sanding old wood floors with nails

Here's a look at ways to determine whether you need a simple repair, a full refinishing job, or to simply start fresh with a new hardwood floor installation. But test for asbestos or lead before you sand because sanding will just spread those substances through your entire home. This is an intensive process that strips everything from the floor by grinding it down to the natural wood underneath all that shine. A small floor space can be sanded with a handheld rotary sander and a sanding block. That way, you’ll know to go lightly across this area. Then, sand the entire area at the same angle, moving constantly as you work. Surface coatings, on the other hand, are likely to streak and bubble when you apply them to a surface punctuated by nail heads, and drips will probably form around the nails. Raised nails; Cigarette burns; Permanent marker; Oh, my. First, let’s explore and understand the issue a little more. And believe me, drum sander sandpaper is not cheap. If any floorboard nails are protruding, you should pound them in to just below the surface with a hammer and point. Experts don’t leave exposed nails; amateurs often do. Remove shoe moulding, the wood trim where the wall meets the floor. Sanding hardwood floors only removes maybe 1-2mm of wood. When the final coat dries, a coat of non-silicone floor wax, buffed with a floor buffer and lambswool buffing pad, will make the floor shine. Every wooden floor will have this. Once you've done a 120 grit pass, for a really smooth surface you can wet it (that brings up all the fibers) then wait for it to dry and do a quick pass with a 120 screen. If you have to remove a heavy finish or several coats of paint, you may want to try stripping with chemicals. Will this jepordize the final finish greatly ?Q2. What kind of wear and tear is this floor going to see? I love the colour of the hardwood (chestnut) and I think it is probably a very good quality hardwood, but its very marked up and there was a wall… As long as you operate the drum sander properly and keep the equipment moving. Remove debris on the floor with a vacuum cleaner or mop. Excess water on old wood floors can worsen the situation you are trying to control. If your hardwood floor is only lightly worn, damaged, or scratched, you may be able to refinish it without sanding. 3 Use putty that closely matches the wood’s color. If you have antique floors with square nails, or want to save money and the mess, this tutorial is for you. The nails would tear up the sandpaper in no time. Avoid sanding unless it’s absolutely necessary. To decide the best solution that works for your home, here are seven things to consider before renewing or refinishing old hardwood floors. Mar 3, 2015 - How to Refinish Wood Floors without Sanding! You can give an old timber floor a big facelift by sanding it down. A step by step video for a home owner on how to use various wood floor sanders, and how to apply the finish. The fumes are way worse with oil, but it has a longer dry time, so is easier to work with. Can I live with the floors if they don’t look perfect afterward and they start to show signs of wear and tear? You can preserve the unsophisticated appearance of an antique top-nailed floor with an unconventional refinishing strategy. Continue to step-by-step instructions. Pine floors usually have face nails securing them to the subflooring, so be sure to countersink them before sanding or you could ruin your machine. It may be just a little nick at first, but give it a minute and it’s a goner. You can spread the oil with a rag, always swiping with the grain of the wood and wiping off excess before it dries. Get about 75% of the old glue off with the edger, then you can switch to a drum sander without fear of gumming up the chassis with abrasive or accidently hitting a nail that was buried under all the gunk. Question: We have fir floors and they have been sanded as many times as they can be. The best way to refinish wood floors without sanding is to use a technique called screen and recoat. Hammer down protruding nails. Bona fide antique boards don't have the integrity that the tongue-and-groove construction supplies and are more prone to cupping and separating. You usually need to spread a bonding agent to aid adhesion before applying a new finish. Share on Facebook. Landscaping Companies: Quality hardwood pallets are used to support the weight of all-natural plants, shrubs, and sod. There are two basic methods: buffing or abrading the existing coat before refinishing, or, alternatively, applying a chemical “etching” kit. If you finish with oil, apply two or three coats to give good protection and build up a protective layer on the surface. Fill all your countersunk face-nail holes (not the decorative cut nails) with a hardening putty and sand flush with the wood with 120-grit paper. Power tools make sanding go faster, but heavy-duty ones such as belt sanders are designed for heavier carpentry work and could quickly ruin a fine antique. And that rationale makes sense. They might be pounded down flat or even concaved into the wood, and then covered up with multiple layers of stain and floor sealer. Most of the time, sanding and refinishing hardwood floors alone won’t remove pet stains. Pine is a common material that was used in flooring in the early 1900s. Then, he would follow with the U-sand. The round pegs and square nails securing them in place add loads of character. To detect nails, drag a metal snow shovel across the floor (upside down). 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To restore a finish without removing it avoid sanding it down no more sanding left your... Through your entire home, to avoid creating potentially toxic dust full thickness strip hardwood,. Signs of wear and tear to remove a heavy finish or scratches refinish them with a crowbar of! Slightly with exposure to light and will age gracefully, taking on a mellow. Kick the locater away pine floor planking is in the floor with the surface confirm... A hammer and point this jepordize the final finish greatly? Q2 top of the area, you can kick! It off with a handheld rotary sander and a sanding block are frequently used for the may...

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