Sanding Wooden Floors
by Magdalena Ehnes on Nov 30, 2011
One of the messiest jobs in decorating is sanding a wooden floor. The process may be messy, but the end results are worth all the hard work. Follow these steps to transform your wooden floors.
Get prepared
Sanding will create more dust than you can imagine and it will get into every nook and cranny. Clear the room of any items that aren’t nailed down, including pictures, curtains, the sofa, display cabinets, and the TV. Protect the rest of the house from dust infiltration by sealing the internal doors with masking tape.
Repair and replace
If any boards are rotten or damaged you should replace them before sanding. Screw down any loose boards. Nail them down along the edges of joists so the board sits flush on the floor. When screwing boards tight to the floor, the screws need to be at least 2mm below the surface.
If there any gaps, this will cause draughts. Either shift boards along to fill gaps, or if this isn’t possible, place slivers of timber in the gaps, gluing both sides and then hammer them into place. Any minor areas of damage can be patched up with wood filler. Use a nail punch to push any raised nails down into the wood.
Sanding
Now the fun starts! Work with the floor sander diagonally across the room. For good condition boards, use medium grade sanding sheets, to begin with, if not, use the coarse grade sheets.
Keep the sander moving to stop any ruts forming. Criss-cross the room in the opposite direction. Switch to a medium grade paper and sand following the direction of the boards. Finish with a fine grade paper.
For the edges, you’ll need around edging sander. Again, start with coarse grade discs and work up to the finer grades. To get the dirt out of the corners, use a chisel.
Cleaning and finishing
Vacuum and wipe the surfaces with cloth made damp with white-spirit. Work in stocking-ed feet to protect the unsealed floor.
To finish you need to seal the freshly sanded wood with a varnish or paint. Choose varnish appropriate for flooring. Apply at least two coats, more for hallways and stairs. Allow a drying time of at least 24 hours before bringing any of your furniture back into the room, particularly heavy items like sofas and chairs.
Popular Articles
Three Places to Spend Money on the Exterior of Your Home
When you have the exterior of your home remodeled, you are investing, time, energy and convenience into the project and you want to make sure that...
88740 Views
When to Use a Brush, Roller or Sponge Brush
Brushes are a good choice for painting trim and woodwork. They are also useful for cutting in the edges around the top and bottom edges and corners...
70032 Views
Homemade Headboards-Make an Upholstered or Wooden Headboard
Homemade headboards can add a lot of personality to any bedroom. They can be coordinated with existing furniture and room decor or they can be the...
69866 Views
Creating a Cottage Kitchen with Bead Board
Kitchen decor can range from modern and bold to elegant and elaborate by using strategic kitchen pieces. One of the most popular decorating trends...
48545 Views
Gas Fireplace Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Follow these steps for diagnosing and troubleshooting Gas Fireplaces repairs. For the average DIYer, this may seem intimidating, depending on the...
29116 Views
Latest Articles
Understanding Indonesia’s Real Estate Investment Laws for Foreigners
Indonesia, with its stunning landscapes, deep-rooted cultural heritage, and renowned hospitality, has emerged as a top destination for foreigners...
on Jan 25, 2024
Real Estate Development in Asian Cities
In many Asian cities, the rapid pace of urban development has led to the decline of historic districts, areas once teeming with cultural richness...
on Jan 25, 2024
Shower Envy: Elevating Your Bathroom with a Stunning Walk-In Shower
Are you tired of the same old routine in your bathroom? It might be time to consider a change, and one way to elevate your bathroom to a new level...
on Jan 22, 2024
Exploring Crowdfunding as an Innovative Approach to Real Estate Investment
The landscape of property selling has been transformed significantly due to the advent of property crowdfunding. This innovative approach,...
on Jan 10, 2024
The Rise of Co-Living Spaces in Asian Cities
Asia, home to 21 of the worlds 30 largest cities, is a significant player in the global economy, contributing 38% of the goods and services of the...
on Jan 5, 2024
Featured Articles
What Type of Licensed Contractor Should You Hire?
on Feb 28, 2017
Hire Contractors / Estimates
Looking for a specialty project? There are many types of contractors available for your home improvement needs. Finding the right type of...
Actions
Top Categories
- Garden / Landscaping / Patio — 263
- Kitchen / Bathrooms — 240
- Real Estate / Finance — 200
- Appliance / Repair — 186
- Interior Design / Decor — 184
- HVAC / Air Conditioning — 147
- Cleaning / Maintenance — 144
- Improvements / Remodeling — 131
- Plumbing / Basements — 118
- Floors / Tile / Hardwood — 115
- Doors / Garages — 113
- Safety / Security — 112
Articles Archive
More DIY Articles
Renovating or Repairing Your Home? Let Self Storage Take the Strain and Stress Away
When it comes to a large scale renovation of your property, or maybe an urgent repair caused by a flood or small fire incident, the strain and...
Commonly Asked Heating and Cooling System Questions
When it comes to heating and air conditioning, there are a multitude of questions that homeowners may have about their systems. This is especially...
Tenant Prep: What to do Before Your Next Let/Rental
It’s a lucrative field, but being a landlord certainly isn’t easy. It does, of course, depend on where in the world you are based, but...
How to Protect Your Home From Burglaries
Hopefully, you are reading this as a preemptive measure, but too often people don't consider their home security until after the worst has already...
French Door Refrigerators: More Than Classy Kitchen Appliances
French door refrigerators are the modern answer to the ubiquitous food storage appliance. There was a time when the side-by-side refrigerator was...