Not exactly the most straightforward DIY job, sanding wooden floors with a belt sander isn’t exactly rocket science either. Before we jump into the actual steps of sanding wood floors with a belt sander, we need to go through the equipment you’ll need to increase the chances of doing a great job. The first step of our ‘how to sand wood floors with a belt sander’ guide is removing the old finish.
If they are very warped, marked, or rough, you will need to sand the wood diagonally and then along the length of the wood. Once you have sanded the floorboards diagonally twice as above, or if the floorboards were in fairly good condition to start, use your second grade of abrasion- either 80 or 100 – and begin sanding along the length of the wood. Using a belt sander can speed up the process of sanding your wooden floors back to beauty.
how to use a belt sander on wood floors Related Question:
Can you sand wood floors with a belt sander?
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.
How long does it take to sand a floor with a belt sander?
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.
What grit sandpaper do you use to sand 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.