Sanding and Refinishing Equipment

Troubleshooting

Hardwood Floor Care and Maintenance Tips

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Do-It-Yourself Hardwood Floor Main Page

Refurnishing and maintaining the beauty of your hardwood floors has never been easier. By following our simple, step-by-step sanding and refinishing guide, you can experience the satisfaction of returning your hardwood floors to their original beauty. Follow our easy to use floor care and maintenance tips and protect your valuable investment.  

Visit your local rental store to learn more about the equipment you’ll need, and be sure to insist on Virginia Abrasives – the choice of professional floor finishers and knowledgeable “do-it-yourselfers”.

Preparing the Floor

1. Remove quarter round molding or baseboard for a professional touch. Use a small
    wooden wedge between the wallboard and the pry bar to prevent damaging the
    wallboard.
2. Repair or replace loose boards by gluing and nailing.
3. Counter-sink all protruding nail heads with nail set.
4. Vacuum or sweep the floor.

Sanding the Floor

NEW FLOORS (Recently installed or slightly worn)

FIRST SANDING: (Medium Abrasive, Grit 36-2) Install sandpaper per machine manufacturer's instructions. (Snug, not too tight or loose). Position the drum sander along the wall in the direction of the wood grain, with approximately two-thirds of the length of the floor in front of you.

(1). Start machine and ease the drum to the floor. Walk slowly forward at an even pace. As you near the wall, gradually raise the drum off the floor. Start pulling the machine backwards as you ease the drum to the floor. Cover the same path previously sanded, raising the drum upon completion of this pass. The next cuts should be done in the same fashion, moving the machine approximately four inches into the unsanded floor area each time. After a few passes, you will notice your sander's dust bag will start filling up. Stop sanding and empty the dust bag often.

(2). Upon completing the two-thirds portion of the room, turn the machine in the opposite direction and sand the remaining one third in the exact same manner, allow a two or three foot overlap of the first cuts. If you start to notice the sanding rate is dropping, your sanding sheet is probably clogged or worn out. Stop sanding and change your sheet. If you continue operating with a worn out or clogged sanding sheet, you will eventually burn or damage your floor!

(3). After you have completed this operation, use the edger machine to sand near walls and in areas where the drum sander won't reach. Move the edger in a brisk left-to-right, semi-circular motion. (Use same grit abrasive as used on drum sander.) Hand sand or scrape corners and areas inaccessible by machine. Vacuum the entire floor. Apply wood putty to any exposed cracks or holes in wood. Allow to dry before proceeding to the next sanding step.

SECOND SANDING: (Fine Abrasive, Grit 80-0) Upon completing both drum and edger sanding operations with medium abrasive, repeat the same procedure with the fine abrasive - grit 80.

OLD FLOORS (Generous amount of old finish to be removed, and /or uneven floor contours to be corrected)

FIRST SANDING: (Coarse Abrasive, Grit 20-3 1/2). Install sandpaper per machine manufacturer's instructions.

Divide the room into thirds. Place the sander next to a wall facing the direction of the grain with two-thirds of the floor in front of you. Start the machine and slowly ease the drum to the floor while walking slowly at an even pace. As you near the wall, gradually raise the drum. Begin pulling the machine backwards as you ease the drum to the floor.

Cover the same path previously sanded. Raise the drum upon completion of this pass. Sand the entire floor area in the same direction, overlapping approximately four inches on each new cut until you finish. Move the sander into position so that this operation can be repeated in the opposite direction for the remaining one third of the room.

If your floor is severely cupped or curled you may need to sand this first cut at a 45-degree angle to the direction of the wood grain (see above diagram). Otherwise, sanding should always be done with the direction of the wood grain.

If you start to notice the sanding rate is dropping, your sanding sheet is probably clogged or worn out. Stop sanding and change the sheet. Failure to change the sheet at this time will eventually lead to burn marks and damage to the floor.

After you have completed this operation, use the edger disc sander to sand near the walls and in areas the drum sander won't reach. Mover the disc edger in a brisk left-to-right , semi-circular motion. (Use same grit abrasive as used on the drum sander.)

DO NOT attempt to remove 100% of the old finish during this operation. Residual amounts will be removed during subsequent sanding operations. Vacuum the entire floor.

SECOND SANDING: (Continue sanding as indicated above, but with a medium abrasive - 36 grit. Apply wood putty to exposed cracks and allow to dry.)

THIRD SANDING: (Continue sanding like previous steps, but with a fine abrasive - 80 grit.)

Final Preparation

Screening The Floor
(Please note that this step is optional, but adds a professional touch to your floor.)

Slowly lower the floor buffer with a tan or green nylon pad attached over a 120 grit sanding screen. Keeping the buffer balanced, sand the entire floor in the direction of the wood grain, overlapping your passes by four inches, as you work your way to the wall behind you. Remove screen and shake out sawdust as it becomes clogged.

Hand scrape and fine sand areas the power sander was not able to reach. Vacuum the entire room thoroughly, especially around windows, sills, doors and door frames. Inspect the floor. Hand sand any imperfections and swirl marks that may remain.

Follow the manufacturer's recommendations and guidelines for applying your floor finish.

Helpful Hints

1. Check fuse supply as machine may overload circuit.
2. Remove furniture, rugs, curtains, pictures and any other conveniently removed items.
3. Complete wall covering and painting projects prior to refinishing floors.
4. Provide adequate ventilation during sanding and refinishing.
5. If the room has a large doorway, cover it with a dropcloth or plastic covering.
    Stuff towels or rags under bottoms of exit or closet doors. Cover all air vents.
6. NEVER stop the sander with the drum in contact with the floor.
7. Wear clean, soft footwear to avoid dirt marks and scratching.

Caution

1. Sanding dust is extremely combustible.
2. Never smoke or have open flames present while sanding or applying finish.
3. Empty sander dust bags frequently into container.
    Store container outside of job site to prevent possible fire hazard.
4. Unplug sanding equipment when not in use or when changing paper.