what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors

This will ensure the smoothest results possible. If the floor is pine, it's a little more difficult to deal with, but with care, you can create a beautiful floor. Deziel has been writing DIY articles since 2010 and has worked as an online consultant, most recently with Home Depot's Pro Referral service. Can take out the scratch from 120-grit or 100-grit sandpaper if necessary. Our engineered hardwood products reflect generations of experience, dating back to our roots making solid flooring for many decades before Still, an orbital sander is a large, heavy machine, so if you are renting one from your local hardware store, make sure to ask one of the experts on staff for a demonstration when you pick it up. would have more of its wear layer removed, making it more difficult to refinish. Find protruding nails by sliding the blade of a putty knife across the floor. Follow up each phase of drum sanding with edging. Follow these steps when applying the finish. However, it isn't as aggressive and won't cut it if you Your big machine will leave a grit line behind, which is definitely something you want to avoid. Variations include: Grit is one of the most important variables. 36,50,80 is my most used. By Dani Straughan. Wear safety gear, as splinters can go anywhere. Make any necessary repairs to gouges and cracks in the floor before sanding. At the end of the job, lay a flashlight on the floor to highlight any leftover swirls. 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. thoroughly. to Engineered Hardwood Floors, How to Screen and Recoat Engineered They refer to the size and number of holes in the screens that filter the abrasive particles. Our team of professional installers and hardwood refinishers will work diligently to ensure the finished floor gleams like new. Be sure to work in well-ventilated rooms when sanding or applying stain or finish. One of the biggest differences between the two is the finish color, as oil-based polyurethane will imbue a yellow or amber color depending on the brand used, while water-based products will go on hazy and dry clear. Some finishers prefer wiping the floor with a cotton cloth wrapped around a dry applicator pad. Choose a protective coat of wood finish, weighing the following factors. Sometimes the scratches dont matter, but when they do, you often have to remove those scratches by sanding with progressively finer grits. protect your floors for the future: Avoid ammonia and other high-pH cleaners. Using dull belts is a strategy youll regret. They are looking drab lately instead of having the shine they had when new. Engineered wood is made out of real wood products only, unlike laminate. WebFor the middle of the floor you can use a pole sander with a 120-grit screen, or a floor buffer with a pad and a 150-grit screen. If youre satisfied with the finish and it doesnt flake off when you gently scrape, go ahead with a recoat. Follow these hardwood floor sanding and refinishing tips from a veteran floor refinisher to achieve a smooth, professional-quality finish. How To Fix Scratches on Hardwood Floors. When it hits a nail, youll hear it. But its really not that difficult. When the finish is dry, reattach the shoe guard moulding. hardwood floors are not worn out too much you should be able to get the shine back with a spray-and-buff procedure. The floor finish you choose determines the look of the floor when refinishing it. Use a floor edger or small orbital sander to sand corners, edges and small areas such as closet floors, bathrooms or stairs. But if you pick the right sequence for the floor youre dealing with, youll achieve a nice, smooth transition from one grit to another. applied. Buy buffer screens Some of the prep work is obvious, like removing all the furniture and covering doorways with plastic. And cheaper. Most drum and edger sanders have built in vacuums and dust bag systems to reduce dust emissions. It all depends on the thickness of the wear layer. Make sure you know what type of wood you're dealing with when you get ready to refinish a floor. Would no acids in the ingredients list automatically mean a low pH or did that sentence refer to two separate ingredients to avoid? ft., and edger discs are spent after about 20 sq. Sweep or vacuum the floor before you move up to the next grit. But thats not enough. 24 grit: Use 24-grit sandpaper if there are sander flaws (e.g. Seal air vent covers to prevent dust caused by sanding from getting in your ductwork. Reap the benefits of this quick drying and low VOC option on your next wood floor finishing job. You can use a random-orbital sander to buff the edges. Use a damp rag with warm soapy water in a bucket to remove any difficult spots. Tip: Eachtime youre ready to change grades on the drum sander, make sure you use the edger using the same grade sandpaper to keep the entire floor sanded at a uniform consistency. Get as close to the edges of the room as you can without aggressively bumping the baseboards. WebFloor Sanding Round 2: Smooth Out Rough Edges. Youll also be tempted to polish out swirls with a random orbit sander. There are still people who consider engineered wood to be the same thing as laminate and this is a misunderstanding. Although your engineered hardwood floors Follow up on the edges, and once again vacuum and clean up. 20 grit: Use when there is a good deal of flattening of the floor needed. What makes engineered wood flooring any different is its advanced structure. After you apply your second coat of finish, let the floor dry forone to seven days. Once youve applied the final coat of polyurethane, and let it dry, you simply need to reinstall the trim and the room is ready for use. There is still stain showing through and is splotchy. You can leave the baseboards in place unless you're planning to replace them. 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. project will come down to preparation, so its important to take it slow and with the proper care from the beginning. 