How to sand a floor

Create a natural finish to your floorboards by stripping them down and sanding them. Here's how to do it.

Level of difficulty

Level 2: Intermediate

What you need

• Dust mask
• Goggles
• Ear protector
• Hammer
• Nail punch
• Floor sanding machine
• Sanding belts or discs
• Sandpaper
• White spirit
• Cloth
• Floor sealer

The steps to follow

1. Clear the room and seal it to keep the dust from escaping. This will be a dusty job!
2. If the floorboards are uneven and the gaps prove too wide to close, your only solution will be to replace them.
3. You can fill minor holes with wooden plugs or wood filler.
4. Hammer in all protruding nails or remove them.
5. To sand your floor, you will need to hire or buy a floor sanding machine and a belt sander, to finish off the corners.
6. Start by sanding the floors with the floor sanding machine, working diagonally and using the coarsest grade of sandpaper. Move the machine at a slow walking pace, sanding at a 45 degree angle to the floorboard.
7. Replace the sanding belts when needed and empty the dust bag.
8. Stop sanding when you feel bare wood.
9. When you're finished sanding the floor diagonally, change to a medium grade sandpaper, and sand the floor parallel to the floorboard.
10. Lastly, use a belt sander to sand corners. Again start with the coarsest grade to medium, and finish off with the finest grade of sandpaper.
11. Hand-sand any inaccessible areas.
12. Remember to not concentrate on any one spot for too long as it will unevenly dent the floorboard.
13. When you are finished sanding, vacuum or sweep the floor.
14. Wipe the floor with white spirit.
15. Apply a coat of floor sealer.