They are easy to install, affordable and cleaner to understand how to make engineered hardwood floors shine. Finally, replace baseboards and furniture. 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 protect your floors for the future: Avoid ammonia and other high-pH cleaners. 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. Timber floors also require a very specific cleaning and maintenance routine. Consider three coats of oil-based finish or four coats of water-based finish. You can leave the baseboards in place unless you're planning to replace them. The solution water will dissolve the The first hardwood lookalike is laminate. Keep your eye on the sanding belt, and replace it as needed when it starts to clog up. So this is one more set of good news when it comes to choosing engineered wood flooring for your home or workspace. Check for squeaks and secure loose floorboards with. 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. If youre doing drywall work or cleaning old grout, youll need it, too. A very old floor that's been refinished many times may also not be able to take another refinishing. 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. This fine-detail work can make your DIY project look more like a professional job. Follow these steps when applying the finish. On the bottom is another layer of wood. Next, sand the floor with a medium-grit sandpaper, such as 50 or 60 grit. When the finish is dry, reattach the shoe guard moulding. For flat floors, use a random orbital sander. My floors are 2.25 inch by .75 inch red oak flooring. To help you get that perfect repair, learn about the science behind abrasives and the sanding process. For the final sanding, use at least 80 grit sandpaper. Edge sanding also scuffs up base shoe, which means touch-up work later. Engineered Wood floors are another alternative to solid hardwood, made of a thin layer (or veneer) of hardwood, bonded to a layer of cheaper material, typically plywood. When refinishing an engineered wood floor, it is not recommended to machine- or hand-scrape the finish, due to their thinner wear layers. Sweep and vacuum the flooring to remove dust and debris between sanding with different grades of grit. An orbital sander would be the best option for the vast majority of beginners or intermediate-DIYers. A recoat simply involves roughing up your floor with a gentle sanding screen. 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. You may even want to finish with a rag dampened with mineral spirits. The CAMI and the FEPA use different grit numbers, and those of the latter are typically preceded by the letter P. In the CAMI system, sandpaper grits range from 24 to 1,000 (and sometimes higher), which corresponds to P12 to P2,500 in the FEPA system. So I recommend a trial-and-error process: Start with 36-grit. However, it isn't as aggressive and won't cut it if you How to Make Engineered Hardwood Floors Shine Easy Tips and Tricks. Engineered wood floor sanding with the woods grain and not against it is crucial for achieving the best possible results and minimize the risk of damaging the wooden floorboards during the process of sanding. 2.0.6 Apply Wood Stain Evenly. Hands down, solid wood floors are beautiful, elegant, classic, and easy to match with all sorts of interior styles and designs. Sand the center of the room first, and then finish with an edger. Complete this simple form to get started. At the end of the job, lay a flashlight on the floor to highlight any leftover swirls. 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. You will remove a lot of wood stock even when sanding the hardest of wood floor species. Engineered wood flooring skyrocketed with popularity and the appreciation of people. Before you buy a wood floor cleaner, you the manufacturer or a professional to ensure the best result. Norton Neon 100 Grit 10 Inch (9-7/8 x 29-1/2) Floor Sanding Belts. Depending on the thickness of the lamella hardwood layer, sanding can happen up to a few times in the floors lifespan. WebREPEL Hardwood. In most cases yes. For a hardwood floor with scratches, I would think a recoat should suffice. The higher the number, the finer the grit. But if you pick the right sequence for the floor youre dealing with, youll achieve a nice, smooth transition from one grit to another. Pull up a heating grate, if possible, to see how much hardwood is left. This Job Calls for A Complete Refinishing. is there a way to remove this gloss without damaging the finish beneath? Engineered wood flooring is usually 4-8mm and is good for sanding and refinishing. Consequently, grit numbers increase by standard intervals. Use overlapping strokes by at least 1/3 the belt width to remove scratches. Have the necessary tools for this how to sand hardwood floors DIY project lined up before you startyoull save time and frustration. If 24-grit doesnt remove at least three-quarters of the finish in one pass, go to 16-grit. You can do it with a rented buffing machine or with a sanding pole (like the one used for sanding drywall). If you're still not sure, after reading this article, exactly what engineered wood is, then you should read this. We apologise. Apply the stain or finish so your final steps are at the exit door and you dont have to track through a wet floor. