If you have a hardwood floor and want to preserve its shine and luster, then, without hesitation, proceed to hardwood sanding. The next decision is whether to do it yourself or hire a professional. If these are the things on your mind, you ought to read this article.
The art of refinishing or sanding a hardwood floor is an effort intensive task that works to keep your floor bright, beautiful, and clean for years to come. It simply appears to be a job requiring professional expertise. You could hire a professional to handle the task, but what about the cost? Have you ever given it any thought? If I’m not mistaken, you don’t want to spend a lot of money!
In that instance, DIY is the best option. But keep in mind that sanding the hardwood floor by hand is not an easy task. If you lack the required tools, equipment, and knowledge, the work could turn out to be disastrous. But if you have the right tools and equipment like a good palm sander, sanding hardwood floors can get a way easier. Then, by simply following the right procedure, you may carry out the task by hand.
On the other hand, if you employ a skilled palm sander, you may have to spend thousands of dollars to accomplish the task—and the labor is extremely difficult. While palm sanding yourself might save you up to half the cost of the actual job. So it all comes down to having the proper equipment.
For the best results, it is advisable to use an orbital sander or belt sander. But is it desirable to refinish or sand the floor by hand? Can you put in the hours necessary to complete the task?
Everything you need to know is right here!
Sanding Hardwood Floors With Palm Sander By Hand
One of the most common questions is- can we sand hardwood floors with a sander or palm sander? Yes, you can!
The DIY route with a hand or palm sander is easier (and cheaper) than the expert’s help. All you have to see is the size and nature of the tools used. Nevertheless, sanding a hardwood floor by hand will involve a lot of prepping and effort, so you’ll have to invest in hours of labor. Hence, be prepared to put in a lot of effort.
Hand Sander On Hardwood Floor- Pros
The benefits of sanding hardwood floors by hand are limited, but they are significant. If you are a competent person who appreciates doing challenging work, this may be the job for you.
- Palm sanders are small and inexpensive tools with greater flexibility.
- These are lightweight and easy to carry around.
- The smaller size also gives the benefit of precision. A person can precisely work on the floor, and hand sand the area properly.
- The best part about a hand sander on the hardwood floor is that it’s an inexpensive bet.
Additionally, if you know how to use a palm sander, you won’t leave a mark. You can reach over every part of the floor which even professionals occasionally are able to do. Thus, if you do it yourself with appropriate application, you may be certain of making no mistakes.
The deal is great but might be challenging if the hardwood floor has a large area. This leads us to the cons of palm or hand sanders on a wooden floor.
Hand Sander On Hardwood Floor- Cons
Are you aware that a sander is only half the size of sandpaper? This suggests that if you complete the procedure yourself, you will need to devote a significant amount of time and energy to it. So, if the area is larger than intended, you’ll have to move up and down, rubbing the surface until you achieve the desired finish.
- The palm sanding process uses a lot of sanding paper. Although the latter doesn’t cost a lot, it is something to be taken into consideration.
- If the floor is larger than anticipated and requires a huge amount of sanding paper, you may end up spending more than hiring floor sanding equipment! However, there is one catch: you may need to use a hand sander to finish the room corners. This is because corners require a hand touch-up even if you used a sander machine.
- Consider how much time it will take to complete the task. Every nook and cranny may necessitate extra time and attention. Sanding by hand takes time, so make sure to calculate the time required to repeat the process for the remaining sections. This could take a lot longer than planned.
Hence, if you’re working on a small wooden surface, use the palm or hand sander process.
Also read: House Smells Like Skunk And Burnt Rubber
Hardwood Floor Sander: Belt Sander And Orbital Sander
Before I begin, I should point out that a belt sander and orbital sander are the two best options for individuals interested in sanding the floor by hand.
Belt Sander
Belt sanders are far more efficient than conventional palm sanders. They can easily remove unwanted residue and defects, revealing a more sharp and smooth surface. Since these are easy to operate, you can complete the task faster and with minimal effort. To use this sander, simply move it forward and backward in a circular motion while applying the appropriate amount of pressure.
