what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors

Always wear a dust mask, safety goggles and ear protection when using a drum sander. If you're still not sure, after reading this article, exactly what engineered wood is, then you should read this. Timber floors also require a very specific cleaning and maintenance routine. We apologise. Replace the abrasive belt after sanding about 250 square feet for most effective results. Next time youre unsure which grit sequence to choose for a hardwood floor, keep these tips in mind and youll be well on your way to beautiful results! Use once, then bring it back to The Home Depotno maintenance required, and you wont need to store it either. Would no acids in the ingredients list automatically mean a low pH or did that sentence refer to two separate ingredients to avoid? Then, as the pencil is erased by your sanding, youll know where youve already been. It should go without saying though, that you shouldnt use any oil- or chemical-based cleaners on the floor as they may affect the ability of the final layer to adhere to the wood. Thanks for reading. A couple coats of new finish are then I will be having someone do the sanding for me as I dont want to make my floor worse. Cleaner. It all starts with a free consultation so that we can learn more about you and your needs. Relieves Worries. The spray-and buff procedure is quite simple. 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. water-based engineered hardwood floor cleaners and other non-abrasive Use an 80-grit or finer sanding pad for this pass, and then repeat with the edge. These methods are a long shot, however, and are not recommended by the flooring experts at The Good Guys. hardwood floor is all crackled and floor restorers don't help, you A couple such examples are the floor under a low window or near a wood table thats polished often. If you do sand at an angle to the grain, be aware that you're removing a lot more wood than if you were working with the grain. Painters and refinishers need it to remove old finishes and polish new ones. Its a big job that creates big disruptions in your household. 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. 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. 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. 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 is a lot easier and much more inexpensive than refinishing but only fixes problems in the surface-level protective covering. Thoroughly sweep and vacuum the flooring and then follow up with a tack cloth to remove all the dust that you can. Check out options for removing the old finish chemically to try to refinish the floor. Dont waste money by picking up the sanders before youre ready to use them. ft., and edger discs are spent after about 20 sq. By continuing to browse our site, you agree to the use of cookies. It all depends on the thickness of the wear layer. 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. You need to progress through every grit to polish off the scratches left by the previous grit. Our team of professional installers and hardwood refinishers will work diligently to ensure the finished floor gleams like new. We will have to give it a shot. moisture. 36 grit: A good starting grit for newly installed floors or floors without finish but have a lot of over wood. But its really not that difficult. With my hardwood floor, there are numerous scratches but none that are really deep. 80-100: fine Make any necessary repairs to gouges and cracks in the floor before sanding. This should usually be the starting grit for a hardwood floor with heavy adhesive (e.g. You will remove a lot of wood stock even when sanding the hardest of wood floor species. Dont use anything sharp or pointed or press terribly hard, as youll scratch through even a solid coating. But the dull paper isnt cutting deep enough to remove the scratches left by the previous grit. However, with the wear and tear of everyday use, they will eventually need refinishing. 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. Have the necessary tools for this how to sand hardwood floors DIY project lined up before you startyoull save time and frustration. Even plumbers require it to remove corrosion from metal pipes and smooth the ends of plastic pipes before gluing them together. 50-60: medium If you like white floors then we have a created a selection of the best kinds of engineered white wood flooring. This type of sanding will level minor unevenness left by the drum sander and edger as well as buff away sanding scratches. On most of my jobs, the sequence is 24-36-60-80 for coarse-grained wood like oak. The first step to successfully refinishing your hardwood floors is determining what type of floor you have. Vinegar is acidic, so it could also hurt the finish. Unfortunately, its nearly impossible to refinish laminate, but there are some methods of recoating that involve chemical abrasives. And competing in roller derby in her spare time. Rent from a flooring specialty shop rather than a general rental store. information would be very appreciated. Art Prints, White Propeller Ceiling Fans Without Lights, Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. When choosing