Hardwood Floors June/July 2024

By Brett Miller

Tampico Brush: After the floor has been sanded, the use of a Tampico brush on the buffer will loosen and remove dust from the open grain within the wood, and result in a much cleaner floor surface. The Tampico brush also minimizes grain raise, which can ultimately result in a smoother coat. Vacuuming: After sanding is complete, vacuum all dust from the baseboards, windows, sills, doors, and door frames to avoid dust/debris from falling onto the floor. Clean from the highest surface to the lowest, in that order. Use a cloth and/or a duster where appropriate. After every surface has been thoroughly vacuumed or wiped down, the floor should be vacuumed. Vacuum the perimeter of the floor, and any in-floor vents, then follow up by using a wand with a clean vacuum head in the direction of the floorboards to remove all dust from the surface and between any cracks. There are two primary types of professional vacuum wand heads used on wood flooring: felt vacuum heads are more efficient in extracting dust from the surface and from cracks and crevices. This is the best choice for final cleaning prior to finish application or between coats. The bristle-head vacuum brush attachments are good for extracting larger debris and loosening dust from open grain within the wood.

Secure the Jobsite: Be cognizant of extreme jobsite conditions and make necessary adjustments to create an environment conducive to the proper application of the finish. Regardless of how many situations will adversely affect the final coat of finish, if you don’t take everything into account, the finish will not perform as intended. This includes keeping homeowners and other trades away, which alleviates unnecessary foot-traffic from the workspace; assessing the HVAC system; addressing any water leaks; identifying or testing for any sort of contaminants. In addition, be mindful of airborne debris. Inspect

Tampico brush

Vacuum all dust from the jobsite.

Dry Tack: Dry tack the floor thoroughly after vacuuming r

weather stripping at exterior doors and windows. Large windows that are adjacent to the floor could introduce heat to the environment. Lastly, hang signs at all entrances and do not allow traffic onto the floor. The Sanding Process: The quality of the sand job will dictate how the finish looks and performs. Before deciding how the floor should be sanded, you need to determine what your “endgame” is. The “endgame” is defined by the finish that will be used on the floor. If the finish you’re using indicates the final cut needs to be a 120-grit abrasive, this is your “endgame.” The floor itself will dictate where you need to start, and what process should be followed to get to that endgame. NWFA Sand and Finish Guidelines have detailed instructions on the proper sanding process and sequence.

to remove all the fine dust particles from the floor surface, or in between coats. Microfiber mops are usually made of synthetic fibers, typically polyester, polyamide, nylon, or a composite of any of the three. These small fibers rub together creating a micro-static charge. This charge assists in physically pulling fine wood dust particles into the cloth from the floor surface. When the mop is fully loaded with dust, simply vacuum it to remove the dust (this recharges the static on your mop as well). Inspect the Floor: Inspect the floor carefully for all sanding imperfections from

Dry tack

different angles. Direct light sources or lamps will highlight imperfections and may be used as a tool to evaluate imperfections. (This is a professional’s tool, not a homeowner’s tool trying to make a determination of acceptability.) Repair all imperfections as necessary using a scraper and/or sandpaper, and finish by hand rubbing with an appropriate abrasive pad. If the result is not satisfactory, the sanding steps must be repeated.

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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