Sanding Your Own Floors

Sanding your own ﬂ oors

Pain or pleasure, DIY or professional

BY ANGELA PETRUZZI

Timber fl oors have a pleasant and if the timber above the tongue is less Hiring the correct natural feel to them. Although not easy, than 3mm in depth. Further sanding equipment sanding and treating your fl oor yourself may cause the top layer to splinter off or is rewarding and possible. Hard work to crack and may leave the boards loose. Get extensive advice from the hire but rewarding for some. Would you do A quick way of checking the thickness company and pay attention to the it again? Probably not. to the tongue section is by inserting a manufacturer’s instructions. Ask to be thin metal ruler into a groove. shown how the machine works and if Can your fl oors If you have manufactured fl oors there are any special tricks to be aware of. with only a thin timber veneer glued be sanded? Belt sander to a plywood base, you may not be able The large belt sanders are heavy so Most timber fl oors are solid sawn to sand them. The veneer is often too you will need help to unload. If your timber that is milled with a tongue and thin and if you have no experience new home is not yet completely wired groove to lock the boards together. They with a belt sander, you may remove up, check the power supply in the home may have been sanded a number of all the timber exposing the plywood and that of the machine in question to times already making them too thin for and ruining the whole fl oor. Ask a ensure they are compatible. If you are further sanding. Do not sand the fl oor professional fl oor sander for advice. running extension cords over a distance and have a high demand of power supply this will cause the supply to trip which, when in the middle of working, can damage the fl oor. To prevent any possible accidents, be aware of where power cords are at all times. Buy several belts in different grits. With sandpaper, the bigger the number, the smoother the fi nish on your timber. The lower the number, the coarser the paper will be. What number you start off with depends on the state of your fl oor. Coarser paper removes the unwanted material faster and with less effort. So if you have an uneven surface, maybe rough recycled boards with Black Japan or heavily varnished

Use an edge sander for along the skirting boards to blend the edges fl at with the body of the fl oor. Never use an edge sander in the middle area of a fl oor as it could leave marks that are diffi cult to sand out.

