Level 1 – Basic Sanding of Oak Floors for a Clear Finish
Writing technical articles for the NWFA magazine for a few years now, I had to take a break for a while. I am back now to writing on a regular basis to share all kinds of information with our beloved contractors.
Taking the trade from the start, I’d like to discuss basic sanding fundamentals. What you’ll read below is a short summary of what needs to be done on a floor to get it ready for a clear finish. That is what most people see; people who don’t understand the craft and the talent that it involves. I will then expand on each point in the next several blogs, and I will detail everything so much that you’ll get sick of how many details there are.
If I said 50 grit..you’d say 40. If I said Trio…you’d say Powerdrive. We all have our preferences of how to sand floors. If I put ten contractors at a discussion table to agree on one sanding sequence for one oak floor, well that could take forever. Reading this blog please understand that I know there are many ways to get somewhere. Your way is probably slower and worse than mine. But really, who cares? Yes, I had to say this to get you out of your reading coma. Laugh, it’s good for you.
Let’s begin:
- You must cut the floor flat with the big machine. Remember that making the floor flat doesn’t happen when you go with the grain. Woodworkers flatten a piece of wood at an angle using a hand planer or handheld belt sander. You use a big walk behind belt or drum sander. Cut the floor at an angle, then go straight with the direction of the floor.
- You must cut the floor flat with the edger. That includes all the areas the big machine couldn’t get.
- Now that the floor is flat, fill it. You don’t have to full trowel it every time. Use common sense.
- Sand the filler off with the big machine and the edger using a finer grit than your rough cut.
- Smooth the scratch pattern with a buffer or a multi-disc machine.
- Take care of the corners with scrapers and sanding paper.
- Vacuum
- Tack
- Seal
Simple, right? Not quite. Sanding and finishing wood floors is art. In the next several blogs I will break down, analyze, and explain each step and what it means down to the very last detail of how you walk your big machine and/or what you think you know about scratch patterns.
Anyway, welcome back Avi to writing again. I’m sure you all missed my stupid humor and unconditional sharing of information.
Be cool.
Avi Hadad is the owner-operator of Avi’s Hardwood Floors in the San Francisco Bay area. He can be reached at avi@avisfloors.com.