If you read my most recent Pro-Follow, you know that I’m working with a new-to-OPC hardwood flooring contractor named Danny Riter. Danny is the owner of Signature Hardwood Floors Inc., and he and his crew are in the process of refinishing an existing hardwood floor and extending it throughout the kitchen. You can read more about laying the new floor and weaving it in with the old here:
What’s even more exciting than the new floor is seeing Danny and his crew refinish the existing hardwood floor to make it look like new again. Today’s Pro-Follow will focus on how the guys removed the existing finish and sanded the floor. There’s a lot of work that goes into creating that “blank canvas”. Look for a complete Project Guide for refinishing a hardwood floor, including staining and finishing early next week.
Last time we left off the guys had laid the new hardwood floor in the kitchen, pantry and a short hallway.
Step 1: Drum Sand Floor
To remove the majority of the existing finish and stain, Danny’s crew used an 8″ drum sander. They started off with a 36 grit sanding belt.
The sander is a pretty simple machine. The handle enable the operator to maneuver the sander, and the lever engages the sanding belt against the floor. The bag can swivel to either side, and it captured a fair amount of dust.
Pro-Tip: Always sand in the direction of the boards.
Pro-Tip: Always put the sander in motion before engaging the belt against the floor to prevent uneven sanding.
For the most part, two or three overlapping passes was enough to completely remove the old polyurethane and stain. Occasionally the guys found a low spot and had to hit it again. Danny’s crew would sand 3/4 of a room facing one direction, then sand the rest of the room facing the opposite direction.
Pro-Tip: Each sanding belt covered approximately 250 sq ft. before the guys swapped it out.
The belt sander can only get so close to walls, corners and other tight spaces. The guys were very careful not to bump the sander and thereby damage the floor. They also avoided going over the floor vent openings with the drum sander.
The result was about a 5″ perimeter around most rooms and the hallway. The drum sander was too large for a few of the closets so the guys couldn’t use it there either.
Step 2: Sand with Floor Edger
Next, Danny’s crew used a pair of floor edgers which enabled them to get right up against the walls and into areas with limited space.
Like with the drum sander, they used 36 grit sanding discs.
Pro-Tip: The guys double-stacked the sanding discs so that when the first one wore out, they could just rip it off and get right back to work.
Step 3: Set Nails
Danny’s crew checked the floor for nails and used a nail set to sink them below the surface of the wood.
Step 4: Putty holes and Cracks
After sanding, the guys used Woodwise wood filler to fill nail holes and any noticeable cracks.
Step 5: Vacuum and Repeat
While the wood filler dried, the guys gave the floor a quick vacuum.
Next, they repeated the process (drum sander and floor edger) with 80 grit sanding belts and discs.
Step 6: Hand Scrape
The floor edgers move in a circular motion, and although it’s difficult to see before staining, they leave swirl marks in the floor. To remove those and get in even tighter into corners, the guys used scrapers to remove a thin layer of wood.
Pro-Tip: Use a file to hone the scraper edge periodically for best results.
The scrapers were also great on stair-nosing and transition strips.
Step 7: Lightly Sand
After scraping, Danny’s crew did some light sanding with 180 grit sandpaper to ensure a nice, smooth surface.
Step 8: Buff Floors
Lastly, the guys broke out a floor buffer and a 120 grit buffer pad. They quickly went over all the floors, getting as close to walls and corners as possible.
Step 9: Vacuum Clean
As you can imagine, all this sanding can create a significant amount of dust. Fortunately, most of their sanders have a vacuum hookup or a dust bag. Even so, the guys carefully vacuumed and dusted all the surfaces (not just the floor) to eliminate as much dust as possible. Otherwise, the dust can settle in stain or poly and flaw the finish.
Stick around! The next Pro-Follow will cover how the guys applied stain and finished the wood for a beautiful, long-lasting floor.
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