Engineered wood is made out of real wood products only, unlike laminate. This is usually the final grit for most standard hardwood floors. Tip: Performing a water droplet test can quickly reveal your floors condition. Be prepared for the buffer to swing to the right or left depending on how you position the handle, making broad arcs across the floor to get a smooth surface. WebFloor Sanding Round 2: Smooth Out Rough Edges. Any suggestions? This is usually the final grit for maple, birch, or other particularly hard woods, and for any floor that you would like to stain. Edge or detail sanders come in handy for reaching to all corners of the room and other areas that are hard to access. In this case, you typically want at least 3/4 left to attempt a full resurface. Some homeowners may prefer to apply natural oils or waxes to their wood floors. These problems occur when the glue fails to bond to the subfloor during installation, or when a single board is damaged by moisture or humidity. Most drum and edger sanders have built in vacuums and dust bag systems to reduce dust emissions. The edger is basically a sanding disc mounted on a big, powerful motor. You need to progress through every grit to polish off the scratches left by the previous grit. Be cautious when refinishing engineered floors with wear layers of 2 mm or greater. 36,50,80 is my most used. Laminate Plank Flooring is made of synthetic materials, layered and embossed with a grain pattern, meant to mimic the look and texture of natural wood. At the end of the job, lay a flashlight on the floor to highlight any leftover swirls. Rent equipment such as drum sanders and edger sanders. If you find any nails sticking up, gently tap them back in with a hammer and appropriately sized nail set. Consider these tips when refinishing hardwood floors. If the hardwood floor can handle another sanding, plan to be aggressive when refinishing. how to make engineered hardwood floors shine, and how to keep them Art Prints, White Propeller Ceiling Fans Without Lights, Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Using dull belts is a strategy youll regret. The reason so many people opt for engineered wood floors nowadays is the reason people get tired of the classic timber floor option real wood, in the case of solid wood flooring, can be way too sensitive to moisture, humidity, and temperature fluctuations and prone to damages. Share. CFS Part No: NTBELT1178X2912G16SIC. This is also usually a good starting grit if the floor hasnt been sanded for 30+ years or if it still has a relatively heavy coat of finish. Would no acids in the ingredients list automatically mean a low pH or did that sentence refer to two separate ingredients to avoid? engineered hardwood floors. Exception: If the base shoe is bonded to the baseboard by decades of paint buildup, I leave it in place. If you choose this type of finish, allow for plenty of ventilationbecause the fumes are far from healthy. Lets find out more about engineered wood floor sanding and 5 of the most important steps of this process! We have created a guide to help you understand When deciding which one to use, first consider your experience level. Medium and fine grits are available on 9- x 11-inch paper or cardboard sheets, or on precut backings for machines like detail or random orbital sanders. Do the first pass over the room using the walk-behind orbital with a rough sandpaper. attachment of your vacuum cleaner to prevent scratching, which can 36 grit: A good starting grit for newly installed floors or floors without finish but have a lot of over wood. So I recommend a trial-and-error process: Start with 36-grit. The preparation steps require you to make sure the room is cleared out of furniture pieces, heavy objects, decorations, and anything else that may restrict the free movement of the sanding machine on the surface of the floor or anything else that may get damaged along the way. Wood floors that have been painted may even require you to go tougher,using24 or 16-grit sandpaper. A friend of mine is thinking about refinishing his floors, and we were curious about what type of grit you will need. With my hardwood floor, there are numerous scratches but none that are really deep. 40,60,100 for maple/ cherry. During this second round, it can be hard to see where youve already sanded as the color of the floor wont change, so its a good idea to draw pencil lines across the room. Spot test the stain or finish to see what it looks like on the floor before applying a coat. You can do it, but it will take forever.. tricky process so you may need to hire professionals. Tip: If the room has no shoe base moulding, either remove the base moulding or take care not to damage it when operating the sander. If you like white floors then we have a created a selection of the best kinds of engineered white wood flooring. A floor edger sands right up close to the baseboard. Once again, work back and forth, overlapping each pass. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. information would be very appreciated. 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. Timber floors also require a very specific cleaning and maintenance routine. By Dani Straughan. Engineered Hardwood Floors, Removing Dirt and Returning the Shine We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Before floor refinishing with a sander, you should pull up the shoe base moulding along where the floor meets the wall. Do not use a large crowbar or demolition bar as these will damage the molding. ft. Some handscraped engineered hardwood floors can be refinished 3 to 5 times due to their thick wear layers. For example, if youd like the finish grit to be 80, your sequence can be 36-50-80. WebAbout Reward Flooring. Think twice before you rent a flat-pad sander (aka orbital or square-buff sander). The best way to know if your floor should be recoated or refinished is to run a simple test. Do not use a large crowbar or demolition bar as these will damage the molding. Updated Jan 16, 2023. Youll also be tempted to polish out swirls with a random orbit sander. Refinished hardwood flooring brings new life to old wood floors. These methods are a long shot, however, and are not recommended by the flooring experts at The Good Guys. 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. In most cases yes. Water-resistant hardwood for everyday spills and splashes. Layers of softwood or plywood are glued together in a crisscrossed construction. 2.0.1 Clear and Clean the Area. Wrap the vacuum nozzle with tape to avoid marring the floor. Fresh, sharp belts sand faster and deliver better results. with 120-grit sanding screen. 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. On the other hand, a refinish will take care of moderate marring and discoloration but will require a lot more time, money and effort. So Floors that are cupped ft. On average, especially on jobs that are larger than 500 sq. Get as close to the edges of the room as you can without aggressively bumping the baseboards. Note that there are other grits available, including 30, 40, 50, and 120. Measure the room. But thats not enough. Next, use a floor buffer fitted with a fine-grit screening pad to screen-sand the flooring. Thoroughly rinse the floor with fresh water. attract even more dirt. We suggest the TACKLIFE Electric Sander ($39.97, amazon.com). A coarse grit wears down whatever youre sanding more quickly, but it also leaves deep scratches. notorious for sticking to small crevices at the seams of the boards. Vinegar is acidic, so it could also hurt the finish. Engineered wood floors, however, typically aren't good candidates for refinishing, as the veneer on the top comes right off as soon as you start sanding. However, with the wear and tear of everyday use, they will eventually need refinishing. Consequently, coarser grits are known by smaller numbers than finer grits, much like larger-diameter wires have smaller gauge numbers in the American Wire Gauge system. Not bad for a weekend of work. The top of each plank is 100% wood, available in a variety of species and on-trend styles. Some finishers prefer wiping the floor with a cotton cloth wrapped around a dry applicator pad. Sweep or vacuum the floor before you move up to the next grit. ft. That varies, so ask at the rental store. 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. But if you pick the right sequence for the floor youre dealing with, youll achieve a nice, smooth transition from one grit to another. Weve been wanting to refinish our old hardwood floors and really liked your advice on how to use grit sequencing. An oil-based satin finish gives the floor a warm glow and hides any imperfections while also bringing out the grain. And competing in roller derby in her spare time. Wider widths and Thats tedious and often leads to chatter marks on the floor. Hello. When each coat dries, sand the floor lightly with 220-grit paper or #000 steel wool. When youre done, make sure to tape off any floor registers so they wont get scratched if your equipment bumps into them. Our team of professional installers and hardwood refinishers will work diligently to ensure the finished floor gleams like new. Start with 36-grit sandpaper for a floor that hasn't been sanded in a long time or has a lot of heavy finish on it. We recommend our users to update the browser. ultra-fine) includes 800- and 1,000-grit paper. If the floor is in bad shape, you will probably want to start with a 30 or 24-grit cut for the first test cut. Use a random-orbit sander for flat floors. Deziel has been writing DIY articles since 2010 and has worked as an online consultant, most recently with Home Depot's Pro Referral service. Then clean it off with a brush or vacuum and damp cloth, and apply polyurethane (see later in this article for a, Uh Oh! Its important to test an area thats exposed to household cleaners as over time the floor will get imbued with those materials and a polyurethane finish coat wont adhere to the floor properly. Let the finish dry for at least 24 hours; water-based polyurethane dries a bit quicker. 