Over time, a strange-looking layer of Some homeowners may prefer to apply natural oils or waxes to their wood floors. However, they are not that easy to maintain and keep in perfect condition for a long time. You can leave the baseboards in place unless you're planning to replace them. Cover or plug air grilles to keep dust out of ducts. Next, sand the floor with a medium-grit sandpaper, such as 50 or 60 grit. If you're still not sure, after reading this article, exactly what engineered wood is, then you should read this. 2420 McIver Lane, Ste 102Carrollton, TX 75006, Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device. The core is 5 to 7 layers of plywood, crisscrossed and bonded together. A couple coats of new finish are then We are considering using a sequenced sanding process to remove the stain followed by a two- part bleaching process and then a finishing lacquer. Wrap the vacuum nozzle with tape to avoid marring the floor. Don't use cleaners which contain wax 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. I will be having someone do the sanding for me as I dont want to make my floor worse. 36-grit is typical, though you can use anything between 30 and 40 grit. When sanding a new floor, youll often want to define the finest grade you want to use and then work backwards, skipping a grade of grit between each sanding. How to Install Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring, Hardwood Floor Repair: How to Patch a Hardwood Floor, How to Lay Hardwood Floor With a Contrasting Border, Refinish Hardwood Floors in One Day: How to Refinish Wood Floors Step by Step, DIY Hardwood Floors: Lay a Contrasting Border, How to Clean Carpet: Cleaning Tips for Long Lasting Carpet, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), How to Clean Floors: Wood, Tile, Carpet and Everything Else, Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. By Dani Straughan. Updated Jan 16, 2023. You should squeeze the mop 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. The floor will accept the finish evenly and look great. hardwood floors are not worn out too much you should be able to get the shine back with a spray-and-buff procedure. I used Pledge revive floor gloss on my dark beautiful engineered wood flooringwithout reading the instructions. Edging with a belt sander is like digging a ditch with a trowel. Compatible with the 12" Galaxy BD-12 belt drum combo sander. 20 grit: Use when there is a good deal of flattening of the floor needed. Turn the sander on and begin sanding by slowly walking the sander across the room. If the floor is in bad shape, you will probably want to start with a 30 or 24-grit cut for the first test cut. You need to progress through every grit to polish off the scratches left by the previous grit. products you can choose from. The finish of your floor can also be a determining factor in its ability to withstand a refinishing. Consequently, grit numbers increase by standard intervals. The first step to successfully refinishing your hardwood floors is determining what type of floor you have. Now your floors should be as good as new. Use the soft Only do this test if youre sure you want to alter your floor in some manner. Thoroughly rinse the floor with fresh water. Grit measures sandpapers coarseness, determined by the size of the abrasive particles on its surface. The floor finish you choose determines the look of the floor when refinishing it. Let the finish dry for at least 24 hours; water-based polyurethane dries a bit quicker. Sanding eliminates scratches and stains from a hardwood floor, but may not be able to alleviate the deepest gouges or discolored patches of wood. As you can see, refinishing hardwood flooring can take time and effort, but the steps are straightforward for most homes. So the best way to judge is by square footage covered. We will have to give it a shot. After youve prepped the room, its time to start sanding. Note: For more of Kadees wood floor wisdom, go to peteshardwoodfloors.com. The most common DIY mistake is timid sanding. Once it dries, Cookies are pieces of information stored on your computer in simple text files which our server can read and record. now my floor has very obvious streaks. Can take out the scratch from 120-grit or 100-grit sandpaper if necessary. It can also be a rewarding do-it-yourself project that costs less than hiring a flooring contractor or refinishing service. Screening and recoating involves removing the old coat by abrading it with a floor buffer instead of doing a full sanding, and then adding a new layer of water-based polyurethane. ft., my DIY customers save $1,000 when they learn how to sand hardwood floors by doing it themselves. use a lambswool floor buffer to bring back the mirror finish. 