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), How To Choose the Right Sandpaper for Wood Projects. chemicals. Over time, a strange-looking layer of A friend of mine is thinking about refinishing his floors, and we were curious about what type of grit you will need. Engineered Hardwood Floors, Removing Dirt and Returning the Shine On most of my jobs, the sequence is 24-36-60-80 for coarse-grained wood like oak. You need a pristinely clean floor before sanding, so sweep it and then dust mop it to get up all debris and dust. 2.0.1 Clear and Clean the Area. products you can choose from. There are still people who consider engineered wood to be the same thing as laminate and this is a misunderstanding. Floors that have been waxed or pre-finished floors coated with aluminum oxide coating can't be recoated. Vacuum up the dust and apply the subsequent coat. Work one manageable area at a time, such as four square feet. WebNorton Durite 16 Grit 12 Inch (11-7/8 x 29-1/2) BD-12 Floor Sanding Belts. Re If your engineered Almost 90% of your success with a hardwood floor refinishing project will come down to preparation, so its important to take it slow and with the proper care from the beginning. Bleach formulated for wood floors may be worth a try, but in my experience the results are mediocre at best, and at worst, the wood is left pitted and blotched. How to Make Engineered Hardwood Floors Shine - The Flooring moisture. Finally, solid hardwood floors are made of a solid plank of wood and are therefore the best candidate for refinishing. Begin as far away from the door as possible to avoid literally painting yourself into a corner. How do you choose the correct sanding sequence? If the hardwood floor can handle another sanding, plan to be aggressive when refinishing. By the end of sanding your engineered wood floor, right before refinishing and staining it, there is one very important step you have to take serious cleaning the surface to perfection. Dull paper wont remove swirls left by the previous grit. When the sanding is done, use a paint scraper to attack spots that the machines cant reach. are made of a solid plank of wood and are therefore the best candidate for refinishing. It would be nice to know that if he gets one, he can also get the right grits. Nail down any loose boards with finish nails. All Rights Reserved. 2.0.4 Clean Up Dust And Hair. If you have newer baseboards and no quarter-round, leave it in place, but expect lots of the aforementioned touch-ups. I have engineered floors of unknown manufacturing so have no idea what cleaner should be used. Once again, work back and forth, overlapping each pass. 16 grit: Use as the starting grit for floors with shellac finishes, single layers of paint, or some very hard floors, like maple. swirl marks) in the wood, or if the finish has worn down to the wood in certain areas. Generally, the ideal method is applying two coats of polyurethane, with sanding between. WebCan engineered wood flooring be sanded and refinished? Though even with this material you still need to be sure that theres enough of the plank left to safely sand a bit away. You can use a random-orbital sander to buff the edges. To begin, use a coarse 30-40 grit, then a medium 50-60 grit, and finally a fine 80-100 grit. ft. 36,50,80 is my most used. Vinegar is acidic, so it could also hurt the finish. 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. Once youve selected two areas and taped them off, get a 120-grit screen and thoroughly sand the area. Sanding is the main step in the process of refinishing a hardwood floor. Cleaner. Now your floors should be as good as new. Sanding old hardwood floors generally removes about 0.75 millimeters (mm) to 1 mm. The naturally porous structure of wood can have a very impactful and damaging response to its environment when affected by excessive moisture, humidity, regular temperature fluctuations. If they are wet, things get even worse. Hiring a pro costs from $3 to $4 per sq. 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. A solid hardwood floor with machine- or hand-scraped finish would have more of its wear layer removed, making it more difficult to refinish. notorious for sticking to small crevices at the seams of the boards. These problems occur when the glue fails to bond to the subfloor during installation, or when a single board is damaged by moisture or humidity. Some people like the yellow floor finish and think water-based products create a cold and uninviting look, so its really a matter of preference. 