
You can sand or refinish hardwood floors by hand as long as you have the right equipment. Hand or palm sanders can get the job done, but they are extremely demanding to use. For the best result, you’ll need to use an orbital or belt sander with sandpapers that are the right grits for the job.
How to sand a wood floor by hand?
- Follow up each phase of drum sanding with edging. ...
- Place a nylon pad under the sandpaper. ...
- Replace the sandpaper when it’s dull. ...
- At the end of the job, lay a flashlight on the floor to highlight any leftover swirls. ...
Can You sand and refinish hardwood floors yourself?
You can sand or refinish hardwood floors by hand as long as you have the right equipment. Hand or palm sanders can get the job done, but they are extremely demanding to use. For the best result, you’ll need to use an orbital or belt sander with sandpapers that are the right grits for the job.
How to sand the corners of your wood floor?
Hardwood Floor Sanding DIY Instructions
- Prepare the Area. Cupboards, doorways, closets and any other areas or items where you are working should be protected from dust with plastic.
- Start with the Rough Cut. On older floors, the first step when sanding is to choose an aggressive grit (like 24 grit per square inch) to level the ...
- Rough Cut the Edges. ...
How to restore hardwood floors without sanding?
Case #2: Non-Waxed Floors
- Clear and Clean the Area. The first step here is to clear the area of all furniture and belongings. ...
- Apply the Liquid Abrasive and Scrub. In your liquid abrasion kit, you should have a scrubber pad with a wooden block, one that allows you to screw your ...
- Reclean the Floor. ...
- Take Care of the Worst Damage. ...
- Apply the Finish. ...

Can I sand my own hardwood floors?
Sanding wood floors is a time consuming but relatively easy procedure. Sanding wood floors & refinishing yourself will definitely save money, and even an inexperienced homeowner can likely do a better job than the lowest bidding handyperson who quotes on it.
What is the best way to sand hardwood floors?
15:4328:04How To Sand and Finish Wood Floors - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBecause it's gonna start with a lot of torque. One of the other types of machines that you'll findMoreBecause it's gonna start with a lot of torque. One of the other types of machines that you'll find available your rental Center is going to be called an orbital sander. This is the obs.
How do you sand a floor without a machine?
0:4514:02How to Refinish a Wood Floor Without Sanding (under 1 hour) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou take three boards at a time. And you sand with the grain all the way along. So this is just aMoreYou take three boards at a time. And you sand with the grain all the way along. So this is just a demonstration so I'm not going to start in there. Make sure you get into the corner.
How long does it take to sand a floor by hand?
It can take 1-5 days for a professional and 2-15 days for a DIY enthusiast, depending on the size and condition of the floor. For planning purposes, it would take 1-day per room for a professional and 2 days per room for a homeowner doing DIY.
Can you sand floors with a hand sander?
The palm sander is definitely the most common tool for sanding a wooden floor by hand. Palm sanders also oscillate, however, unlike orbital random sanders, the pad of the palm sander is fixed straight.
How do you hand refinish hardwood floors?
6:3410:02How to Sand and Save a Wood Floor - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAfter you're done with the first two coats after each coat what you're going to do is take a veryMoreAfter you're done with the first two coats after each coat what you're going to do is take a very very fine sandpaper 220 grit and just go over it very lightly.
How do you sand a floor without a sander?
3 Approaches to Refinishing Hardwood Floors Without SandingUse a store-bought chemical abrasion kit.Buff and recoat floors with polyurethane.Use a revitalizer.
What is the cheapest way to refinish hardwood floors?
Applying a revitalizer gloss is the simplest and cheapest way to refinish hardwood floors. This approach works best on floors that only have surface-level scratches and other minor wear and tear issues. You can get the job done without the need for equipment rentals or hard-to-find materials.
Can you refinish hardwood floors without sanding them?
Luckily, you have options other than leaving the floor as it is or replacing it. The best way to refinish wood floors without sanding is to use a technique called screen and recoat. This involves scuffing up the finish with a floor buffer and applying a refresher coat of finish.
What kind of sander do I need for hardwood floors?
The drum sander is the real workhorse of hardwood floor sanding. It is a massive piece of equipment, too heavy for most people to lift—two people are required to carry it.
Can I use a belt sander on hardwood floors?
Belt sanders have a loop of rotating sandpaper that gives quick results. A belt sander for finishing a wood floor should be a hand-held one so you can move the tool around on the surface of the floor. Belt sanders will do a good job of leveling out the floor and preparing it for a finer sand.
Can I use an orbital sander on hardwood floors?
Random orbital sanders are the best choice for do-it-yourself hardwood floor refinishing. They take longer to remove old finishes than drum sanders, but they do not require a lot of experience to use and are less likely to damage your wood floor.
Which is better orbital or drum sander?
The results speak for themselves as well. Older floors tend to have very deep stains, and it's going to be incredibly difficult to get deep stains and scratches out with a simple orbital sander. A drum sander is better suited for when you begin your refinishing job, especially if your floors are a old.
What type of floor sander should I use?
Unless you plan to sand many floors in your lifetime, your best choice of floor sander is the random orbital sander from one maker in particular. Unless you plan to sand many floors in your lifetime, the best choice for do-it-yourself floor refinishing is the random orbital sander.
What kind of sander Do I need to refinish hardwood floors?
Random orbital sanders are the best choice for do-it-yourself hardwood floor refinishing. They take longer to remove old finishes than drum sanders, but they do not require a lot of experience to use and are less likely to damage your wood floor.
What grit sandpaper should I use for hardwood floors?
Start with 36-grit sandpaper for a floor that hasn't been sanded in a long time or that has a lot of heavy finish on it. Floors that have been painted may even require you to go tougher and use 24 or 16-grit paper. Maple floors are so hard that they often require 36-grit sandpaper as well.
What is the best sander for wood floors?
The handheld orbital sander is a pretty powerful tool that many find too aggressive. However, it is the right sanding machine for achieving a very smooth finish on wood and remove the old finish and all sorts of imperfections and dirt from the surface of the floor efficiently. The orbital sander is often used for very worn and old wood floors. The random orbital sander system is the one with the pad that oscillates, but it spins loosely, which means that it will always give way to resistance.
Can you use a drum sander to sand wood floors?
However, the classic sanding project that involves the usage of a heavy-duty drum sander, orbital sander, and an edger is definitely not the only option for sanding wooden floors. Some people prefer to do the sanding by hand. It is a lot of hard work and requires a lot of time, energy, elbow grease, attention to details, this is why the heavy-duty sanding machines are made for - making the whole process easier and faster.
