Floor Sanding and Polishing
Hardwood floors are quite robust. But no flooring material is perfect, so even the best floor may suffer damage.
One great advantage of Hardwood flooring is its ability to be re-sanded. Surface damage can be removed from a hardwood floor by sanding off the top most layer. This can be true even if the surface damage is quite extensive
Often the damage on a wooden floor is minor and limited to a small area. A board or two might be scratched when some furniture was removed. This should not require anything as extensive as a re-sanding. Often the damage can be repaired in a straightforward way.
Check to see that the floor does or does not have a wax finish. Apply a little paint thinner/mineral spirits to an inconspicuous part of the floor and wipe it off with an old white rag. If the rag turns brown or yellow then the finish is probably wax.
Waxed Floors
Waxed floors can often have any damage repaired, or scratched concealed, with re-waxing.
For Lacquered or Oil Floors
- Sand the damaged part of the floor with a sanding block or sandpaper. Use 120 -180 grit sandpaper. Move the sandpaper/block in the same direction as the grain. And only remove as much material as necessary, i.e.: just barely remove the scratches.
- Some areas of the floors, heavy traffic areas, will be worn. It might be a good idea to lightly sand these areas too.
- Vacuum the floor to remove all dust from the sanding. Do not sweep as this leaves dust in the air and in the cracks between the boards.
- Apply oil or lacquer to the area(s) that were sanded. Use the same lacquer or oil as used on the rest of the floor. Wear a respirator as the fumes are harmful.
- Wait at least three hours before reapplying for a second coat.
- Leave windows open so the room is ventilated.
- Wait at least a day before moving furniture or rugs back onto the floor.
Have the floor polished to restore the shine.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is provided for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. No individual should take, or refrain from taking, any action solely based on the material contained in this article. While we aim to offer accurate and timely information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on the date of receipt or in the future. If you require more information or seek relevant legal advice specific to your circumstances, please contact our office.