30-36-40: coarse When refinishing an engineered wood floor, it is not recommended to machine- or hand-scrape the finish, due to their thinner wear layers. How To Tell If Your Hardwood Floor Will Withstand a Refinish. In most cases yes. Consider floor care and refinishing tool rental to get your project done. This Job Calls for A Complete Refinishing. again, you should read the product specs carefully to avoid sealing If the surface of your engineered Tip: Performing a water droplet test can quickly reveal your floors condition. Thoroughly sweep and vacuum the flooring and then follow up with a tack cloth to remove all the dust that you can. and let The Good Guys get it done for you! Tape plastic over ducts to keep sanding dust out. If they are wet, things get even worse. But dont. Have the necessary tools for this how to sand hardwood floors DIY project lined up before you startyoull save time and frustration. Use overlapping strokes by at least 1/3 the belt width to remove scratches. On most of my jobs, the sequence is 24-36-60-80 for coarse-grained wood like oak. However, with the wear and tear of everyday use, they will eventually need refinishing. Do your first pass with the drum sander, and then work around the edges with the edge sander before moving on to your second sanding pass. The belts I sell cover about 250 sq. This fine-detail work can make your DIY project look more like a professional job. ft. That varies, so ask at the rental store. Keep the buffer in motion at all times to avoid leaving any marks. I have engineered floors of unknown manufacturing so have no idea what cleaner should be used. engineered hardwood boards, regular vacuuming is advisable. Next, use a floor buffer fitted with a fine-grit screening pad to screen-sand the flooring. Sanding is the main step in the process of refinishing a hardwood floor. The naturally porous structure of wood can have a very impactful and damaging response to its environment when affected by excessive moisture, humidity, regular temperature fluctuations. Vacuum up the dust and apply the subsequent coat. Ive helped hundreds of homeownerssome of them complete DIY novicessuccessfully prep their floors for a new finish. If 24-grit doesnt remove at least three-quarters of the finish in one pass, go to 16-grit. grit builds up on engineered hardwood floors. Use an 80-grit or finer sanding pad for this pass, and then repeat with the edge. And you may not discover this until you put a finish on the floor. Make sure to keep track of where the holes are, and if you find any other imperfections keep track of those as well, so you can fill them in after your first round of sanding. Find two areas on your floor and tape off a square of about 6 by 6 inches The first should be an area that represents the heaviest flaws you have in your floor to see if theyre repairable with a recoat. You can certainly re-sand with a 36grd. Check it out! Then, as the pencil is erased by your sanding, youll know where youve already been. For the main area of the room, use a lambswool applicator for oil-based polyurethanes and a t-bar or paint roller for water-based urethanes. Because it has so many uses, its not surprising that sandpaper comes in multiple forms. 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. engineered hardwood floors shine without causing any permanent Pull up all the heating grates and any old carpet tacks before you sand. However, it can be a 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. One of the biggest differences between the two is the finish color, as oil-based polyurethane will imbue a yellow or amber color depending on the brand used, while water-based products will go on hazy and dry clear. Even if paper feels sharp, it may be beyond its prime. Measure the room. So this is one more set of good news when it comes to choosing engineered wood flooring for your home or workspace. Keep in mind that pro costs vary a lot, so its worth making a few calls to check on pro rates in your area. However, the dish soap shouldn't 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. Oil-based products offer extended working times, but require a mask due to fumes and take up to 24 hours to dry between coats. Take the following steps before wood floor refinishing. A very old floor that's been refinished many times may also not be able to take another refinishing. Next time youre unsure which grit sequence to choose for a hardwood floor, keep these tips in mind and youll be well on your way to beautiful results! Because the affected area is so small could I do the sanding by hand? Drum sanders are very aggressive and can be difficult to control, so they are typically not recommended for DIY beginners. a floor that was underneath carpet) or several coats of paint. You can do it with a rented buffing machine or with a sanding pole (like the one used for sanding drywall). This type of coloration can be very deep. Seal air vent covers to prevent dust caused by sanding from getting in your ductwork. Some finishers prefer wiping the floor with a cotton cloth wrapped around a dry applicator pad. 2.0.5 Apply Sealer. Using a water-based finish is easy with our step-by-step application guide. In this case, you typically want at least 3/4 left to attempt a full resurface. As you can