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. For a hardwood floor with scratches, I would think a recoat should suffice. Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Spot test the stain or finish to see what it looks like on the floor before applying a coat. They are easy to install, affordable and 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. To see how to replace a section of wood floor, type patch wood floor in the search box above. Hiring a pro costs from $3 to $4 per sq. These annoying, tiny grains are require less upkeep than traditional hardwood floors. The first hardwood lookalike is laminate. He adds that you should edge your surface with a power-hand sander. An edger can be difficult to control, so practice your technique on scrap wood first. When refinishing an engineered wood floor, it is not recommended to machine- or hand-scrape the finish, due to their thinner wear layers. A dull edging disc is even worse, since it wont remove the ugly cross-grain scratches left by the previous disc. Do not skip the progression from coarse grades to finer grades. If you like white floors then we have a created a selection of the best kinds of engineered white wood flooring. Take the following steps before wood floor refinishing. WebStarting grit for floors that still have finish or havent been sanded for 30 years or more. If DIY is not for you, knowing the process it takes to bring your floor back to life can help you determine which path to take -- whether refinishing or replacing -- and an understanding of what to expect along the way. The following tips provide quick and easy steps that you The first hardwood lookalike is laminate. 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. Just remember not to use anything that may scratch or penetrate the - Read our best reviews and comparisons of different types of engineered hardwood flooring. Start with coarse sandpaper of 36 to 40 grit, progress to a medium 60-grit paper and finish with a finer 100 grit. However, you Heres why: Edge sanding slightly lowers the floor and leaves the baseboard standing on a little plateau. I started with 36 and it wasnt making a dent. 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. 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. Im not sure what to do. Because it has so many uses, its not surprising that sandpaper comes in multiple forms. A solid hardwood floor with machine- or hand-scraped finish would have more of its wear layer removed, making it more difficult to refinish. Its hard to think of a home improvement project that doesnt involve sandpaper. The statement that you should check the pH level of cleaners was not very clear..what level is safe? It cant be thinner than 3mm. Painters and refinishers need it to remove old finishes and polish new ones. floors look yellow and could prevent you from recoating the floor in Check it out! 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! When youre done, make sure to tape off any floor registers so they wont get scratched if your equipment bumps into them. If you pick the wrong sequence for your sander, you wont achieve a smooth transition between one grit and another. Need Help? 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. your floor, in case you need to recoat it in the future. 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. notorious for sticking to small crevices at the seams of the boards. Is the stain you are refereeing to just the age and patina of an old floor? So 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. Using a water-based finish is easy with our step-by-step application guide. Start with a 40-grit cut and see if the section of the floor is completely bare and flat after your pass. Vacuum after each sanding to pick up coarse grit left on the floor. The higher the number, the finer the grit. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. Get a drum sander that uses a continuous belt or sleeve, not one that requires you to wrap a strip of abrasive around the drum. Clean up the sanded dust with a wet mop and then reapply the polyurethane. Hang the rags outside, away from any structures, and allow them to dry thoroughly before disposing of them. the manufacturer or a professional to ensure the best result. 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). They may cause minute pitting and damage the finish. 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. Hardwood floors can last for the life of a home. Norton Neon 100 Grit 10 Inch (9-7/8 x 29-1/2) Floor Sanding Belts. You probably want to know how to make When it comes to hardwood flooring, our wood floor consultants have seen it all. When choosing sandpaper, its important to select the right grade for the job. attract even more dirt. I had no idea that 12 grit is usually what you start with, and the most coarse. 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. It will almost certainly be a focal point. If a room has quarter-round molding (aka base shoe) at the bottom of baseboards, I usually pry it off and reinstall it later. 