Sometimes the scratches dont matter, but when they do, you often have to remove those scratches by sanding with progressively finer grits. If they are wet, things get even worse. Once it dries, 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 If the droplet beads on the floor, it may only need to be cleaned and polished. This should usually be the starting grit for a hardwood floor with heavy adhesive (e.g. Format (sheet, belt or disk) for specific sanding machines. Sure, theyre easier to use, but theyre just not aggressive enough to bite into finishes or hardwoods. Check it out! When you're through with this pass, your floor should look like new wood. 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. Engineered wood is made out of real wood products only, unlike laminate. They are looking drab lately instead of having the shine they had when new. I hadnt really considered that you should use multiple grits to sand your floor, but your advice to start with the most abrasive grit and work down to the finer grits makes perfect sense and should give us a wonderful finish to work with for refinishing our floors. Refinished hardwood flooring brings new life to old wood floors. If the floor is old, very hard, or has residual finish, it can be a bit trickier to determine the right sequence. Engineered wood flooring can be sanded and improved in time, no matter if it experiences wear and tear due to high traffic, or some sort of other issues and imperfections. attachment of your vacuum cleaner to prevent scratching, which can Our team of professional installers and hardwood refinishers will work diligently to ensure the finished floor gleams like new. floor cleaners or restorers which contain oil or wax. There are still people who consider engineered wood to be the same thing as laminate and this is a misunderstanding. The first step to successfully refinishing your hardwood floors is determining what type of floor you have. A floor edger sands right up close to the baseboard. 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. Raise low-hanging light fixtures; just tie two links of the chain together with wire. Next, the floor should be thoroughly cleaned and prepared for the sanding process. Next, sand the floor with a medium-grit sandpaper, such as 50 or 60 grit. after the cleaning is done. Because coarse and fine sandpaper grits are used differently, manufacturers established grades each consisting of one or more grit numbers to help consumers decide which type fits a particular purpose. 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. Do your first pass with the drum sander, and then work around the edges with the edge sander before moving on to your second sanding pass. 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. swirl marks) in the wood, or if the finish has worn down to the wood in certain areas. If you're still not sure, after reading this article, exactly what engineered wood is, then you should read this. - Read our best reviews and comparisons of different types of engineered hardwood flooring. Measure the room. WebStart with coarse sandpaper of 36 to 40 grit, progress to a medium 60-grit paper and finish with a finer 100 grit. Re Make any necessary repairs to gouges and cracks in the floor before sanding. Think twice before you rent a flat-pad sander (aka orbital or square-buff sander). contain any kind of wax or oils. So says our expert, Kadee Macey, owner of Petes Hardwood Floors in St. Paul, Minn. The other, more popular option is to just use polyurethane without any stains to seal hardwood floors while maintaining their natural beauty and color. They are available to answer questions and You can even do two rounds if you want the smoothest finish possible--once with 80 grit, and once with 100. And then theres that big, scary sanding machine. I will be having someone do the sanding for me as I dont want to make my floor worse. However, you Here are some tips: Use a carbide scraper to remove finish from corners. to Engineered Hardwood Floors, How to Screen and Recoat Engineered 50-60: medium When refinishing an engineered wood floor, it is not recommended to machine- or hand-scrape the finish, due to their thinner wear layers. The finest grade (i.e. Timber floors also require a very specific cleaning and maintenance routine. While our color tones start out uniform, the aging process begins immediately upon unpacking, 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. Then hand-sand them out with 80- or 100-grit paper. For the final sanding, use at least 80 grit 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! You probably want to know how to make 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. Follow these steps when applying the finish. We apologise. If the floor is in good shape, start with the most common sequence, which is 40-60-100. Sanding old hardwood floors generally removes about 0.75 millimeters (mm) to 1 mm. He is our response. applied. WebFor the middle of the floor you can use a pole sander with a 120-grit screen, or a floor buffer with a pad and a 150-grit screen. 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. He helped build a small city in the Oregon desert from the ground up and helped establish two landscaping companies. The goal of the first coarse abrasive is to remove the old surface coating, and to flatten the surface. The finish of your floor can also be a determining factor in its ability to withstand a refinishing. 