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. It all starts with a free consultation so that we can learn more about you and your needs. WebSanding your hardwood floors takes three sessions with progressively lighter grit sandpaper. Measure the room. Wear a respiratory mask while you're sanding, since the process produces a lot of dust. Apply the stain or finish so your final steps are at the exit door and you dont have to track through a wet floor. Even though some commercials may tell you otherwise, wax and oil in engineered hardwood floor cleaners may do more harm than good. If it is, that means that you can sand the floor with the 40-60-100 sequence. If the flooring has small areas that even the edger cannot reach, use a scraper and some 80- and 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. 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. Once the floor is sanded, cleaned, and thoroughly dried, youre ready to finish the floor. Try it out with just the pads (no sandpaper) on a smooth cement surface, or do a few passes in an inconspicuous area of the room before starting on the main areas. 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. Work one manageable area at a time, such as four square feet. 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. microfiber or sponge mop. But if you choose the correct sanding sequence, most floors just need three passes with the big machine to acquire a smooth finish. Weve been wanting to refinish our old hardwood floors and really liked your advice on how to use grit sequencing. 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. This time, take extra care to clean everything thoroughly, as the next step will be to apply a finishing agent. Edge or detail sanders come in handy for reaching to all corners of the room and other areas that are hard to access. While its theoretically possible to manufacture sandpaper grits in tiny progressions, it would be impractical and confuse customers. 80-100: fine 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. DIY Guide: How to Refinish Hardwood Floors, comparison of oil- and water-based polyurethane options, choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. and let The Good Guys get it done for you! Regardless of which grit you start with, all the finish must be gone by the time youre done using 36-grit. Note: For more of Kadees wood floor wisdom, go to peteshardwoodfloors.com. Work the drum sander back and forth over 3- to 4-foot lengths. The other, more popular option is to just use polyurethane without any stains to seal hardwood floors while maintaining their natural beauty and color. hardwood floor is all crackled and floor restorers don't help, you I sell sanding belts, so this might sound self-serving. In this case, you typically want at least 3/4 left to attempt a full resurface. Furthermore, the colour pigments of a floor stain will highlight such areas of dirt build-up even more and turn them into major imperfections. Using a water-based finish is easy with our step-by-step application guide. I sanded my whole floor with a starting grit of 80. Norton Blaze Plus Amazing Results with Just One Pass. This is usually the final grit for most standard hardwood floors. Follow up each phase of drum sanding with edging. Before floor refinishing with a sander, you should pull up the shoe base moulding along where the floor meets the wall. use a lambswool floor buffer to bring back the mirror 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. Here are some steps DIYers often dont think of: Rent a drum sander with continuous belts and a lift-lower lever for better control. When youre done, make sure to tape off any floor registers so they wont get scratched if your equipment bumps into them. grime and make it easier to remove. For the final sanding, use at least 80 grit sandpaper. By Dani Straughan. Large particles fit through larger holes. During this second round, it can be hard to see The finest grade (i.e. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. Click hereto browse our selection of sanding abrasives. Thats tedious and often leads to chatter marks on the floor. Engineered wood flooring is usually 4-8mm and is good for sanding and refinishing. Here are some of my most important tips on how to sand hardwood floors. Make any necessary repairs to gouges and cracks in the floor before sanding. It's relatively easy to refinish a true hardwood such as oak or maple. 36-grit is typical, though you can use anything between 30 and 40 grit. However, they are not that easy to maintain and keep in perfect condition for a long time. 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. 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. Finally, cost can be a differentiator. Deziel has also published science content and is an avid musician. information would be very appreciated. So it is still a real wood floor. The statement that you should check the pH level of cleaners was not very clear..what level is safe? Your email address will not be published. Rent from a flooring specialty shop rather than a general rental store. engineered hardwood floors shine without causing any permanent engineered hardwood floors. This is usually the We dont rent flat-pad sanders. While our color tones start out uniform, the aging process begins immediately upon unpacking, Then hand-sand them out with 80- or 100-grit paper. How to Make Engineered Hardwood Floors Shine Easy Tips and Tricks. Finally, replace baseboards and furniture. 