Hardwood Floors April May 2018

Unique Techniques

By Bre t t Mi l l e r

Sanding Beyond Strip and Plank

Not all sanding jobs are the same.

True success depends on understanding the full scope of the job. The plank size, species, existing finishes and colors, condition of the floor, installation method, and the orientation of the room all make a difference in the sanding method used. This article will cover some of the unique sanding situations that go beyond the standard strip and plank installation.

PARQUET FLOORS First and foremost, check the moisture content of the wood oor before sanding to ensure moisture content is at the same level as properly acclimated/conditioned ooring from the installation process. (To learn more about acclimation, refer to the NWFA newly published Moisture and Wood publication A100.) If the oor was recently installed in an adhesive application, sanding and nishing should only occur a er the adhesive has nished o -gassing, is cured, and the moisture content of the wood has returned to the same level as properly acclimated/conditioned ooring from the installation process. (Refer to the adhesive manufacturer’s recommendations for proper curing time.) To properly sand parquet pa erned oors, rst, load the sanding machine with the proper selection of sandpaper. e abrasive selection should be the nest grit possible that will a en the oor. All cuts should be at a 45° angle to the direction of the wood; this prevents dish-out of the material. Vacuum between all cuts. e second cut should be at the opposite angle of the rst cut, using the next appropriate grit of sandpaper. All subsequent sanding cuts with the big machine should remain at an angle to the wood grain to prevent dish-out of the material. e cut angle on the oor will be dictated by the many variations

in grain direction, species, and condition of each individual oor. Use the last sequenced grit, not skipping any grits between sanding cuts. Typically, the nal sanding grit for a parquet oor will be ner than for a strip or plank oor. Use an edger to sand edges and other places inaccessible to the big machine, using the nest grit that will a en the oor. Vacuum between all cuts.

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