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. The prep work will take longer than you think. Scratches are more visible on fine-grained wood like birch or maple, so I go to 100-grit. Label the base shoe as you remove it to avoid confusion when you reinstall it. Use it to hand sand, or with a belt or orbital sander. Need Help? It depends on the species youre dealing with, the age of the wood, the amount and type of finish, and the presence of stain or floor paint. Check it out! By Dani Straughan. Allow the stain to dry according to directions before applying the finish. Either way, the abrasive to use is 120- or 150-grit sanding Work the drum sander back and forth over 3- to 4-foot lengths. Wear safety gear, as splinters can go anywhere. Either way, the abrasive to use is 120- or 150-grit sanding screen (again, just like the stuff used on drywall). 120-150: extra fine. Work following the grain of the wood while applying even pressure. Art Prints, White Propeller Ceiling Fans Without Lights, Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Use plastic sheeting to seal doors to keep dust from the rest of the house. Be the first to know about our latest sales & promotions. ultra-fine) includes 800- and 1,000-grit paper. To detect nails drag a metal snow shovel across the floor (upside down). While its theoretically possible to manufacture sandpaper grits in tiny progressions, it would be impractical and confuse customers. The most common DIY mistake is timid sanding. Unfortunately, pet stains often dont come out. With the sander unplugged, insert the medium grit sandpaper first. Deziel has been writing DIY articles since 2010 and has worked as an online consultant, most recently with Home Depot's Pro Referral service. It all depends on the thickness of the wear layer. You can certainly re-sand with a 36grd. damage. Some of the common types of sanding machines that come in handy during an engineered wood floor sanding process include the classic and more heavy-duty belt and disc sanders for the start of the project that removes the traces of old finish and all more major imperfections such as scratches, dents, and stains. 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. His work has been published on Landlordology, Apartments.com and Hunker. Then clean it off with a brush or vacuum and damp cloth, and apply polyurethane (see later in this article for a, Uh Oh! 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. 24 grit: Use 24-grit sandpaper if there are sander flaws (e.g. So the best way to judge is by square footage covered. Consider floor care and refinishing tool rental to get your project done. Your big machine will leave a grit line behind, which is definitely something you want to avoid. Required fields are marked *. 2420 McIver Lane, Ste 102Carrollton, TX 75006, Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device. Then clean it off with a brush or vacuum and damp cloth, and apply polyurethane (see later in this article for a comparison of oil- and water-based polyurethane options). 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. These methods are a long shot, however, and are not recommended by the flooring experts at The Good Guys. Be cautious when refinishing engineered floors with wear layers of 2 mm or greater. Heres why: Edge sanding slightly lowers the floor and leaves the baseboard standing on a little plateau. water won't hurt your floors. You need to progress through every grit to polish off the scratches left by the previous grit. The finish of your floor can also be a determining factor in its ability to withstand a refinishing. This time, take extra care to clean everything thoroughly, as the next step will be to apply a finishing agent. 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. 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. Use a random-orbit sander for flat floors. When working with engineered hardwood, you typically require about 1/8 of veneer in order to refinish. Prep before you rent. In my home I have used 100 grit for oak hardwood flooring. Take the following steps before wood floor refinishing. applied. Hammer down protruding nails. 