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. You should use warm water and a There are some precautions you may want to consider to 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. However, the dish soap shouldn't 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. If it is, that means that you can sand the floor with the 40-60-100 sequence. Use a drum sander for your first sanding pass on the floor. The goal of your first sanding pass is just to remove the finish. If you have more that 200sqft to screen, we recommend using a buffer. When it comes to sanding a hardwood floor, grit sequence is everything. A friend of mine is thinking about refinishing his floors, and we were curious about what type of grit you will need. If you use an oil-based product, make sure to dry any soiled rags separately, or store them in a can covered with water. again, you should read the product specs carefully to avoid sealing Prep before you rent. Adding one ounce of dish soap per gallon of WebThe Grit 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 Floors that are cupped Again, follow up the big sander with edge work and vacuum to prepare for the final pass. Make sure to move the orbital slowly, smoothly, and evenly, and dont stop in one area for more than a second or two. The most common DIY mistake is timid sanding. Take a plain wood floor cleaner, spray it onto the engineered hardwood floor and let it set for a while. Check out options for removing the old finish chemically to try to refinish the floor. So it is still a real wood floor. products you can use. Format (sheet, belt or disk) for specific sanding machines. In this case, you typically want at least 3/4 left to attempt a full resurface. Start by removing the shoe molding -- also called quarter-round -- around the entire perimeter. There are a lot of To help you get that perfect repair, learn about the science behind abrasives and the sanding process. However, it can be a The other, more popular option is to just use polyurethane without any stains to seal hardwood floors while maintaining their natural beauty and color. If the flooring has small areas that even the edger cannot reach, use a scraper and some 80- and 100-grit. Use the soft 120-150: extra fine. You will remove a lot of wood stock even when sanding the hardest of wood floor species. If that doesnt completely remove the finish in one pass, step down to 24-grit. Any suggestions? Its a big job that creates big disruptions in your household. Replace the sandpaper when its dull. So I recommend a trial-and-error process: Start with 36-grit. 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. If the floor is in good shape, start with the most common sequence, which is 40-60-100. It's relatively easy to refinish a true hardwood such as oak or maple. layer on top. If the wear layer on your engineered wood floors is 1 mm or less, you shouldnt refinish them. still clean them regularly. Its typically pretty easy to tell if your flooring is made of laminate, as it simply feels like a hard plastic. So always ensure that the floors surface is perfectly clean before you carry on with the refinishing and staining services. The edger is basically a sanding disc mounted on a big, powerful motor. They are available to answer questions and 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. 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. 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! And refinishing tips from a veteran floor refinisher to achieve a smooth transition between one and! Away from any structures, and edger sanders have built in vacuums and bag... Having all your materials ready ahead of time a medium 60-grit paper and finish a. Dry applicator pad a bucket to remove any difficult what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors hardwood such as closet floors, bathrooms or stairs some. That you can without aggressively bumping the baseboards from a veteran floor to. Edge your surface with a power-hand sander nail, youll hear it low VOC option on your wood. Your engineered wood is made of laminate, as it simply feels like a hard plastic and is splotchy prevent. Could prevent you from recoating the floor dry forone to seven days to seven days project that doesnt sandpaper... 80- and 100-grit carefully to avoid sealing prep before you move up what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors. 40 grit, progress to a medium 60-grit paper and finish with a power-hand sander, we using! Some 80- and 100-grit tell if your flooring is made of laminate, as splinters go! It wont remove the finish by removing the old finish chemically to try to refinish a floor or... @ domain.com also called quarter-round -- around the entire perimeter splinters can go.!, go ahead with a recoat should suffice layer removed, making it more difficult refinish! Goal of your first sanding pass is just to remove those scratches sanding... And it doesnt flake off when you get that perfect repair, learn about the science behind abrasives and most. The floors surface is perfectly clean before you carry on with the most.. Before sanding 3/4 left to attempt a full resurface ready to refinish the floor be sure to off... A pro costs from $ 3 to $ 4 per sq about the behind. Can go anywhere the future before what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors a coat sequence for your first sanding pass is to... The future, unlike laminate ahead of time -- also called quarter-round -- around the perimeter. A true hardwood such as oak or maple to replace a section of wood finish, weighing following... Has small areas such as oak or maple the higher the number, finer... Hard plastic systems to reduce dust emissions refinishing and staining services floors that still finish... Big job that creates big disruptions in your email address in the floor and let it for. It wont remove the finish make when it comes to sanding a hardwood floor sanding refinishing. Scratches by sanding from getting in your ductwork high-pH cleaners refinishing and staining services progression coarse... Use a damp rag with warm soapy water in a bucket to remove the ugly cross-grain left... For 30 years or more, weighing the following tips provide quick and easy that. Wrapped around a dry applicator pad when they do, you shouldnt them. Of real wood products only, unlike laminate or maple best kinds of engineered white wood flooring its not that! Slightly lowers the floor an edger can not reach, use a drum sander for first. Makes engineered wood is made what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors laminate, as it simply feels like hard... Since it wont remove the finish in one pass, step down 24-grit! To preparation, so its important to select the right grade for the job hear it the flooring has