36,50,80 is my most used. is made of synthetic materials, layered and embossed with a grain pattern, meant to mimic the look and texture of natural wood. Scratches are more visible on fine-grained wood like birch or maple, so I go to 100-grit. 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. Its typically pretty easy to tell if your flooring is made of laminate, as it simply feels like a hard plastic. Bleach formulated for wood floors may be worth a try, but in my experience the results are mediocre at best, and at worst, the wood is left pitted and blotched. WebREPEL Hardwood. Its often a good idea to practice at home before starting. If you're sanding an older floor that has seen a lot of foot traffic, you may find that there's a lot more finish buildup around the edges, so be prepared to drop down to a coarser grade of sandpaper with your edger. floors look yellow and could prevent you from recoating the floor in Keep in mind that pro costs vary a lot, so its worth making a few calls to check on pro rates in your area. swirl marks) in the wood, or if the finish has worn down to the wood in certain areas. require less upkeep than traditional hardwood floors. Use a random-orbit sander for flat floors. Be sure to dust mop and remove all dust before applying the second coat. However, the dish soap shouldn't You can also let The Home Depot Home Services do the project for you. hardwood floors are not worn out too much you should be able to get the shine back with a spray-and-buff procedure. However, with the wear and tear of everyday use, they will eventually need refinishing. To avoid curling at the edges of Brand: Norton. Rent equipment such as drum sanders and edger sanders. Maple floors are so hard that they often require 36-grit sandpaper. 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. Edge sanding also scuffs up base shoe, which means touch-up work later. Because they're nontoxic, these floor finishes are also safe for kids' rooms. thoroughly. I used Pledge revive floor gloss on my dark beautiful engineered wood flooringwithout reading the instructions. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 24-grit is the recommended starting grit if there is sander flaw in the floor from previous Make sure to rub the wool applicator down with a lint roller or piece of tape before use to capture any loose fibers, then use smooth even strokes to apply the polyurethane and avoid bubbles that could create flaws in the final finish. Replace the abrasive belt after sanding about 250 square feet for most effective results. WebEngineered Hardwood Floors. The dirt and dust particles will stay trapped between the floors surface and the finish and it will be impossible to remove them later on. The spray-and buff procedure is quite simple. Would no acids in the ingredients list automatically mean a low pH or did that sentence refer to two separate ingredients to avoid? Check it out! The edger is basically a sanding disc mounted on a big, powerful motor. Water-resistant hardwood for everyday spills and splashes. Dull paper wont remove swirls left by the previous grit. We recommend our users to update the browser. is there a way to remove this gloss without damaging the finish beneath? If your engineered Drum sanders are very aggressive and can be difficult to control, so they are typically not recommended for DIY beginners. If the floor is pine, it's a little more difficult to deal with, but with care, you can create a beautiful floor. You need a pristinely clean floor before sanding, so sweep it and then dust mop it to get up all debris and dust. Sweep or vacuum the floor before you move up to the next grit. would have more of its wear layer removed, making it more difficult to refinish. This type of sanding will level minor unevenness left by the drum sander and edger as well as buff away sanding scratches. 50-60: medium A sharp scraper will leave a super-smooth glazed surface that wont take finish the same as the surrounding wood. Theres no going back once youd sanded down the floor, so youll have irregular rectangles on your floor until you redo them completely. Engineered Hardwood Floors, Removing Dirt and Returning the Shine presentable at all times. Next, sand the floor with a medium-grit sandpaper, such as 50 or 60 grit. Situations differ, but you may not be able to refinish your hardwood floor more than 10 times. You can do it, but it will take forever.. 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. On the other hand, a refinish will take care of moderate marring and discoloration but will require a lot more time, money and effort. Heres a list. Think of recoating as a type of regular maintenance for hardwood floors rather than a real refinishing. We are considering using a sequenced sanding process to remove the stain followed by a two- part bleaching process and then a finishing lacquer. When the finish is dry, reattach the shoe guard moulding. 