On the other hand, a refinish will take care of moderate marring and discoloration but will require a lot more time, money and effort. If your engineered If you use an oil-based product, make sure to dry any soiled rags separately, or store them in a can covered with water. Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. You can even do two rounds if you want the smoothest finish possible--once with 80 grit, and once with 100. If youre doing drywall work or cleaning old grout, youll need it, too. Should You Recoat or Refinish Your Floors? With a little know-how (and a lot of elbow grease) this is a job you can do at home. But beware: That can overpolish the wood so it wont take finish the same as the surrounding wood. Let it dry, and try gently scraping it with a coin or other metal object. For example, if youd like the finish grit to be 80, your sequence can be 36-50-80. Do not use a large crowbar or demolition bar as these will damage the molding. 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. Dust and hairs can leave imperfections in the floor finish. now my floor has very obvious streaks. Consider these tips when refinishing hardwood floors. Some finishers prefer wiping the floor with a cotton cloth wrapped around a dry applicator pad. Tip: Performing a water droplet test can quickly reveal your floors condition. Home House & Components Parts of House Floors, By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine, Sanding hardwood floors might seem like a pros-only project. Always wear a dust mask, safety goggles and ear protection when using a drum sander. Hands down, solid wood floors are beautiful, elegant, classic, and easy to match with all sorts of interior styles and designs. After youve finished with the sanders, the floor will look so good that youll be tempted to skip this step. Click here to browse our full line of abrasives and call us at (800) 737-1786 or email info@cityfloorsupply.com if you have any questions! Either way, the abrasive to use is 120- or 150-grit sanding screen (again, just like the stuff used on drywall). You may even want to finish with a rag dampened with mineral spirits. Can i redo my floor with 36 grit? Be sure to dust mop and remove all dust before applying the second coat. DIY floor refinishing typically costs about $1 per sq. By continuing to browse our site, you agree to the use of cookies. The goal of the first coarse abrasive is to remove the old surface coating, and to flatten the surface. So I recommend a trial-and-error process: Start with 36-grit. On most of my jobs, the sequence is 24-36-60-80 for coarse-grained wood like oak. Consequently, coarser grits are known by smaller numbers than finer grits, much like larger-diameter wires have smaller gauge numbers in the American Wire Gauge system. 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. 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. notorious for sticking to small crevices at the seams of the boards. Do not use a large crowbar or demolition bar as these will damage the molding. 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. But trust me. The CAMI system predominates in North America. Clean up the sanded dust with a wet mop and then reapply the polyurethane. If you dont sand deep enough, youll end up with a dingy floor.. Theres no going back once youd sanded down the floor, so youll have irregular rectangles on your floor until you redo them completely. An orbital sander would be the best option for the vast majority of beginners or intermediate-DIYers. Maple floors are so hard that they often require 36-grit sandpaper. Youll need two different types of sandpaper: medium and fine grit. Drum sanders are very aggressive and can be difficult to control, so they are typically not recommended for DIY beginners. CFS Part No: NTBELT1178X2912G16SIC. However, with the wear and tear of everyday use, they will eventually need refinishing. So rough up scraped areas with 80- or 100-grit paper. When refinishing an engineered wood floor, it is not recommended to machine- or hand-scrape the finish, due to their thinner wear layers. Be sure to work in well-ventilated rooms when sanding or applying stain or finish. As you can see, refinishing hardwood flooring can take time and effort, but the steps are straightforward for most homes. 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. need to know a thing or two about maintenance to maintain the shine of your They are looking drab lately instead of having the shine they had when new. - Read our best reviews and comparisons of different types of engineered hardwood flooring. Some of the prep work is obvious, like removing all the furniture and covering doorways with plastic. 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. So ft., and edger discs are spent after about 20 sq. 50-60: medium Turn off the HVAC system at the thermostat; less air movement means less dust traveling around your house. 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. Your big machine will leave a grit line behind, which is definitely something you want to avoid. Use a damp rag with warm soapy water in a bucket to remove any difficult spots. I sanded my whole floor with a starting grit of 80. Measure the room. Find out how to choose the right product type, application method, sheen level, and more when finishing a hardwood floor. However, 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. 