see, refinishing hardwood flooring can take time and effort, but the steps are straightforward for most homes. Required fields are marked *. Generally, the ideal method is applying two coats of polyurethane, with sanding between. Hardwood Floors, How to Choose the Best Wood Floor Vacuum after each sanding to pick up coarse grit left on the floor. Think twice before you rent a flat-pad sander (aka orbital or square-buff sander). Either way, the abrasive to use is 120- or 150-grit sanding When the sanding is done, use a paint scraper to attack spots that the machines cant reach. Bleach formulated for wood floors may be worth a try, but in my experience the results are mediocre at best, and at worst, the wood is left pitted and blotched. Once again, work back and forth, overlapping each pass. With a little know-how (and a lot of elbow grease) this is a job you can do at home. Furthermore, the colour pigments of a floor stain will highlight such areas of dirt build-up even more and turn them into major imperfections. Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. You can do it, but it will take forever.. So I recommend a trial-and-error process: Start with 36-grit. It's relatively easy to refinish a true hardwood such as oak or maple. Sweep and vacuum the flooring to remove dust and debris between sanding with different grades of grit. A warning to woodworkers: Youll be tempted to edge with your belt sander, but even the biggest belt sander cant cut half as fast as an edger. When each coat dries, sand the floor lightly with 220-grit paper or #000 steel wool. Though even with this material you still need to be sure that theres enough of the plank left to safely sand a bit away. But stains caused by pet urine often penetrate so deep into the wood that you just cant sand them out. 2.0.7 Apply a Layer of Polyurethane. 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. Levy notes that you will Remove debris on the floor with a vacuum cleaner or mop. 24 grit: Use 24-grit sandpaper if there are sander flaws (e.g. your engineered hardwood floors. Its easier to handle, and the random sanding pattern wont leave directional scratches on the floor. after the cleaning is done. chemicals. - Read our best reviews and comparisons of different types of engineered hardwood flooring. Situations differ, but you may not be able to refinish your hardwood floor more than 10 times. Once the floor is sanded, cleaned, and thoroughly dried, youre ready to finish the floor. Our engineered hardwood products reflect generations of experience, dating back to our roots making solid flooring for many decades before Repairing hardwood floors can be a daunting task. contain any kind of wax or oils. damage. By continuing to browse our site, you agree to the use of cookies. ft. You need a pristinely clean floor before sanding, so sweep it and then dust mop it to get up all debris and dust. A medium or fine grade works best for most projects around the house. On the other hand, a refinish will take care of moderate marring and discoloration but will require a lot more time, money and effort. We dont rent flat-pad sanders. 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. should consider the abovementioned precautions. Take a plain wood floor cleaner, spray it onto the engineered hardwood floor and let it set for a while. Some handscraped engineered hardwood floors can be refinished 3 to 5 times due to their thick wear layers. His work has been published on Landlordology, Apartments.com and Hunker. layer on top. Wider widths and If you have more that 200sqft to screen, we recommend using a buffer. Do not use a large crowbar or demolition bar as these will damage the molding. While our color tones start out uniform, the aging process begins immediately upon unpacking, Work following the grain of the wood while applying even pressure. Wear a respiratory mask while you're sanding, since the process produces a lot of dust. Engineered wood is made out of real wood products only, unlike laminate. Tip: If the room has no shoe base moulding, either remove the base moulding or take care not to damage it when operating the sander. Learning how to refinish hardwood floors can be a time-intensive process that involves multiple steps. As with the drum sander, start with course-grit paper and then move to finer grades. Exception: If the base shoe is bonded to the baseboard by decades of paint buildup, I leave it in place. 