What You Need to Know about Sanding Wood Floors

Over time, wood floors can become damaged from scuffs, dents and scratches. Even spills can lead to stains that penetrate through the top layer and won’t come out with cleaning. In certain situations, you may consider sanding the floor to remove the damage and make the floor look like new. Here are some facts you need to know about sanding and hardwood floors.

To Sand or Not To Sand?

Most of the time, you can sand hardwood floors, especially older floors. It generally depends on how thick these floors are and how many times they have been sanded in the past. The traditional rule is to have one-fourth inch of wood over the tongue and groove. This only becomes a problem when the floor has been sanded multiple times.

Older floors were usually thicker, so they could be sanded many times with no issues. Modern floors are thinner, but they generally don’t require sanding often. The problem you will run into is if your floors are engineered wood. This type of wood uses multiple layers of plywood with a top layer of real hardwood. It depends on the thickness of that top layer as to whether you can sand it.

How Often You Should Sand

If you have average traffic in your home, you’ll want to sand once every ten years if you don’t mind a bit of wear showing. For those who want a flawless finish, you’ll want to do the job every five years. If you have heavy traffic, even that might not be often enough.

You also have to consider the thickness of your boards. You don’t want to sand so often that you have to replace the floors too soon.

Tools for Sanding

You’ll need a sander and sandpaper with several grits. The higher you can start on your grit, the less sanding you have to do, which removes less of your wood. If you have a lot of scratches or deep dents to remove, you’ll have to begin with a lower grit.

Make sure you know how to use the tools to ensure they work correctly and don’t damage your floor. You’ll find it easier to use a power sander rather than trying to do it by hand. Not only does the process go faster, but the results will look more cohesive. When it comes to the sandpaper, have a variety of sizes from 60 grit to 220 grit, so you can switch sizes gradually until you get to the finest number needed for a smooth finish.

Sanding your wood floors is one way to keep them looking beautiful for a long time. This process can restore them almost to new, which can help you sell your home for more or make it look fabulous for you to enjoy. It’s always a good idea to get advice from a professional before you attempt such a task, even if you plan to do all the work on your own.

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