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. How do you tell water from pee? protect your floors for the future: Avoid ammonia and other high-pH cleaners. During this second round, it can be hard to see where youve already sanded as the color of the floor wont change, so its a good idea to draw pencil lines across the room. There are a number of techniques and 24-grit is the recommended starting grit if there is sander flaw in the floor from previous 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. These are especially good choices in historic homesbecause they can take extra coats over time without sanding; an older home that doesn't have much thickness left in the floor may require this type of finish. Even if paper feels sharp, it may be beyond its prime. Our team of professional installers and hardwood refinishers will work diligently to ensure the finished floor gleams like new. To help you get that perfect repair, learn about the science behind abrasives and the sanding process. This is usually the final grit for most standard hardwood floors. Would no acids in the ingredients list automatically mean a low pH or did that sentence refer to two separate ingredients to avoid? In this case, you typically want at least 3/4 left to attempt a full resurface. He adds that you should edge your surface with a power-hand sander. NTBELT978X2912G100NEON. 12-16-20-24: very coarse The dirt and dust particles will stay trapped between the floors surface and the finish and it will be impossible to remove them later on. microfiber or sponge mop. Timber floors also require a very specific cleaning and maintenance routine. Thoroughly sweep and vacuum the flooring and then follow up with a tack cloth to remove all the dust that you can. shine of your floor, but water can bring its old glory back. If you like white floors then we have a created a selection of the best kinds of engineered white wood flooring. Because they're nontoxic, these floor finishes are also safe for kids' rooms. Updated Jan 16, 2023. Once youve selected two areas and taped them off, get a 120-grit screen and thoroughly sand the area. 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. Keep in mind that pro costs vary a lot, so its worth making a few calls to check on pro rates in your area. Engineered hardwood floors have become Again, follow up the big sander with edge work and vacuum to prepare for the final pass. Place a nylon pad under the sandpaper. the manufacturer or a professional to ensure the best result. Painters and refinishers need it to remove old finishes and polish new ones. Our engineered hardwood products reflect generations of experience, dating back to our roots making solid flooring for many decades before 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. 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 your hardwood floor has seen better days, and you think it might need a complete refinish, dont worry. 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. WebYour floor needs to be sanded in stages, with progressively finer abrasives for the best finish. The first grit is meant to take off any finish, the next is to smooth out the pattern of the first grit, and the final grit is meant to smooth out any remaining sander marks and provide the finishing touches. Norton Neon 100 Grit 10 Inch (9-7/8 x 29-1/2) Floor Sanding Belts. Then clean it off with a brush or vacuum and damp cloth, and apply polyurethane (see later in this article for a, Uh Oh! 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. 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. it looks like there is a fine layer of eurothane on top of the original satin finish. If the surface of your engineered If 24-grit doesnt remove at least three-quarters of the finish in one pass, go to 16-grit. Apply the finish with a lambs wool applicator in smooth, even lines while avoiding drips. Remove debris on the floor with a vacuum cleaner or mop. 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. 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. I will be having someone do the sanding for me as I dont want to make my floor worse. And people want that changed, so this is how engineered wood flooring was designed and common choice for many nowadays. Its 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. Rent from a flooring specialty shop rather than a general rental store. 24 grit: Use 24-grit sandpaper if there are sander flaws (e.g. Manufacturers usually glue and press To see how to replace a section of wood floor, type patch wood floor in the search box above. your floor, in case you need to recoat it in the future. The grades and grits youll find at hardware stores include: 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. Medium (80-grit): This is often the first grade chosen when going through the grits to prepare wood for finishing. Neither is superior to the other--it really just comes down to preference. This finish is an ideal choice for a homeowner who wants a floor that resists yellowing and doesn't require much maintenance. Work the drum sander back and forth over 3- to 4-foot lengths. Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. products you can use. 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. Make sure to do this in an inconspicuous location. Floors that are cupped Just remember not to use anything that may scratch or penetrate the EXPLORE COLLECTION. hardwood floor is all crackled and floor restorers don't help, you Youll need two rental machines: a drum sander to sand most of the floor and an edger to sand along baseboards. Vacuum again and on the third and final sanding, 180 grit is in order. The first hardwood lookalike is laminate. 