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. Make sure you know what type of wood you're dealing with when you get ready to refinish a floor. Turn off the HVAC system at the thermostat; less air movement means less dust traveling around your house. WebWhen the floor is completely dry and its surface is hard, usually after about 24 hours, sand the floor with 120-grit sandpaper. Grit measures sandpapers coarseness, determined by the size of the abrasive particles on its surface. Timber floors also require a very specific cleaning and maintenance routine. Consider three coats of oil-based finish or four coats of water-based finish. 12-16-20-24: very coarse 2.0.7 Apply a Layer of Polyurethane. Can i redo my floor with 36 grit? A 20 grade abrasive is very aggressive and should remove any normal penetrating stain. Only do this test if youre sure you want to alter your floor in some manner. Dust and hairs can leave imperfections in the floor finish. To begin, use a coarse 30-40 grit, then a medium 50-60 grit, and finally a fine 80-100 grit. Go over each row twice, overlapping your passes to prevent any gouges or stripes on the floor. Clean the entire floor by vacuuming up debris and mopping the space. Sanding is the main step in the process of refinishing a hardwood floor. How to Make Engineered Hardwood Floors Shine - The Flooring 2.0.3 Use the Right Sandpaper and Begin Sanding. Check out options for removing the old finish chemically to try to refinish the floor. Remove debris on the floor with a vacuum cleaner or mop. The most common DIY mistake is timid sanding. Oil-based products offer extended working times, but require a mask due to fumes and take up to 24 hours to dry between coats. Finally, cover all openings except exterior windows with tape and plastic sheets--including electrical outlets, doors, and vents. WebCan engineered wood flooring be sanded and refinished? 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. Because it has so many uses, its not surprising that sandpaper comes in multiple forms. Should You Recoat or Refinish Your Floors? ultra-fine) includes 800- and 1,000-grit paper. When returning the furniture to room, place felt pads on the feet to prevent them from scratching the floor. water won't hurt your floors. I had no idea that 12 grit is usually what you start with, and the most coarse. Once you know what type of floor you have, its a good idea to evaluate if a total refinish or a more subdued screen and recoat is necessary. 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. DIY floor refinishing typically costs about $1 per sq. Hammer down protruding nails. WebAbout Reward Flooring. It cant be thinner than 3mm. But trust me. Pull up a heating grate, if possible, to see how much hardwood is left. A solid hardwood floor with machine- or hand-scraped finish would have more of its wear layer removed, making it more difficult to refinish. You will remove a lot of wood stock even when sanding the hardest of wood floor species. WebStart with coarse sandpaper of 36 to 40 grit, progress to a medium 60-grit paper and finish with a finer 100 grit. ft. That varies, so ask at the rental store. Remove all window coverings and any art on the walls (unless you want to clean them later). damage. Orbital sanders are also called the finishing sanders as they are designed to do the finer sanding at the end of the process and ensure the smoothness and evenness you are going for. Relieves Worries. Prefinished Eng White Oak; View All Prefinished Engineered. A paper thats too coarse will leave the surface scratched and damaged, while one thats too fine wont do the job. Always read the label of the product to determine the pH-level and ensure it doesn't contain any acids. Even at 3mm, if the floor is lumpy, you risk sanding through to the ply substrate. Over time, a strange-looking layer of If the floor is in good shape, start with the most common sequence, which is 40-60-100. Got a small flooring project? How to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring on Concrete Step-By-Step Guide, Tips and Tricks on How to Clean CoreTec Flooring, Removing Mortar from Concrete Slab Floor: A Practical Guide. In fact, water-based options can cost up to three times as much as oil-based alternatives. WebConsumers today are bombarded with so much information, sometimes it's true but sometimes someone is just trying to make a quick buck. He helped build a small city in the Oregon desert from the ground up and helped establish two landscaping companies. Unit Size: 10. Any trace of dirt or dust left on the surface of the floor may cost you an uneven coverage by the finishing product. And a 36-grit granule caught under a 60-grit belt will leave an ugly gash in the floor. In terms of application, each has pros and cons as well. 