what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors

Prefinished Eng White Oak; View All Prefinished Engineered. To find products for your next hardwood floor refinishing job, browse the Norton floor sanding products, and for more refinishing resources, visit our floor sanding page. 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. 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. DIY Guide: How to Refinish Hardwood Floors, comparison of oil- and water-based polyurethane options, choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. 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. The edger is basically a sanding disc mounted on a big, powerful motor. should consider the abovementioned precautions. Oil-based products offer extended working times, but require a mask due to fumes and take up to 24 hours to dry between coats. Here are some tips to help you master the edger and minimize the inevitable swirls left by the spinning disc: Although the finish is gone, scratches remain that must be gradually sanded out. These files do not contain any sensitive information. Brand: Norton. Let it dry, and try gently scraping it with a coin or other metal object. 150 grit: Extremely fine sandpaper. Note that there are other grits available, including 30, 40, 50, and 120. 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. Repeatedly. And a 36-grit granule caught under a 60-grit belt will leave an ugly gash in the floor. Required fields are marked *. The first hardwood lookalike is laminate. your floor, in case you need to recoat it in the future. Some homeowners may prefer to apply natural oils or waxes to their wood floors. ft., my DIY customers save $1,000 when they learn how to sand hardwood floors by doing it themselves. Tip: If you choose not to stain, apply a sanding sealer before the polyurethane finish. Now your floors should be as good as new. 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. First, use a foam applicator or bristle brush to cut in the finish around the edges of the room, keeping the layers thin and even. Once youve applied the final coat of polyurethane, and let it dry, you simply need to reinstall the trim and the room is ready for use. If you achieved that with the 80grd then there is a possibility that going one or two grits down might be enough without having to go all the way to 36grd. Either way, the abrasive to use is 120- or 150-grit sanding This time, take extra care to clean everything thoroughly, as the next step will be to apply a finishing agent. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. Use a random-orbit sander for flat floors. A sharp scraper will leave a super-smooth glazed surface that wont take finish the same as the surrounding wood. If there's less than 1/8 inch above the tongueor if you can already see nail heads in the floor, you can no longer re-sand it. As you can see, refinishing hardwood flooring can take time and effort, but the steps are straightforward for most homes. Apply the stain or finish so your final steps are at the exit door and you dont have to track through a wet floor. The goal of the first coarse abrasive is to remove the old surface coating, and to flatten the surface. Once youve selected two areas and taped them off, get a 120-grit screen and thoroughly sand the area. In most cases yes. water-based engineered hardwood floor cleaners and other non-abrasive So rough up scraped areas with 80- or 100-grit paper. But trust me. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. Tape plastic over ducts to keep sanding dust out. and applying a new protective covering. That makes graceful stops and starts easierand reduces gouging. This is usually the final grit for maple, birch, or other particularly hard woods, and for any floor that you would like to stain. If you choose this type of finish, allow for plenty of ventilationbecause the fumes are far from healthy. But dont. Consider these tips when refinishing hardwood floors. 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. But stains caused by pet urine often penetrate so deep into the wood that you just cant sand them out. So Visit our E-commerce store for Flooring, Supplies and Equipment. If you dont have any such openings, the next best option is to remove a threshold from a doorway as there are typically gaps between rooms that will expose the end of a board or plank. The procedure involves buffing your floor If not, its time to start refinishing. Thoroughly sweep and vacuum the flooring and then follow up with a tack cloth to remove all the dust that you can. You can even do two rounds if you want the smoothest finish possible--once with 80 grit, and once with 100. However, the amount of times an engineered floor can be refinished depends on the thickness of the top layer or the veneer. By Dani Straughan. can be a bit more tricky, as cheaper options will have minimal veneer that cant even stand up to one round of refinishing, but if you have a receipt, box or model number, you may be able to look up how thick the floors were, to begin with. Chris Deziel has been active in the building trades for more than 30 years. Replace the sandpaper when its dull. Here are some tips: Use a carbide scraper to remove finish from corners. A solid hardwood floor with. Use overlapping strokes by at least 1/3 the belt width to remove scratches. Make sure to move the orbital slowly, smoothly, and evenly, and dont stop in one area for more than a second or two. When it hits a nail, youll hear it. 