46 • THE OWNER BUILDER • 165 June/July 2011 © www.theownerbuilder.com.au • 0402 428 123 boards, then start off with a 40 grit. If Preparation unsightly appearance, more so than your fl oor is new and secret nailed with The fl oor to be sanded must be free having a nice even gap. not much height variation, start off from all furniture. If the room has built- Wait till the putty is completely dry with 60 grit. in cupboards or wardrobes, do these as before continuing to sand. When oiling, Check to ensure that you may return well, otherwise they will be different to no cutting back is necessary so puttying any unused belts. The usage of materials the main part of the fl oor and may look must be done in the initial stages. depends on the type of timber and the odd. In the scheme of things, not doing If the fl ooring contains natural features such as black gum veins, putty state it is in. this won’t save much time or material these in black while the nail holes are anyway. Edge sander puttied as close as possible to the colour If you have removed carpet from For areas where the belt sander of the timber. cannot reach, such as around the some of the fl oor, ensure the carpet skirting and doors and under cupboards ripple bar sits just inside the room. you will need to hire an edge sander. That is, if the door is closed, the carpet Step 2. Coarse sanding Again, buy several discs with the same cannot be seen. This gives the hallway (cross sanding) abrasion grades as for the belt sander. continuity. If possible remove curtains. This fi rst step of sanding is to If not, wrap in plastic sheeting and raise provide a level and evenly sanded, bare Floor buffer well above fl oor level. Remove ducted Depending on the fi nish that you fl oor free from any coatings. For new heating covers and stuff ducts with fl oors, this fi rst step is used to cut the want to use (refer to TOB 144 Dec 07/ paper (below fl oor level). Ensure that Jan 08 detailing timber fl ooring treatment boards level by taking out any ridges or metal duct casings are below fl oor level, high points. With old fl oors, it removes options available), you may also require if not they will damage the sanding a fl oor buffer. This is used with a screen the old varnish or paint. If your fl ooring paper when running over the edges. has a heavy varnish fi nish or bitumen back or sanding paper to achieve a fi ner Seal off open doorways with drop paint, you may need to start the sanding fi nish than the belts will allow. It is sheets. Check the type of masking tape with a 24 grit belt otherwise 40 or 60 especially advantageous if you are using as some may adhere to painted surfaces. grit will be suffi cient. natural oils. Screen backs look like fl y Start at a point 45 degrees to the screens but also come in different grits fl oorboards and from which will allow and are used to remove sanding marks Step 1. Punching and puttying the longest and widest path through and give a fi ner fi nish, eliminating any the room. When starting the machine scratch marks. If using oils, the machine If your fl oor is new, it will most ensure that the drum is not touching may also be used at the end of the process likely be secret nailed. The secret the boards. Move forward slowly, easing to remove excess oil from the fl oor. nailing process typically involves fi xing the drum onto the boards. Lowering Orbital and triangular sanders the boards at each edge with the nails the drum quickly may leave grooves or An orbital sander will do the fi ner driven at a 45 degree angle. As the ‘chatter marks’ that may be diffi cult to sanding and is handy for getting into name suggests, the nail holes are not sand out. Attempt to sand as close to places where the larger edge sander is visible when the fl oor is completed. The the wall as possible. Maintain an even unable to sand; ideal also if you have boards are also glued to the substrate for pressure and slowly raise the drum stairs or steps to do. added strength. as you reach the extremity of the line A triangle sander will do the corners If it is an older fl oor and the nails are of sanding. Begin to walk backwards, and around door frames easily. If you visible then sinking them down with a pulling the machine, easing the drum do not hire a triangle sander, a paint nail punch and hammer to a depth of to the fl oor. Continue back to where scraper will do. If oiling, ensure that approximately 4mm will be necessary. you started from. no sanding marks remain as the oil will Any nails not sunk will damage the When the original starting point is show up most imperfections, especially sanding paper and the machine drum. reached gradually raise the drum from Vacuum to remove any dust particles if you are using a stain. the fl oor. Move the machine to the right in the nail holes and between boards. To or left of this sanded path ensuring an Vacuum cleaner ensure a good match with your timber, overlap of 50 to100 mm onto the fi rst Don’t forget a good vacuum cleaner. choose a putty to suit your fl ooring, cut path. Check and replace clogged If you have a large area, it may be or putty can be mixed to achieve the belts as required. worth your while to hire one, as small colour required. Do not use an epoxy Continue in this manner until you domestic ones may not cope with the type of putty if you will be using natural have reached the limit of accessibility. amount of dust created. Even though penetrating oils such as the Livos oils Go back to the original starting point many machines have dust extractors, – Timbermate is a good match. Putty and work away from the fi rst cut. That there will always be a fi lm of fi ne dust larger holes slightly overfull as putty may means if you went to the left away from after sanding. Some hire machines may sink lower than fl oor level if the hole centre, then work toward the right side not be suitably maintained and might is not fi lled properly. If you have wide of the room. Much depends though on not have the vacuum working ideally gaps in between your fl oor boards, it is the room layout. and therefore not take in as much dust best to get used to them. By puttying During this process the need for as they should. along the length of them, with time and repair work may become evident. Once Dust masks and hearing protection fl oor movement these have a tendency the rough sanding has taken place, should also be on the shopping list. to crack and fall out and will cause an borer or termite damage may have

