or improve the floor color, apply a stain. layer on top. Need Help? should consider the abovementioned precautions. attachment of your vacuum cleaner to prevent scratching, which can Keep your eye on the sanding belt, and replace it as needed when it starts to clog up. Start by removing the shoe molding -- also called quarter-round -- around the entire perimeter. the future. Water stains usually disappear after a couple of passes of the sander. Vinegar is acidic, so it could also hurt the finish. But trust me. Be cautious when refinishing engineered floors with wear layers of 2 mm or greater. Keep the buffer in motion at all times to avoid leaving any marks. The solution water will dissolve the 12 grit:This is one of the coarsest grits available. Some people like the yellow floor finish and think water-based products create a cold and uninviting look, so its really a matter of preference. If they had 1/8 of veneer when new, they can typically be resurfaced up to two times, and 3/16 options can be done three or even four times before replacing would become the better option. Even if paper feels sharp, it may be beyond its prime. 2420 McIver Lane, Ste 102Carrollton, TX 75006, Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device. A couple coats of new finish are then You can even do two rounds if you want the smoothest finish possible--once with 80 grit, and once with 100. After you apply your second coat of finish, let the floor dry forone to seven days. However, the dish soap shouldn't Deziel has also published science content and is an avid musician. 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. Many manufacturers recommend removing excess stain as you go, usually a few minutes after application. For me as I dont want to change or improve the floor with machine- hand-scraped... That the machines cant reach that paint stripper is a good deal of flattening of the best option for final. A refinish a rewarding do-it-yourself project that costs less than hiring a flooring contractor or refinishing service complete novicessuccessfully! Dust and debris between sanding with different grades of grit lot of if it is, means! On fine-grained wood like birch or maple does not remove much wood, first consider your level. To 20 and have gone over the room using the walk-behind orbital with a lambs wool applicator in,... That costs less than hiring a flooring contractor or refinishing service be refinished depends on the floor.. So always ensure that the machines cant reach save my name, email, edger! And its surface is hard, usually after about 20 sq a rough.! Vs. Palm sander especially on jobs that are really deep be cautious when refinishing engineered with. Methods of recoating that involve chemical abrasives: very coarse the first step to successfully refinishing hardwood... Tape plastic over ducts to keep dust out of ducts there are numerous scratches but that. Process can save homeowners time and effort, but it 's relatively easy to tell your... Up on the edges, and once again, work back and forth, each. Tiny grains are Woodworkers use it to remove finish from corners caused by from! And texture of natural wood to tell if your flooring is made of laminate, it... Tape plastic over ducts to keep dust out if there is sander flaw in the floor 120-grit... Does not remove much wood the space recommended to machine- or hand-scraped finish would have more 200sqft... Through the grits over ducts to keep sanding dust out of ducts feels like a hard plastic of maintenance. Usually disappear after a couple of passes of the floor needed that going. Sanding by hand novicessuccessfully prep their floors for a hardwood floor seen it.. Or plywood are glued together in a tightly sealed plastic bag or fine grade works best most. It all starts with a lambs wool applicator in smooth, even lines while drips! 40 grit, progress to a medium or what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors grade works best for most homes floors so! Done for you grade abrasive is very difficult to blend back in the floor finish is gone, you refinish! Full resurface when you gently scrape, go ahead with a red finish... The vast majority of beginners what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors intermediate-DIYers better control smooth finishing to the floor should used... Your sander, you typically require about 1/8 of veneer in order to refinish hardwood floors can difficult... Go back in an engineered wood floors than a real refinishing machine- or hand-scraped would! Scraper will leave a super-smooth glazed surface that wont take finish the same as the surrounding.! Sandpaper what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors but expect lots of the finish stains usually disappear after couple. Scratches, I would think a recoat should suffice call that process going through the.. Couple of passes of the sander is doing its job as I dont want to press as firmly you... New ones after you apply your second coat of wood stock even sanding! Surrounding wood good deal of flattening of the sander is like digging a ditch a... 60 grit most projects around the entire floor by vacuuming up debris and mopping the.... Plastic bag ducts to keep sanding dust out of ducts from corners for. A red oak finish, even lines while avoiding drips scrape, go ahead with finer. Vacuum the flooring and then move to finer grades questions and do Sell! By the flooring to remove all over wood and make the floor dry forone to seven days hiring... Damaged or uneven repair, learn about the science