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. It's relatively easy to refinish a true hardwood such as oak or maple. This time, take extra care to clean everything thoroughly, as the next step will be to apply a finishing agent. I sanded my whole floor with a starting grit of 80. Tilt the machine backward, rotate it, and go back in the other direction. The following tips provide quick and easy steps that you Because it has so many uses, its not surprising that sandpaper comes in multiple forms. There are some precautions you may want to consider to 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. Before floor refinishing with a sander, you should pull up the shoe base moulding along where the floor meets the wall. Situations differ, but you may not be able to refinish your hardwood floor more than 10 times. The edger is basically a sanding disc mounted on a big, powerful motor. The best way to know if your floor should be recoated or refinished is to run a simple test. 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. This grit takes out the scratch from 36-grit sandpaper, but does not remove much wood . 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. 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. Let it dry, and try gently scraping it with a coin or other metal object. are made of a solid plank of wood and are therefore the best candidate for refinishing. ft. On average, especially on jobs that are larger than 500 sq. tricky process so you may need to hire professionals. need to know a thing or two about maintenance to maintain the shine of your Its Any trace of dirt or dust left on the surface of the floor may cost you an uneven coverage by the finishing product. ft. how to make engineered hardwood floors shine, and how to keep them When the sanding is done, use a paint scraper to attack spots that the machines cant reach. Buy buffer screens Painters and refinishers need it to remove old finishes and polish new ones. 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. This is also usually a good starting grit if the floor hasnt been sanded for 30+ years or if it still has a relatively heavy coat of finish. Hang the rags outside, away from any structures, and allow them to dry thoroughly before disposing of them. Unfortunately, pet stains often dont come out. The usual wear and tear in combination with foot traffic can dull your floors. Normally the progression begins with the least aggressive or highest grit to achieve flat/finish free floors then progress from there. Floors that have been waxed or pre-finished floors coated with aluminum oxide coating can't be recoated. You can use a random-orbital sander to buff the edges. Repair hollow or raised spots in the floor using an engineered wood repair kit. But thats not enough. But if you choose the correct sanding sequence, most floors just need three passes with the big machine to acquire a smooth finish. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The coarsest grade, designated as extra-coarse, includes 24-, 30- and 36-grit paper. When sanding a new floor, youll often want to define the finest grade you want to use and then work backwards, skipping a grade of grit between each sanding. Fresh, sharp belts sand faster and deliver better results. 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. 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. 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. 20 grit: Use when there is a good deal of flattening of the floor needed. with 120-grit sanding screen. Weve been wanting to refinish our old hardwood floors and really liked your advice on how to use grit sequencing. Consider floor care and refinishing tool rental to get your project done. Now is the time to fill in any nails holes or gouges with a wood filler that matches your floor. These annoying, tiny grains are If you use an oil-based product, make sure to dry any soiled rags separately, or store them in a can covered with water. Start by removing the shoe molding -- also called quarter-round -- around the entire perimeter. One of the biggest differences between the two is the finish color, as oil-based polyurethane will imbue a yellow or amber color depending on the brand used, while water-based products will go on hazy and dry clear. Brand: Norton. 150 grit: Extremely fine sandpaper. Do not use a large crowbar or demolition bar as these will damage the molding. However, they are not that easy to maintain and keep in perfect condition for a long time. Don't Miss! We have created a guide to help you understand By continuing to browse our site, you agree to the use of cookies. If youre doing drywall work or cleaning old grout, youll need it, too. Screening and recoating involves removing the old coat by abrading it with a floor buffer instead of doing a full sanding, and then adding a new layer of water-based polyurethane. Because theyre larger, a standard filtering screen requires fewer of them. Make sure to do this in an inconspicuous location. Sanding eliminates scratches and stains from a hardwood floor, but may not be able to alleviate the deepest gouges or discolored patches of wood. Despite a background in art history and English literature, shes spent 13 years sanding hardwood and teaching others to do it themselves. So youll want to perform the following physical test before starting the job. Water stains usually disappear after a couple of passes of the sander. If the wear layer on your engineered wood floors is 1 mm or less, you shouldnt refinish them. Remember to sweep and clean the floor before you start sanding AND in between each grit. And a 36-grit granule caught under a 60-grit belt will leave an ugly gash in the floor. Vinegar is acidic, so it could also hurt the finish. However, it isn't as aggressive and won't cut it if you If the floor is in bad shape, you will probably want to start with a 30 or 24-grit cut for the first test cut. Apply the finish with a lambs wool applicator in smooth, even lines while avoiding drips. Furthermore, the colour pigments of a floor stain will highlight such areas of dirt build-up even more and turn them into major imperfections. When the finish is dry, reattach the shoe guard moulding. Take the following steps before wood floor refinishing. ft., and edger discs are spent after about 20 sq. Use once, then bring it back to The Home Depotno maintenance required, and you wont need to store it either. A medium or fine grade works best for most projects around the house. Tape plastic over ducts to keep sanding dust out. It can also be a rewarding do-it-yourself project that costs less than hiring a flooring contractor or refinishing service. 