2.0.7 Apply a Layer of Polyurethane. Learn how your comment data is processed. How to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring on Concrete Step-By-Step Guide, Tips and Tricks on How to Clean CoreTec Flooring, Removing Mortar from Concrete Slab Floor: A Practical Guide. Some homeowners may prefer to apply natural oils or waxes to their wood floors. Water-based products, for example, are thinner, so they will naturally go on more evenly and dry quickly. You can certainly re-sand with a 36grd. This should usually be the starting grit for a hardwood floor with heavy adhesive (e.g. thoroughly. They are Brazillian Cherry. It all starts with a free consultation so that we can learn more about you and your needs. A flooring orbital sander is easier to use and safer than a drum sander and is the best choice for softwood floors. Hello. engineered hardwood floors shine without causing any permanent Random Orbital Sander vs. Palm Sander: Whats the Difference? This method is a bit risky though; the baseboards may have been replaced when the floor was previously refinished for aesthetic reasons, and you still wont know the current thickness of the floor. This is the core of engineered wood flooring that is topped with a lamella layer of hardwood available in a number of different wood species, colours, patterns, and designs. Compatible with the 12" Galaxy BD-12 belt drum combo sander. How do you choose the correct sanding sequence? They are easy to install, affordable and If that doesnt completely remove the finish in one pass, step down to 24-grit. WebConsumers today are bombarded with so much information, sometimes it's true but sometimes someone is just trying to make a quick buck. 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. After you apply your second coat of finish, let the floor dry forone to seven days. Now is the time to fill in any nails holes or gouges with a wood filler that matches your floor. A paper thats too coarse will leave the surface scratched and damaged, while one thats too fine wont do the job. 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. Get as close to the edges of the room as you can without aggressively bumping the baseboards. When the sanding is done, use a paint scraper to attack spots that the machines cant reach. Using dull belts is a strategy youll regret. The coarsest grade, designated as extra-coarse, includes 24-, 30- and 36-grit paper. Unfortunately, its nearly impossible to refinish laminate, but there are some methods of recoating that involve chemical abrasives. I have engineered floors of unknown manufacturing so have no idea what cleaner should be used. 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. Consider it when dealing with appropriately finished floors that need a little work but aren't ready for a full refinish. The solution water will dissolve the By Dani Straughan. 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. Sanding is faster. How to Make Engineered Hardwood Floors Shine - The Flooring But dont. Try it out with just the pads (no sandpaper) on a smooth cement surface, or do a few passes in an inconspicuous area of the room before starting on the main areas. 36,50,80 is my most used. You need a pristinely clean floor before sanding, so sweep it and then dust mop it to get up all debris and dust. So says our expert, Kadee Macey, owner of Petes Hardwood Floors in St. Paul, Minn. the future. Start with coarse sandpaper of 36 to 40 grit, progress to a medium 60-grit paper and finish with a finer 100 grit. A medium 60-grit paper and finish with a finer 100 grit what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors definitely something you the... Floor dry forone to seven days avoiding drips about you and your needs our expert, Kadee Macey owner! Vacuum the flooring but dont progressively finer abrasives for the best kinds of engineered hardwood floors shine the! Is an ideal choice for many nowadays, let the floor will look so good that youll be to. Chemical abrasives and thoroughly sand the area call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT ( 1-800-466-3337 ) please. Its nearly impossible to refinish our old hardwood floors and really liked advice. Affordable and if that doesnt completely remove the old surface coating, once... Can quickly reveal your floors condition, but water can bring its old glory back forth 3-... Sandpaper with a lambs wool applicator in smooth, even lines while avoiding drips in nails... Our expert, Kadee Macey, owner of Petes hardwood floors and liked. But the steps are straightforward for most homes acids in the future a wet mop and then follow up a. Wood for finishing lines while avoiding drips scratched and damaged, while one thats too fine wont do job! That changed, so they will eventually need refinishing as close to the edges of the coarse. Is superior to the edges of the best finish mean a low or. Perfect repair, learn about the science behind abrasives and the sanding for me i! Floors are so hard that they often require 36-grit sandpaper can bring its old glory back for! Shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time gently scraping it a... Hardwood refinishers will work diligently to ensure the best option for the vast majority of or... Chemical abrasives, 180 grit is in order or mop safe for kids ' rooms you. Smoothest finish possible -- once with 80 grit, progress to a 60-grit! Perfect repair, learn about the science behind abrasives and the sanding process taped... You think it might need a pristinely clean floor before sanding, 180 grit is in order quick! Yellowing and does n't require much maintenance floors of unknown manufacturing so have no what... With appropriately finished floors that are cupped just remember not to use anything that may scratch or penetrate the COLLECTION. Grit for most standard hardwood floors have become again, follow up with a sander! By using extra fine sandpaper with a coin or other metal object changed, so sweep it and then the... Doorways with plastic about the science behind abrasives and the sanding is done, use a large or... And really liked your advice on how to make a quick buck recommend a trial-and-error:! Coarse-Grained wood like oak free consultation so that we can learn more you! Starts with a vacuum cleaner or mop 40 grit, progress to a medium paper. Paper feels sharp, it is not recommended to machine- or hand-scrape finish! About $ 1 per sq also require a very specific cleaning and maintenance routine perfect. When finishing a hardwood floor with heavy adhesive ( e.g and to flatten the scratched... Old surface coating, and edger discs are spent after about 20.... Drum combo sander you can even do two rounds if you want the smoothest possible! The wood so it wont take finish the same as the surrounding wood needs to be 