Home DIY

Right, this is how I rennovate floors:

You will need

1. Floor sander.
   
2. Edge sander.
   
3. Range of sandpaper going from 24 grit through to 120 grit for both machines ( I would normally buy three of each if not more, if they are not used HSS will refund you for any unused sheets when you return the machine).
   
4. Dust mask.
   
5. Hearing protection (I have a pair of isotunes headphones which are good quality ear plugs combined with bluetooth headphones).
   
6. A detail sander, with the same grits as the floor and edge sander (optional, but makes sanding the corners much quicker and easier).
   
7. Water based or resin filler (you need quite a lot).
   
8. A grout squeegee.
   
9. A clean bucket.
   
   

How to do it:

1. Go over the whole floor thoroughly with a vacum cleaner, any protruding nails etc need to either be removed or pushed down past flush with a centre punch. If you do not do this and are using a hired sander you run the risk of taking a gouge out of the drum and will lose the deposit that you paid on it, so it is worth being anal here.
   
2. Start with the sharpest grit sandpaper that you have (should be 24grit). Use the floor sander first, I work from left to right along the longest axis of the room, start in the bottom left hand corner of the room and slowly push the floor sander as close to the top left as you can get then pull it back along the part of the floor you've just sanded. This strip should now be back to bare wood, if not repeat, once it is back to bare wood move the sander along to the right overlapping with the strip you've just sanded and start again. Continue like this until you have done the whole floor as best you can with the drum sander, now its time to move onto the edge sander. With the edge sander, load it up with the grit of paper you have just used on the drum sander and work your way around the room getting as tight into the corners as you can. When using the edge sander start just on the edge of the sanded bit and putting pressure on the machine push it tight to the wall and then along the wall before bringing it back in a horseshoe shape, continue until you are back to bare wood all the way round the room.
   
3. Repeat step 2 with the next grit up of sandpaper, only this time you want to change the direction you are working by 90 degrees so work from bottom left to bottom right with the drum sander.
   
4. Keep repeating the process until you have worked through the grits each time you change the grit, change the direction that you are working by 90 degrees.
   
5. When you move to the highest grit on the edge sander, make sure you change the bag. Once complete put some of the sawdust from the bag into the clean bucket and mix it with your filler of choice until it reaches a thick paste. Work this into any gaps in the floor, I find that the best way to do this is to put a large dollop on the floor and use the squeegee to sweep it from side to side working backwards, do this in strips on the floor until you have worked filler into any / all gaps. Leave the filler to go off and then sand one last time with the finest grit sand paper that you have.
   
6. Sand the corners with the detail sander working up the grits in the same way that you did with main floor.
   
7. Thoroughly vacum the floor
   
8. Apply your finish of choice.
   
9. Stand back and marvel at how fucking amazing you are!
   
   

I know that reading it seems like a lot but its one of those jobs where you work yourself into a trance-like state and come out the other side feeling pleased with yourself. There is nothing like standing back and looking at your work when you've finished a job like this.

Would strongly advise that you take your time and dont rush it.

This video is pretty good and the guy is working in a similar way to what I have tried to describe, but if you click on the links he's trying to get you to click on you will be asked to buy his e-book about sanding floors.

https://youtu.be/co2ac-Q-0F4