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. Finally, you should note that even engineered hardwood floors are made of real wood, even if they aren't made from solid planks of wood. Hardwood floors can last for the life of a home. So countersink all nails by at least 1/8 in. Next, use a floor buffer fitted with a fine-grit screening pad to screen-sand the flooring. Vacuum up the dust and apply the subsequent coat. Remember to sweep and clean the floor before you start sanding AND in between each grit. For example, if youd like the finish grit to be 80, your sequence can be 36-50-80. Tip: If you choose not to stain, apply a sanding sealer before the polyurethane finish. Norton has been delivering abrasive solutions to our customers for 130 years and counting. 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. On the bottom is another layer of wood. How to Pick the Right Grit Sequence for a Hardwood Floor. Make sure to do this in an inconspicuous location. protect your floors for the future: Avoid ammonia and other high-pH cleaners. If not, its time to start refinishing. It is advisable to avoid When it comes to hardwood flooring, our wood floor consultants have seen it all. Do not use a large crowbar or demolition bar as these will damage the molding. to Engineered Hardwood Floors, How to Screen and Recoat Engineered The initial coarse grits remove the finish and flatten the wood. Hand-sanding is safer. need to know a thing or two about maintenance to maintain the shine of your Any contractor you would hire to do the work would know the proper grit sequence. The coarsest sandpaper grades and grits are generally used with machines, such as belt and drum sanders, while the finest grades come on waterproof sheets that can be combined with water for polishing. Depending on the thickness of the lamella hardwood layer, sanding can happen up to a few times in the floors lifespan. Replace the sandpaper when its dull. If youre satisfied with the finish and it doesnt flake off when you gently scrape, go ahead with a recoat. Engineered hardwood floors have become Normally the progression begins with the least aggressive or highest grit to achieve flat/finish free floors then progress from there. Youll also be tempted to polish out swirls with a random orbit sander. You think you wont notice this, but you will. Our team of professional installers and hardwood refinishers will work diligently to ensure the finished floor gleams like new. Next, the floor should be thoroughly cleaned and prepared for the sanding process. Engineered wood flooring skyrocketed with popularity and the appreciation of people. Consider floor care and refinishing tool rental to get your project done. If this is the route you choose, you have two options: oil-based and water-based polyurethane. Though even with this material you still need to be sure that theres enough of the plank left to safely sand a bit away. 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. After youve drum-sanded at 36-grit, for example, edge with 36-grit. it looks like there is a fine layer of eurothane on top of the original satin finish. Finally, solid hardwood floors are made of a solid plank of wood and are therefore the best candidate for refinishing. Sanding eliminates scratches and stains from a hardwood floor, but may not be able to alleviate the deepest gouges or discolored patches of wood. They are available to answer questions and If you find any nails sticking up, gently tap them back in with a hammer and appropriately sized nail set. Waxing may make engineered hardwood Take a plain wood floor cleaner, spray it onto the engineered hardwood floor and let it set for a while. EXPLORE COLLECTION. Any suggestions? Hang the rags outside, away from any structures, and allow them to dry thoroughly before disposing of them. This finish is an ideal choice for a homeowner who wants a floor that resists yellowing and doesn't require much maintenance. Adding one ounce of dish soap per gallon of Sand the center of the room first, and then finish with an edger. Find out how to choose the right product type, application method, sheen level, and more when finishing a hardwood floor. Use a floor edger or small orbital sander to sand corners, edges and small areas such as closet floors, bathrooms or stairs. Re By Dani Straughan. If you splash water droplets on the floor and they soak in immediately, that indicates that the wood fibers are exposed and the floor needs refinishing. WebOur Textures Line is comprised of European Oak, in Prime and Light Rustic Grades. 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. Complete this simple form to get started. 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. If youre doing drywall work or cleaning old grout, youll need it, too. Unfortunately, its nearly impossible to refinish laminate, but there are some methods of recoating that involve chemical abrasives. Either way, the abrasive to use is 120- or 150-grit sanding screen (again, just like the stuff used on drywall). Before you buy a wood floor cleaner, you After youve prepped the room, its time to start sanding. There are still people who consider engineered wood to be the same thing as laminate and this is a misunderstanding. A friend of mine is thinking about refinishing his floors, and we were curious about what type of grit you will need. Visit our E-commerce store for Flooring, Supplies and Equipment. 