Basic Diy
Sanding The Timber Floor
Get it right and you’ll get a lot of pleasure from it; get it wrong and, because you’ll look at it every day, you’ll be very unhappy. We’re talking about sanding activity and finishing your timber floor.
There are basic steps to take.
Book the sanding machines
You will need:
- 1 x Belt sander – with clutch
- 1 x Edger
- 1 x Rotary Sander
To fully sand a floor you will require three machines. The belt sander does the bulk of the leveling work, the edger gets in close to the walls & the rotary sander smooths the floor in readiness for the timber coating.
Step 1
Inspect the floor and ensure the area is sound. Fix any loose boards prior to commencing any sanding activity.
Step 2
Sweep the area clean. Ensure the site is clear of debris.
Step 3
Punch all nails well below the surface. 3-4mm. [exposed nails can cause real damage and cost you $100’s of dollars in machine repairs.]
Step 4
Use plastic to seal off adjoining areas. This will minimize dust intrusion. Only the finest dust escapes the machines and it is best to reduce the potential settling and subsequent clean up.
Step 5
The first sand is at 45° to the timber direction. This is called the ‘level sand’ and is essential to the final result. Discuss your timber and coating options with VCS Products Pty Ltd and we’ll determine the coarsest grit to start with.
Sand slowly, the machine must be allowed to do the job. As you walk forwards slowly drop the clutch and gently allow the drum to contact with the floor. We call this feathering in. The machine must be slightly in motion as the drum contacts the floor.
Equally, as you reach the far wall slowly lift the drum. Start pulling backwards and gently lower the drum.
Work slowly across the room cutting both forwards and reverse.
Step 6
Using the same grit, now sand the floor in direction with the boards. This will remove any level sanding scratches and clean up the floor nicely. Vacuum thoroughly before continuing to the edges.
Step 7
Using the coarse grit sand the edges of the rooms. Work to the right and work the edge sander so that all areas not sanded by the belt sander are cleaned up. Do the same again with the finer grit immediately.
Step 8
Using worn edger discs, hand sand into the corners. Vacuum the area thoroughly.
Step 9
Using the belt sander now sand the main areas again using the finer grit belts. Only cut inline with the boards. This will complete the level, coarse and medium sanding activity.
Step 10
Vacuum thoroughly.
Step 11
Now it’s time to move to the fine sanding work.
Step 12
Use the rotary sander and work steadily through the sanding grits. Start with the coarsest grit [or lowest number] and finish with the finer grit. As a guide it should take around 2hours of rotary work to sand 40m2.
When the floor is free of marks and the timber has a sheen to it you have finished this stage. It is worth taking a little longer to fine sand for the best results.
Now follow the coating manufacturer’s instructions to ensure that the result on the floor is what you desire.