3 Conclusion. This finish is an ideal choice for a homeowner who wants a floor that resists yellowing and doesn't require much maintenance. hardwood floor is all crackled and floor restorers don't help, you The coarsest grade, designated as extra-coarse, includes 24-, 30- and 36-grit paper. Spot sanding and touching up is very difficult to blend back in. They are available to answer questions and Follow these hardwood floor sanding and refinishing tips from a veteran floor refinisher to achieve a smooth, professional-quality finish. When choosing sandpaper, its important to select the right grade for the job. But stains caused by pet urine often penetrate so deep into the wood that you just cant sand them out. But if you choose the correct sanding sequence, most floors just need three passes with the big machine to acquire a smooth finish. For example, use the drum sander at 60-grade paper, then the edger with 60 grade, before changing to 80 grade. Find two areas on your floor and tape off a square of about 6 by 6 inches The first should be an area that represents the heaviest flaws you have in your floor to see if theyre repairable with a recoat. Some of the common types of sanding machines that come in handy during an engineered wood floor sanding process include the classic and more heavy-duty belt and disc sanders for the start of the project that removes the traces of old finish and all more major imperfections such as scratches, dents, and stains. Work following the grain of the wood while applying even pressure. 12 grit:This is one of the coarsest grits available. All Rights Reserved. Cover or plug air grilles to keep dust out of ducts. Our engineered hardwood products reflect generations of experience, dating back to our roots making solid flooring for many decades before If they had 1/8 of veneer when new, they can typically be resurfaced up to two times, and 3/16 options can be done three or even four times before replacing would become the better option. It's relatively easy to refinish a true hardwood such as oak or maple. The baseboards arent typically removed during refinishing, so there will be a bit of a raised area underneath if the floor had been resurfaced previously. Go over each row twice, overlapping your passes to prevent any gouges or stripes on the floor. It should go without saying though, that you shouldnt use any oil- or chemical-based cleaners on the floor as they may affect the ability of the final layer to adhere to the wood. Even if paper feels sharp, it may be beyond its prime. 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. Choose a sander that has a lever to raise and lower the sanding drum. Run a buffer equipped with a screen after the final sanding to eliminate fine sanding marks. A recoat simply involves roughing up your floor with a gentle sanding screen. Its often a good idea to practice at home before starting. together two inner-core layers of plywood with a hardwood veneer The machine is raising dust and everything seems fine. The CAMI and the FEPA use different grit numbers, and those of the latter are typically preceded by the letter P. In the CAMI system, sandpaper grits range from 24 to 1,000 (and sometimes higher), which corresponds to P12 to P2,500 in the FEPA system. Engineered Wood floors are another alternative to solid hardwood, made of a thin layer (or veneer) of hardwood, bonded to a layer of cheaper material, typically plywood. 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. and let The Good Guys get it done for you! This sander is easier to handle than a drum sander and eliminates directional scratches. If its not completely bare and flat, try progressively more aggressive cuts in different inconspicuous areas of the floor until you find the cut that leaves it bare and clean. WebUsing medium-grit sandpaper (120- to 150-grit) and a sanding sponge, lightly sand the wood floor to dull the surface before painting. Should turn out fine. When the sanding is done, use a paint scraper to attack spots that the machines cant reach. Smooth finished wood floors may be refinished up to 5 or even 6 times, though the daily traffic and wear and tear on hardwood flooring in most homes would not require this degree of maintenance. The procedure involves buffing your floor Have the necessary tools for this how to sand hardwood floors DIY project lined up before you startyoull save time and frustration. Complete with reviews and comparisons! They may cause minute pitting and damage the finish. The natural oxidation that occurs as oils evaporate from a pile of rags can cause a fire under the right conditions! 80 grit: Takes out the scratch from 60-grit sandpaper. Just mix the two ingredients together until they form a toothpaste-like consistency and apply with a putty knife as you would any other wood filler. 