Know About The Machinery You Will Need
A bit like cutting grass, you will need two different sanders to complete the floor sanding in Gold Coast Australia. One is for the main areas and the other for around the edges. Don't be tempted to cut costs by hiring a machine that is not top of the range, as more than likely if you do you will end up with dust everywhere. The top of the range floor sanding machines have an integral dust collection unit so are virtually dust free.
As you will need to change sandpaper frequently opt for a belt type sander rather than the drum roller type, as these are easier to manage. If you are not going DIY make sure you ask prospective floor sanding companies in Gold Coast Australia about their machinery, products and processes. If going the DIY route be aware that one of the most common mistakes is to stay too long in one place with the machine, be fluid when using the sanding machine.
Which Types Of Wood Need Special Consideration
Pine gives the appearance of being deceptively flat which means that without the correct equipment you will end up with a dip in the middle of each floor board. Parquet will require a special sander machine that can be rented at a hardware store in Gold Coast AU.
Use Disposable Masks
Make sure you have disposable face masks from a hardware store in Gold Coast Australia. Check for pieces of floor boards which have nail heads sticking up as these need to be punched down to about 1/8 of an inch below the floor boards. This can be done using a nail punch. If this is not done properly the sandpaper will get torn.
Any gaps need to be filled before starting also which can be done with a resin filer mixed with wood dust. There are a minimum of 4 types of sandpaper necessary for the job, and some floor sanding professionals may use up to 7. The 4 are 24 grit: very coarse sandpaper, 40 grit: medium sandpaper, 80 grit: medium - fine sandpaper and 120 grit: fine sandpaper.
Don't Stay In One Spot For To Long
Using the 24 grit sandpaper first, get the feel for the machine, remembering that the last thing you want to do is hang around in one spot for too long. Always sand with the grain and not against it. Move fluidly around the floor, always in the direction of the grain. Turning at edges of the room should be done calmly, keeping the movement continuous.
When you see that you are down to the new wood, then you will want to use the edge sander now for skirting boards and other parts that you couldn't reach with the main machine. Change and repeat the process now with the 40 grit, 80 grit, and then again with the 120 grit. Then you need to hoover the floor completely and leave for a few hours, before repeating floor sanding.