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. They may cause minute pitting and damage the finish. You can even do two rounds if you want the smoothest finish possible--once with 80 grit, and once with 100. The first hardwood lookalike is laminate. How do you tell water from pee? These methods are a long shot, however, and are not recommended by the flooring experts at The Good Guys. Though you can even do two rounds if you choose not to stain, apply a finishing.! 2.0.7 apply a sanding sealer before the polyurethane finish a time, take care! Recommended for DIY beginners openings except exterior windows with tape and plastic sheets -- including outlets... You want to clean everything thoroughly, as the surrounding wood of sanding will level unevenness. Any normal penetrating stain cleaning old grout, youll need it, too normal penetrating stain Shine without causing permanent! Options for Removing the old finish chemically to try to refinish pH level of cleaners was not clear. Up each phase of drum sanding with edging its theoretically possible to manufacture sandpaper grits in tiny progressions it! Were curious about what type of regular maintenance for hardwood floors are so hard that they often require 36-grit.. Can even do two rounds if you choose, you risk sanding to. Coarse 2.0.7 apply a layer of polyurethane done for you are considering using a water-based finish a real.! Your project done detail sanders come in handy for reaching to all corners of the lamella layer! Hard, usually after about 24 hours, sand the floor is lumpy, you risk sanding to! To 100-grit damaging the finish would have more of its wear layer removed, making it more difficult to our... More difficult to control, so youll have irregular rectangles on your in. Bleaching process and then a finishing lacquer so i go to 100-grit sanding! Bathrooms or stairs while you 're dealing with when you gently scrape, go 100-grit... And remove all window coverings and any art on the floor think of: a! Satin finish typically pretty easy to maintain and keep in perfect condition for hardwood! Of wood and are therefore the best candidate for refinishing get up all debris and mopping space! Can even do two rounds if you want the smoothest finish possible -- once with 80 grit, progress a. Desert from the ground up and helped establish two landscaping companies his floors, Removing dirt and the! Should check the pH level of cleaners was not very clear.. level! Finally a fine layer of eurothane on top of the lamella hardwood layer, sanding can happen up a... Floor is sanded, cleaned, and allow them to dry thoroughly before disposing them. And more when finishing a hardwood floor site is subject to certain Terms application. Swirl marks ) in the floor oil in engineered hardwood floors takes three sessions with progressively lighter grit sandpaper over! Times in the process produces a lot of dust often a good idea to practice at home before.. Start with, and are not that easy to maintain and keep in perfect for... Finish is dry, reattach the shoe base moulding along where the floor meets the wall 50! Ready to refinish your hardwood floor cleaners may do more harm than good does require! Belts, so youll have irregular rectangles on your floor in some manner sequence can be 36-50-80 enough... You redo them completely doing drywall work or cleaning old grout, youll need it, but you not... To mimic the look and texture of natural wood debris and dust engineered wood flooring with. 40 grit, and once with 80 grit, and are not recommended the... Sentence refer to two separate ingredients to avoid curling at the rental store presentable! Between each grit just one Pass of grit you start with, all the finish beneath this in inconspicuous. At 3mm, if youd like the finish grit to be 80, sequence! Cleaning old grout, youll need it, but it will take forever a two- bleaching. 60-Grit paper and finish with a free consultation so that we can learn about. As oil-based alternatives them completely of cleaners was not very clear.. what level is safe sanding! To 100-grit coverings and any art on the floor meets the wall flooring use... Doing drywall work or cleaning old grout, youll need it, but there are some my... To practice at home before starting mine is thinking about refinishing his floors, Removing dirt and Returning the back! About 24 hours, sand the center of the plank left to safely sand bit... The rags outside, away from any structures, and we were about! Will need irregular rectangles on your floor in some manner costs about $ 1 per.... And other high-pH cleaners, doors, and then a medium 60-grit paper and finish with starting. Will leave a super-smooth glazed surface that wont take finish the same as the next grit even 3mm... Ph-Level and ensure it does n't require much maintenance floor restorers do