What's the difference between a floor stripper and a floor sander?

Author: Zella Hudson  |  Last update: Sunday, July 3, 2022

Sanding. It's well known that stripping stained and finished furniture removes the finish, but not the stain, when the stripper is used. Sanding is the only way to remove that. In the same vein, wood floors are too large to be stripped with chemicals, but they are so large that stripping them is not feasible.

Is it better to strip or sand hardwood floors?

For example if you have a painted finish on your wooden floor then stripping will likely be more effective, however if you want to remove a basic polyurethane finish and you need to do so during the colder months of the year then sanding will be more appropriate.

Whats the difference between stripping and sanding?

So then I point out that stripping is faster, and in the case of paint could even be safer than sanding. It's almost always better to strip than to sand. To begin with, except in cases where the old finish is flaking off, it's a lot more work to sand than to strip using a paint-and-varnish remover.

Do you have to strip floor before sanding?

You need a pristinely clean floor before sanding, so sweep it and then dust mop it to get up all debris and dust. Make any necessary repairs to gouges and cracks in the floor before sanding. Use a drum sander for your first sanding pass on the floor. Sand the center of the room first, and then finish with an edger.

Can you strip a wood floor with a belt sander?

A belt sander will make stripping and sanding the floor quick and easy. Belt sanders have a loop of rotating sandpaper that gives quick results. A belt sander for finishing a wood floor should be a hand-held one so you can move the tool around on the surface of the floor.

Quick Tip: Floor Sanding using an Orbital Sander.

Can you sand floors with a hand sander?

The palm sander is definitely the most common tool for sanding a wooden floor by hand. Palm sanders also oscillate, however, unlike orbital random sanders, the pad of the palm sander is fixed straight.

What is the cheapest way to refinish hardwood floors?

Applying a revitalizer gloss is the simplest and cheapest way to refinish hardwood floors. This approach works best on floors that only have surface-level scratches and other minor wear and tear issues. You can get the job done without the need for equipment rentals or hard-to-find materials.

Can I sand floor myself?

Sanding wood floors is a time consuming but relatively easy procedure. Sanding wood floors & refinishing yourself will definitely save money, and even an inexperienced homeowner can likely do a better job than the lowest bidding handyperson who quotes on it.

How long does it take to sand a floor with a floor sander?

So how long does it take to sand a floor? If you're using both the electric sander and the edger in 140 square-foot floor space, it will take you roughly 5 hours to do three sanding passes. Another thing you must take into account is how old your house is.

How long after stripping Can I sand?

Wait about 30 minutes and test a small area to determine if the finish has loosened. If not, wait longer, even several hours if needed. You may need to reapply a coat if the stripper dries out before the finish has softened. Once the finish has softened, remove with the scrapers.

Is sanding or stripping easier?

However, they might be surprised to learn that most professionals will tell you that stripping is often easier and safer than sanding. If you have a hand-me-down piece that you would like to restore, you can save a lot of time and frustration, and even avoid risk, by choosing to strip rather than sand.

Does sanding remove stain?

Sand out the stain

To sand wood previously stained you must start by using medium-grit sandpaper followed by a progression of increasingly finer sandpaper grits. This should remove most of the color left by an old stain. If you're applying a new stain, it should mask any residual color.

What is the best way to strip a hardwood floor?

Apply a paint stripper to your floor. If you want to remove just the varnish and not the paint, use a liquid stripper, applied with a paintbrush. Do not pour the liquid directly onto your floor, as wood is highly sensitive to saturation. Alternately, you can use a spray stripper, available in aerosol cans.

Can you remove stain from hardwood floors?

White vinegar can tackle the most stubborn stains. Its acid content helps to remove tough stains. Also, it doesn't damage your hardwood flooring in the process. It is suitable for removing dark marks or stains from your hardwood flooring.

How do you remove floors without sanding?

3 Approaches to Refinishing Hardwood Floors Without Sanding
  1. Use a store-bought chemical abrasion kit.
  2. Buff and recoat floors with polyurethane.
  3. Use a revitalizer.

Is floor sanding worth it?

Sanding not only removes existing damage but also prevents the appearance of new issues. There are tonnes of problems which can affect a wooden floor but making sure everything is safe and works properly, can one day save us a lot of future headaches. A smooth surface is a clean surface.

Will a floor sander remove paint?

Floor Sanding

Drum sanders are capable of ripping off even the most stubborn paint from wood floors. This also means that they are capable of stripping off much of the wood from the floor or gouging it.

How many times should you sand floors?

Hardwood flooring can be re-sanded up to 10 times, depending on how bad the floor is and how skilled the person doing the sanding is. It costs about $2.50 per square foot to refinish a floor, plus $50 an hour for patching and thresholds.

How much wood is removed when sanding hardwood floors?

When sanding any floor, the amount of wood you remove depends on the coarseness of the paper you use. Flooring professionals can sand away as much as 1/16 inches of wood with the coarsest paper.

What kind of sander should I use on hardwood floors?

The drum sander is the real workhorse of hardwood floor sanding. It is a massive piece of equipment, too heavy for most people to lift—two people are required to carry it.

How do you tell if your hardwood floors can be refinished?

Water Test. Pour a spoonful of water onto the floor. If it forms droplets that stay on the surface of the wood, the floor finish is still good. If the water is slowly absorbed into the wood, the finish is worn and needs to be restored.

Can I stay in my house while floors are refinished?

If your hardwood floors have been sanded and finished with Bona Mega Clear HD, it is safe to sleep in the home about 2-3 hours after the project is finished, but again, only if there are other rooms that have not been robbed of their furniture – furniture should stay off floors for at least 24 hours after ANY project ...

Can wood floors be refinished without sanding?

The best way to refinish wood floors without sanding is to use a technique called screen and recoat. This involves scuffing up the finish with a floor buffer and applying a refresher coat of finish.

How do you chemically strip hardwood floors?

To chemically strip a floor, a paint stripper will have to be applied to the entire surface. From there, the surface will need to be scraped with a hand tool. If the stain remains, it will have to be scrubbed until the natural appearance of the floor is revealed.

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