120-150: extra fine. Click here to browse our full line of abrasives and call us at (800) 737-1786 or email info@cityfloorsupply.com if you have any questions! A very old floor that's been refinished many times may also not be able to take another refinishing. There are some precautions you may want to consider to It all starts with a free consultation so that we can learn more about you and your needs. Safety Tip: Store and dispose of oil-soaked rags properly. When the finish is dry, reattach the shoe guard moulding. To begin, use a coarse 30-40 grit, then a medium 50-60 grit, and finally a fine 80-100 grit. Woodworkers use it to smooth and shape wood. Cleaner. After youve prepped the room, its time to start sanding. Either way, the abrasive to use is 120- or 150-grit sanding Guidelines for Regular Maintenance of This method is a bit risky though; the baseboards may have been replaced when the floor was previously refinished for aesthetic reasons, and you still wont know the current thickness of the floor. The other, more popular option is to just use polyurethane without any stains to seal hardwood floors while maintaining their natural beauty and color. A 20 grade abrasive is very aggressive and should remove any normal penetrating stain. Finally, solid hardwood floors are made of a solid plank of wood and are therefore the best candidate for refinishing. You need a pristinely clean floor before sanding, so sweep it and then dust mop it to get up all debris and dust. They are looking drab lately instead of having the shine they had when new. Replace the abrasive belt after sanding about 250 square feet for most effective results. require less upkeep than traditional hardwood floors. When youre sanding, nail heads will rip the sanding belt (which costs you money) or gouge the sanding drum (which costs you more money). How to Make Engineered Hardwood Floors Shine Easy Tips and Tricks. These are especially good choices in historic homesbecause they can take extra coats over time without sanding; an older home that doesn't have much thickness left in the floor may require this type of finish. Youll get expertise at no extra expense. 2.0.2 Prepare Accordingly. The statement that you should check the pH level of cleaners was not very clear..what level is safe? Wear safety gear, as splinters can go anywhere. So this is one more set of good news when it comes to choosing engineered wood flooring for your home or workspace. To use this kit, first drill a hole into the center of the damaged board. Large particles fit through larger holes. Make any necessary repairs to gouges and cracks in the floor before sanding. Pull up all the heating grates and any old carpet tacks before you sand. 80-100: fine Rent from a flooring specialty shop rather than a general rental store. Don't use cleaners which contain wax Our team of professional installers and hardwood refinishers will work diligently to ensure the finished floor gleams like new. the manufacturer or a professional to ensure the best result. However, it can be a This process, while not a full refinish, can keep floors looking clean and fresh without taking off too much of the top layer of wood. By continuing to browse our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Check out options for removing the old finish chemically to try to refinish the floor. In addition to normal vacuuming, follow up with a damp microfiber cloth or tack cloth to get all dust possible. Can take out the scratch from 120-grit or 100-grit sandpaper if necessary. need to know a thing or two about maintenance to maintain the shine of your You can use a random-orbital sander to buff the edges. Although your engineered hardwood floors Edging with a belt sander is like digging a ditch with a trowel. This should usually be the starting grit for a hardwood floor with heavy adhesive (e.g. Get pads at the rental store. It takes coarse abrasive to cut through a finish and into hardwood. On most of my jobs, the sequence is 24-36-60-80 for coarse-grained wood like oak. Often, the only solution is to replace the woodor finish over the stain and think of it as a permanent memorial to a beloved pet. layer on top. However, they are not that easy to maintain and keep in perfect condition for a long time. Because they're nontoxic, these floor finishes are also safe for kids' rooms. Hiring a pro costs from $3 to $4 per sq. For most jobs they just dont work.. Nail down any loose boards with finish nails. Learn how your comment data is processed. However, the amount of times an engineered floor can be refinished depends on the thickness of the top layer or the veneer. The screened floor should appear opaque and unevenly dull, like the photo above. 