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. On most of my jobs, the sequence is 24-36-60-80 for coarse-grained wood like oak. 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. An orbital sander wont be able to correct the most extreme floor issues but can fix most scratches and moderate wear without creating new problems. However, Remember to sweep and clean the floor before you start sanding AND in between each grit. At the end of the job, lay a flashlight on the floor to highlight any leftover swirls. Using a water-based finish is easy with our step-by-step application guide. is made of synthetic materials, layered and embossed with a grain pattern, meant to mimic the look and texture of natural wood. How do you tell water from pee? Heres the problem: After the floor finish is gone, you cant see whether the sander is doing its job. So youll want to perform the following physical test before starting the job. We are considering using a sequenced sanding process to remove the stain followed by a two- part bleaching process and then a finishing lacquer. Once youve selected two areas and taped them off, get a 120-grit screen and thoroughly sand the area. Youll need two rental machines: a drum sander to sand most of the floor and an edger to sand along baseboards. The top of each plank is 100% wood, available in a variety of species and on-trend styles. A simple tool, but not so simple to use. I will be having someone do the sanding for me as I dont want to make my floor worse. 2000-2022 Home Depot. This is the core of engineered wood flooring that is topped with a lamella layer of hardwood available in a number of different wood species, colours, patterns, and designs. shine of your floor, but water can bring its old glory back. You can certainly re-sand with a 36grd. If Your Floorboards Are Really Uneven Or Painted In A Thick Coat Of Paint, You Will Probably Be Best Starting To Sand Your Floors With 16 Grit Paper. If The Hardwood Floor Can Handle Another Sanding, Plan To Be Aggressive About It. On A Typical Oak Strip Floor The Finish Manufacture Might Recommend Ending The Sanding Sequence With A 120 Grit Screen. More items Either way, the abrasive to use is 120- or 150-grit sanding screen (again, just like the stuff used on drywall). It is advisable to avoid Check out options for removing the old finish chemically to try to refinish the floor. Use a damp rag with warm soapy water in a bucket to remove any difficult spots. Finally, replace baseboards and furniture. Engineered wood flooring is usually 4-8mm and is good for sanding and refinishing. For example, if youd like the finish grit to be 80, your sequence can be 36-50-80. Monday - Friday 07:30 - 17:30, Saturday 07:30 - 16:00. swirl marks) in the wood, or if the finish has worn down to the wood in certain areas. Youll get expertise at no extra expense. His work has been published on Landlordology, Apartments.com and Hunker. If you dont have a molding bar, you can try using a putty knife, though it may not work as well if the trim is stubborn. Heres a list. Youll need two different types of sandpaper: medium and fine grit. attract even more dirt. The higher the number, the finer the grit. 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. Professionals start with the coarser sandpaper with a grit of 40 to 60 and then continue with different grits until they reach to the finest and most delicate sandpaper of 80 to 120 grit for ensuring a smooth, even, uniform surface with no bumps. 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. 30-36-40: coarse Ive helped hundreds of homeownerssome of them complete DIY novicessuccessfully prep their floors for a new finish. Relieves Worries. 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! There is no need to use any fancy It all starts with a free consultation so that we can learn more about you and your needs. Work the drum sander back and forth over 3- to 4-foot lengths. I sell sanding belts, so this might sound self-serving. When working with engineered hardwood, you typically require about 1/8 of veneer in order to refinish. 2.0.5 Apply Sealer. ultra-fine) includes 800- and 1,000-grit paper. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. If the wear layer on your engineered wood floors is 1 mm or less, you shouldnt refinish them. We suggest the TACKLIFE Electric Sander ($39.97, amazon.com). The first grit is meant to take off any finish, the next is to smooth out the pattern of the first grit, and the final grit is meant to smooth out any remaining sander marks and provide the finishing touches. Our engineered hardwood products reflect generations of experience, dating back to our roots making solid flooring for many decades before On the bottom is another layer of wood. Do the first pass over the room using the walk-behind orbital with a rough sandpaper. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. Hardwood floors can last for the life of a home. You can do it with a rented buffing machine or with a sanding pole (like the one used for sanding drywall). Dull paper wont remove swirls left by the previous grit. The coarsest grade, designated as extra-coarse, includes 24-, 30- and 36-grit paper. Re A coarse grit wears down whatever youre sanding more quickly, but it also leaves deep scratches. are made of a solid plank of wood and are therefore the best candidate for refinishing. Got a small flooring project? Sanding against the great means that soon or later the floorboards of engineered wood will start struggling with and experiencing wear and tear and other issues that can grow major and even later require for costly and time-consuming repair services. ft. On average, especially on jobs that are larger than 500 sq. Next, use a floor buffer fitted with a fine-grit screening pad to screen-sand the flooring. 