How to Refinish Hardwood Floors Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How to Refinish Hardwood Floors - Research Paper Example Some floors become thin when they have been refinished a lot of times because after numerous refinishing, there is no layer left on it to be removed. So, before refinishing, consider whether your floor is in good condition to sand. 2. Arrange the Equipment. Get a belt sander if you can because it is easier to handle. Drum sander is not only heavier to carry but also it is apt to create grooves on the wood which are hard to remove. An edge sander must also be readily available so as to reach in nooks and corners of the room where a belt sander does not reach easily. Other equipment that you need is a putty knife, scraper, buffer, safety masks, eye protection, brush, and foam applicators. 3. Prepare the floor for sanding by removing all furniture, heat grates, carpets, and old nails. Mop the floor because it must be dust cleaned before sanding. Do not go for wood putty on soft floors because deep gouges and cracks in soft woods would need replacing whole planks. 5. Start sanding from the least noticeable area to get easy with the sander. Concentrate. Place the sander forward and sand along with the floor’s grain. Start sanding close to the walls, sanding both forwards and backwards. Initial sanding will only remove the layer of old finish. Use the edge sander to reach the areas the belt sander had not reached. A drum sander will have a 20-36 grit paper in it at this point. 6. Sand again, moving in backward, forward, left and right motion. It will remove the scratches that the first sanding left on the floor. This time, a drum sander should have an 80 grit paper. Select an appropriate direction depending upon the look and feel. The edge sander must also have an 80 grit paper in it. 8. Choose a finish. Polyurethane stain which is either water-based or oil-based, or Osmo Hard Wax Oil, is used normally. The finish can be glossy or matte. Satin finish is preferred because it is known to hide the blemishes