Hardwood floor sanding

[mojoputter]

I have about a 100 square feet of oak flooring that over 10 years of 2 boys have made this floor scratch and a little nicked up. Its our hallway and front entry way. How tough is it to rent a floor sander and do this job. Would I have to remove the molding along the edge of the floor or can that stay in place?

[sparcebag]

Its not as easy as one would think.The machine is touchy,I've seen first timers gouge the floors from not keeping the sander moving,you'll also have to rent the edge sander and if done right you wont have to remove any baseboard.I've also read of a new style sander thats much easier to use,I never used it or seen it in action.But if you read up on how the machine is used and try it,you'll know right away if you will like the finished sand or not,KEEP the sander MOVING.

[Sandmannd]

This is actually one of the easiest home improvement projects I've ever done. I redid my whole house a couple of years ago. Don't get the drum sander, that's what makes it hard and will gouge your floor. I rented basically an extremely large orbital sander. I got it at Oakdale rental. You could leave it sitting and it did no damage to the floor. I took the basboard off cause then I didn't have to get on my hands and knees and use and edge sander. You start with heavy sand paper and work your way down to a screen. In between each change of paper (I think there were four) you will want to sweep and get all the dust up. Then after the last sanding, I would damp mop it and let it dry. You then can stain it (if you want) and then varnish it. I just put clear coat on (varnish) my floors and they look awesome. You can put two or three coats on, but I put about 6 because I have a toddler and two dogs that are hard on it. In between the first and second coat (once the first is dry) you run the screen over it to rough it up a little again. I did this as well between the second and third coat. Then after that just kept putting coats on. I use a wool aplicator on a broom handle and it works great. You really can't mess up putting the varnish on. I did try the round orbital sanders at Menards, but they are junk, took it back and went back to Oakdale rental when I did my second phase. The living room and master bedroom have been done for four years and still look great.

[Surface Tension]

With only 1 square to do I'd use a belt sander. If you don't have on buy one and take your time. You'll save on the rental plus and from buying their belts of pads.

[Sandmannd]

I've tried that Survace, it's much more work. Just my opinion, but rent the right machines. It was around $100 for the two times I got one. First time did my LR and BR and the second time I did the hall and 2 other BR's. Doesn't take long at all.

[Jeremy airjer W]

this is on my honey do list for the spring. I have seen the orbital sander on this old house. It looks like it is pretty easy to use. I haven't done a whole lot of research on it yet but its good to know that Oakdale has one.

What type of "varnish" did you use? Or is there any anyone can recommend?

[Steve Foss]

Airjer, there are some excellent acrylic finishes out there. Used to be you'd have had to use an oil-based poly, which takes a long time to dry. The acrylic finishes generally go on milky but dry clear, and they dry much faster so you don't have to spend a day waiting for one coat to set up before you can put on another coat. That's especially valuable in high-traffic areas. Any Menard's or Home Depot or Lowe's, or any hardware store or lumber yard, for that matter, will have a selection of them.

High-gloss finishes tend to be more durable than the matte finishes, but I used the matte acrylic finishes quite a few times because I don't like the glare of high gloss, and the matte finishes have stood up well.

[Sandmannd]

stfcatfish hit it right on. Get the acrylic, easier cleanup, goes on milky and drys pretty fast. I let the first coat dry overnight, then sand it quick with the screen. Put on the second coat and then only have to wait about 3 or 4 hours in between coats. Once it's dry, you can put your other coats on. Any of the stores have the stuff, can't remember what I used by name but I got it at menards. They say you only have to put on 3 coats but with dogs I put on 5 and it's holding up well.

[sparcebag]

The milky color is nice when you go for the 2nd-3erd coats,you can see your coverage well.