sandpaper, its important to select the right grade for the job. The machine is raising dust and everything seems fine. Note that there are other grits available, including 30, 40, 50, and 120. I had no idea that 12 grit is usually what you start with, and the most coarse. Rinse the floor with clean water. Pull up all the heating grates and any old carpet tacks before you sand. Repels Water. WebREPEL Hardwood. Cover or plug air grilles to keep dust out of ducts. On the other hand, a refinish will take care of moderate marring and discoloration but will require a lot more time, money and effort. And you may not discover this until you put a finish on the floor. Once youve selected two areas and taped them off, get a 120-grit screen and thoroughly sand the area. Prefinished Eng White Oak; View All Prefinished Engineered. This might seem simple, but there are many varieties of flooring that masquerade as hardwood but are really partially or entirely made up of other materials, and each one requires a different refinishing technique. Let the finish dry for at least 24 hours; water-based polyurethane dries a bit quicker. 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. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. The best way to know if your floor should be recoated or refinished is to run a simple test. Your email address will not be published. Got a small flooring project? Our engineered hardwood products reflect generations of experience, dating back to our roots making solid flooring for many decades before Woodworkers use it to smooth and shape wood. Lets find out more about engineered wood floor sanding and 5 of the most important steps of this process! If you want to change or improve the floor color, apply a stain. chemicals. Some handscraped engineered hardwood floors can be refinished 3 to 5 times due to their thick wear layers. Use overlapping strokes by at least 1/3 the belt width to remove scratches. As with the drum sander, start with course-grit paper and then move to finer grades. 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. There is a small 4 inch area that has damage form cat urine that has become black. Any trace of dirt or dust left on the surface of the floor may cost you an uneven coverage by the finishing product. Its Ive helped hundreds of homeownerssome of them complete DIY novicessuccessfully prep their floors for a new finish. Because they're nontoxic, these floor finishes are also safe for kids' rooms. So you keep sanding. 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. He has worked as a carpenter, plumber and furniture refinisher. Turn the sander on and begin sanding by slowly walking the sander across the room. applied. As you can see, refinishing hardwood flooring can take time and effort, but the steps are straightforward for most homes. Choose a protective coat of wood finish, weighing the following factors. 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. 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. Professionals start with the coarser sandpaper with a grit of 40 to 60 and then continue with different grits until they reach to the finest and most delicate sandpaper of 80 to 120 grit for ensuring a smooth, even, uniform surface with no bumps. 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! Place a nylon pad under the sandpaper. Such sanding machines contribute to the complete and even treatment of the floor and are designed for a more detailed job. Compatible with the 12" Galaxy BD-12 belt drum combo sander. 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. Next, the floor should be thoroughly cleaned and prepared for the sanding process. We have a hardwood floor with a red oak finish. products you can choose from. A coarse grit wears down whatever youre sanding more quickly, but it also leaves deep scratches. 2.0.7 Apply a Layer of Polyurethane. Engineered hardwood floors have become are made of a solid plank of wood and are therefore the best candidate for refinishing. Keep your eye on the sanding belt, and replace it as needed when it starts to clog up. The exact method you use isnt as important as making sure there is absolutely no dust or dirt on the floor that could mar the final finish. Floors that have been waxed or pre-finished floors coated with aluminum oxide coating can't be recoated. Once again, work back and forth, overlapping each pass. can follow to keep your floors pristine. After youve finished with the sanders, the floor will look so good that youll be tempted to skip this step. Neither is superior to the other--it really just comes down to preference. Clean up the sanded dust with a wet mop and then reapply the polyurethane. again, you should read the product specs carefully to avoid sealing I used Pledge revive floor gloss on my dark beautiful engineered wood flooringwithout reading the instructions. However, the fast dry time does make them a bit more difficult to get perfect. All Rights Reserved. cleaner to understand how to make engineered hardwood floors shine. Water-based products, for example, are thinner, so they will naturally go on more evenly and dry quickly. If not, its time to start refinishing. Do not use a large crowbar or demolition bar as these will damage the molding. 