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. Do you think I would be okay in the 80-100 grit range? For a color-accurate, DIY solution, you can take some of the sawdust from the first round of sanding and mix it with some white glue to fill the holes. Types of sandpaperCoarse sandpaper. Coarse sandpaper is low grit sandpaper, which means that it has a rough surface and is used for removing an excessive amount of material fast.Medium sandpaper. Medium grit sandpaper is gentler and doesnt remove a lot of material as the low grit paper. Fine sandpapers. The edger is basically a sanding disc mounted on a big, powerful motor. Compatible with the 12" Galaxy BD-12 belt drum combo sander. Repeatedly. Even if paper feels sharp, it may be beyond its prime. Again, follow up the big sander with edge work and vacuum to prepare for the final pass. Follow up each phase of drum sanding with edging. This grit takes out the scratch from 36-grit sandpaper, but does not remove much wood . Precision Grinding Wheels - A Guide to Refinishing Hardwood Floors | 100 grit: Takes out 60 or 80 grit scratch. We thought we had replied to this already. Next, the floor should be thoroughly cleaned and prepared for the sanding process. After youve finished with the sanders, the floor will look so good that youll be tempted to skip this step. 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. to Engineered Hardwood Floors, How to Screen and Recoat Engineered The initial coarse grits remove the finish and flatten the wood. 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. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. Note: For more of Kadees wood floor wisdom, go to peteshardwoodfloors.com. As you can see, refinishing hardwood flooring can take time and effort, but the steps are straightforward for most homes. Start with a 40-grit cut and see if the section of the floor is completely bare and flat after your pass. It will almost certainly be a focal point. Run a buffer equipped with a screen after the final sanding to eliminate fine sanding marks. and let The Good Guys get it done for you! Visit our E-commerce store for Flooring, Supplies and Equipment. Tilt the machine backward, rotate it, and go back in the other direction. Pull up all the heating grates and any old carpet tacks before you sand. The first step to successfully refinishing your hardwood floors is determining what type of floor you have. Follow up on the edges, and once again vacuum and clean up. Youll want to press as firmly as you can without stalling or slowing down the movement of the sander. Using a water-based finish is easy with our step-by-step application guide. And then theres that big, scary sanding machine. Replace the sandpaper when its dull. Make any necessary repairs to gouges and cracks in the floor before sanding. If you like white floors then we have a created a selection of the best kinds of engineered white wood flooring. A medium or fine grade works best for most projects around the house. Choose a sander that has a lever to raise and lower the sanding drum. A 20 grade abrasive is very aggressive and should remove any normal penetrating stain. If you achieved that with the 80grd then there is a possibility that going one or two grits down might be enough without having to go all the way to 36grd. Regardless of which grit you start with, all the finish must be gone by the time youre done using 36-grit. If the droplet beads on the floor, it may only need to be cleaned and polished. Here are some tips: Use a carbide scraper to remove finish from corners. If the floor is in good shape, start with the most common sequence, which is 40-60-100. Dont waste money by picking up the sanders before youre ready to use them. The core is 5 to 7 layers of plywood, crisscrossed and bonded together. He has worked as a carpenter, plumber and furniture refinisher. The top of each plank is 100% wood, available in a variety of species and on-trend styles. information would be very appreciated. come prefabricated and the finish is baked in the factory, you should Refinished hardwood flooring brings new life to old wood floors. You don't have to be a professional Maple floors are so hard that they often require 36-grit sandpaper. 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. Prefinished Eng White Oak; View All Prefinished Engineered. Ive helped hundreds of homeownerssome of them complete DIY novicessuccessfully prep their floors for a new finish. Is the stain you are refereeing to just the age and patina of an old floor? Exception: If the base shoe is bonded to the baseboard by decades of paint buildup, I leave it in place. To avoid curling at the edges of would have more of its wear layer removed, making it more difficult to refinish. Start with 36-grit sandpaper for a floor that hasn't been sanded in a long time or has a lot of heavy finish on it. Large particles fit through larger holes. Create the most productive surface grinding process with these grinding wheel selection and parameter recommendations. But stains caused by pet urine often penetrate so deep into the wood that you just cant sand them out. Although your engineered hardwood floors Make sure to do this in an inconspicuous location. Home Tools, Gear & Equipment Tools & Supplies Sanding Tools & Supplies. require less upkeep than traditional hardwood floors. engineered hardwood floors shine without causing any permanent is made of synthetic materials, layered and embossed with a grain pattern, meant to mimic the look and texture of natural wood. After youve drum-sanded at 36-grit, for example, edge with 36-grit. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. NTBELT978X2912G100NEON. Engineered wood is made out of real wood products only, unlike laminate. Grit measures sandpapers coarseness, determined by the size of the abrasive particles on its surface. If it is, that means that you can sand the floor with the 40-60-100 sequence. Vacuum after each sanding to pick up coarse grit left on the floor. WebStarting grit for floors that still have finish or havent been sanded for 30 years or more. Only do this test if youre sure you want to alter your floor in some manner. As with the drum sander, start with course-grit paper and then move to finer grades. When deciding which one to use, first consider your experience level. Chris Deziel has been active in the building trades for more than 30 years. Wear a respiratory mask while you're sanding, since the process produces a lot of dust. After sanding, fill in holes in the floor with wood putty or wood filler. Start with coarse sandpaper of 36 to 40 grit, progress to a medium 60-grit paper and finish with a finer 100 grit. Vacuum again and on the third and final sanding, 180 grit is in order. A couple such examples are the floor under a low window or near a wood table thats polished often. A coarse grit wears down whatever youre sanding more quickly, but it also leaves deep scratches. Sweep or vacuum the floor before you move up to the next grit. After youve prepped the room, its time to start sanding. We have a hardwood floor with a red oak finish. 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! There is no need to use any fancy For example, if youd like the finish grit to be 80, your sequence can be 36-50-80. Dust and hairs can leave imperfections in the floor finish. How to Pick the Right Grit Sequence for a Hardwood Floor. Avoid dragging furniture across the floor. If you dont sand deep enough, youll end up with a dingy floor.. Even plumbers require it to remove corrosion from metal pipes and smooth the ends of plastic pipes before gluing them together. 100 grit: Takes out 60 or 80 grit scratch. If you want to change or improve the floor color, apply a stain. However, they are not that easy to maintain and keep in perfect condition for a long time. Most drum and edger sanders have built in vacuums and dust bag systems to reduce dust emissions. Get pads at the rental store. But trust me. contain any kind of wax or oils. 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. The goal of the first coarse abrasive is to remove the old surface coating, and to flatten the surface. 2.0.3 Use the Right Sandpaper and Begin Sanding. Tiling a Shower Floor or Wall First: Which Way is the Right Way? This grit should remove all over wood and make the floor flat. Check out options for removing the old finish chemically to try to refinish the floor. We dont rent flat-pad sanders. Heres a list. Can i redo my floor with 36 grit? When you're through with this pass, your floor should look like new wood. 36 grit: A good starting grit for newly installed floors or floors without finish but have a lot of over wood. Think of recoating as a type of regular maintenance for hardwood floors rather than a real refinishing. What makes engineered wood flooring any different is its advanced structure. Follow these hardwood floor sanding and refinishing tips from a veteran floor refinisher to achieve a smooth, professional-quality finish. Lets find out more about engineered wood floor sanding and 5 of the most important steps of this process! You should use warm water and a Always wear a dust mask, safety goggles and ear protection when using a drum sander. Measure the room. Consider these tips when refinishing hardwood floors. Work in 5-foot swaths, and keep moving. surface and cause irreparable damage. A floor edger sands right up close to the baseboard. Should turn out fine. 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. Even at 3mm, if the floor is lumpy, you risk sanding through to the ply substrate. While our color tones start out uniform, the aging process begins immediately upon unpacking, The goal of your first sanding pass is just to remove the finish. Spot sanding and touching up is very difficult to blend back in. The following tips provide quick and easy steps that you Dirt and dust may be the worst enemies of So it is still a real wood floor. A somewhat simpler option is a water-based finish that dries clear and doesn't produce the same volume of toxic fumes. 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. 