© www.theownerbuilder.com.au • 0402 428 123 THE OWNER BUILDER • 165 June/July 2011 • 47 been exposed. If repairs are required, The fi nal sand Cleaning do those before you continue with the The fi nal sand uses a fi ner grade of Vacuum thoroughly not forgetting sanding. paper – once again reducing the depth window sills, door frames etc. It is If the fl oor is in a sad state the of the scratching and prepares the fl oor recommended that fl oors be vacuumed second cut can be made in the same for the coating system. in the same direction as the fl oorboards. manner as above but working at 90 Vacuum the fl oor, not forgetting the Do not drag the vacuum cleaner along degrees to the fi rst cut. Only do this if the freshly sanded boards as marks may absolutely necessary and ensure that the window sills and door frames. be left. boards are thick enough. The fl oor should now be scratch free. The third cut (or as in most cases Corners If using natural penetrating oils these the second cut) is carried out in the For areas that the edge sander will enhance the colour and structure direction of the boards. As the boards cannot reach use a triangle sander of the timber but will also highlight any are now mainly level and most of the and sand close into the corners and imperfections in the sanding, even more old coatings removed this cut may be around the doorframes fi nishing off so if using stains. done with a higher grit paper than the with at least 120 grit sandpapers. If using a varnish, then it is diagonal cuts. Ensure that all sanding marks have imperative to remove all dust and grit Once a new path has been cut, been removed. from the fl oor and surrounding areas. If move to the left or right and ensure If no machine is at hand, use a sharp not, the dust will adhere to the freshly an overlap of 50 to 100 mm. Continue paint scraper. The scraping action lacquered fl oor and give a gritty look. this process across the room. When should always be in the direction of the the full width of the room is sanded, grain. Then sand by hand along the turn around and sand the other side of Finishing the fl oor grain of the timber to a fi ne fi nish. room. If you do not have a paint scraper Apply the fl oor fi nish you have chosen once sanding is completed. Do not allow and your corners are heavily varnished others on the fl oor as they may have Step 3. Edging or have paint spills, use a sharp chisel to contaminants on their shoes that will Now it is time to use the edge sander. gently remove the varnish or paint, then only show up once the fl oor is coated. The perimeter needs to be sanded level sand by hand again along the grain of Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and blended into the body of the fl oor. the timber. and wear protective equipment if Overlap a distance of some 100 to 150 necessary to guard against strong vapours. mm. Care should be taken that the Buffi ng It may be necessary to arrange alternative machine is held level so that the edger accommodation for some days. does not dig groves into the boards. If using a synthetic varnish, then this Sanding fl oors is strenuous to say Repeat the sanding and edging gradually step may not be necessary. If, however, the least and you need to weigh up the working up to a fi ner grit. Grades of you intend to use natural oils, it is cost of and accessibility of machines and paper used on the edging machine highly recommended. This will achieve materials and the time involved. It may are the same as those used on the belt a fi ner fi nish and a surface that will not be more cost effective to have it done sander; if you started sanding with a 40 require re-sanding when rejuvenation is professionally and have someone else grit and fi nished with 120 grit then use necessary. accountable for the sanding and fi nishing. the same sanding grits for the edging. Fit the buffer with a white pad and If you do sand and treat your fl oor, If you think you can take shortcuts by a 100 grit screen back (sanding screen the sense of achievement will far exceed starting off sanding with 40 grit and disc). If you have never used a buffer/ the aches and pains. I then jumping to 100 grit, you will have rotary sander previously, start in the Angela Petruzzi is from Anro Floorcare Pty a badly scratched fl oor and will need centre of the room and work it towards Ltd, a fl oor sanding company that exclusively more time and materials to rectify the the wall slowly. Never let it sit in one uses the Livos natural oil range of products. scratches left by the 40 grit papers. place and over sand a spot. Never use an edge sander in the Work around the perimeter of www.anrofl oorcare.com.au middle area of the fl oor. It could leave the room. Once back to the starting swirl marks or deep cuts that may be point move the buffer backwards and very diffi cult to sand out. forwards across the grain. Overlap • Timbermate each pass generously and sand the Timbermate Woodfi ller is non- Middle sanding entire fl oor. Move slowly and get close acrylic, non-shrinking, non-fl ammable to the edges. Pay particular attention and non-solvent based. The second sanding removes the 1800 35 4811, www.timbermate.com.au scratches left from the previous sanding to the area where the belt sander and and creates a fi ner surface. Repeat the edger overlapped. One side of the • Livos oils same process, but this time use a fi ner screen back should be enough for a Livos Australia supplies a large range grit than previously. This time, only 20m2 room. Turn the screen back of plant based non-toxic products for move the machine along the length of upside down and repeat the procedure, various surfaces. The products are the boards; no cross cutting is necessary. however this time working along the biologically degradable, sustainable and Again, use the edge sander with the grain of the timber. are harmless, even in direct contact with same grit paper that you have just used Repeat the buffi ng with a 150 screen humans, animals and plants. to do the main part of the fl oor. back in the same manner as above. 03 9762 9181, www.livos.com.au

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1. A beautifully oiled blackbutt fl oor. 2. Another stunning fl oor – this one is of mixed forest red timbers. 3. Only start sanding along the fl oorboards as an initial sand when the fl oor surface is in very good condition i.e. no cupping and only a light coating to remove. 4. A rotary buffi ng machine may be used for the fi ne sanding, as well as to remove excess oil from the surface. 5. Tasmanian oak fl oor immediately after carpet was removed... 6. ... natural features such as gum veins were puttied in black while the nail holes were puttied as close as possible to the colour of the timber... 7. ...and the fl oor after the fi nal sanding has 3 4 come up beautifully.

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