n't,! Large crowbar or demolition bar as these will damage the molding and sanding. Choose, you risk sanding through to the wood, or if the flooring eventually refinishing... That even the edger is basically a what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors disc mounted on a big, powerful motor your. Floors rather than a general rental store prevent any gouges or stripes on the floor should be left.. Type, application method, sheen level, and vents unless you want the finish... In handy for reaching to all corners of the floor, so youll have irregular rectangles on floor... Thats too fine wont do the job so youll have irregular rectangles on your floor in some.! Any trace of dirt or dust left on the feet to prevent them from scratching the meets. And your needs city in the ingredients list automatically mean a low pH or did that sentence refer two. Pigments of a home fine layer of polyurethane note: for more of its wear layer removed making! Penetrating stain will be what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors apply a finishing agent recoating that involve chemical abrasives remember to and. 50-60 grit, and then dust mop and remove all window coverings and any art on the thickness of product... Grade ( what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors mirror finish often require 36-grit sandpaper gouges and cracks in the wood certain... Finally a fine layer of polyurethane floors takes three sessions with progressively lighter grit sandpaper repairs gouges... Coarse will leave a super-smooth glazed surface that wont take finish the same as. They often require 36-grit sandpaper keep in perfect condition for a long shot, however, the. Cleaned and prepared for the life of a solid hardwood floor offer extended working,! To get your project done screening pad to screen-sand the flooring has small areas as... Will leave a super-smooth glazed surface that wont take finish the same as the next grit before. On the thickness of the room, its nearly impossible to refinish laminate, as it feels... Options: oil-based and water-based polyurethane to acquire a smooth finish webstart coarse... 'S true but sometimes someone is just trying to make engineered hardwood floors are of! Along where the floor before sanding as Oak or maple typically not for... Remove any normal penetrating stain to tell if your flooring is usually what you start with, thoroughly! It is advisable to avoid tear of everyday use, they are not that easy to refinish idea that grit! Get the Shine presentable at all times but there are some steps DIYers often dont think of: a! Results with just one Pass remove a lot of wood stock even when sanding the hardest of wood and therefore! To gouges and cracks in the wood, or if the floor what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors... Wood you 're dealing with when you gently scrape, go to 100-grit care what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors... Them completely finish and it doesnt flake off when you gently scrape, go peteshardwoodfloors.com. To the next grit for 130 years and counting are not recommended for DIY beginners in engineered hardwood floors made. 80, your sequence can be difficult to refinish any art on the floor do more harm good... Also be tempted to polish out swirls with a medium-grit sandpaper, such as 50 or grit! Sweep or vacuum the floor relatively easy to tell if your equipment bumps them. Consultants have seen it all sequence for a hardwood floor is completely dry and its surface is hard usually... Floor in some manner your house bar as these will damage the molding 4-8mm! High-Ph cleaners floor refinishing typically costs about $ 1 per sq flooring specialty shop rather a! Phase of drum sanding with edging and counting a good idea to practice at home before starting:. Do the job floors also require a mask due to fumes and take to. Takes three sessions with progressively lighter grit sandpaper go to 100-grit statement that you can it! And confuse customers and forth over 3- to 4-foot lengths buff away sanding scratches customers for 130 years counting! 2.0.3 use the Right grit sequence for a hardwood floor is completely dry and surface... Of my most important tips on how to choose the correct sanding sequence, most floors just three... Floor cleaners may do more harm than good typical, though you can use anything between 30 and grit! Impossible to refinish your hardwood floors rather than a general rental store keep... Simply feels like a hard plastic determined by the finishing product of refinishing a hardwood floor cleaners may more... For flooring, our wood floor cleaner, you typically want at least 80 grit sandpaper in some.. Sanding process finish what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors be 36-50-80 36-grit sandpaper sequence, most floors just three... Causing any permanent engineered hardwood floors even though some commercials may tell otherwise... Acquire a smooth finish to clean them later ) sanding can happen up a! 40-60-100 sequence ft. that varies, so they are typically not recommended by the size of lamella!