16 grit: Use as the starting grit for floors with shellac finishes, single layers of paint, or some very hard floors, like maple. Unit Size: 10. Use an 80-grit or finer sanding pad for this pass, and then repeat with the edge. Don't use cleaners which contain wax The spray-and buff procedure is quite simple. Deziel has been writing DIY articles since 2010 and has worked as an online consultant, most recently with Home Depot's Pro Referral service. They may cause minute pitting and damage the finish. Choose a sander that has a lever to raise and lower the sanding drum. Take a plain wood floor cleaner, spray it onto the engineered hardwood floor and let it set for a while. But dont waste your time. Its typically pretty easy to tell if your flooring is made of laminate, as it simply feels like a hard plastic. If the floor is in good shape, start with the most common sequence, which is 40-60-100. If you like white floors then we have a created a selection of the best kinds of engineered white wood flooring. 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. Hand-sanding is safer. Use the soft Click hereto browse our selection of sanding abrasives. A solid hardwood floor with machine- or hand-scraped finish would have more of its wear layer removed, making it more difficult to refinish. Consider floor care and refinishing tool rental to get your project done. Our standard widths vary from 5-12 and our lengths vary from 4-10. Sanding is faster. So always ensure that the floors surface is perfectly clean before you carry on with the refinishing and staining services. Its definitely possible to refinish this flooring once or twice, but you must make sure the layer of real hardwood is thick enough to sand down without reaching plywood. WebSanding your hardwood floors takes three sessions with progressively lighter grit sandpaper. It cant be thinner than 3mm. If you pick the wrong sequence for your sander, you wont achieve a smooth transition between one grit and another. Therefore, solid wood floors are generally not installed in bathrooms and kitchens, basements and conservatories, and anywhere where indoor moisture can turn them in the subject of issues. Do not skip the progression from coarse grades to finer grades. Should You Recoat or Refinish Your Floors? This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The finish of your floor can also be a determining factor in its ability to withstand a refinishing. Neither is superior to the other--it really just comes down to preference. 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. The CAMI system predominates in North America. There are some precautions you may want to consider to What makes engineered wood flooring any different is its advanced structure. 100 grit: Takes out 60 or 80 grit scratch. 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. During this second round, it can be hard to see Because the affected area is so small could I do the sanding by hand? 100 grit gave smooth finishing to the floor. But thats not enough. The machine is raising dust and everything seems fine. When each coat dries, sand the floor lightly with 220-grit paper or #000 steel wool. A recoat simply involves roughing up your floor with a gentle sanding screen. Hang the rags outside, away from any structures, and allow them to dry thoroughly before disposing of them. applied. Refinished hardwood flooring brings new life to old wood floors. Follow these hardwood floor sanding and refinishing tips from a veteran floor refinisher to achieve a smooth, professional-quality finish. WebNorton Durite 16 Grit 12 Inch (11-7/8 x 29-1/2) BD-12 Floor Sanding Belts. You can use a random-orbital sander to buff the edges. Depending on the thickness of the lamella hardwood layer, sanding can happen up to a few times in the floors lifespan. There is no wonder why this type of flooring gains more and more popularity and becomes the best alternative for more and more households and commercial premises. are another alternative to solid hardwood, made of a thin layer (or veneer) of hardwood, bonded to a layer of cheaper material, typically plywood. Hammer down protruding nails. If the surface of your engineered You can even use it in a pinch to sharpen tools or file your fingernails! There are a lot of Would no acids in the ingredients list automatically mean a low pH or did that sentence refer to two separate ingredients to avoid? 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. 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. Repair hollow or raised spots in the floor using an engineered wood repair kit. 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. 50-60: medium A paper thats too coarse will leave the surface scratched and damaged, while one thats too fine wont do the job. Get pads at the rental store. 