Value Of Floor Sanding And Polishing
Wood floors, despite their durability, are still prone to issues like scratches and dents. From foot traffic – especially the cleats, heavy work boots and high heels that add to the strain, furniture items like barstools and dining chairs that get dragged across the surface, to the occasional items that get dropped onto the floor – over time the effects of this becomes more prominent. Even the rolling chairs in offices can damage the wood, especially for those with metal wheels. The sofa occasionally scooting over the floor when people throw themselves on it after those long days from work, Fluffy running around with claws drawn out, scratching the floor in the process, kids’ toys like miniature vehicles and rocking horses that grind the surface – these will result in scratches. Finishing coats are usually applied to enhance the protection against this barrage of abuse. When a quality floor finish is applied correctly, then the protection can last even up to a decade. Granted it will eventually deteriorate, with additional issues like spillages, those intense scrubbing sessions as you work to get the stains off the floor, cases of pet urine stains, all through to effects of solar radiation on the finish coats.
As the years go by, that charm and appeal of the wood floor will fade away, dragging down the décor of the interior space together with it. After all, the floor is one of the largest structures within the building, and its state is bound to affect its surrounding. However, all is not lost. In fact, one of the unique benefits of having a wood floor is that you can make it look all new without having to change the boards themselves. Simply have the sanding carried out, through which the existing finish coats are removed and the bare wood exposed, preparing the surface for the fresh treatments to be applied. These new coats will restore the protection of the wood, allowing you to continue enjoying the benefits of the elegant wood floor.
Before the wood stain, sealants, varnish or other products are applied, the bare wood needs to be exposed, and the surface should be smooth. Rushing the floor sanding process would lead to patches of the old finish remaining. When the new wood stain is applied, it will react differently with these sections compared to the rest of the floor, resulting in an unsightly finish. What’s more, the functionality of the finish coats to follow will be compromised due to the weaker bond. This is why it is imperative to get the floor sanding done correctly in the first place.
Any imperfection from the floor sanding process, such as when scratches are left behind due to the grit sequence not being properly followed, will be made more prominent when the finish coats are applied. In fact, some of the imperfections may not even be initially visible during the actual sanding, only to be enhanced when the floor is finished and polished. Hiring a professional floor sanding service will enable you to avoid such issues.
Is dustless floor sanding truly dust free?
Unfortunately not. As much as a contractor may tout their services to be carried out cleanly with no generation of dust, there simply isn’t a technology that supports this in this day and age. But why do they market their services as “dustless floor sanding” you ask? Well, professional contractors adopt methods that drastically increase the effectiveness of picking up the dust generated during the process – by even as much as 99%. How do they do this? Unlike previous approaches where personnel used sanders with dust bags, the professional contractors use high-powered vacuuming systems that are attached to the sanding units. The powerful suction generated during the process picks up the dust immediately it is sanded off the floor, and it is then transported to containment units through a series of pipes. This approach has become widely popular, since it reduces the mess and health risks that are associated with the typical floor sanding process. So, while it isn’t completely dust free, it is far more preferable to simply using the conventional sanders with dust bags that end up leaving copious amounts of dust all over the interior space.
Deciding to take on the floor sanding project as a DIY task comes with its fair share of problems. First, you’ll need to take time to research the different types of sanders and their applications during the renovation projects, then determine the appropriate one for your particular project. Next will be sourcing for sandpaper and abrasive pads to be used in the process, as well as waiting on queue at the local dealerships to rent the sanders. When it comes to the work outcome, there are different factors that come into focus that will determine the success, or lack thereof, of the project.
Oversanding that leads to the wear layer of the wood reducing more than it should, undersanding that leaves behind patches of old wood stains and finish, divots and scratches that ruin the quality of the finish – these are not issues you want to run into. Spending hours pushing around heavy machinery and waiting through the day in a dust-filled room can be exasperating. What’s more, since the larger units like the drum sanders would be able to work on the areas that are directly next to the baseboards or walls, an edger will be required. Many DIYers tend to rush the sanding, since hovering on those tight spots can be tedious, especially after most of the day has been spent dealing with the rest of the open floor. It can be frustrating when you take days on the project, and wind up with unsatisfactory results, where you’re forced to either endure living in with a ruined floor, or redo the renovation project, with another round of floor sanding to remove the coats of finish that will have been applied. You don’t have to put yourself in such a situation. Ring up the pros and make arrangements to have your floor worked on by a qualified team.
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