I just bought an older home with beautiful hardwood floors from 1943, and I'm about to embark on the task of sanding and sealing them. The house is around 1400 square feet, mostly with hardwood except for the bathroom. While the floors are in decent shape, they definitely need some refinishing. I'm planning to rent the equipment for this project, so I'm looking for any advice or suggestions from those who've done this before. I've got a feeling the floors are pine. Any tips to help a fellow renovator out?
3 Answers
If you're looking for tips, definitely start by assessing the condition of the wood and the old finish. I recommend using a drum sander with 60 grit paper to get you down to bare wood in most areas—just remember to keep it moving when you lower the belts. After that, work your way up to 100 and 120 grit to smooth it out. For edges, use an orbital sander with the same grits. If you’re going with an oil finish, make sure to prep it properly. Good luck!
Just a heads-up, the newer sanders you can rent are usually orbital disc sanders, which are a lot easier to handle than the traditional drum sanders. If you’re using an edge sander, watch out for the end grain on your walls; it's pretty easy to mess that up!
Honestly, I’d advise against DIYing this project if you can help it. Sanding and refinishing floors is more complicated than it seems. You’ll need to remove all the furniture and be prepared for a week of waiting after the final poly coat before you can move back in. In my area, refinishing around 1200 square feet costs between $2500 and $3k professionally.
The house is totally empty since there's a lot of work to do before I move in. It's a DIY project home, and I really can't afford to hire it out. I'm ready for the hard work!
Thank you! This is great info and right in line with much of the research I have done.