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Start with 36-grit sandpaper for a floor that hasn’t been sanded in a long time or that has a lot of heavy finish on it. Floors that have been painted may even require you to go tougher and use 24 or 16-grit paper. Maple floors are so hard that they often require 36-grit sandpaper as well.
Can you use a hand sander to sand hardwood floors?
The palm sander is definitely the most common tool for sanding a wooden floor by hand. Use it with a coarser sandpaper grit for a lot of efficiency and quick results. Palm sanders also have a square edge, which means you can sand right into the corners of the floor.
How hard is it to sand hardwood floors?
There’s really no getting around it – sanding your floors is hard work and physically tiring. When you first start sanding you’ll almost instantly see a huge difference in your floor but once you’ve removed most of the varnish and dirt progress will seem so much slower.
How many sandpaper do you need to sand a floor?
Most sanding jobs start with around 36 or 40 grit sandpaper, working up to around 120 grit for the final sand. If you or your contractor aren’t using a dust-free sanding machine, remember to remove all the dust with a vacuum cleaner between every sandpaper grade change.
How long does it take to sand hardwood floors?
How long does it take to sand a floor? It can take 1-5 days for a professional and 2-15 days for a DIY enthusiast, depending on the size and condition of the floor. For planning purposes, it would take 1-day per room for a professional and 2 days per room for a homeowner doing DIY.
What is the sandpaper grit scale?
Sandpaper Grit FAQ The most common include 60-80 grit (coarse), 100-150 grit (medium), 180-220 grit (fine) and 320 grit (ultra-fine). There are also different types of sandpaper, such as ceramic alumina, silicon carbide and aluminium oxide.
Should I refinish my hardwood floors myself?
“You can walk across the floor the next day, but we recommend that people leave it alone for a week,” Williams said. “It may look dry, feel dry and smell dry, but it’s not dry.” Williams said he would never consider refinishing the floors himself. “I’m going to handpick a crew when my floors need to be done,” he said.
What kind of sander Do I need to refinish hardwood floors?
Random orbital sanders are the best choice for do-it-yourself hardwood floor refinishing. They take longer to remove old finishes than drum sanders, but they do not require a lot of experience to use and are less likely to damage your wood floor.
How long do you have to stay off hardwood floors after refinishing?
How long do I have to wait to use my room after my floors are refinished? We recommend waiting 6 hours before walking on your new floors in socks. After 24 hours you can walk through with shoes on. Allow 48 hours before setting furniture and returning pets.
How long does it take to sand a floor with an orbital sander?
How long does it take to sand a floor with an orbital sander? Unless your floor is in flat and in very good condition, an orbital sander is going to increase your refinishing time but 2-3 times. Let’s say 2-4 days per room as opposed to 1-2 days with a full sanding kit. For handheld orbitals, double that again.
Are my floorboards suitable for sanding?
If your floorboards are ‘just’ dirty or have a thin coat of paint on them, starting to sand with 24 grit sandpaper should be sufficient. 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.
What do you put on newly sanded floorboards?
You can use a clear or tinted varnish to seal sanded floorboards. Put on three coats to get a really hard-wearing finish and make sure your brush is completely clean before you start.
How do you refinish a 100 year old floor?
Refinishing 100 (plus) year-old hardwood floors Step 1 // prep. Empty the room and prepare for dust onslaught. Step 2 // drum sander. Step 3 // clean the dust. Step 4 // fill. Step 5 // orbital sanders. Step 6 // clean. Step 7 // stain (optional) Step 8 // first poly coat.
Can you go from 60 grit to 120 grit?
Vacuum off the dust from the first sanding pass and move onto the next grit. This will be the next finer level of coarseness — 150 or 180 grit (if you started at 80 to 120 grit).Going Through the Grits. Grit Coarseness Level 40-60 Coarse 80-120 Medium 150-180 Fine 220-240 Very Fine.
What is 80 grit sandpaper used for?
40 – 80 Grit: Coarse. 40 to 80 grit is used for heavy or rough sanding and to help remove scratches or imperfections. While it is okay to be abrasive, take your time when using a low-grit sandpaper because it may show noticeable scratches or swirls in the wood.
How do I know what sandpaper to use?
When shopping for sandpaper, you’ll see numbers such as 80-grit, 100-grit, or 200-grit. Keep in mind: The higher the number, the smaller the grains and the finer the sandpaper grit. And, conversely, lower numbers indicate larger grains and overall coarser sandpaper.
