6 Common Floor Sanding Mistakes To Avoid

Posted On Saturday, 08 May 2021 19:18

You don’t need to replace your hardwood floor even if it's old or ruined.

YES! Just sanding it properly will make your floor look fresh and new. And surprisingly, much better than how it looked when it was newly installed.

That’s why sanding a floor is a must during your home restoration. Here's a few pointers you should follow to avoid any major mishap during sanding.

1. Using Cheap Or Unreliable Equipment

If you compromise on investing in good sanding equipment, it can leave your floor improperly sanded. What this means is that you will find stains and uneven surfaces which won’t look good for the cost-and-time you have put through.

Hand sanding with a wood block or other cheap tools is not recommended. It is extremely time consuming and won’t sand your floor thoroughly. You will also end up using way more sand papers in the process.

When the area of sanding is small, you should consider handheld sander. But, when you have a lot of ground to cover, for example a deck, it would be best to consider using a deck sander, preferably an orbital sander. You can buy an orbital sander for less than a hundred bucks, so consider buying quality equipment rather than cheap or used ones.

2. Neglecting Preparation Of The Floor Before Sanding

There are some important preparations you have to make before you start sanding.

  • The floor must be completely cleared of all the furniture, carpets and any other coverings.
  • If you have open cabinets nearby, clear out all the items which are inside.
  • Hang plastic sheets in the surrounding areas in order to control the spread of wood dust.
  • Make sure you wear appropriate safety gear since inhaling dust can affect your respiratory system.
  • Use gloves, safety goggles, ear plugs and a proper face mask.

3. Not Investing Enough Time In Sanding

Being in a hurry to finish sanding will often lead to poorly sanded floors. Sanding is labour intensive work and requires time & effort to achieve a good result. A proper inspection of the floor before sanding will give you a good idea of how long you need to sand. Some areas might need more sanding than others. 

Under-sanding will leave blemishes, spots or traces of old stains on your floors. Being in a hurry can also cause one to sand vigorously which will end up damaging the wood.

4. Using Any Kind of Sand Papers

Sanding a floor will require some investments on your part. This includes purchasing equipment, safety gear and quality sand papers. Trying to save money by buying sand papers which are cheap will leave you with a poorly sanded floor.

If you want to sand your floor make sure you do it properly even if it means making a few extra purchases. Some floors require very coarse paper and fine papers won’t help much. Therefore,

  • Don't try to save money by cutting down on the number of sand sheets or by buying fine sheets.
  • Don’t buy sand papers with lower grit because they are cheaper. 

5. Ignoring The Edges

Sanding the edges of the floor can be quite difficult. However ignoring them is not the way to go. If you find it difficult to finish the edges with a big bulky sander you can consider getting an edge sander.

An edge sander is compact and is designed to sand the edges more effectively than a normal sander. It uses a spinning disc which removes uneven marks and other imperfections. Leaving the edges unfinished will affect the overall appearance of the floor.

6. Sanding In The Wrong Direction

Direction is important when it comes to sanding. You should always sand the floor in the direction of the wood grain. If you sand it in the opposite direction it will result in a very streaky appearance. Diagonal sanding is also very effective especially if your floor is uneven.

Conclusion

Make sure you don’t make these rookie mistakes if you are looking into sanding your floor. If you are still doubtful you can always avail the help of a professional floor sanding company.

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