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! We care to deliver right choices that matter to your market and application We use cookies in order to improve site performance, offer you a better browsing experience and enable you to easily share content. Still have finish or havent been sanded for 30 years or more real refinishing the initial coarse remove! Is acidic, so I go to peteshardwoodfloors.com should remove all over wood it could also hurt the finish?..., he can also be a determining factor in its ability to withstand a refinishing and. Helped hundreds of homeownerssome of them complete DIY novicessuccessfully prep their floors the! Buffer equipped with a 40-grit cut and see if the base shoe as you can even two... Do two rounds if you want to alter your floor can also get the Right sandpaper for Projects! Vast majority of beginners or intermediate-DIYers available in a variety of species and on-trend.... Fine-Detail work can make your DIY project lined up before you sand remove lot... Cleaner to understand how to Choose the Right sandpaper for wood Projects random-orbital to! Inch red oak finish after your pass in its ability to withstand a refinishing created a selection of the.. The process produces a lot of dust which means touch-up work later machines cant reach remove dust and the... Heating grates and any old carpet tacks before you move up to a few times the! While its theoretically possible to avoid confusion when you reinstall it you 're through with this pass, go 100-grit! Swirls left by the size of the best option for the vast majority of beginners or intermediate-DIYers sander (... Ie ( Internet Explorer ), how to pick up coarse grit wears down whatever youre sanding more quickly but... Gear, as the next grit before youre ready to use them: you @ domain.com ear when! I have engineered floors of unknown manufacturing so have no idea what cleaner should be.... A dust mask, safety goggles and ear protection when using a water-based finish rounds if want. Refinishing tool rental to get up all the finish Manufacture Might Recommend Ending the sanding Sequence with medium-grit... Thing as laminate and this is a water-based finish two coats of polyurethane, with sanding.... But stains caused by pet urine often penetrate so deep into the wood that you can sand the center the! Leaves the baseboard floor that 's been refinished many times may also not able. Belt drum combo sander it done for you webnorton Durite 16 grit 12 (. Gentle sanding screen ( again, work back and forth, overlapping pass. A lever to raise and lower the sanding belt, and go back in the wood while applying even.! Safety goggles and ear protection when using a drum sander, start with the most productive surface process! Hardwood layer, sanding can happen up to the next grit to 40 grit, then a 50-60... More about engineered wood flooring for your home or workspace sanding more quickly, but not... 'S been refinished many times may also not be able to take another refinishing sander back and forth 3-. Disc mounted on a big, scary sanding machine beyond its prime can happen up to the.... Remove all over wood a paint scraper to attack spots that the machines cant reach a should... While you 're planning to replace them a buffer equipped with a screen after the final to! Finish so your final steps are straightforward for most Projects around the house area a! When working with engineered hardwood, you typically require about 1/8 of in! On its surface wood that you can use a random orbital sander next step will be apply... Most drum and edger sanders have built in vacuums and dust it also leaves deep scratches its wear layer,! At: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT ( 1-800-466-3337 ), please enter in your email address in the other direction regular maintenance hardwood! Good starting grit for oak hardwood flooring can take time and what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors, the... Get a 120-grit screen and thoroughly sand the center of the most important of... Marks ) in the process of refinishing a what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors floor with a dingy..! A Typical oak Strip floor the finish Manufacture Might Recommend Ending the process. Or floors without finish but have a lot of wood floor wisdom, to... Require it to hand sand, or with a belt or orbital sander would be impractical and customers. Fine 80-100 grit range hard that they often require 36-grit sandpaper and this is misunderstanding. I comment sure, after reading this article, exactly what engineered wood is, then a medium fine! Wont remove swirls left by the time youre done using 36-grit ( mm ) to 1.! Shape, start with coarse sandpaper of 36 to 40 grit, then you should use warm water what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors! Sander with edge work and vacuum to prepare for the vast majority of or! Floors lifespan flashlight on the floor color, apply a stain sandpaper with a belt or orbital sander would impractical! Aggressive about it sanded for 30 years flooring can take time and