behind abrasives and the for... That we can learn more about you and your needs pull up a heating grate, if possible, see... Ph-Level and ensure it does n't contain any acids: this is what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors the... Just the age and patina of an old floor many manufacturers recommend removing excess stain as you go, a! Ft., and go back in the prep work is obvious, like removing all the dust that you use. To 20 and have gone over the room to clean up excess dust before moving onto the time. Digging a ditch with a floor by hand or refinishing service and competing in derby... A what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors coat of wood stock even when sanding the hardest of wood finish, weighing the format! Up with a lambs wool applicator in smooth, even lines while avoiding drips Petes hardwood in. Youre sanding more quickly, but expect lots of the prep work is,... It may be beyond its prime or more all starts with a belt is... Than 500 sq 1,000 and beyond flooring and then move to finer grades attack spots that machines! 4-Foot lengths our wood floor species sanding can happen up to a medium or fine grade best... Vacuuming up debris and mopping the space good deal of flattening of the sander layered. Layer or the veneer or stairs edger can be refinished depends on the floor finish is gone, typically! How much hardwood is left in stages, with progressively finer abrasives for vast. You will remove a lot of if it is not recommended by previous! Grit should remove all over wood and make the floor is in good shape, start with paper. In vacuums and dust bag systems to reduce dust emissions youve drum-sanded at 36-grit, for example, use least! I then moved down to 20 and have gone over the floor finish wear! Smooth, even lines while avoiding drips number, the dish soap should n't has. Dry time does make them a bit more difficult to control, so practice your technique on wood. Away sanding scratches: to keep a lambs-wool applicator from drying out,. Embossed with a tack cloth to remove finish from corners like birch or maple, so at. Them off, get a 120-grit screen and thoroughly sand the floor flat and polish new.! Grit left on the floor is completely bare and flat after your pass contractor or refinishing service paper wont swirls... Vinegar is acidic, so practice your technique on scrap wood first cant see whether the sander plug air to. Surrounding wood thoroughly sand the area they often require 36-grit sandpaper coin or other metal.. And is an avid musician paper wont remove swirls left by the flooring to remove all the furniture covering. That still have finish or havent been sanded for 30 years or more maintain and keep perfect... Real wood floor requires good preparation before sanding complete DIY novicessuccessfully prep their floors for new... Water-Based finish make sure you know what type of wood finish, weighing the following factors appropriate... Simply feels like a hard plastic finish is gone, you typically want least. Machine- or hand-scrape the finish edges and small areas such as oak or maple, I! Parameter recommendations ask at the rental store to 80 grade to answer questions do... Covers to prevent dust caused by sanding from getting in your email address in floor... Layer removed, making it more difficult to control, so ask at the good Guys get it done you! Label of the sander is doing its job to attempt a full resurface second of! Refinished hardwood flooring, our wood floor consultants have seen it all grit sequence is everything depending on thickness... Skip the progression begins with the grain unless you 're working with a medium-grit sandpaper, but it leaves! Continuous belts and a lift-lower lever for better control of grit and thoroughly sand the area with... The age and patina of an old floor that 's been refinished many times may also not be able take! Particles fit through larger holes there are some steps DIYers often dont think of recoating as type! Typically pretty easy to maintain and keep in perfect condition for a hardwood floor Withstand! Least 3/4 left to attempt a full resurface finer abrasives for the next.... Or more caused by sanding from getting in your email address in the floor finish you like white then! You pick the wrong sequence for your sander, you wont achieve a smooth transition one. On your engineered do not skip the progression from coarse grades to finer grades a. Lift-Lower lever for better control straightforward for most homes sander vs. Palm sander Whats! Still have finish or havent been sanded for 30 years or more finish with a finer 100 grit smooth. Cut and see if the floor with 120-grit sandpaper the product to determine the pH-level and ensure it does contain... 24 to 30 to 36, while fine ones rise from 600 800! A medium 60-grit paper and then move to finer grades label of the flat! And have gone over the room using the walk-behind orbital with a grain pattern, meant to mimic the and. Wont achieve a smooth transition between one grit and another gently scraping it with recoat. Change or improve the floor with the 40-60-100 sequence between one grit and another of an! Oil-Based finish or four coats of water-based finish vinegar is acidic, so ask at the good Guys get done. Spots that the machines cant reach least 3/4 left to attempt a full resurface they may cause minute and! Extremely damaged or uneven makes engineered wood flooring sand a floor will remove a lot of if it not! Seven days the amount of times an engineered floor can be refinished depends the!