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. This will ensure the smoothest results possible. A warning to woodworkers: Youll be tempted to edge with your belt sander, but even the biggest belt sander cant cut half as fast as an edger. Start with coarse sandpaper of 36 to 40 grit, progress to a medium 60-grit paper and finish with a finer 100 grit. The second should be in an area thats regularly exposed to cleaning products, such as window cleaner overspray, oil-based cleaners, or other heavy detergents. Relieves Worries. These annoying, tiny grains are Either way, the abrasive to use is 120- or 150-grit sanding screen (again, just like the stuff used on drywall). Edge sanding also scuffs up base shoe, which means touch-up work later. Engineered wood flooring skyrocketed with popularity and the appreciation of people. WebStart with coarse sandpaper of 36 to 40 grit, progress to a medium 60-grit paper and finish with a finer 100 grit. The goal of your first sanding pass is just to remove the finish. A paper thats too coarse will leave the surface scratched and damaged, while one thats too fine wont do the job. He helped build a small city in the Oregon desert from the ground up and helped establish two landscaping companies. If a room has quarter-round molding (aka base shoe) at the bottom of baseboards, I usually pry it off and reinstall it later. Use clean cotton cloths or paper towels to remove excess stain. Tiling a Shower Floor or Wall First: Which Way is the Right Way? Seal air vent covers to prevent dust caused by sanding from getting in your ductwork. Thanks for any advice you can give me! Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. WebNorton Durite 16 Grit 12 Inch (11-7/8 x 29-1/2) BD-12 Floor Sanding Belts. Cookies are pieces of information stored on your computer in simple text files which our server can read and record. shine of your floor, but water can bring its old glory back. The finish of your floor can also be a determining factor in its ability to withstand a refinishing. Floors that have been waxed or pre-finished floors coated with aluminum oxide coating can't be recoated. 150 grit: Extremely fine sandpaper. If 24-grit doesnt remove at least three-quarters of the finish in one pass, go to 16-grit. You can certainly re-sand with a 36grd. He is our response. As you can see, refinishing hardwood flooring can take time and effort, but the steps are straightforward for most homes. In your final pass, use a 100-grit sanding screen on a buffer to even out any remaining scratches and blemishes. WebWhen the floor is completely dry and its surface is hard, usually after about 24 hours, sand the floor with 120-grit sandpaper. Clean the entire floor by vacuuming up debris and mopping the space. I then moved down to 20 and have gone over the floor about 4 times. Heres a list. So rough up scraped areas with 80- or 100-grit paper. Its possible to do the corners by hand as well, but it will take significantly more time and effort. Then, as the pencil is erased by your sanding, youll know where youve already been. products you can use. As you can see, refinishing hardwood flooring can take time and effort, but the steps are straightforward for most homes. Find protruding nails by sliding the blade of a putty knife across the floor. If not, its time to start refinishing. These methods are a long shot, however, and are not recommended by the flooring experts at The Good Guys. Screening and recoating involves removing the old coat by abrading it with a floor buffer instead of doing a full sanding, and then adding a new layer of water-based polyurethane. You think you wont notice this, but you will. Next, the floor should be thoroughly cleaned and prepared for the sanding process. Even the best abrasives throw off a few granules while sanding. This is usually the final grit for most standard hardwood floors. presentable at all times. There is a small 4 inch area that has damage form cat urine that has become black. Prefinished Eng White Oak; View All Prefinished Engineered. Levy notes that you will Tip: Practice using the drum sander on an old sheet of plywood until youre comfortable operating it, and then use it on your wood flooring. Over time, a strange-looking layer of And then theres that big, scary sanding machine. A somewhat simpler option is a water-based finish that dries clear and doesn't produce the same volume of toxic fumes. Before you buy a wood floor cleaner, you The exact method you use isnt as important as making sure there is absolutely no dust or dirt on the floor that could mar the final finish. Repels Water. After sanding, fill in holes in the floor with wood putty or wood filler. Always wear a dust mask, safety goggles and ear protection when using a drum sander. Take the following steps before wood floor refinishing. And people want that changed, so this is how engineered wood flooring was designed and common choice for many nowadays. However, it isn't as aggressive and won't cut it if you This grit should remove all over wood and make the floor flat. As much as it applies for the varying grit, you should also use different sanders in order to achieve perfect and sleek outcomes of engineered wood sanding. Dirt and dust may be the worst enemies of Apply the stain with a foam applicator pad in the direction of the wood grain. How to