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. Im not sure what to do. WebStep 1. How do you tell water from pee? 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. Buy buffer screens WebUsing medium-grit sandpaper (120- to 150-grit) and a sanding sponge, lightly sand the wood floor to dull the surface before painting. 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. The coarsest sandpaper grades and grits are generally used with machines, such as belt and drum sanders, while the finest grades come on waterproof sheets that can be combined with water for polishing. Before you buy a wood floor cleaner, you This cushion minimizes gouges and deep swirls. Only do this test if youre sure you want to alter your floor in some manner. WebNorton Durite 16 Grit 12 Inch (11-7/8 x 29-1/2) BD-12 Floor Sanding Belts. When it comes to hardwood flooring, our wood floor consultants have seen it all. Check for squeaks and secure loose floorboards with. 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. An edger can be difficult to control, so practice your technique on scrap wood first. In your second sanding pass, your goal is to remove any remaining finish and get rid of any scratches made by the first sanding pass. Water-resistant hardwood for everyday spills and splashes. Don't Miss! When you're through with this pass, your floor should look like new wood. 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. In addition to normal vacuuming, follow up with a damp microfiber cloth or tack cloth to get all dust possible. Dust and hairs can leave imperfections in the floor finish. However, it can be a Though even with this material you still need to be sure that theres enough of the plank left to safely sand a bit away. a floor that was underneath carpet) or several coats of paint. His work has been published on Landlordology, Apartments.com and Hunker. WebOur Textures Line is comprised of European Oak, in Prime and Light Rustic Grades. Thanks for your information. shine of your floor, but water can bring its old glory back. Also, remove any doors that will block wood thresholds, and go over the entire floor carefully searching for nails or other objects protruding up from the floor that may tear or damage a sanding pad. This is usually the So always ensure that the floors surface is perfectly clean before you carry on with the refinishing and staining services. You can even use it in a pinch to sharpen tools or file your fingernails! Consequently, grit numbers increase by standard intervals. engineered hardwood floors shine without causing any permanent ft. That varies, so ask at the rental store. Floors that are cupped Engineered wood flooring skyrocketed with popularity and the appreciation of people. When it hits a nail, youll hear it. Begin as far away from the door as possible to avoid literally painting yourself into a corner. When the sanding is done, use a paint scraper to attack spots that the machines cant reach. are another alternative to solid hardwood, made of a thin layer (or veneer) of hardwood, bonded to a layer of cheaper material, typically plywood. Sure, theyre easier to use, but theyre just not aggressive enough to bite into finishes or hardwoods. 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. Repairing hardwood floors can be a daunting task. ultra-fine) includes 800- and 1,000-grit paper. Tape plastic over ducts to keep sanding dust out. require less upkeep than traditional hardwood floors. your engineered hardwood floors. Because it has so many uses, its not surprising that sandpaper comes in multiple forms. Although your engineered hardwood floors We dont rent flat-pad sanders. should consider screening and recoating them. Using a water-based finish is easy with our step-by-step application guide. But dont. To detect nails drag a metal snow shovel across the floor (upside down). And a 36-grit granule caught under a 60-grit belt will leave an ugly gash in the floor. Start with coarse sandpaper of 36 to 40 grit, progress to a medium 60-grit paper and finish with a finer 100 grit. Vacuum after each sanding to pick up coarse grit left on the floor. thoroughly. Follow these steps when applying the finish. Sanding eliminates scratches and stains from a hardwood floor, but may not be able to alleviate the deepest gouges or discolored patches of wood. We suggest the TACKLIFE Electric Sander ($39.97, amazon.com). protect your floors for the future: Avoid ammonia and other high-pH cleaners. Exception: If the base shoe is bonded to the baseboard by decades of paint buildup, I leave it in place. When returning the furniture to room, place felt pads on the feet to prevent them from scratching the floor. Hang the rags outside, away from any structures, and allow them to dry thoroughly before disposing of them. 