What is timber floor sanding?

It refers to the procedure of removing the unwanted top sections of a wooden floor by using abrasive materials. The process of timber floor sanding often involves three critical procedures.
This includes preparation, sanding, and coating with a protective layer. This technique is mainly used to smoothen a floor to improve the appeal and to reduce any unevenness.

More so, sanding is also used to restore the appearance of old floors. Sanding using fine grades of sandpaper is essential to ensure optimal results. Various factors such as the floor structure and the sandpaper grade are essential in the process. In fact, choosing the appropriate tools is the first process in any technique of timber floor sanding.

The different methods of timber floor standing fall into two main categories. It includes machine and manual sanding techniques. Some of the main ones include:

Procedures in timber wood floor sanding

Before using the floor sanding solutions of Perth Flooring Solutions, there are various factors to consider. For instance, the floor preparation is one of the critical steps. The floor needs to be evaluated, and the finishes and wood type are all critical factors.

The primary technique of making a floor that has no defects is to use a sanding method that will complete the process efficiently. The final result should be that the floor should be free from any scratches or structural damage. The sanding should, therefore, begins with sandpaper that has a small coarseness level. It might include an average of in between the 80 to 100 grit. That said, it might have to be higher is the surface is already smooth.

The process might have to involve various successive sandpaper grades that are used to remove the scratches. More so, the finishing process might require high grades that average in between the 150 to 220 grit. The specific approach and technique used in sanding are based on various factors such as trial and error. To be specific, this is due to the fact the appearance of the sanded surface on the type of food and finishes that will be used as well. Grained woods that often contain large pores such as the oak hide can scratch better, which makes it easy to use higher sandpaper grades.

It’s also important to note that the sandpaper used in the process plays a significant role in the color of the wood. Therefore, if the staining process is associated with the finishing, then you might have to avoid sanding the wood to a smooth finish. More so, if you are using an oil-based finish, consider using a higher sandpaper grade such as 400grit. It is because oil tends to demonstrate sanding scratches.

Different techniques

Random orbit sanders

One can use the random orbit sanders, which are handheld tools that are used for sanding. The sander provides variable sanding angles of the disk and head. These machines were first introduced in the early eighties and are designed to combine speed and power. More so, it can provide a better finish than the orbital sanders. These types of sanders are available in three categories.

This includes air, electric and orbital sanders. The air and electric powered versions are handhelds, while the orbital versions are huge machines that roll on the floor surface. In particular, the sanding action is produced by a particular spinning disk. Due to its unique rotating action, these tools do not leave any marks, and they are not affected by the wood grain direction. These types of timber wood sanders use special sandpaper disks, and some are available with dust collectors for convenience.

A belt sander

This type of machine is also used in finishing timber wood floors. In most cases, it comprises of an electric motor that converts a pair of drums where a continuous sandpaper loop is integrated. The belt sanders may be handheld machines that are placed over the material, or stationary tools, where the floor material is placed on the answer. Belt sanders can have aggressive benefits and are often used during the initial stages of the sanding procedure. The best floor surface consistency can be achieved by attaching a fine grit sandpaper. More so, these types of sanders can vary widely in size and construction.

Sheet sanders

These sheet sanders are developed to be functional with conventional sandpapers. On the contrary, belt and random orbital sanders use round disks, which are typically integrated to the base of the motor. The main benefit of these sanders is that they are readily available and straightforward to use. Usually, the sheets are often cut into small portions and then secured on the flat section of the sander. Also, these types of sanders comprise of special motors that cause the sanding pad to move in a circular motion. It functions in the same way as a random orbital sander, only that the random model comes with a special offset drive bearing. As the movement of these sanders is combined, this causes the pad to provide sanding functionality. The sanding power can also be adjusted to suit your needs.

Manual sanding

The other technique used in sanding of timber floors is referred to as manual sanding. In most cases, this often involves the use of specific sandpapers that have a particular level of grit. More so, one can also use a different drum sander to complete the process. It refers to a special cylindrical wheel that has special mounting surfaces on the outer surface. That said, using manual sanding techniques is quickly being phased out. It is because the contemporary sanding machines are more efficient and simple to use. In particular, this type of sanding is often less costly though it requires lots of human resources, especially for large floors.

Finally

In conclusion, the sanding process of timber wood floors involves various procedures. More so, different techniques can be used in the timber floor sanding process, and various factors often determine this. This includes the floor type, wood structure, oiling techniques and more. Choosing the appropriate sandpaper grade and machine are equally important.