Refinishing wood floors is a great way to update your home’s look and feel. However, many people mistakenly think that sanding is necessary.
In fact, sanding can actually make your wood floors more susceptible to moisture and damage. There are methods that be used instead of sanding your wood floors. In this blog, we’ll discuss whether refinishing wood floors requires sanding.
What is Sanding?
When restoring or refinishing wood floors, the process involves removing some of the old finish and stain from the wood to expose new wood underneath. This process is called sanding. You use sandpaper to sand the wood. This roughens the surface of the wood and exposes the underlying wood to the stain or finish you are applying. The thicker the finish layer on your wood floor, the more sanding is required to remove it. A general rule of thumb is that you will need between 3-4 coats of stain or finish to coat the wood adequately, and each coat will require some sanding in between coats to create a smooth surface. This means that most floors require at least 6-8 coats of stain or finish before they are ready.
There are many different types of sanders. You can get a drum sander, orbital sander, or a buffer for refinishing hardwood floors. However, DIY sanding is not recommended because it can take a lot of time and effort, and it is straightforward to make expensive mistakes. Hiring a professional is the best way to ensure your floors are correctly refinished.
The Drawbacks to Sanding
Sanding can remove too much of the finish from the floor. Although you can remove the old finish with a sander, the floors are more likely to split and crack in the future. This is because you’re removing the protective barrier that the finish creates, leaving the wood unprotected from the elements. This leaves the wood vulnerable to moisture which can penetrate the floor and cause the finish to flake off. It can also weaken the foundation and make it more susceptible to damage by pets, children, and furniture. Mold also tends to grow in areas of excess moisture, so removing too much finish can lead to growth.
Sanding can also be very messy and time-consuming. You will need to move furniture and cover other items with plastic to protect them from getting covered in dust. Sandpaper can also get everywhere! Sand particles can quickly get into your drapes, furniture, and even your carpet, causing damage and requiring you to clean it up later.
How to properly refinish wood floors
Several methods can be used to restore wood floors without sanding. These methods include cleaning and buffing the floor to remove the old finish without damaging the wood below. Another option is to use chemical strippers to remove the old finish in less time with less mess and dust. Finally, if you have newer wood floors and want to give them a fresh coat of stain without having to remove the old one first, there is even a product specifically designed for this purpose!
Cleaning and Buffing Your Floors
Cleaning and buffing is a great alternative to sanding if you’ve already sanded the floor in the past, but you now want to remove the finish that’s left. To clean and buff your floors, you will need to purchase special cleaning supplies and a buffing machine. You will also need to learn how to operate and use the machine properly. It may take a bit of practice before you can remove all of the scratches and finish from your floors without damaging the wood underneath.
Conclusion
Sanding your hardwood floors is a great way to freshen up your home’s decor and give it a new look without the expense of completely replacing the floors. However, it does require quite a bit of work, and you may do more harm than good if you’re not careful. If you don’t have the time or the equipment to sand your floors yourself, you may want to consider hiring a professional floor refinishing company to do the job for you.
The experts at these companies have many years of experience and are very skilled at removing finishes from the floors without damaging the underlying wood. They also have all the equipment needed to get the job done quickly and with minimal disruption to your home.