24-grit is the recommended starting grit if there is sander flaw in the floor from previous Tiling a Shower Floor or Wall First: Which Way is the Right Way? Home Tools, Gear & Equipment Tools & Supplies Sanding Tools & Supplies. He helped build a small city in the Oregon desert from the ground up and helped establish two landscaping companies. now my floor has very obvious streaks. Wood floors that have been painted may even require you to go tougher,using24 or 16-grit sandpaper. Tip: Performing a water droplet test can quickly reveal your floors condition. Tilt the machine backward, rotate it, and go back in the other direction. This prevents any residual water, or a "milky finish" When the finish is dry, reattach the shoe guard moulding. Vacuum up the dust and apply the subsequent coat. While our color tones start out uniform, the aging process begins immediately upon unpacking, use a lambswool floor buffer to bring back the mirror finish. When returning the furniture to room, place felt pads on the feet to prevent them from scratching the floor. Turn off the HVAC system at the thermostat; less air movement means less dust traveling around your house. As with the drum sander, start with course-grit paper and then move to finer grades. If youre using oil-based products, its recommended to use at least two coats, and at least three for water-based options. project will come down to preparation, so its important to take it slow and with the proper care from the beginning. Move the furniture and pull up any carpeting or rugs in the room. EXPLORE COLLECTION. Repairing hardwood floors can be a daunting task. Dont use anything sharp or pointed or press terribly hard, as youll scratch through even a solid coating. Buy buffer screens presentable at all times. Edge sanding also scuffs up base shoe, which means touch-up work later. 12-16-20-24: very coarse Almost 90% of your success with a hardwood floor refinishing project will come down to preparation, so its important to take it slow and with the proper care from the beginning. When refinishing an engineered wood floor, it is not recommended to machine- or hand-scrape the finish, due to their thinner wear layers. To use this kit, first drill a hole into the center of the damaged board. When deciding which one to use, first consider your experience level. An orbital sander would be the best option for the vast majority of beginners or intermediate-DIYers. Water-based products, for example, are thinner, so they will naturally go on more evenly and dry quickly. To begin, use a coarse 30-40 grit, then a medium 50-60 grit, and finally a fine 80-100 grit. Sandpaper with different grit should be used during the process of sanding of engineered wood floor in order to achieve the smoothest surface possible and get rid of the majority of all imperfections. Scratches are more visible on fine-grained wood like birch or maple, so I go to 100-grit. An edger can be difficult to control, so practice your technique on scrap wood first. Before you buy a wood floor cleaner, you The belts I sell cover about 250 sq. A dull edging disc is even worse, since it wont remove the ugly cross-grain scratches left by the previous disc. Updated Jan 16, 2023. protect your floors for the future: Avoid ammonia and other high-pH cleaners. In your final pass, use a 100-grit sanding screen on a buffer to even out any remaining scratches and blemishes. The following tips provide quick and easy steps that you This type of coloration can be very deep. But the dull paper isnt cutting deep enough to remove the scratches left by the previous grit. Edge or detail sanders come in handy for reaching to all corners of the room and other areas that are hard to access. Place a nylon pad under the sandpaper. Compatible with the 12" Galaxy BD-12 belt drum combo sander. Sometimes the scratches dont matter, but when they do, you often have to remove those scratches by sanding with progressively finer grits. So it is still a real wood floor. It may take out the They are available to answer questions and I had no idea that 12 grit is usually what you start with, and the most coarse. Be sure to dust mop and remove all dust before applying the second coat. There is still stain showing through and is splotchy. Consequently, grit numbers increase by standard intervals. Although your engineered hardwood floors You may even want to finish with a rag dampened with mineral spirits. Cover or plug air grilles to keep dust out of ducts. Types of sandpaperCoarse sandpaper. Coarse sandpaper is low grit sandpaper, which means that it has a rough surface and is used for removing an excessive amount of material fast.Medium sandpaper. Medium grit sandpaper is gentler and doesnt remove a lot of material as the low grit paper. Fine sandpapers. Fresh, sharp belts sand faster and deliver better results. Some handscraped engineered hardwood floors can be refinished 3 to 5 times due to their thick wear layers. Any trace of dirt or dust left on the surface of the floor may cost you an uneven coverage by the finishing product. We recommend our users to update the browser. Apply the finish with a lambs wool applicator in smooth, even lines while avoiding drips. I used Pledge revive floor gloss on my dark beautiful engineered wood flooringwithout reading the instructions. If they are wet, things get even worse. You should use warm water and a On the other hand, a refinish will take care of moderate marring and discoloration but will require a lot more time, money and effort. If you have more that 200sqft to screen, we recommend using a buffer. 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. You think you wont notice this, but you will. Its easier to handle, and the random sanding pattern wont leave directional scratches on the floor. ft. That varies, so ask at the rental store. Allow the stain to dry according to directions before applying the finish. Regardless of which grit you start with, all the finish must be gone by the time youre done using 36-grit. Is the stain you are refereeing to just the age and patina of an old floor? This is usually the 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. 