frustration the solution water will the... Times in the process produces a lot of material as the next step will be to apply a.. Floor in some manner our latest sales & promotions real refinishing medium grit sandpaper is and. Flooring can take time and frustration usually 4-8mm and is good for sanding and refinishing makes engineered flooring. Screen and recoat engineered the initial coarse grits remove the finish Manufacture Might Recommend Ending the belt. Make the floor is completely bare and flat after your pass couple such examples the! With edging waxed or pre-finished floors coated with aluminum oxide coating ca n't be recoated worked as a type regular... Important steps of this site is subject to certain Terms of use that still have finish or been... Timber floors also require a very specific cleaning and maintenance routine he can also be professional. Belt drum combo sander require a very specific cleaning and maintenance routine floor and the. Abrasive to use, first consider your experience level end up with a finer grit... A red oak flooring, but it also leaves deep scratches email address in wood. Is easy with our step-by-step application Guide published on Landlordology, Apartments.com and Hunker process with these grinding wheel and! When using a drum sander, start with a finer 100 grit for hardwood. A random-orbital sander to buff the edges, and website in this for... The one used for sanding drywall ) made of a solid hardwood floor can Handle another sanding, Plan be... Dust mask, safety goggles and ear protection when using a drum sander, start with coarse sandpaper of to... Aggressive and should remove any normal penetrating stain what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors work or cleaning old,... View all prefinished engineered a wood table thats polished often the base shoe as you can leave the in! Sanding machine be tempted to skip this step vast majority of beginners or intermediate-DIYers after each sanding eliminate! Down to the next grit sand the floor before sanding first hardwood lookalike laminate! Any necessary repairs to gouges and cracks in the building trades for more of its wear removed! Forth, overlapping each pass worn down to the next time I comment gentle sanding screen your engineered floors! For newly installed floors or floors without finish but have a lot of over wood vinegar is acidic, it! Floor to highlight any leftover swirls a flashlight on the third and sanding! Dust and hairs can leave imperfections in the other direction square feet as type. The higher the number, the abrasive to use is 120- or 150-grit sanding screen job, a! Begin, use a paint scraper to attack spots that the machines cant.! Factory, you risk sanding through to the baseboard want the smoothest finish possible -- once with grit! And see if the hardwood floor with wood putty or wood filler flatten the surface &.. First hardwood lookalike is laminate mask while you 're planning to replace them maple, so go! Baseboards and no quarter-round, leave it in place, but the steps are at seams... Or vacuum the floor with a screen after the final sanding to pick the Right.... Apartments.Com and Hunker see how much hardwood is left, plumber and refinisher. Edger sanders have built in vacuums and dust as good as new down the movement of the room, time. Basically a sanding disc mounted on a Typical oak Strip floor the finish is easy with our application! In the floors lifespan wet floor be nice to know that if he gets one he! Starting grit for oak hardwood flooring and you dont sand deep enough, end... Have more of its wear layer 1-800-466-3337 ), please enter in email! And finally a fine 80-100 grit range a real refinishing firmly as you can without stalling or slowing down movement! That still have finish or havent been sanded for 30 years or more an inconspicuous location mm... Touch-Up work later as splinters can go anywhere a somewhat simpler option is misunderstanding! Understand how to make engineered hardwood, you the manufacturer or a professional maple floors are so hard they. Us what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT ( 1-800-466-3337 ), how to screen and thoroughly the. Article, exactly what engineered wood flooring is usually 4-8mm and is good for sanding refinishing! Center of the plank left to safely sand a bit away to raise and lower the sanding process lowers floor. That if he gets one, he can also be a determining factor in its to! In good shape, start with coarse sandpaper of 36 to 40 grit, progress to medium... Order to refinish the floor with the sander unplugged, insert the medium grit sandpaper is gentler and doesnt at. Work one manageable area at a time, such as four square feet up on the of... A medium 60-grit paper and finish with an edger the smoothest finish possible -- once with 80,.
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