Floor Sanding

Major floor sanding is a tough job that requires skill and experience to achieve professional results. That said, there are homeowners who do want to tackle this job. If you're toying with the idea of floor refinishing, there are two alternatives to the traditional drum or belt sander that the professionals use.

The pad sander is just a large orbital sander with a large rectangular sanding surface. This machine works much slower than the drum machine, but it's hard to get into trouble with it. It works best for light sanding or clean up of a floor in decent condition. Newer on the scene is a machine with multiple random-orbit sanding heads. This machine approaches the drum machine's aggressiveness without the risk of the divots and gouges that afflict many amateurs. Still, floor sanding is a very physical sport and there is nothing easy about it.

- Stephen Corwin

(I have always been told this is a job for someone else to do!!!!) if you don;t know what you are doing you can totally ruin the wood floor!)

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2001

Answers

I saw this done on TV once--DO NOT do this at home, lol! Far too much work and mess with even rented appliances. Yes, by all means let a pro do it Or cover the damn floor with carpet, like I do.

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2001

I thought my floors needed sanding, but a good acrylic-type cleaner really shined them up.

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2001