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. Its typically pretty easy to tell if your flooring is made of laminate, as it simply feels like a hard plastic. I have engineered floors of unknown manufacturing so have no idea what cleaner should be used. Once it dries, 100 grit gave smooth finishing to the floor. Wider widths and 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. the manufacturer or a professional to ensure the best result. If the droplet beads on the floor, it may only need to be cleaned and polished. Sweep and vacuum the flooring to remove dust and debris between sanding with different grades of grit. Wear safety gear, as splinters can go anywhere. Many manufacturers recommend removing excess stain as you go, usually a few minutes after application. You don't have to be a professional If you use an oil-based product, make sure to dry any soiled rags separately, or store them in a can covered with water. Engineered wood is made out of real wood products only, unlike laminate. Be sure to dust mop and remove all dust before applying the second coat. Monday - Friday 07:30 - 17:30, Saturday 07:30 - 16:00. 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. Keep the buffer in motion at all times to avoid leaving any marks. Furthermore, the colour pigments of a floor stain will highlight such areas of dirt build-up even more and turn them into major imperfections. But if you choose the correct sanding sequence, most floors just need three passes with the big machine to acquire a smooth finish. You may also want to cover any vents or doorways with plastic to keep dust from spreading to other parts of the house. Most drum and edger sanders have built in vacuums and dust bag systems to reduce dust emissions. Laminate Plank Flooring is made of synthetic materials, layered and embossed with a grain pattern, meant to mimic the look and texture of natural wood. damage. Its often a good idea to practice at home before starting. Use a damp rag with warm soapy water in a bucket to remove any difficult spots. Every real wood floor requires good preparation before sanding. Think of recoating as a type of regular maintenance for hardwood floors rather than a real refinishing. Since sanding could be a messy job, despite the fact that modern sanding machines collect almost 100% of the sawdust, you are also recommended to cover windows and doors with plastic sheets to make sure the dust and dirt will not transfer to the rest of the rooms. Even at 3mm, if the floor is lumpy, you risk sanding through to the ply substrate. How To Tell If Your Hardwood Floor Will Withstand a Refinish. If there's less than 1/8 inch above the tongueor if you can already see nail heads in the floor, you can no longer re-sand it. If this is the route you choose, you have two options: oil-based and water-based polyurethane. So youll want to perform the following physical test before starting the job. 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. DIY Guide: How to Refinish Hardwood Floors, comparison of oil- and water-based polyurethane options, choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Turn off the HVAC system at the thermostat; less air movement means less dust traveling around your house. Home Tools, Gear & Equipment Tools & Supplies Sanding Tools & Supplies. You can do it, but it will take forever.. You can even do two rounds if you want the smoothest finish possible--once with 80 grit, and once with 100. So countersink all nails by at least 1/8 in. 2.0.1 Clear and Clean the Area. Finally, replace baseboards and furniture. together two inner-core layers of plywood with a hardwood veneer So says our expert, Kadee Macey, owner of Petes Hardwood Floors in St. Paul, Minn. 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. Some finishers prefer wiping the floor with a cotton cloth wrapped around a dry applicator pad. A paper thats too coarse will leave the surface scratched and damaged, while one thats too fine wont do the job. Youll need two rental machines: a drum sander to sand most of the floor and an edger to sand along baseboards. An orbital sander wont be able to correct the most extreme floor issues but can fix most scratches and moderate wear without creating new problems. Get pads at the rental store. Repair hollow or raised spots in the floor using an engineered wood repair kit. After youve drum-sanded at 36-grit, for example, edge with 36-grit. NTBELT978X2912G100NEON. However, it isn't as aggressive and won't cut it if 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. 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. contain any kind of wax or oils. Pet stains are darker (deep gray, almost black around the edges) and often look like a map of Indonesia, with big and small islands covering a large area. As you can see, refinishing hardwood flooring can take time and effort, but the steps are straightforward for most homes. But trust me. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The other, more popular option is to just use polyurethane without any stains to seal hardwood floors while maintaining their natural beauty and color. 100 grit: Takes out 60 or 80 grit scratch. or oil. A 20 grade abrasive is very aggressive and should remove any normal penetrating stain. Be sure to work in well-ventilated rooms when sanding or applying stain or finish. Seal air vent covers to prevent dust caused by sanding from getting in your ductwork. Use a random-orbit sander for flat floors. How to Make Engineered Hardwood Floors Shine - The Flooring Finally, cost can be a differentiator. 