Technical > Home Improvement > Sanding/refinishing oak floor a DIY job?

Sanding/refinishing oak floor a DIY job?

I like to DIY stuff, but for some things it's better to pay a pro. I'd say this is one of those situations.

Usually a drum sander is used for the larger areas and a smaller orbital for where the drum can't get. Yeah, you can rent drum sanders, but it doesn't take much to ruin your floors. If you're only doing a 3x5' area, a orbital might be fine. For anything larger you'll need a drum sander (unless you plan on making it a lifelong project).

reply to TheSMJ
I have refinished a couple of thousand feet of oak in houses the age of yours. Could you post a few pics showing the condition of the floors and what the finish currently looks like both good and bad areas?

reply to TheSMJ
A drum sander isn't very forgiving, and takes a practiced hand...

That said, if the floors aren't totally trashed, it may not need to get that drastic... If its mostly wear and scuffing, a refinishing kit may freshen it up enough.

If it needs more then that, I've had good luck with the random vibrating sanders, that use the large square sanding pads. I did about 750 sq ft of oak parquet at my last house, and it turned out very well.

Edit - refinish, not relish... Damn ipad autocorrect... Something like this:

»www.rustoleum.com/cbgproduct.asp?pid=67

reply to LazMan
Yeah, I was looking at worst case. but to sand 1000SqFt or more....with a orbital sander. I'd rather pay a grand and be walking on it a week later.

If you really need to break out the sander (of any kind) practice in a closet or other hidden spot first.

Have you ever tried to do this?

That a trick question?

No -- have you ever refinished 1000 or more sq ft of oak sanding with either an orbital or drum sander? Simple question

Your question was answered in the OP's first post though, had you read it: "The problem is I've never done such a thing, and neither has anyone else I know."

yes I have installed many thousand sqft hardwood floors and also finished them (including drum sanding). but I'm also not the OP. Thanks for asking.

I did read the OP's post. My question was to you. Evidently you have never refinished 50 year old floors.

reply to TheSMJ

reply to TheSMJ
I think there is some confusion here on using an orbital sander to do the entire job. There are 2 main types of sanders that rental places carry. The first is the drum sander which has been around forever. You can very quickly get yourself in trouble with a drum sander if you don't know what you are doing. The drum sander can't reach against the wall so you have to use a small orbital sander to get in the tight areas. Nobody would ever use this small orbital sander to do 1000+ sq. ft.

3 pad unit

4 pad unit

reply to TheSMJ
I'll get photos of the floor(s) in question tonight after I get my hands on a better camera + while sunlight is still in the room. I tried taking them with my cell phone last night and it was nearly impossible to tell a shadow from discoloration.

The floors I'm referring to are in 3 bedrooms, a hallway which is currently still covered in carpet and a walk-in linen closet. Once the movers are finished I'll remove the carpet in the hallway and get a better idea of what shape that floor is in, but right now it appears as if the only problem areas are in the master bedroom, which is where I suspect most of the foot traffic has been in the past 30 years.

Having looked at it again last night, it might not need to be sanded/refinished as much as it needs to be cleaned in some way. High-traffic areas like right in front of the master bathroom door are very dark. Much darker and dirtier than areas like corners where furnature used to be. Almost like the floor was scuffed.

I'll try to get those photos tonight and post them tomorrow morning. I'd love to post them tonight but I don't have Internet access at the house yet, and my cell phone's reception is kinda "meh".

reply to Ken
There's another option, that's become quite common at big-box and DIY rentals places, as well...

It's the large pad sander

Interesting, I've never seen one like that.

reply to TheSMJ
It depends on many things like how much floor do you need to do, how quickly do you need it, how bad the floor, etc.

I've done a room with a 3x18 belt sander and a Makita 1/4 sheet sander. A couple of years later, I also had a 4x24 belt sander in addition for the above for another room.

I've found that coating requires more skill than sanding -- I can just do the sanding slowly and carefully, and that's all that needed.
--
Wacky Races 2012!

reply to TheSMJ
Well..
IMHO..I prefer to DIY but when I had my floors done, there was no Big Box rental of a full sheet sander. They only rented drum models. And the horrors I saw of a drum sander to a perfectly good floor...

I paid a pro $3/sqft to sand floor and edges once, first coat of satin oil-based urethane, screen, 2nd coat and screen, 3rd coat.
Been 10 years now and looks like new. Did have to have windows open during finish coats, but totally worth the result.

Figure out how many sqft you have, then call some pro's. Get estimates. I recommend the oil-based urethane over water. You decide if you want glossy (shiney) or satin.
--
Splat

reply to TheSMJ
Personally, I would pay to get it done if it's for the whole house.
A DIY job would take time, many days of rental, and constantly living in dust throughout the whole ordeal (Would be useless to start cleaning while the project isn't finished).

It's a messy, noisy, annoying job.

BUT it is a DIYabled job.

reply to TheSMJ
I have friends who did floors DIY. It was more than they bargained for. The power in their house was not adequate to support the sander (belt types) so they had to make special arrangements to get power to it. They also damaged a good bit of flooring learning to run the sander. It is doable, but it is one of those jobs that may be better contracted out.