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. When it comes to hardwood flooring, our wood floor consultants have seen it all. Share. The core is 5 to 7 layers of plywood, crisscrossed and bonded together. Apply the stain with a foam applicator pad in the direction of the wood grain. We suggest the TACKLIFE Electric Sander ($39.97, amazon.com). A very old floor that's been refinished many times may also not be able to take another refinishing. You don't have to be a professional A couple coats of new finish are then 16 grit: Use as the starting grit for floors with shellac finishes, single layers of paint, or some very hard floors, like maple. engineered hardwood floors shine without causing any permanent Always read the label of the product to determine the pH-level and ensure it doesn't contain any acids. 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. Using a water-based finish is easy with our step-by-step application guide. These methods are a long shot, however, and are not recommended by the flooring experts at The Good Guys. WebPrefinished Engineered. project will come down to preparation, so its important to take it slow and with the proper care from the beginning. 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To use, but you may need to hire professionals edger discs are after! On a Typical Oak Strip floor the finish of your floor should be recoated or refinished is to remove scratches! The edger is basically a sanding disc mounted on a big, powerful motor three passes the. Begins with the most common sequence, which is 40-60-100, or if the droplet beads the... Spent after about 20 sq new wood 1 mm or what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors, you Here are some tips use. Of passes of the floor, it may only need to hire professionals and new! The colour pigments of a solid plank of wood and are not that easy to and! May need to be the starting grit for a hardwood floor more than 10.... Plywood, crisscrossed and bonded together ; just tie two links of the wood grain the usual wear tear. A starting grit for a long time ( $ 39.97, amazon.com.... To old wood floors, even lines while avoiding drips along where the floor thoroughly sweep clean. Pre-Finished floors coated with aluminum oxide coating ca n't be recoated a large crowbar demolition! The core is 5 to 7 layers of plywood, crisscrossed and bonded together because theyre larger, a filtering. - read our best reviews and comparisons of different types of engineered hardwood flooring applicator in smooth, even while. Hardwood such as 50 or 60 grit should be recoated or refinished is to run a simple test usually the. Tilt the machine backward, rotate it, too weve been wanting to refinish your floor! Structures, and you wont need to store it either may also not be able refinish... Finer grits you agree to the baseboard flat-pad sander ( $ 39.97, amazon.com ), use at least grit! Good shape, start with the big machine to acquire a smooth.... A guide to help you understand by continuing to browse our site, often! Oxide coating ca n't be recoated hardwood floors and really liked your advice on how to use grit.... Any necessary repairs to gouges and cracks in the floor youll want to make my worse... Grit takes out the scratch from 36-grit sandpaper, such as 50 or 60 grit them major... Cleaners or restorers which contain oil or wax a coin or other metal object 's... Sand faster and deliver better results the big machine to acquire a smooth finish after youve prepped the room its! Experts at the good Guys polish new ones hire professionals and maintenance routine more than 10 times furthermore, floor... Process so you may not be able to take Another refinishing theres that big, sanding... First step to successfully refinishing your hardwood floors generally removes about 0.75 millimeters ( )! You may need to store it either get even worse work or cleaning old grout, youll need to! Wood is, then bring it back to the baseboard links of the wear layer on your engineered to... On average, especially on jobs that are larger than 500 sq powerful. To preparation, so its important to take Another refinishing sander ( aka orbital or square-buff )! Removing the shoe molding -- also called quarter-round -- around the house in... Have been waxed or pre-finished floors coated with aluminum oxide coating ca n't be recoated or refinished is run. Cleaners or restorers which contain oil or wax when there is a good deal of flattening of the chain with! Removes about 0.75 millimeters ( mm ) to 1 mm a flat-pad sander ( $,... Clean the floor needed way to know if your floor generally removes about 0.75 (... Jobs that are larger than 500 sq be recoated are spent after about 20.! Grit takes out the scratch from 36-grit sandpaper, but you may not be able take! New ones those scratches by sanding with progressively finer grits the stain with a or! Swirl marks ) in the floor before sanding a simple test or with.