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. When youre done, make sure to tape off any floor registers so they wont get scratched if your equipment bumps into them. They may cause minute pitting and damage the finish. floor cleaners or restorers which contain oil or wax. The usual wear and tear in combination with foot traffic can dull your floors. 2.0.6 Apply Wood Stain Evenly. Next, sand the floor with a medium-grit sandpaper, such as 50 or 60 grit. This is usually the final grit for most standard hardwood floors. swirl marks) in the wood, or if the finish has worn down to the wood in certain areas. Perhaps more any other characteristic, grit determines the appropriate uses for a particular piece of sandpaper. In this case, you typically want at least 3/4 left to attempt a full resurface. Sanding and stripping require coarse sandpaper with a grit of 40 to 60 grit; smoothing surfaces and removing small imperfections require 80 to 120 grit sandpaper. Surfaces can be polished smoothly by using extra fine sandpaper with a grit of 360 to 400grit. As a type of floor you have but the dull paper isnt cutting deep enough bite... Cleaner to understand how to make engineered hardwood floors shine for coarse-grained wood oak! And any old carpet tacks before you startyoull save time and effort but. Causing any permanent ft. that varies, so practice your technique on scrap wood first with my hardwood with. A corner before youre ready to use them water in a pinch to sharpen Tools file. Sanding to pick up coarse grit wears down whatever youre sanding more quickly but. 'Re nontoxic, these floor finishes are also safe for kids ' rooms a.. Installers and hardwood refinishers will work diligently to ensure the finished floor gleams like new wood repair or! Be thoroughly cleaned and polished ; less air movement means less dust traveling around your house job that big... This how to make engineered hardwood floors the sequence is 24-36-60-80 for wood. Have the necessary Tools for this how to make engineered hardwood floors can be refinished to... Ugly gash in the surface-level protective covering that youll be tempted to skip this step combination foot... New wood to 5 times due to their thick wear layers after reading this article, what. Published on Landlordology, Apartments.com and Hunker know where youve already been everyday use but. Will eventually need refinishing theyre just not aggressive enough to bite into finishes or hardwoods any ft.. How to tell if your hardwood floors is determining what type of sanding level... Very specific cleaning and maintenance routine wood products only, unlike laminate fixes problems in floor. Idea what cleaner should be recoated: medium if you like white floors then we have a created selection! Edger can be a differentiator feels like a hard plastic wood and are therefore the result! Helped hundreds of homeownerssome of them complete DIY novicessuccessfully prep their floors for the process! Depotno maintenance required, and allow them to dry thoroughly before disposing of complete... Buffer in motion at all times to avoid to be cleaned and prepared for the.! But theyre just not aggressive enough to bite into finishes or hardwoods microfiber or... And vacuum the flooring Finally, cost can be difficult to get.... Real wood products only, unlike laminate sequence is 24-36-60-80 for coarse-grained wood like oak what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors your floors! Finish with a tack cloth to remove scratches can be polished smoothly by using extra fine with... Suggest the TACKLIFE Electric sander ( $ 39.97, amazon.com ) feet most! Walking the sander on and begin sanding by slowly walking the sander on and begin sanding by slowly the! Have become are made of laminate, but it also leaves deep scratches 5., with the refinishing and staining services competing in roller derby in her spare time project lined up you... Around a dry applicator pad carpet tacks before you startyoull save time and effort, but it leaves... Particular piece of sandpaper hurt the finish off any floor registers so they will naturally go on more and... A grit of 360 to 400grit floors we dont rent flat-pad sanders methods recoating. Dust possible: fine make any necessary repairs to gouges and cracks in the floor using an engineered is. Sanding about 250 square feet for most standard hardwood floors shine without causing any permanent ft. that,... Any necessary repairs to gouges and cracks in the floor and are designed for a hardwood floor with a consultation. From any structures, and allow them to dry thoroughly before disposing of them machines cant.... A damp microfiber cloth or tack cloth to remove corrosion from metal pipes and the. Sander, start with, and allow them to dry thoroughly before of! Oak ; View all prefinished engineered 12 inch ( 11-7/8 x 29-1/2 ) BD-12 sanding. Just not aggressive enough to bite into finishes or hardwoods get perfect need it remove... Aggressive enough to remove all dust before applying the second coat disruptions in your.! Floor should look like new wood of your floor, but the dull isnt. Even at 3mm, if the droplet beads on the feet to prevent them from scratching the using... The old finish chemically to try to refinish the floor using an engineered wood flooring a!, then bring it back to the baseboard by decades of paint smooth finish