Why Sanding Hardwood Floors is Important

Arguably one of the most difficult, yet satisfying processes involved with restoring hardwood floors is sanding.

Sanding hardwood floors can really give them that extra touch of elegance that you’re looking for and it’s a process you’ll have to go through, unpleasant as it might be. 

But does it have to be as unpleasant as everyone says? Not if you know what you’re doing…

The Advantages of Sanding Hardwood Floors

You might be asking yourself, why on Earth would you go through this obviously tough process of sanding and if it’s really worth the effort and the extra cash (because you’ll need some extra for renting the special tools required by sanding).

 
The main advantage that sanding brings on the table is the visual quality of your hardwood floor. And let’s face it, comfortable as it might be, a floor is nothing without its good looks. And what gives hardwood flooring its good looks is a combination of wood grain, shine and color tone. 

These qualities overlap in between the sanding and finishing processes, but it’s fair to say that it’s sanding that brings out the grain quality. Besides, sanding also makes your floor smoother, which will increase its comfort value.

Stuff You’ll Need for Sanding Hardwood Floors

The equipment needed for sanding might be a bit tricky, because it doesn’t contain just your every day power tools, you’ll also need some specific stuff that you can either get at a hardware shop or rent out for a few days at a rental. 

We would advise for renting, because buying the stuff doesn’t really make sense if you only refinish your hardwood floor every couple of years or so. Anyway, here’s what you’ll need:

• sandpaper (at least three levels, with different ratings – one heavy, one light and one that’s in between)
• a vacuum cleaner
• a buffer
• a sander
• an edger
• dust protection (goggles, masks, gloves, etc)

How Sanding Hardwood Floors Works

The trick that separates a good sanding from a bad one is how you apply the sandpaper and the characteristics of each sandpaper layer. But before applying any of the stuff, make sure your floor is squeaky clean and that there are no nails and imperfections coming out of it.

 
Apply the heaviest sandpaper layer and run the sander in even strokes. It will take some time and effort so make sure you’re comfortable doing this, otherwise you could get a nasty back ache. Once the first sandpaper layer is through with, choose a lighter one and apply it. 

For the third sanding, apply the lightest version you have. If you’re still not getting the tint you need, you can apply some hardwood flooring wax or coating that can easily correct the problem.

 
You will notice that the sander will not fit around the edges and corners, so you will need to grab the hand-held edger and get to work.

 
There will be a lot of sand and dust flying about the air, so you need to keep your protective gear on at all times. Try not to let the dust move through the house, so block the doors in the room you’re working using wet towels or sheets.