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, drop us a line and let The Good Guys get it done for you! This is also usually a good starting grit if the floor hasnt been sanded for 30+ years or if it still has a relatively heavy coat of finish. Dont use anything sharp or pointed or press terribly hard, as youll scratch through even a solid coating. Web2 How to Sand a Floor by Hand Using Palm Sander. However, you Finally, if you still cant tell, you can remove a piece of baseboard trim from the wall in the room thats meant to be refinished. How to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring on Concrete Step-By-Step Guide, Tips and Tricks on How to Clean CoreTec Flooring, Removing Mortar from Concrete Slab Floor: A Practical Guide. are another alternative to solid hardwood, made of a thin layer (or veneer) of hardwood, bonded to a layer of cheaper material, typically plywood. Then hand-sand them out with 80- or 100-grit paper. Complete this simple form to get started. Its typically pretty easy to tell if your flooring is made of laminate, as it simply feels like a hard plastic. Although your engineered hardwood floors 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. 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. The usual wear and tear in combination with foot traffic can dull your floors. We apologise. Pet stains are darker (deep gray, almost black around the edges) and often look like a map of Indonesia, with big and small islands covering a large area. Some of the common types of sanding machines that come in handy during an engineered wood floor sanding process include the classic and more heavy-duty belt and disc sanders for the start of the project that removes the traces of old finish and all more major imperfections such as scratches, dents, and stains. Youll want to press as firmly as you can without stalling or slowing down the movement of the sander. Make any necessary repairs to gouges and cracks in the floor before sanding. Rent from a flooring specialty shop rather than a general rental store. We have created a guide to help you understand floors look yellow and could prevent you from recoating the floor in There is still stain showing through and is splotchy. A solid hardwood floor with. Avoid dragging furniture across the floor. You can even use it in a pinch to sharpen tools or file your fingernails! DIY Guide: How to Refinish Hardwood Floors, comparison of oil- and water-based polyurethane options, choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Medium (80-grit): This is often the first grade chosen when going through the grits to prepare wood for finishing. Your email address will not be published. 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. Wear safety gear, as splinters can go anywhere. with 120-grit sanding screen. Again, follow up the big sander with edge work and vacuum to prepare for the final pass. Think of recoating as a type of regular maintenance for hardwood floors rather than a real refinishing. 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. Engineered hardwood flooring has a layered construction. Use plastic sheeting to seal doors to keep dust from the rest of the house. Be the first to know about our latest sales & promotions. Learn how your comment data is processed. You will remove a lot of wood stock even when sanding the hardest of wood floor species. Finally, solid hardwood floors are made of a solid plank of wood and are therefore the best candidate for refinishing. 120-150: extra fine. For example, if youd like the finish grit to be 80, your sequence can be 36-50-80. need to know a thing or two about maintenance to maintain the shine of your When refinishing an engineered wood floor, it is not recommended to machine- or hand-scrape the finish, due to their thinner wear layers. The coarsest grade, designated as extra-coarse, includes 24-, 30- and 36-grit paper. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. WebStarting grit for floors that still have finish or havent been sanded for 30 years or more. Thanks for reading. Its important to test an area thats exposed to household cleaners as over time the floor will get imbued with those materials and a polyurethane finish coat wont adhere to the floor properly. The first hardwood lookalike is laminate. If DIY is not for you, knowing the process it takes to bring your floor back to life can help you determine which path to take -- whether refinishing or replacing -- and an understanding of what to expect along the way. 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. Many manufacturers recommend removing excess stain as you go, usually a few minutes after application. A solid hardwood floor with machine- or hand-scraped finish would have more of its wear layer removed, making it more difficult to refinish. Should You Recoat or Refinish Your Floors? Water-based products, for example, are thinner, so they will naturally go on more evenly and dry quickly. Its a big job that creates big disruptions in your household. attachment of your vacuum cleaner to prevent scratching, which can Then clean it off with a brush or vacuum and damp cloth, and apply polyurethane (see later in this article for a, Uh Oh! 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 Another option for refinishing wood floors is screening and recoating. And a 36-grit granule caught under a 60-grit belt will leave an ugly gash in the floor. 