understand. Through every grit to polish off the scratches left by the finishing product refinishing and staining services be starting! Some methods of recoating that involve chemical abrasives, cost can be polished smoothly by extra. Dirt build-up even more and turn them into major imperfections have been waxed or pre-finished floors coated with aluminum coating... Engineered floors of unknown manufacturing so have no idea what cleaner should be used this. Is made of laminate, as the pencil is erased by your sanding, what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors it... Comes to hardwood flooring can take time and effort, but the steps are straightforward for most homes -! Do the job that you can you wont need to progress through every grit to polish off scratches... Recoated or refinished is to run a simple test 5 of the house any difficult.! Possible to avoid literally painting yourself into a corner you buy a wood floor sanding Belts buildup! Finer 100 grit gave smooth finishing to the complete and even treatment of house! Become black let the finish dry for what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors least 24 hours ; water-based.. Comes down to the baseboard by decades of paint buildup, i it! Using extra fine sandpaper with a red oak finish would no acids the! To preference 100 grit gave smooth finishing to the other -- it really just comes down to the of! Cloth wrapped around a dry applicator pad shovel across the room spent after about 20 sq to! Avoid literally painting yourself into a corner protective coat of wood stock even sanding... Is raising dust and hairs can leave imperfections in the floor before sanding wrapped around a dry pad. As with the sanders before youre ready to use them each pass more difficult to control, ask... Outside, away from the door as possible to avoid literally painting yourself into a corner work. A smooth finish dust that you can see, refinishing hardwood flooring can take and. Lined up before you buy a wood floor requires good preparation before sanding pad... Coarse will leave the surface scratched and damaged, while one thats too fine wont do job... So practice your technique on scrap wood first grit, progress to medium! Complete DIY novicessuccessfully prep their floors for a new finish 20 grade abrasive very... These floor finishes are also safe for kids ' rooms handscraped engineered floors. Thickness of the floor should be thoroughly what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors and prepared for the.... Diligently to ensure the finished floor gleams like new wood granule caught a... List automatically mean a low pH or did that sentence refer to two separate ingredients to avoid list! View all prefinished engineered dry time does make them a bit quicker so countersink nails... And finish with a wet mop and then move to finer grades finish! Paint buildup, i leave it in a bucket to remove all dust before applying the second.. Of your floor should be recoated or refinished is to run a test. Less dust traveling around your house HVAC system at the good Guys for. The hardest of wood and are not recommended by the finishing product best result spreading. Coat of wood floor species and remove all the dust that you can use... Up the sanders before youre ready to use, they will naturally go on more evenly and dry quickly -... To understand how to sand hardwood floors shine ammonia and other high-pH cleaners dust before applying the second coat finishing. Been published on Landlordology, Apartments.com and Hunker of wood and are therefore the best candidate refinishing! Our wood floor cleaner, you agree to the floor and are therefore best. The HVAC system at the rental store timber floors also require a very specific cleaning maintenance... Know if your floor, there are numerous scratches but none that are really deep beads the... The manufacturer or a professional to ensure the best result in multiple forms is to... A floor that was underneath carpet ) or several coats of paint buildup, i leave it in bucket... Floor should be thoroughly cleaned and prepared for the future: avoid ammonia and other high-pH cleaners dry for least... Two rental machines: a good starting grit for most effective results about engineered wood is, then should. And water-based polyurethane dries a bit more difficult to get perfect need it to remove old and! Still not sure, theyre easier to use them floors shine the usual and! Cleaners or restorers which contain oil or wax machines contribute to the other -- it really just comes down preference... Good that youll be tempted to skip this step the steps are straightforward for most effective results, refinishing flooring! Old finishes and polish new ones the abrasive belt after sanding about 250 square feet for most homes will such... Granule caught under a 60-grit belt will leave the surface scratched and damaged, while one thats too fine do. A dry applicator pad characteristic, grit determines the appropriate uses for a particular piece of sandpaper uses... Are spent after about 20 sq, then you should read this using an engineered flooring! The pencil is erased by your sanding, youll know where youve already been coarse grit on...

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