To give your hardwood a refinished look, you need to sand it. And for that, you can use an orbital sander. Get information about how to sand hardwood floors with an orbital sander.
Orbital sanders are the best option for beginners and people who have some experience in home improvement projects. What you need to consider is the type of material you will be sanding and the size of the piece you will be working on.
There are more ways to do sanding. But if you want to do it all by yourself, then using an orbital sander will be the decision for you.
Check the details for more.
What are the ways of sanding Hardwood Floors with an Orbital Sander?
There are two ways you can sand your hardwood floors with Orbital Sander. One way is to go with some professional way and the other is to do it yourself. You can do any of them according to your preference.
Professional Way
If you want to go the professional way, you can hire a professional company. In that way, it will be easier to get a refinished hardwood floor. Also, you can relax as you don’t need to do all the things all by yourself.
However, it has a certain cost. The company charges according to per square foot. So, the larger your floor, the more the cost is. Generally, they will be charging around $7-$12 per square. Besides, the cost depends on the condition and the quality of the hardwood.
DIY Way
The other way is to go for DIY. If you don’t want to spend much money and you think you can do it by yourself, go for it. This will be a great project that will excite you for sure. All you can do is watch some DIY tutorials online or read the details that we are going to describe to you in this article.
But one thing you should know is that there is a lot of hard work you need to do if you do all these things by yourself. Also, you need to invest a lot of time in it. However, if you see the details of the tricks and techniques of this process, you can easily do it and that can save much of your time, energy, and money.
Method of sanding Hardwood Floors With Orbital Sander
When you want to have that knowledge to sand your hardwood floors with an Orbital sander, you should read the technique that we are showing you. Check the details below.
Choose the Sanding Equipment
If the room is small and it is with hardwood, you need to get the refinishing if you haven’t for a long time. We will recommend you not to do any large investments by taking any professional help. You can do it by yourself.
You just need some hard work for it. Use a random orbital sander and you are good to go. Check the details to know the process step by step.
Step 1: Learn from People’s Mistakes
If this is your first time sanding the hardwood, you need to have some suggestions. First, read everything about the techniques as well as common mistakes that people usually make. According to that, you need to search for a solution so that you cannot make any mistakes while sanding the hardwood.
You can also search on the internet to know resources on how to use an orbital sander to sand hardwood floors. Also, take proper advice about how it doesn’t make any gouge or any damage.
Besides, make sure that you have removed all the stains from the floor. Use fine sandpaper to do that.
Step 2: Prepare The Floor
Now, you should prepare the floor for sanding. Get the room cleared by taking everything out. Taking the furniture, curtains, and all the equipment out. If it is not possible, you can cover them with plastic covers.
Besides, prepare yourself by wearing protective gear such as earbuds, goggles, gloves, face masks, and all the things that are needed to avoid damage.
Step 3: Identify The Thickness of the Floor
After that, you need to identify the thickness of the floor to sand properly. The hardwood floor must be 0.75 inches thick. So, you can sand it. If the thickness is less than 75, sanding it will be risky. It can damage the floor. It is best to call a professional and measure the thickness.
Step 4: Know The Details about Sandpaper
You must know about all kinds of sandpaper in several grits. These are economical and easy to use too. The coarser grits of the sandpaper are useful that you will need for the first round of manual sanding. And it completely removes the old finish.
Moreover, the finer grits are also used to sand and smoothen out the finish. After that, take 20-grit sandpaper to paint the floor. Use 36-grit sandpaper to varnish. Then do the final sanding with the help of 100-grit sandpaper.
Step 5: Sanding
Take the orbital sander and use it to give it a nice finish. Do it part by part and make sure that the sanding is perfect. Also, do it in the corners too. Use sandpaper to remove the stains of hardwood and the places where you cannot go.
Note: How to sand hardwood floors with a belt sander?
Step 6: Vacuum The Dust
When you are done with sanding, use a vacuum cleaner to wipe out all the dust. After doing that, you need to pick up a tack cloth to remove dust if there is any.
Step 7: Use Sealer to Finish The Floor
Now, use sealer coats for finishing. If the room is easy to stain, take the help of sealing by using a good sealer. If possible, try to use an oil-based sealer and avoid using water-based ones.
Wear gloves before using them and spread the sealer evenly. Leave the room to give it time to dry properly. It takes around 48 to 72 hours.
Advantages of using Orbital Sander
- Using an orbital sander is more cost-effective than other kinds of sander
- It is useful for those who are first-timers or newbies
- You need not much experience to use it
Disadvantages of using Orbital Sander
- It takes a long time to complete the process
- An orbital sander may run away from you as it can move in all directions
- It leaves scratches easily
- It takes a lot of effort to remove the old finish
Related: How to Use a Drum Sander on Hardwood Floors?
Wrapping Up
Orbital sanders are better and cheaper than other sanders. The orbital sander is easy to operate as it requires less control than other sanders.
Know all the facts about sanding hardwood floors with an orbital sander and then start your process if you want to go with the DIY process.
Sand your hardwood floor and make it look new just by using an orbital sander.