DIY Floor Sanding: Why It’s Not A Good Idea
With the numerous tutorials doing rounds, from blog posts to videos, one may be tempted into taking on the floor sanding task as a “do it yourself” job. However, you may be biting more than you can chew. This is not the average home chore. Floor sanding is, in fact, one of the most labour-intensive tasks, and the DIY route is fraught with risks. Here are some of the reasons why it is a bad idea to handle the task this way.
- Access to equipment
Not just any equipment- you want quality gear- which is not readily available at the local dealership stores. As such, one ends up either going for low capacity machinery, or forking out loads of funds to purchase an expensive set. The better the quality, the deeper you’ll need to dig into your wallet. Back to the dealership store equipment: These sets of tools usually have their component parts reduced in size and capacity, affecting the amount of power that they bring to the process. This is all in a bid to make the equipment light and easier to move around for the DIYer, but this has a negative effect on the efficiency of the process that will be carried out. You end up spending lots of time on the job, labouring for hours in a dust-filled room. On the other hand, you could decide to purchase a high-quality floor sanding machine right from the word go- but this turns out to be unfeasible. After all, just how often will you be carrying out the sanding? The last thing you want is to be stuck with a heavy set of machinery in your house that you’re barely using- and which will still need to be serviced in order to retain it in top condition.
- The workload involved
There are no two ways about this. Floor sanding takes a serious amount of sweat equity. The old finish needs to be removed- yet it was applied with the purpose of resisting wear and tear. High powered abrasion is needed to grind away those layers of floor treatment and get to the bare wood. Lots of pressure is involved in the process, which also emphasizes on the need of working with heavy sets of machinery. Pushing them around the building is also not a walk into the park. Add this to the sheer size of floor space that needs to be covered. In fact, it is usually at this point that the DIYers tend to throw in the towel and call up the professionals to take over. Spending hours pushing around the floor sanders and dealing with the copious amounts of dust that are generated into the airspace is not exactly how you want things to go.
- Sanding marks being left behind
When the sanders are improperly used, or the appropriate grit sequence not followed, then there will be scratches and marks left in the wood. These crisp incisions will become a headache for you. They form a collection point for more of the wood stain and finishes to be used to accumulate- making the final appearance uneven. When the finish dries and cures, that scratch will be twice as prominent.
- Risks of floor damage
Without the requisite skills to handle the ask, there are high chances of mistakes being made. This can result in minor blemishes which will take more work to resolve, to all-out floor damage which will require the affected planks of wood to be pulled out and replaced. For instance, when the belt sanders that are being used aren’t tuned properly, large drum marks may end up being formed on the floor. Even a slight oversight like failing to deal with the nail heads or screw drivers sticking out of the floor will result in damage- in this case ruining the equipment itself. If the machinery had been rented, it will mean that you’ll have additional repair costs being added to your floor sanding expenses. This is not how you want things to go. Save your time and money, and retain your peace of mind, by hiring a professional floor sanding team.
Let The Professionals Take Care Of It For You
By turning to a licensed company that has a qualified team of technicians to carry out the floor sanding, you get to avoid the stresses that are associated with the DIY job. Here, engaging a company that has a verifiable track record, where you can assess the testimonials and reviews that have been left by previous clients who had received their services, will enable you to assess how much the company is committed to client satisfaction. This encompasses different aspects, from the quality of the results that are obtained, to the experience the client had throughout the service delivery. Aspects like the punctuality of the crew on the day they are set to arrive at your residence, how the personnel conduct themselves while on your property, all through to how the queries that you raise are addressed- these all factor into the determining your satisfaction with the services rendered. The professionals also have the machinery needed to handle the different scales of floor sanding jobs, from large commercial establishments and homes, to the quick fixes that are needed when touching up the floor.
When hiring a floor sanding company ensure that it has been insured. Accidents happen- even with the most experienced in the industry. Having an insurance coverage that protects your property, and the workers themselves is key to ensure that you won’t find yourself with liabilities should things go off the rails. With professionals, there is the added convenience of having experts providing the site inspection and guidance with regards to the floor maintenance, as they are well versed with the different types of flooring, from solid wood to engineered floors. The time saved during the process reduces the period in which the flor will be out of commission, enabling the subsequent treatment process to be carried out much sooner, dry and cure, after which the floor will be opened for use.
