Floor Sanding — What Is It?
By Floor|July 15, 2022
The process of floor sanding removes upper layers of material to enhance the look and feel of flooring. The process will remove external debris like chipped or flaking coatings and splinters. It can also create visually appealing patterns in hidden wood grain, or make an old, worn floor look new again.
Although wood is commonly thought of as the material best suited for sanding, other materials like pressboard and some types of laminate can be sanded as well.
The process of floor sanding typically involves three steps — preparation, sanding and coating.
Drum Sanding Machines
In most professional jobs, larger floor sanding machines called drum sanding machines are used. The more powerful machines remove more external materials from the top flooring surface.
Although drum sanding machines can reach most areas of the floor, project managers may use edge machines for areas close to obstacles like baseboards or corners. In general, the drum sanders are good for wide open areas and expansive two-dimensional surfaces.
Although smaller sanding machines can also work to sand wood or other materials, they are not often used for floor sanding because drum sanding machines are so much more powerful and efficient. Modern sanding machines do in minutes what traditional hand sanding would accomplish in hours. In modern work processes, manual sanding is mostly for small items or surfaces.
The Floor Sanding Process
Using the above three steps, professionals will complete a floor sanding process according to a specific project plan, factoring in the age of flooring materials and other considerations.
The first step is preparation, and workers have to take care to remove nails, staples, or fasteners that stick up from the floor. These will significantly impair the sanding process and can cause hazards. Sometimes those in charge of the job will pound nails into the flooring, but in many cases, nails and staples will be individually removed. Any undercover between old flooring and the underlayers will also need to be fully removed.
In the second step, the sanding process itself, sanders move from coarse to fine grit, to create a smooth and consistent result. So the drum sander will have to go over the same space more than once, to first generate a rougher result, and then refine that with a finer approach.
After the sanding work has been done, workers can seal the flooring with polyurethane or some other sealant. It's important to think about the toxicity of these materials and wear protective gear like safety respirators as necessary. Project managers may also have to think about factors like temperature and humidity in a space in order to time the coating process.
Floor Sanding Issues
One of the problems with a floor sanding job is when a powerful sander takes too much off of the underlying material itself.
For example, sanding can uncover things like termite damage and rotting planks that can undermine the integrity of the floor.
In other cases, improper sanding can cause unwanted marks in flooring, like diagonal strokes or uneven ridges.
With the right care, though, a floor sanding process will be effective in restoring an aged flooring surface made of wood or similar material. Planners will want to think about any toxicity in floor sanding products and the durability of the additions, such as the sealers or coatings. Better materials can also lead to flooring results that are more scratch resistant and stand up better to wear or high traffic, which is helpful for either commercial use or renting.
Some Floor Coating Options
Customers can choose from some common types of floor coatings to get the attractive and long-lasting results they want. There’s a "natural" coat, where materials are water-based, with a matt/satin finish. This option offers some durability and thrift, but takes more time to dry and fully cure than some other coatings. Hybrid and commercial hybrid coatings offer more durability. A top-tier UV Rush commercial-grade product, cured instantly with UV lighting, is the most durable choice.
More on Floor Sanding
In ordering the best floor sanding services, it’s important to think about all the above factors. Ask about sealers and coatings, what they are made of, and how they work. It’s also important to know what’s in existing flooring and what condition old wood or other flooring is in before beginning a project. With the right care and attention, floor sanding and re-finishing can be an integral part of a makeover for an old building or space, yielding surprising results and adding value to a property. The right work can support a job that improves how people use a space, and what it looks like for resale or rental. All of that makes floor sanding an appealing option for spaces that have seen better days.
Although wood is commonly thought of as the material best suited for sanding, other materials like pressboard and some types of laminate can be sanded as well.
The process of floor sanding typically involves three steps — preparation, sanding and coating.
Drum Sanding Machines
In most professional jobs, larger floor sanding machines called drum sanding machines are used. The more powerful machines remove more external materials from the top flooring surface.
Although drum sanding machines can reach most areas of the floor, project managers may use edge machines for areas close to obstacles like baseboards or corners. In general, the drum sanders are good for wide open areas and expansive two-dimensional surfaces.
Although smaller sanding machines can also work to sand wood or other materials, they are not often used for floor sanding because drum sanding machines are so much more powerful and efficient. Modern sanding machines do in minutes what traditional hand sanding would accomplish in hours. In modern work processes, manual sanding is mostly for small items or surfaces.
The Floor Sanding Process
Using the above three steps, professionals will complete a floor sanding process according to a specific project plan, factoring in the age of flooring materials and other considerations.
The first step is preparation, and workers have to take care to remove nails, staples, or fasteners that stick up from the floor. These will significantly impair the sanding process and can cause hazards. Sometimes those in charge of the job will pound nails into the flooring, but in many cases, nails and staples will be individually removed. Any undercover between old flooring and the underlayers will also need to be fully removed.
In the second step, the sanding process itself, sanders move from coarse to fine grit, to create a smooth and consistent result. So the drum sander will have to go over the same space more than once, to first generate a rougher result, and then refine that with a finer approach.
After the sanding work has been done, workers can seal the flooring with polyurethane or some other sealant. It's important to think about the toxicity of these materials and wear protective gear like safety respirators as necessary. Project managers may also have to think about factors like temperature and humidity in a space in order to time the coating process.
Floor Sanding Issues
One of the problems with a floor sanding job is when a powerful sander takes too much off of the underlying material itself.
For example, sanding can uncover things like termite damage and rotting planks that can undermine the integrity of the floor.
In other cases, improper sanding can cause unwanted marks in flooring, like diagonal strokes or uneven ridges.
With the right care, though, a floor sanding process will be effective in restoring an aged flooring surface made of wood or similar material. Planners will want to think about any toxicity in floor sanding products and the durability of the additions, such as the sealers or coatings. Better materials can also lead to flooring results that are more scratch resistant and stand up better to wear or high traffic, which is helpful for either commercial use or renting.
Some Floor Coating Options
Customers can choose from some common types of floor coatings to get the attractive and long-lasting results they want. There’s a "natural" coat, where materials are water-based, with a matt/satin finish. This option offers some durability and thrift, but takes more time to dry and fully cure than some other coatings. Hybrid and commercial hybrid coatings offer more durability. A top-tier UV Rush commercial-grade product, cured instantly with UV lighting, is the most durable choice.
More on Floor Sanding
In ordering the best floor sanding services, it’s important to think about all the above factors. Ask about sealers and coatings, what they are made of, and how they work. It’s also important to know what’s in existing flooring and what condition old wood or other flooring is in before beginning a project. With the right care and attention, floor sanding and re-finishing can be an integral part of a makeover for an old building or space, yielding surprising results and adding value to a property. The right work can support a job that improves how people use a space, and what it looks like for resale or rental. All of that makes floor sanding an appealing option for spaces that have seen better days.