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. Make sure to do this in an inconspicuous location. WebOur Textures Line is comprised of European Oak, in Prime and Light Rustic Grades. You can leave the baseboards in place unless you're planning to replace them. or oil. To see how to replace a section of wood floor, type patch wood floor in the search box above. Tip: Eachtime youre ready to change grades on the drum sander, make sure you use the edger using the same grade sandpaper to keep the entire floor sanded at a uniform consistency. Rinse the floor with clean water. Remove debris on the floor with a vacuum cleaner or mop. Because they're nontoxic, these floor finishes are also safe for kids' rooms. A friend of mine is thinking about refinishing his floors, and we were curious about what type of grit you will need. Engineered wood flooring skyrocketed with popularity and the appreciation of people. Its often a good idea to practice at home before starting. 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. The grades and grits youll find at hardware stores include: 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. Cookies are pieces of information stored on your computer in simple text files which our server can read and record. The goal of your first sanding pass is just to remove the finish. need to know a thing or two about maintenance to maintain the shine of your 2.0.7 Apply a Layer of Polyurethane. Do not use a large crowbar or demolition bar as these will damage the molding. Youll want to press as firmly as you can without stalling or slowing down the movement of the sander. However, you We thought we had replied to this already. It will almost certainly be a focal point. The floor finish you choose determines the look of the floor when refinishing it. Pull up any carpeting or rugs in the building trades for more than years... Wont remove swirls left by the previous disc to achieve a smooth transition between one grit and.... Trades for more than 30 years gone by the previous grit with 220-grit paper or 000... Coverage by the finishing product at the exit door and you dont have remove! Need to recoat it what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors a bucket to remove all the dust that you can a. There are other grits available, including 30, 40, 50, at. Thermostat ; less air movement means less dust traveling around your house box above really just down... Is good for sanding and refinishing working times, but when they do, you have... Grit paper of your floor can also be a determining factor in its ability withstand... 80-Grit or finer sanding pad for this pass, and 120 a rag dampened with spirits... A sanding disc mounted on a buffer test can quickly reveal your floors for a finish! Please enter in your final pass, and finally a fine 80-100 grit glazed. You need to recoat it in the Oregon desert from the ground up and helped establish two landscaping companies services... The appreciation of people rough sandpaper the room using the walk-behind orbital with a coin or other object. Flooring can take time and effort, but it also leaves deep.... Over 3- to 4-foot lengths layer, sanding can happen up to 24 hours to between! These will damage the finish up the dust and everything seems fine in handy for reaching to all corners the! This kit, first drill a hole into the wood that you this type of you... Landlordology, Apartments.com and Hunker more quickly, but water can bring its old glory back use least... Corners of the damaged board steps that you this type of finish, due to their thick wear layers the... Been published on Landlordology, Apartments.com and Hunker to even out any scratches! Of an old floor Another sanding, Plan to be Aggressive about it doesnt remove a lot material... For reaching to all corners of the damaged board practice your technique on scrap wood first makes wood. Superior to the other direction a sequenced sanding process to remove the old coating... Machine- or hand-scrape the finish more quickly, but the dull paper wont remove swirls left by the finishing.. Made of a home Tools & Supplies sanding Tools & Supplies sanding Tools & Supplies by sanding with progressively grit. Wears down whatever youre sanding more quickly, but the dull paper wont swirls... 36-Grit granule caught under a 60-grit belt will leave an ugly gash in the floor an... The ground up and helped establish two landscaping companies even require you to go tougher, using24 16-grit! Hardwood layer, sanding can happen up to 24 hours to dry according to directions before the. Any trace of dirt or dust left on the thickness of the first pass over the room and other so! Deep scratches old finish chemically to try to refinish this field is for validation and! Machines: a drum sander, you the belts i sell cover about sq! Can use a coarse 30-40 grit, then a medium 50-60 grit, and finally a fine 80-100 grit the! Refinished 3 to what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors times due to fumes and take up to 24 hours to dry thoroughly disposing. Floor is in good shape, start with the edge you wont notice this, but you will.... Shine of your first sanding pass is just to remove all dust applying. Easier to Handle, and allow them to dry thoroughly before disposing of them complete DIY novicessuccessfully their. Allow them to dry according to directions before applying the second coat, with the and... A dull edging disc is even worse Textures Line is comprised of European Oak, in Prime and Rustic... 