Sanding a wooden floor: the basics of what you need to know.
Wood is an excellent choice for your flooring. A wooden floor adds a distinctive touch and a warm atmosphere to an interior. However, regular maintenance is essential to preserve its beauty. It may be necessary to sand the floor regularly and according to wear and tear to restore its original shine. Care should be taken as not all floors can be sanded. Only a professional floor layer can make a proper assessment of the renovation work required. Let's take a look at the steps involved in professionally sanding a wooden floor.
Before discussing floor sanding, it is important to remember that not all types of wooden floors are suitable for sanding.
Sanding is specifically reserved for certain types of floors, which we will examine together:
1. Solid wood flooring:
Solid wood flooring is made of natural wood planks of significant thickness, generally around 2 cm. In addition to its authenticity, it is distinguished by its robustness and durability, lasting more than 100 years and withstanding up to 20 sanding cycles, depending on the thickness and type of wood.
2. Engineered parquet:
Engineered parquet consists of three layers: a layer of hardwood on the surface, a layer of softwood, and a layer of plywood underneath. It is more affordable than solid parquet, but can only be sanded a maximum of around 6 times due to its lower thickness.
It is important to note that sanding removes part of the top layer of a floor. Excessive or repeated sanding can irreparably damage a floor, which is why it is important to have it done by an experienced professional.
For engineered wood flooring, sanding should be done only in exceptional cases and with caution. It is recommended to check the initial thickness of the hardwood layer to avoid excessive removal.
The major industrial development of recent decades is laminate flooring, which has made wooden flooring accessible to everyone.
In fact, laminate flooring can cost up to six times less than solid wood flooring. It is actually made of composite materials such as PVC, which makes it different from wood and unsuitable for sanding without risk of damage.
It is also not recommended to sand vinyl flooring or any other imitation wood flooring, as only natural wood floors can be sanded.
Laminate flooring can still be renovated by vitrification, but without the need for prior sanding, which can have a significant impact. Light sanding with a very fine grain allows a coat of varnish to be applied without the risk of marking or irregularities.
The frequency of sanding a parquet floor is often determined by the condition of the floor, but as a general rule, it is recommended that you sand it approximately every five years.
Certain signs indicate that sanding is necessary:
- Parquet flooring that darkens when you wipe it with a wet mop, indicating insufficient protection from the varnish.
- Persistent marks that won't go away.
- A large part of the parquet flooring appears to be stripped.
- Scratches that can no longer be concealed by simply waxing/oiling.
In addition, sanding may be necessary when renovating an old house with old parquet flooring that appears worn. Note that if you have replaced a few boards during the renovation, sanding is essential to even out the level of the parquet flooring. It is also necessary to harmonise the colour.
Here are the steps to follow to sand a floor, from preparing the surface to finishing with a sealant, including choosing the necessary tools:
Preparing the surface: Before you start sanding the floor, make sure you move all the furniture to allow your craftsman to work in optimal conditions.
Take this opportunity to identify and request the replacement of any damaged boards before sanding. Ensure that no nails are protruding, as this could damage the sander. Do not underestimate the risk of accidents.
Important tip: make sure you work during the day for better visibility, open the windows and ensure that anyone near the work site wears protective equipment such as a mask, goggles and suitable footwear throughout the duration of the work.
When sanding a floor, the choice of equipment is essential. Here is what your craftsman will need:
1. Sander: Opt for a parquet sander, which is more suitable and easier to handle than a conventional sander, which is less powerful and robust. Parquet sanders can be belt or eccentric:
- A belt sander, such as the Ouragan, moves back and forth with great regularity to follow the wood grain. This is the favourite sander of long-time floor sanders.
- A multi-disc sander, such as the 4D single brush, works in a circular motion, generally offering more power and increased efficiency. It is preferred by younger craftsmen because it is appreciated for its versatility.
2. Sandpaper: The choice of sandpaper is crucial. Grits range from fine to coarse, with a higher number indicating finer paper.
- Fine 120-grit sandpaper is ideal for finishing to remove sanding marks.
- To strip the wood thoroughly, a craftsman starts with coarse 40 or 60-grit sandpaper, then moves on to 120-grit for finishing.
Please note: there are no hard and fast rules, as it all depends on the parquet and the abrasives, which come in different materials (silicon carbide, ceramic, zirconium). Every craftsman has their own habits.
For hard-to-reach areas such as corners, craftsmen use an edger with a nose that is longer or shorter depending on accessibility.
The way to sand a wooden floor depends on the layout of the boards:
- Herringbone parquet (laid at right angles): sand diagonally to achieve a uniform result across all the boards.
- English parquet (parallel boards): sand in the direction of the wood grain for a uniform result.
- Mosaic parquet (checkerboard pattern with square panels): sand in the direction of the light to maintain a harmonious appearance.
By following these methods adapted to the layout of your parquet flooring, you will achieve optimal and aesthetic sanding results.
Here are a few recommendations to avoid common mistakes made by beginners or non-professionals when sanding:
- Avoid staying in the same place for too long when sanding, as this can accentuate defects and irregularities such as dents or waves.
- For best results, change your abrasives as soon as you notice a decrease in sanding efficiency.
- Sand regularly in the direction of the floorboards or in the direction of the light for a uniform and attractive finish.
- After sanding, the floor becomes very sensitive to dirt. Take all necessary precautions to avoid stains and shoe marks in order to maintain the quality of the work done.
Sanders from rental companies or DIY stores do not allow you to achieve the same quality of work as professionals who have more powerful machines that they know how to use perfectly. The more you sand, the more you wear down the floor, not to mention the amount of abrasive material that goes to waste. Ultimately, the time and quality savings are incomparable.
After sanding the varnish, make sure the floor is thoroughly cleaned by first using a construction vacuum cleaner, then a slightly damp mop.
There are three main options for finishing a freshly sanded floor:
1. Sealing: a sealed floor requires less maintenance. A sealing varnish is used to give your floor shine and lasting protection. A sealed floor can be cleaned with a slightly damp mop. Be sure to use suitable products to avoid tarnishing the varnish.
2. Waxing: you can choose to wax your floor to nourish and protect it. Wax should be applied once or twice a month, depending on how much the floor is used. Waxes can be neutral or tinted. Maintenance is more time-consuming, but this remains the choice of those who love traditional wooden floors.
3. Oiling: Whether to oil a floor rather than varnish or wax it depends on several factors, such as aesthetics, durability and maintenance. Here are a few things to consider: Oil penetrates deep into the wood fibres until saturated, providing protection against moisture and dust. What's more, it offers an infinite range of decorative choices. Regular maintenance of oiled parquet flooring is very simple, requiring only light maintenance one year after installation.
Sanding parquet flooring creates a clean, smooth and flat surface on old or damaged parquet flooring, floorboards and new or old staircases by removing stains and old finishes (varnishes, oils, waxes, paints, etc.). The wood is stripped back to its natural state, leaving it uniform and ready for the chosen finish. This step is a delicate operation when you want to preserve your floor for a long time. It requires a little care, as careful sanding guarantees the success of the final applications, the exceptional restoration of the grain and the optimal appearance of your finish.