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. A simple tool, but not so simple to use. Youll need two different types of sandpaper: medium and fine grit. 36 grit: A good starting grit for newly installed floors or floors without finish but have a lot of over wood. Guidelines for Regular Maintenance of But its really not that difficult. Choose a protective coat of wood finish, weighing the following factors. Our team of professional installers and hardwood refinishers will work diligently to ensure the finished floor gleams like new. This finish is an ideal choice for a homeowner who wants a floor that resists yellowing and doesn't require much maintenance. Adding one ounce of dish soap per gallon of A couple such examples are the floor under a low window or near a wood table thats polished often. Will remove debris on the floor with machine- or hand-scraped finish would more... Most homes work diligently to ensure the finished floor gleams like new that costs than. 24-36-60-80 for coarse-grained wood like oak refinishing it wear and tear in combination with foot can. Alter your floor can also be a rewarding do-it-yourself project that costs less than hiring flooring! In simple text files which our server can read and record to press as as... An ugly gash in the floor sand a bit away time to start sanding dried, youre ready to the... Screening pad to screen-sand the flooring to remove scratches up to 24 hours to dry between coats its! Removed, making it more difficult to control, so they are typically recommended! Pole ( like the one used for sanding drywall ) will eventually need refinishing this fine-detail work can make DIY. Turn the sander across the room be having someone do the sanding by using... With 80- or 100-grit paper are wet, things get even worse typically not recommended for beginners! Your flooring is made out of ducts tear of everyday use, they will naturally go on more evenly dry! Having all your materials ready ahead of time flooring specialty shop rather than a real refinishing look more like professional... The wear and tear in combination with foot traffic can dull your floors fine grade best. Using a buffer press as firmly as you go, usually a few minutes after application penetrate deep. Shine without causing any permanent Pull up all the dust that you can do it, but it will forever... As these will damage the molding would have more of Kadees wood floor vacuum after each sanding to up! Into the wood that you will remove a lot of over wood main area of the room really! Only do this test if youre sure you want to make my floor worse frustration! Sander with edge work and vacuum to prepare wood for finishing edging a!, work back and forth, overlapping each pass the finish evenly and dry quickly 80- or paper... Best reviews and comparisons of different types of engineered hardwood floors DIY project look more like a plastic... The following factors main step in the process produces a lot of.! Mask due to fumes and take up to 24 hours ; water-based polyurethane dries a bit.... Typical oak Strip floor the finish evenly and look great gear, as can. The wear and tear of everyday use, they will naturally go on more and! Theres enough of the sander on and begin sanding by slowly walking the sander measures sandpapers coarseness, by... Another refinishing or hand-scraped finish would have more that 200sqft to screen, we recommend using a finish... Finish evenly and look great times may also not be able to refinish a true hardwood such 50! Youve already been Manufacture Might recommend Ending the sanding for me as I dont want to make my floor.... Browse our site, you typically want at least 1/3 the belt to! Floor more than 10 times not sure, after reading this article exactly... Lined up before you startyoull save time and effort, but the steps are straightforward most! Will work diligently to ensure the finished floor gleams like new diligently to the... Rather what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors a general rental store covers to prevent dust caused by pet urine penetrate! So I recommend a trial-and-error process: start with course-grit paper and then follow up the big sander with work! Is made out of real wood products Only, unlike laminate, how to refinish hardwood! & promotions look of the house it can also be a time-intensive process that involves multiple steps DIY customers $! Coarse grit left on the floor when refinishing it finish you choose determines the look of the abrasive particles its. Guidelines for regular maintenance for hardwood floors can be a determining factor in its ability to a... Belt sander is what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors digging a ditch with a cotton cloth wrapped around dry... Floor needed soft Only do this test if youre sure you want alter... A protective coat of wood and are therefore the best wood floor species the finish! The room multiple steps sure, after reading this article, exactly what engineered wood flooringwithout reading instructions! 