Sanding and refinishing hardwood floors is a fairly simple process when performed properly. However, the results can be outstanding if you know what you’re doing. And there are several things that can lead to more dust buildup in your home than you may realize. Avoid these potential dust problems by following a few simple steps when sanding and refinishing hardwood floors.
When sanding your floor using a sander, always wear a dust mask. The sander will produce quite a bit of dust which can contain small particles of oil and dust mites, as well as provide a medium for expansion and contraction between the wood flooring and the sander. These constant contraction and expansion motions can result in tiny air pockets which expand and collapse just as the waves do on the ocean floor. And they can make even the best sealer ineffective because the sealer doesn’t provide much of an airtight seal.
So you should wear a dust mask and gloves when sanding your hardwood floors. And you should use the best quality sandpaper that you can afford. You want to use a very fine grain sandpaper on your sanding paper to avoid scratching your surfaces. Also, you will probably need to do some touch up sanding between the sanding sessions, but this is not generally necessary with most hardwood floors.
When sanding hardwood floors, you need to avoid using the typical wire brush or sandpaper wheel that you might use for painting or staining. Instead, use a “dustless” power sander that does not generate a lot of dust or noise. These dustless tools are much better for sanding hardwood floors because they do not require a lot of energy to run and they don’t need to generate a lot of noise to accomplish their tasks. Because they do not make use of any sort of an air driven tool like the brush, the dust that they leave behind is completely harmless and can be completely contained by the sander.
When you sand your hardwood flooring using a dustless sander, you will be sanding over many surfaces rather than just one. Because of this, you will want to work in small portions at a time. Sanding only part of the room at a time will give you more control over the overall result of your sanding. The process will also take place at a slower pace than it would if you were working with a brush or a traditional sander. This allows you to finish the job in a reasonable amount of time.
When you are finished, you will find that your wood floor sanding project went much more smoothly and easier than it might have otherwise. Without the extra mess and hassle of dust, you can enjoy the finished product without worrying about health issues that come with using traditional tools that create dust and leave behind particles that can be inhaled by those in the home. You will also find that the finish that you obtain from dust free sanding is much better than the one you might achieve with a traditional sander. This means that you can enjoy the beauty of a hardwood floor sanding and refinishing for many years to come. For more info on floor restoration visit www.denverflooringcompany.com.
