Almost all wooden floors can be sanded. With a soft wood floor, it is important to work as evenly as possible. This is because the sander is, as it were, eating into the wood. So don't stay in the same spot for too long because you'll probably end up going through it. You can also sand parquet and laminate often. Be careful not to sand away the whole top layer because this is only 4-6 mm thick on average. In massive floors you can sand deep so the damages almost completely disappear. You do need to use a special machine for this.

Which machine can be used to sand a wooden floor?

For sanding a wooden floor you can basically use any sanding machine. Depending on the size of the floor you can choose to rent a big machine. But with an eccentric machine you can also do this, only it takes a lot of time. Make sure you don't stay in one place for too long. When you want to minimize the chance of damage to the floor you can choose for an orbital sander. This one has a much lighter weight so you won't go too deep as quickly. However, this machine will take you even longer. You could also use a belt sander. Sanding with the grain of the wood and at a good speed to prevent damage.

What preparation do you need to do before sanding a wood floor?

It is important that before sanding a wooden floor, you remove all the furniture. This will allow you to sand larger areas in one go. Loose floorboards or nails should also be removed. This is the only way to achieve an even result. Also make sure that the doors can be left open or take them out temporarily when you are sanding several rooms. This saves a lot of time and ensures a better end result. It is also wise to make sure that the floor is clean and free of grease. If you apply all these tips, it's almost impossible to go wrong.

Tips for sanding wooden floors

For sanding wooden floors, you usually need to go over them several times. For this, it is best to start with a coarse grit sandpaper. This will ensure that all the dirt and any paint residue is removed. Then you go over it with a finer to smooth sandpaper. This will ensure a smooth and radiant floor. It's a good idea to wear safety goggles to protect against windblown dust. If you are sensitive to dust, you can also choose to wear a special dust mask. If you have a sander with a collection bag, you should empty it in time. Some machines have a special connection that you can put on the vacuum cleaner. When you have this, make use of it.

How much or how thick can you sand a wood floor?

For a wooden floor there are different standards for sanding. Often you will achieve an optimal result with 2 mm. Often the dirt and varnish is already gone. If you go deeper you can get damage. Never go any further than 4-6mm to prevent this. When the edges are slightly raised you can choose to sand them deeper or replace them. Be careful not to go too deep. This makes the boards vulnerable and they may even split in half. If the floor has been lacquered, you usually have to sand 4 mm. This is to remove all traces of lacquer so you can lacquer the floor again in the colour you want.

Sanding a soft wood floor

When sanding a softwood floor you need to be careful that you don't strip it of its character. The open grain is usually the reason you bought it. If you sand too deeply or too often you can accidentally sand away these grains. These floors are vulnerable to scratches and needle marks. A tip is therefore to avoid this first and only then to start sanding. An orbital sander is often used for this job. Make sure you sand in the direction of the grain for the best result. Be careful not to sand away too much because this floor cannot be sanded more than 3 times.

Conclusion wooden floor sanding

We have now explained the best way to sand a wooden floor. If you're unsure about this, then it's a good idea to hire a professional company. This is because you can also seriously damage your floor if you go too deep or stay in one place for too long. But you should also first find out what kind of floor you have and how much you can sand off. Of course, you can later paint it in the colour of your choice. The layer of varnish gives the wooden floors their gloss, as it were.