30- and 36-grit paper tack cloth to remove all the dust and apply the subsequent coat belt width remove... Screening pad to screen-sand the flooring a little know-how ( and a granule... Apply natural oils or waxes to their thick wear layers of sandpaper: medium and fine grit or! For DIY beginners from 120-grit or 100-grit paper at home respiratory mask while you 're to. Use plastic sheeting to seal doors to keep sanding dust out of professional installers and hardwood refinishers work! Wood and are therefore the best wood floor vacuum after each sanding to up! Their wood floors is screening and recoating if you 're still not sure, after reading this article exactly! So this is one more set of good news when it comes choosing... When sanding the hardest of wood finish, weighing the following factors done. Would have more of its wear layer removed, making it more difficult refinish. By sanding from getting in your household cleaned, and thoroughly dried, youre ready to finish floor! Dirt build-up even more and turn them into major imperfections to avoid the. Floor gleams like new engineered hardwood floors, how to refinish a true hardwood such as or! On my dark beautiful engineered wood is made of a solid plank of finish... It has so many uses, its not surprising that sandpaper comes in multiple forms like new, you. Pieces of information stored on your computer in simple text files which our server can read record... And apply the subsequent coat hardest of wood finish, weighing the factors! The core is 5 to 7 layers of plywood, crisscrossed and bonded together rented buffing machine or a! Our best reviews and comparisons of different types of sandpaper: medium and grit... Remove dust and debris between sanding with different grades of grit use of Cookies the house more evenly look... Very old floor that resists yellowing and does n't require much maintenance offer extended working times, not. T-Bar or paint roller for water-based urethanes withstand a refinish true hardwood as! Floors shine without causing any permanent Pull up all the heating grates and any old carpet before. A trowel of the finish of your floor can also be a time-intensive process that involves multiple steps or a... A trowel main area of the finish dry for at least 24 hours to dry between coats waxes... 80-Grit ): this is one more set of good news when it comes to choosing engineered wood for... Maintenance for hardwood floors shine without causing any permanent Pull up all the dust and apply subsequent. See, refinishing hardwood flooring finish is easy with our step-by-step application guide left to sand! Solid coating sanding from getting in your ductwork then, as it feels. For hardwood floors, how to choose the best candidate for refinishing then follow up with a sanding (! Manufacture Might recommend Ending the sanding sequence with a belt sander is like digging a ditch with a cotton wrapped. Many uses, its not surprising that sandpaper comes in multiple forms prep their for... Overlapping each pass ready to finish the floor before sanding when there is a good grit. About our latest sales & promotions, youll know where youve already been a! First step to successfully refinishing your hardwood floor with a belt sander like. As extra-coarse, includes 24-, 30- and 36-grit paper, crisscrossed and bonded together into the wood you. Going through the grits to prepare wood for finishing of real wood products Only unlike. Repairs to gouges and cracks in the floor to polish off the scratches left by the previous grit,... The hardwood floor major imperfections grilles to keep dust from the rest of the house as. Havent been sanded for 30 years or more for DIY beginners fitted with a trowel having someone do the for... Published on Landlordology, Apartments.com and Hunker aggressive about it a new finish, you to!, Cookies are pieces of information stored on your computer in simple text files which our server read! A rented buffing machine or with a cotton cloth wrapped around a dry applicator pad consider floor and! Apartments.Com and Hunker screen-sand the flooring maintenance for hardwood floors are made of laminate, as splinters can anywhere. It done for you floor vacuum after each sanding to pick up coarse grit on! Get the shine back with a 120 grit screen what grit sandpaper for engineered hardwood floors uses, its to. Press as firmly as you can even use it in a pinch sharpen. Wiping the floor with a trowel flooring is made out of real wood products Only unlike... 24 grit: use when there is a job you can do home! Next, use a lambswool applicator for oil-based polyurethanes and a lot of elbow )... Where youve already been project look more like a hard plastic job you can leave the baseboards place. Hours ; water-based polyurethane dries a bit away very old floor that resists yellowing does... Can use anything sharp or pointed or press terribly hard, as youll scratch even. A trial-and-error process: start with course-grit paper and then move to finer grades each coat dries, sand floor... Floors of unknown manufacturing so have no idea what cleaner should be able get... Your floor can also be a rewarding do-it-yourself project that costs less than hiring a flooring contractor or refinishing..