Hardwood Floors August/September 2025

If you’re wearing a hoodie, you’re not allowed to have a drawstring on it. You either have to take it completely off or not wear the hoodie at all. Same with bracelets, rings, and anything else that can get stuck or caught up in a saw.” In addition to using all the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), another way to protect yourself is to read the instruction manuals for power tools and machines. Reduce the

risk of injury by maintaining and inspecting tools properly to ensure they are in good condition. “For us, safety starts with training, making sure every team member knows proper tool use and understands jobsite-specific risks,” shares Cardona. “We always prioritize personal protection and dust containment.” From fires to health, dust is a major consideration when it comes to safety. As Sheaves focuses more on the sanding side of the business, he says dust containment equipment is an area where he would not recommend sparing any expense. “Everything is hooked up to the vacuum because I don’t want to breathe in the dust and have lung issues down the road,” says Sheaves. “We always have top of-the-line vacuums to help contain every single thing that we can.” In the process of controlling dust, avoid creating tripping hazards from cords and vacuum hoses by placing them behind a workstation. Beyond sanding, Elquest notes that if you are cutting a lot of wood inside a home, it can create dust and loose pieces of flooring in the middle of a room. “You have to run a vacuum, and we run dust separators on ours,” explains Elquest. “I use a saw hood in conjunction with a vacuum that is attached to our saw, and the hood helps catch all of that loose dust that falls straight down. There’s a trash can underneath it, so it falls right into the trash can. That trash can also works for small pieces that would normally get set aside or tossed onto the ground.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SHEAVES FLOORS

Aaron Sheaves with Sheaves Floors says of organizing his work

van, “It has made me more efficient

because I know where everything is at any given time. There is no looking for it; I know exactly where it is at in the van, so I just grab it and go.”

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