Well today’s D.I.Y. enthusiasts like to push the barrel and try new things. Here is a guide to help those who deem themselves fit.
Rule number one make sure you don’t bite off more than you can chew. Keep the area that want to do to a minimum, so start off somewhere small a cupboard or a hallway and then enlarge to a bigger room at a later date. Remember that end grain floors requires up to ten times more sanding than normal grain floors. So rule number two make sure you have correct machinery and the correct sand papers to do the job. You will need a professional floor sander a self leveling belt machine 8-10 inch, a 6-8 inch edger sander and a screen sanding machine. When laying the floor try to make sure that there is very little in height difference between blocks. This will save a lot of time later when sanding. If there is over 2mm then this will take a lot of time sanding so it is best to make sure that your sub floor is flat before installing.
OK so floor is down its flat not too many lumps and bumps you have the correct machinery. Start off sanding with the belt floor sander with a 50 grit sand paper, go over the floor in all our directions. Always sand in a straight line from furthest point to furthest point start in the corner and come across the floor from one side of the room to the other. Then turn round and do the opposite way far as you can reach always be careful of wires of course. Hopefully after this the floor should feel flat to touch if not do the same again depending on how flat the floor was to start with this could take up 10 to 15 more go’s, hopefully not. Then once the floor is flat, start sanding in a straight line along the length of the floor board usually you sand the same way with which it was laid. You then repeat this with a 80 grit sand paper. At the same time or after you can sand round the edge with a 50 grit, making sure the edger is kept flat and the floor is also flat. Then change the edger to a 80 grit sand paper and repeat. Put a 100 grit sand paper on the belt sander and sand again with the length of the wood this time try to be extra careful and sand in straight lines. Same with the edger change to 100 grit and gently sand tr no to dig the sander in as this will mark.
We are nearly there two more sands to go but first the floor need to be filled with a mix and fill. We recommend a resin filler which is mixed with the saw dust from the edger sander. You should fill the floor twice at least and leave it over night. Then in the morning sand over the floor with the belt sander and edger with a 120 grit sand paper. Make sure that all the filler from the night before is removed or continue until it is.Then buff the floor with a 150 grit screen on the screen sander.
OK so that’s it all done all ready for you to apply a finish just make sure you wipe up all the dust with a tack cloth and then wipe the floor with a damp cloth just before you apply the finish. Hope this helps all you D.I.Y, nuts but beware it can take 10 times more sanding than normal floors as the end grain surface is so hard.
Many thanks,
Daniel Hooker
http://www.parquetflooringandcarpentry.co.uk/