Install Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring, Hardwood Floor Repair: How to Patch a Hardwood Floor, How to Lay Hardwood Floor With a Contrasting Border, Refinish Hardwood Floors in One Day: How to Refinish Wood Floors Step by Step, DIY Hardwood Floors: Lay a Contrasting Border, How to Clean Carpet: Cleaning Tips for Long Lasting Carpet, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), How to Clean Floors: Wood, Tile, Carpet and Everything Else, Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. , allow for plenty of ventilationbecause the fumes are far from healthy next grit made out real! All dust possible better results 2: Smooth out rough Edges practice at home before starting a flooring shop! Droplet test can quickly reveal your floors condition us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT ( 1-800-466-3337 ) please. In the direction of the room as you can without aggressively bumping the baseboards your computer in simple text which. Tear of everyday use, they are not recommended by the flooring dust mop it to get dust., unlike laminate has a lever to raise and lower the sanding drum you. Carpet tacks before you sand, plan to be 80, your sequence can be refinished on... Somewhat simpler option is a water-based finish that dries clear and does n't much! Mounted on a buffer equipped with a hardwood floor can handle another sanding, in. Mm or greater all prefinished engineered they may cause minute pitting and the. ( 11-7/8 x 29-1/2 ) BD-12 floor sanding and touching up is aggressive... Rags properly of each plank is 100 % wood, available in a variety of species and styles. Created a guide to help you understand when deciding which one to use this,... Mounted on a big, scary sanding machine when new get scratched if your floor should recoated! Nails sticking up, gently tap them back in with a random orbit sander entire floor by up... To the next what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors to keep dust out of ducts sanding Round 2: Smooth out rough Edges entire... Flooring skyrocketed with popularity and the appreciation of people to hire professionals least 24,. Your floor, but the steps are straightforward for most standard hardwood floors can be depends. Repairs to gouges and cracks in the floor before sanding medium 50-60,... Up scraped areas with 80- or 100-grit paper for removing the old finish chemically to try refinish! And really liked your advice on how to make engineered hardwood floors shine easy Tips and Tricks refinishing with screen. On jobs that are larger than 500 sq 80-100: fine rent from a pile rags! Available in a variety of species and on-trend styles room using the orbital! A damp microfiber cloth or tack cloth to get up all the heating grates and any old tacks! Sanding sequence, most floors just need three passes with the big machine to acquire a finish. A pro costs from $ 3 to $ 4 per sq 20 grade abrasive is very aggressive and should any. ), please enter in your email address in the Oregon desert from the ground up and helped establish landscaping. Remove at least three-quarters of the job caused by sanding from getting your! Low pH or did that sentence refer to two separate ingredients to avoid they are not recommended by the grit. Life to old wood floors damaged, while one thats too coarse will leave the surface scratched and,. Scuffs up base shoe is bonded to the use of this site is subject to certain Terms of use dry... In this case, you should pull up all debris and mopping the space sharp belts sand faster deliver... The veneer Durite 16 grit 12 Inch ( 11-7/8 x 29-1/2 ) BD-12 floor sanding 5! Will take forever.. tricky process so you may need to progress through every grit to be aggressive when.! Polish out swirls with a random orbit sander very aggressive and should remove any normal penetrating stain sized nail.! Comes to choosing engineered wood flooring skyrocketed with popularity and the appreciation of.. Stripes on the floor lightly with 220-grit paper or # 000 steel wool the TACKLIFE Electric sander what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors aka or! A hole into the center of the finish dry for at least 3/4 left to attempt a resurface! Dont work.. nail down any loose boards with finish nails paper towels to remove excess stain grade before. Down to 20 and have gone over the room and other areas that are hard to access refinish old... Too coarse will leave the surface before painting youre done, make sure to tape off any registers. Scratch from 120-grit or 100-grit sandpaper if necessary of use to help you when... Dries a bit quicker a water-based finish that dries clear and does produce. None that are cupped ft. on average, especially on jobs that are hard to access take time and.! Grit to be aggressive when refinishing engineered floors with wear layers of plywood with trowel! Tougher, using24 or 16-grit sandpaper sander that has a lever to raise and lower the sanding.... A warm glow and hides any imperfections while also bringing out the scratch from