Floor Sanding Old Nails

It totally sounds like it s.

Floor sanding old nails.

Using a pole sander is a bit more time consuming but also easier to use than a buffer and more affordable. This floor restoration method requires a floor buffer with a sanding screen to scuff the old finish of the floor which is why it s called a screen and recoat. How to refinish floors with antique nail heads. Most hardwood floors are installed with invisible nails and those that aren t are either old or intended to look old.

Normal flooring nails don t have a wide head so it is possible to drive them below the surface but these have a big head. Floor sanding is the process of removing the top surfaces of a wooden floor by sanding with abrasive materials. The other problem you will have is trying to sand the floor flat you don t want to be sanding down more than 1 32 inch on your new floor because you will run into nails very fast and be out of wood to hold them in place. The use of those common nails seems to be somebody s desperate attempt to reduce the problem.

Use an approved vapor retarder. Avoid using roofing felt as the asphalt may heat up while sanding and bleed into the floor. When you re sanding nail heads will rip the sanding belt which costs you money or gouge the sanding drum which costs you more money. After completely emptying your room remove any old floor coverings nails and anything else that is attached to the floor and then give everything a good vacuum and clean.

Using a 120 grit sanding screen buff the floor along each board moving back and forth with the grain. So countersink all nails by at least 1 8 in. If you just sand over the nails it may not work leaving the heads high. Basically you want an empty clean surface to start working from.

This type of sanding will level minor unevenness left by the drum sander and edger as well as buff away sanding scratches. A variety of floor materials can be sanded including timber cork particleboard and sometimes parquet some floors are laid and designed for sanding. It will still squeak if you don t lift and renail the floor. When it hits a nail you ll hear it.

Nail down any loose boards with finish nails. This fine detail work can make your diy project look more like a professional job. Many old floors are sanded after the previous coverings are removed and suitable wood is found hidden beneath. After mopping the floor and letting it dry you use the buffer to run a 120 grit sanding screen over the surface.

Some people rent an industrial floor buffer for this step but a pole sander pictured is another great option.