Do You Need to Sand Your Hardwood Flooring Yourself?

Many people love the warmth of hardwood flooring under their feet, especially during the cold winter months. Hardwood floors come in various finishes, including high gloss, semi-gloss, matte, and satin options, to provide long-lasting beauty while requiring minimal maintenance attention. Each type of floor finish has a unique look and is designed to serve a specific purpose.

However, hardwood floor finishes wear out and wane with time due to normal use and abuse. When this happens, the floor surfaces will have to be sanded before a new finish can be applied onto the wood. With the right know-how, just about any determined DIY home owner can sand their hardwood floors properly. If you are looking to sand your hardwood floor yourself, follow these work tips to ensure you achieve top results.

Gather the right work tools

To get the job done properly, it is vital that you arm yourself with proper work tools. Two basic tools that you'll need to perform your floor sanding job are a drum sander and an edger. You'll need to be at home with proper use of the tools, so make sure you read, understand and follow the instructions that come with each tool. If you're unsure about anything, it is best to ask an expert about it.

Prep your floor for sanding

The first thing you need to do is to empty the room from where you plan to start the sanding job. This will help eliminate the hassle of moving household items within the room while work is ongoing. Once you've emptied the room, you should clean your floors to rid of any dirt buildup. You can simply sweep the floors or use a vacuum cleaner to do the cleaning. Next, you should inspect the entire floor to ensure it is completely flat and that there are no nails sticking out. Protruding nails should be sink back down with a hammer until the head of the nail is just below the level of the floor surface.

Sand your floor

Working with the drum sander, sand all the main areas of your timber floor. Use the edger to sand all the remaining areas that couldn't be reached with the drum. Make sure to sweep or vacuum your floor as you work to minimise excessive dust buildup, which may make the room difficult to clean upon completion of the sanding job. Sweeping or vacuuming your floors thoroughly helps ensure the floor finish adheres well.

Once you are done sanding your timber floors, the next and final stage will be to finish it. It is imperative that you choose a floor finish that matches your exact requirements of your home in terms of functionality as well as aesthetics.

If you need any help with your hardwood floor sanding job, feel free to consult the experts.

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