Before you start sanding a floor, read this procedure to be properly prepared. There are common problems when using drum or belt sanders. So, let’s start.
Today, almost everyone wants to have wooden floors in their homes. This style of wood floors appears quite elegant and sophisticated.
The problem is, it requires much maintenance. It would be best if you were willing to invest money and resources nearly every 2 years.
It has amazing benefits, and you can change or update its appearance by refurnishing.
Contents
1. Insight
The first step is to polish the hardwood floor. The problem with polishing is that the flaws are not always immediately apparent.
You may think that everything is done right, only to find that when applying stains or surface treatments, marks, waves, or dimples are all over the floor.
This is due to the reflective quality of the sealant and the tendency of stains to show defects. However, the main reason is usually the inexperienced application of grinding machines.
Sanders are large, heavy, and noisy machines that use sanding drums or belts to remove worn sealers and the top layer of wood. These machines require patience and skill.
The challenge controls the sander’s movement and sliding it consistently around the floor’s perimeter for consistent results. This is a learning skill that takes time to master.
Therefore, if you are using the grinder for the first time, please have patience and not expect everything to go well.
2. Initial Preparations for Floor Sanding
First, you should prepare yourself, including your floor and rooms, before starting the floor sanding process. If you are unsure about the process, try contacting expert services instead.
Use duct tape to seal doors and windows to prevent dust from getting into the room as it sticks to the damp floor.
You should nail down all loose wood for smooth sanding. It would be best if you have collected all the necessary equipment. This requires cleaning agents, sandpaper, walking behind a grinder, hand grinder, etc.
The most important are the goggles, gloves, dust masks, and earmuffs. This is not an unsafe procedure, but while operating it, you should always be very patient.
3. Getting Started
If a tambourine grinder is available, go ahead. If the grinder requires any planning, such as sandpaper feeding, consider doing it first. You can easily find specific information about this process on the Web.
Do not hesitate to put on the safety gear before you are ready to use it. Another thing to keep in mind is moving the grinder to the next block at a 90° angle will damage that block. Maintain a 45° angle at all times.
Then you have to polish the wooden floor diagonally. Without a plan, this cannot be easy. Therefore, depending on the size and shape of the floor, make a specific pattern to follow.
4. Using Poor Quality Grinders
If you rent a grinder, it may not be the best quality grinder. Severe abuse of the rented grinder may not work. Other than hiring a contractor, you have little to avoid this problem.
Hardwood flooring professionals use expensive, high-quality machines that are not available from rental companies.
They will adjust it accordingly so that the rollers are not blocked with sand. They will properly add and level sandpaper, etc.
You may not realize that when the drum hits the floor, the shredder will start. This confusing moment is enough to cause some trouble and leave unsightly marks on the floor.
Sanding wooden floors is a matter of patience. Unfortunately, if you set a tight deadline and plan to get too much work done in too little time, getting the job done in a hurry will only increase your chances of ultimately losing.
5. Using Wrong Grit/SandPaper
To avoid damaging the boards or removing excess wood from the floor, use finer gravel than necessary. However, the sandpaper may not be enough to remove the sealant.
Since it is hard to tell if a floor has been sanded properly (especially if it is your first sanding), it usually happens when you are trying to apply a stain.
If the sealer is not sanded properly, the stain will not be absorbed by the wood, eventually causing adhesion problems or mottled stains.
6. You Need to Sand Multiple Times
A common misconception is that you can only do the job once the grinder is passed across the floor. Unfortunately, the situation is different.
Gradually use finer gravel and sand the floor as many times as necessary (usually about four times, but the floor may need more).
7. Framing
It is difficult to achieve a uniform look across the entire floor with one type of sanding tool, but it is even more difficult when more tools are used.
Often the area around the room where you use the floor trimmer to polish your boards will look different from the rest of the floor, giving the impression of a picture frame.
One way to avoid this problem is to polish the overlapping area. Using the proper screw while framing is important as well. Use framing screws to frame your wooden flooring perfectly.
If you are fed up with the wood flooring, you can try parquet flooring instead.
8. Do Not Stop until the Drum is Active
A common and costly mistake is staying in the same position while the drum is still in motion. This often causes marks and battery shocks.
The roller should only be raised or lowered when the grinder is already in motion to avoid this problem.
If this is your first time sanding your floor, the details at the beginning of the process can quickly become overwhelming.
From assessing your hardwood floor’s condition to determining the correct grain, knowing what type of sandpaper to use or where to get sandpaper, where to start sanding, and in which direction to sand, it all becomes very complicated and needs a great amount of sandpaper.
Conclusion
Once the primary sanding operation is complete, you can lift the hand grinder and take care of the areas you missed. Now use manual sanding techniques to reach the corners which were missed by the drum.
Do not leave stains and carefully walk around the room two or three times. Done correctly, you can successfully sand a hardwood floor.