If you plan to sell your property when it’s vacant, one of the most important features will be your flooring.
A beautiful timber floor can set a property apart from others if it has been well maintained.
It’s a great idea to assess the flooring to determine whether it needs a little TLC before going to market.
Up to the task
Make no mistake, refinishing a timber floor is not an easy task. It’s a lot of hard work, and you’ll have to hire the right equipment to sand back the floor. If your budget will stretch, consider hiring a professional.
Clear the rooms
Obviously, every room must be emptied before work can start. You should also seal air vents and doors with plastic sheeting to ensure the sawdust from sanding the boards doesn’t spread through the home.
Check the boards
Before cranking up the sander, check the state of your floors. Loose boards need to be nailed down. Watch out for protruding nails, which can damage a sander. Get out a hammer and smack those nails into the wood.
Safety equipment
There’ll be sawdust everywhere once you begin, so wear the appropriate facemask to protect your lungs. Old work clothes or overalls are also highly recommended.
Drum roll
If you choose to use a drum sander, be aware that there’s a real skill to using it. Yes, you can learn on the job, but it will be from trial and error. Expect to rip a lot of sandpaper as you get schooled. An orbital sander is the best alternative, but whizzing one around a room can be back-breaking.
Go with the grain
You should always follow the grain when sanding a floor, especially if using the drum sander.
Choosing sandpaper
When refinishing, you’ll not need sandpaper of more than 60-grit to get out the marks. It’s best to finish the wood with a 20-grit paper for a lovely, smooth finish.
Your finish
Decide whether you want to stain your boards or opt for a natural finish. If you’re selling soon, we’d suggest a natural finish. You also have three types of finish from which to choose: water-based, polyurethane and acid-cured.