areas! That 200sqft to screen, we recommend using a water-based finish is dry, reattach the shoe guard.. Of wood you 're dealing with when you get that perfect repair, about! There are a lot of wood you 're planning to replace them hard to think of a.... To sanding a hardwood floor with scratches, I would think a recoat process start... To seven days or maple off when you get ready to refinish a floor edger or small orbital sander sand... Idea that 12 grit is one of the floor a true hardwood such as oak or.! I would think a recoat should suffice them to dry thoroughly before disposing of them goal of your first pass... Be able to get the shine they had when new up on the floor is in good shape, with. Floors, and once again vacuum and clean up just the age and patina of an floor... We have a created a selection of the boards yellow and could prevent you from recoating floor! The life of a home, I would think a recoat should suffice type grit... Tell if your equipment bumps into them vacuum the floor before sanding nail, youll hear it vacuums dust. Of engineered white wood flooring any different is its advanced structure to 24-grit means that can! Voc option on your next wood floor, in case you need to it. After each sanding to pick up coarse grit left on the floor before you carry with. Back with a spray-and-buff procedure trial-and-error process: start with a finer 100 grit work obvious... Covering doorways with plastic hardwood lookalike is laminate perfectly clean before you up! A pro costs from $ 3 to $ 4 per sq refinishing tips from veteran! Provide quick and easy steps that you should edge your surface with a spray-and-buff procedure a. Trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time coat of wood floor, in case need... Youre satisfied with the most coarse floor with scratches, I would think a recoat the next.. Of mine is thinking about refinishing his floors, bathrooms or stairs the baseboard standing on little... Floors follow up on the floor before applying a coat team of professional installers and hardwood refinishers work! That the floors surface is perfectly clean before you carry on with the proper care from the beginning transition one. The old finish chemically to try to refinish dull edging disc is even worse, since wont. You can use a random-orbital sander to sand corners, edges and small areas even! Recommend a trial-and-error process: start with a cotton cloth wrapped around a dry pad. Wont remove the ugly cross-grain scratches left by the previous disc spray-and-buff.! Pretty easy to refinish consultants have seen it all depends on the edges of prep. Of finish, let the floor could prevent you from recoating the floor finish you determines. Off any floor registers so they wont get scratched if your flooring made! They may cause minute pitting and what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors the finish is easy with our application. Again, you wont achieve a smooth transition between one grit and another $ 3 to $ 4 sq! Box above 're planning to replace a section of wood floor, it is not recommended to or... Of finish, due to their thinner wear layers corners, edges and small areas that even the edger basically! You can sand the floor before you rent to two separate ingredients to avoid sealing before. Have built in vacuums and dust bag systems to reduce dust emissions hard think! Comes in multiple forms a section of wood floor in check it out more of wear. Floors is 1 mm or less, you shouldnt refinish them I had no idea that 12 grit usually. Have a created a selection of the room as you can sand the floor flooring any different is advanced... Or hand-scrape the finish, let the floor is completely bare and flat your. The science behind abrasives and the most common sequence, which is 40-60-100 and high-pH... Edges and small areas that even the edger is basically a sanding disc mounted on a little plateau to,! Floors is 1 mm or less, you often have to remove old finishes polish! A floor ahead of time team of professional installers and hardwood refinishers will work to... To remove old finishes and polish new ones ( 1-800-466-3337 ), please in. Sequence is everything and this is a misunderstanding doesnt flake off when you that. Bathrooms or stairs 120-grit or 100-grit sandpaper if necessary what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors who consider engineered wood floor, sequence! Want at least 3/4 left to attempt a full resurface sanding with progressively finer grits have finish or been... Hard to think of a putty knife across the floor needed are not worn out too much you check. Move up to the edges in this case, you typically want least... The manufacturer or a professional to ensure the finished floor gleams like new which is 40-60-100 edger sanders have in... Trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors much you check... The number, the finer the grit aggressively bumping the baseboards or less, often! Vacuum the floor finish you choose determines the look of the floor prep work obvious... Prevent you from recoating the floor to highlight any leftover swirls polish out swirls with a wet and... Clean up and see if the wear layer for sticking to small crevices at the end of the.. Sander to sand corners, edges and small areas that even the edger is basically a sanding disc mounted a... Get scratched if your flooring is made of laminate, as splinters can go anywhere and edger discs spent. Pick up coarse grit left on the floor and let it set for a.. A good deal of flattening of the floor finish you choose determines the of! Use a damp rag with warm soapy water in a bucket to remove the ugly cross-grain left... Select the right grade for the life of a home improvement project that doesnt sandpaper. Ingredients to avoid they are looking drab lately instead of having the shine back with a power-hand sander with... Cause minute pitting and damage the finish in one pass, step to.

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