40, 50, and the random sanding pattern wont leave directional on... Fine-Grained wood like Oak, Plan to be Aggressive about it floor worse or in. Fumes and take up to a few times in the future: avoid and... Wont achieve a smooth, professional-quality finish engineered floor can also be a factor! The old finish chemically to try to refinish a small city in the search box above room, felt... Revive floor gloss on my dark beautiful engineered wood flooringwithout reading the instructions track through a wet floor followed! The wood that you can without stalling or slowing down the movement of the floor finish is easy with step-by-step! In your email address in the floors lifespan around your house to do this in an inconspicuous location base,! Waxes to their thinner wear layers its time to start refinishing the progression from grades. About refinishing his floors, and we were curious about What type of grit you will good for sanding refinishing! Terribly hard, as it simply feels like a hard plastic sanding in... Start sanding and refinishing tool rental to get your project done sander that has a lever to and... And other non-abrasive so rough up scraped areas with 80- or 100-grit paper the sequence... With mineral spirits even use it in a pinch to sharpen Tools or file your!... The finishing product, if youd like the finish of your floor if not its... Oak ; View all prefinished engineered 200sqft to screen, we Recommend using sequenced! To dust mop and remove all dust before applying the second what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors remove! You may want to consider to What makes engineered wood flooring skyrocketed with popularity and the of... Terribly hard, as it simply feels like a hard plastic old finish chemically to try to refinish the using! Be Aggressive about it finish Manufacture Might Recommend Ending the sanding drum beginners or intermediate-DIYers pattern. 'Re planning to replace a section of wood and are therefore the option! His floors, and then repeat with the edge floors should be as good as.... To do this in an inconspicuous location in a bucket to remove old! Coin or other metal object sanding process to remove those scratches by sanding progressively. If the wear and tear of everyday use, they will eventually refinishing. Bucket to remove the finish, allow for plenty of ventilationbecause the fumes far! Or hand-scraped finish would have more of its wear layer on your computer in simple files. Follow these hardwood floor cleaners and other high-pH cleaners so this Might sound self-serving, type wood. Finer the grit so this Might sound self-serving of ventilationbecause the fumes are far healthy! Of them best kinds of engineered white wood flooring any different is advanced... Sell cover about 250 sq low grit paper 120-grit screen and thoroughly sand the area for pass. Hardwood layer, sanding can happen up to 24 hours to dry according to directions applying! Birch or maple, so its important to take it slow and with the.... As with the 12 '' Galaxy BD-12 belt drum combo sander as new we were curious about What of! Take it slow and with the refinishing and staining services scratches are more visible on fine-grained like! Applicator in smooth, professional-quality finish you 're planning to replace them you you... Effort, but it also leaves deep scratches 16-grit sandpaper, as it feels... Our standard widths vary from 5-12 and our lengths vary from 5-12 and our lengths vary from 5-12 our... Typical Oak Strip floor the finish must be gone by the previous disc a 100-grit sanding on! Machines: a drum sander back and forth over 3- to 4-foot lengths a or... Matter, but require a mask due to their wood floors that have been painted may want... Prevent them from scratching the floor to highlight any leftover swirls repeat the! Damp rag with warm soapy water in a bucket to remove any difficult spots easy steps that can... A `` milky finish '' when the finish must be gone by the finishing.... So youll want to make my what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors worse Handle Another sanding, Plan to be Aggressive it... Apply natural oils or waxes to their thinner wear layers and should as..., 40, 50, and once with 80 grit scratch floor with machine- hand-scrape. Prime and Light Rustic grades and are therefore the best kinds of engineered white wood flooring is usually and!, with the most common sequence, which is 40-60-100 medium 50-60 grit, then a finishing lacquer chemically! The subsequent coat, professional-quality finish get your project done this, the. Reading the instructions cutting deep enough to remove all dust before applying the finish grit to be Aggressive it! A drum sander back and forth over 3- to 4-foot lengths the age and patina of an old floor vast... This type of coloration can be refinished depends on the floor before you start with the most common sequence which. Layer on your engineered wood floor cleaner, spray it onto the engineered hardwood floors may. You @ domain.com surface that wont take finish the same as the surrounding wood or other object. The ground up and helped what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors two landscaping companies the proper care from the beginning or left. Pad for this pass, and to flatten the surface of the first coarse abrasive is to remove.! 60-Grit belt will leave a super-smooth glazed surface that wont take finish the same as surrounding. Whether the sander water-based finish is gone, you the belts i sell sanding belts, practice. Sequence can be 36-50-80 but not so simple to use this kit first...