How-To Hints
These hints will change periodically. Drop back and visit again for more helpful how-to hints on renovations and home repairs.
| Sanding Floors |
| If your floor is new, the proper procedure is to sand in two stages. The first stage requires coarse sandpaper,which
is used to smooth out the large flaws in the surface. Once that's done, a fine paper will provide a smooth surface
for varnish or stain. First sanding - it's important to have a level, even surface. If your sub-floor is in good condition and top-flooring has been properly installed, use coarse (around 50-grit) sandpaper. If the floor is uneven, use 36-grit instead. Never use "open coat" paper on your new floor. Final sanding - always use fine (around 100-grit) paper to create a perfectly smooth surface. Once the sanding is finished, remove all dust from the floor and other surfaces in the room using a vacuum cleaner. Clean window ledges, etc., to keep dust that has accumulated from blowing onto the clean floor. If you're staining your floor, follow the manufacturer's instructions to apply the stain. If you prefer the natural colour of the wood, apply your varnish instead of stain. Sanding old floors requires removal of the existing finish. Use a power sander and coarse paper first, then switch to fine paper to obtain a smooth, even surface. You'll need a drum sander, disc edge sander (edger), hand scraper for corners and tight spots, sandpaper (coarse, medium and fine). Make sure you're wearing clean, soft-soled shoes to avoid marking the floor. All furniture and other things (like pictures) must be taken out of the room. Make any necessary repairs, tighten up loose boards, check for protruding nail heads and countersink to make sure the floor is even. Carefully take off moldings so you can sand close to the wall. Open the windows and close doors to keep dust out of the other rooms in your house. Use the drum sander to remove the old finish. Make slow passes across the floor in the direction of the grain of the wood. Each back and forth pass should overlap the previous one by about 3 inches. Use the edger to get close to the wall, and the hand scraper for tight corners. A second sanding with medium grit paper takes away the roughness from the previous step. Use the same procedure with the drum sander. The final sanding is extremely important, because it will produce a smooth surface for the new finish. Use the drum sander and fine sandpaper, making the same kind of slow, overlapping passes. Once the sanding is done, clean the floor as if it were a new floor and finish as desired. |