However, a belt sander may not be effective on the floor’s edges. It will do the task in general, but not in the corners. It could result in a sloppy finish with a grainy-looking floor.
Orbital Sander
Although an orbital sander appears to be a better choice to a belt sander, it produces mediocre results in general. Choose an orbital sander only if you need to achieve a flawless finish on wood and are working on a smaller area.
Orbital sanders feature small spinning discs that rotate in circles in random patterns. These are specifically intended to handle edges and corners of floors more effectively than belted sanders. The only risk is that these sanders leave swirl patterns on the floor, giving the appearance of rough work. So, after sanding using orbital sanders, make sure to paint the floor.
Each type of palm sander has advantages and limitations, but in terms of performance, they are all quite comparable.
One type of palm sander may be more appropriate than another depending on what you’re utilizing it for and where you want to employ it in your work process.
Steps To Sand Hardwood Floors By Hand
If you choose to use a palm sander, you may be at a loss if you don’t realize how to use it properly. The simple procedures described below will help you get the most out of your palm sander when sanding hardwood floors:
● Gather tools And Equipment
When getting started with sanding, you must prepare your supplies and equipment beforehand.
Select the appropriate tool, whether a hand sander, orbital sander, or belt sander is required.
The next step is to select the edger, which will help you cover the corners of the space that are otherwise left by the sander. Covering the corners will also necessitate the use of a palm sander. Sandpaper and other safety equipment are the final tools required.
● Get The Protective Gear
Get your dust masks, ear and eye protector, respirators, knee pads, and other safety equipment ready. Using this equipment may help you stay protected against a large amount of airborne dust that could cause breathing problems.
You will be straining your back for a long time if you use the palm sander, manually moving it around the floor. As a result, you must prepare your body for such a strenuous task. Otherwise, you may experience back pain and muscle tightness.
● Floor Preparation
One of the crucial tasks is to clean the room and make space for mobility. Remove any floor coverings, furniture, and electronics. Additionally, make repairs as needed.
You can always close the doors and adjoining rooms to keep the debris from spreading. To avoid potential injuries, always check for loose nails and other objects.
● Start Sanding
Position the machine and begin sanding the floor. Depending on the equipment, you may go back and forth or left to right to ensure that the floor is correctly polished.
If the equipment isn’t removing the layers as effectively as it used to, it’s time to change the sandpaper. Work with new sandpaper only.
● Clean The Room
Make sure to vacuum the area as you gradually up the grit level. Clean the walls, windows, and baseboards with a rag. If you do not fully clean the floor, any dust particles that remain will be mixed in with the polyurethane, providing your floor a scratchy and rough impression.
Therefore, it is advisable to wear socks when walking in the newly sanded area. Because your shoes may cause scratches!
Make use of the Sealer
After cleaning, prepare the floor and apply sealer. The application of sealer is optional, and you can forego it altogether.
However, experts recommend using it for uniform stain application. Following staining, a sealer will prevent markings from becoming noticeable.
Use The Recommended Sandpaper grit
Using the wrong sandpaper grit is a common mistake most of us commit when sanding the floor.
What sandpaper grit should I use? This is determined by the state of your floor.
- Use finer grits if your floor has already been sanded; otherwise, coarse sandpaper is required.
- If your floor has never been sanded, 24 grit sandpaper is recommended.
- For floors with thick coatings of varnish, grits as low as 16 can be used.
If you use the wrong grit sandpaper, your floor might get blocked. As a result, make an informed decision.
Another thing to consider is changing the sandpaper. When the sandpaper stops removing material, it must be replaced.
Wrapping up
Hopefully, you now understand the proper method for sanding hardwood floors with a palm sander.
Hopefully, you by now have understood the proper method for sanding hardwood floors with a palm sander.
Sanding the floor isn’t a tough chore if you have the right tools. Follow the steps above and select the appropriate tools for your floor! Although sanding hardwood floors by hand is time-consuming, the results are well worth it.
Gladly, all you want to accomplish is a smooth, flat finished floor.