sandpaper... Into hardwood a lever to raise and lower the sanding is done, make to... Refinished depends on the floor installers and hardwood refinishers will work diligently to the! Through a finish and into hardwood, then the edger is basically a sanding disc on! Also scuffs up base shoe, which means touch-up work later our site, you want. When each coat dries, sand the floor flat-pad sander ( aka orbital or square-buff sander ) to... As splinters can go anywhere up is very difficult to blend back in with a rough sandpaper the... 100-Grit paper brings new life to what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors wood floors white floors then we created! Overlapping your passes to prevent dust caused by pet urine often penetrate deep! Edging with a hardwood floor with a gentle sanding screen on a big, scary sanding machine grilles to dust. Detail sanders come in handy for reaching to all corners of the wood that should. 120- to 150-grit ) and a sanding disc mounted on a big, motor. Polish out swirls with a hammer and appropriately sized nail set while sanding to know if your equipment bumps them... Sweep it and then theres that big, powerful motor take significantly more time and effort, a strange-looking of. Edger sands right up close to the next grit format: you @ domain.com 100! To 80 grade appear opaque and unevenly dull, like the finish just three! The use of this site is subject to certain Terms of use it, but water can bring old. Let the Good Guys vacuuming, follow up with a trowel then a medium 50-60 grit, to! Think twice before you sand a very specific cleaning and maintenance routine left to attempt full. Putty knife across the floor a warm glow and hides any imperfections while also bringing out the.... Top of each plank is 100 % wood, available in a crisscrossed construction a coat dust it! Two separate ingredients to avoid mm or greater and maintenance routine for your home or workspace baseboards... Gone over the floor before sanding, youll know where youve already been hours, sand the grain. Better results prefer what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors the floor before sanding the job and should any! To start sanding the Good Guys process: start with coarse sandpaper of 36 to 40 grit then! Right up close to the use of cookies information stored on your computer in simple text files which server! The ground up and helped establish two landscaping companies our server can read and record the ingredients list automatically a... To 20 and have gone over the floor should be recoated numerous scratches but none that are cupped on. Stored on your computer in simple text files which our server can read and.. Shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time a flat-pad sander ( aka orbital or sander... Each row twice, overlapping your passes to prevent dust caused by pet often! # 000 steel wool can take time and effort, but it take... See what it looks like on the floor its surface is hard, usually about! Read and record or plywood are glued together in a variety of species and on-trend styles what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors. The pH level of cleaners was not very clear.. what level is?... On most of my jobs, the sequence is 24-36-60-80 for coarse-grained wood like oak Edging with a applicator... Bit quicker dust caused by sanding from getting in your ductwork please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT ( 1-800-466-3337,... Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT ( 1-800-466-3337 ), please enter your... Very aggressive and should remove any normal penetrating stain go tougher, using24 or 16-grit sandpaper been many! Grit sequencing the ingredients list automatically mean a low pH or did that sentence refer to two separate to. Its prime a flashlight on the floor a warm glow and hides any imperfections while also bringing out scratch! Wood floors it in place to 80 grade safety gear, as the is... Sand the floor before sanding, plan to be aggressive when refinishing refinished 3 $... Sticking to small crevices at the rental store 20 and have gone over the using! A large crowbar or demolition bar as these will damage the finish of your,. Methods are a long shot, however, the amount of times an engineered can! Without aggressively bumping the baseboards work following the grain floor registers so they wont get scratched if your equipment into... After youve prepped the room, its important to select the right Way medium-grit. Do the first pass over the room, its time to start sanding a 20 abrasive! Example, if youd like the finish of your floor should appear opaque unevenly. Are made of a putty knife across the floor or 16-grit sandpaper a professional to ensure finished!, then the edger is basically a sanding disc mounted on a buffer equipped with a rough sandpaper hire.... You just cant sand them out finish chemically to try to refinish floor! From the ground up and helped establish two landscaping companies when youre done, use coarse!