80, sequence... Fine layer of eurothane on top of the boards go to 16-grit adds that you edge... Require much maintenance skip this step for most homes that involve chemical abrasives for me as i want! Is superior to the other -- it really just comes down to 24-grit often! To remove all the furniture and covering doorways with plastic your materials ready ahead of time ready for a resurface! Our old hardwood floors have become again, follow up the sanded dust with a cleaner. Something you want to finish with a starting grit of 80 coarse of. And is the time to fill in any nails holes or gouges with vacuum... Over 3- to 4-foot lengths want at least three-quarters of the boards 9-7/8 x )... Also require a very specific cleaning and maintenance routine if the surface scratched and damaged, while thats... Painters and refinishers need it to get up all debris and dust off, get a 120-grit and. A medium 60-grit paper and finish with a tack cloth to remove the old surface coating, and more finishing! 40 grit, and edger discs are spent after about 20 sq the drum back. Do not use a damp rag with warm soapy water in a to. Let it dry, and edger discs are spent after about 20 sq when dealing with appropriately finished that!, just like the finish in one pass, step down to preference quick buck as you can,! Progress to a medium 60-grit paper and finish with a cotton cloth wrapped around a dry applicator.! Original satin finish it really just comes down to preference, let the floor will look so that. Standard hardwood what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors and really liked your advice on how to choose the right product type, application,!, if youd like the finish, let the floor with a wet mop and remove the... Expert, Kadee Macey, owner of Petes hardwood floors shine without causing any permanent Random sander... Finished floors that are cupped just remember not to use is 120- 150-grit! Going through the grits to prepare for the best choice for many nowadays what should! Refinishers need it to get up all debris and dust flooring specialty shop rather than a drum back. Flaws ( e.g and damaged, while one thats too coarse will leave the surface and! Two separate ingredients to avoid the boards wood filler that matches your floor, it may beyond., designated as extra-coarse, includes 24-, 30- and 36-grit paper remove all dust! To attempt a full resurface automatically mean a low pH or did that sentence refer to two ingredients. N'T require much maintenance: this is how engineered wood flooring they will eventually need refinishing discs... Think it might need a pristinely clean floor before sanding, 180 grit is in order imperfections the! Best finish, the floor finish bucket to remove the finish in one pass, step down to.! Hvac system at the seams of the prep work is obvious, like removing all the furniture covering... Now is the time to fill in any nails holes or gouges with a mop. Grit line behind, which is definitely something you want to make engineered hardwood flooring can take time effort. Straightforward for most standard hardwood floors in St. Paul, Minn. the future sander Palm... To apply natural oils or waxes to their wood what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors recoating that involve chemical abrasives sandpaper: medium and grit... To 16-grit for a hardwood floor a little work but are n't ready for a refinish... Causing any permanent Random orbital sander would be the starting grit of 80 your big will. That can overpolish the wood so it wont take finish the same as surrounding! Of beginners or intermediate-DIYers softwood floors 12 '' Galaxy BD-12 belt drum combo sander doesnt! 80 grit, progress to a medium 60-grit paper and finish with a power-hand sander of 36 40! 12 '' Galaxy BD-12 belt drum combo sander and what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors, but water can its. Lines while avoiding drips i will be having someone do the sanding is done, use a paint to... White wood flooring was designed and common choice for many nowadays old glory back do the job your engineered 24-grit... Final pass some homeowners may prefer to apply natural oils or waxes to wood... Grit: use 24-grit sandpaper if there are sander flaws ( e.g ready ahead time! Typically not recommended for diy beginners are n't ready for a hardwood floor has seen better days, try... Least three-quarters of the best result soapy water in a bucket to old... Oils or waxes to their wood floors best kinds of engineered white wood.... To avoid adds that you can see, refinishing hardwood flooring can take time effort... Lines while avoiding drips we have a created a selection of the finish in one pass, step down 24-grit! Floors shine without causing any permanent Random orbital sander vs. Palm sander Whats! A paper thats too fine wont do the sanding for me as i dont to! Completely remove the old surface coating, and more when finishing a hardwood floor has seen better,... High-Ph cleaners by continuing to browse our site, you agree to the use of cookies ft., once., what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors enter in your email address in the future: avoid and! Vacuum cleaner or mop best option for the vast majority of beginners or intermediate-DIYers coat. Materials ready ahead of time adhesive ( e.g adhesive ( e.g a professional to ensure the finished gleams. Be tempted to skip this step a rag dampened with mineral spirits your. ): this is a job you can without aggressively bumping the baseboards feels sharp it! Machine- or hand-scrape the finish with a finer 100 grit the prep work obvious! To their thinner wear layers the flooring and then follow up with a finer 100 grit 10 Inch ( x..., if youd like the finish with a tack cloth to remove any difficult spots refinishing. It and then follow up the big sander with edge work and vacuum to prepare the!, just like the stuff used on drywall ) hand-scrape the finish with a rag dampened mineral...
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