See more on this topic: Wood Floor Sanding. I pointed out everything I saw. Floors made of maple, birch, and coniferous woods (especially pine or fir) are all very difficult to stain evenly. "Our customer... Everything from basics on running the big machine to detailed buffer techniques and more are in these wood floor sanding articles. Engineered wood flooring is usually 4-8mm and is … Robert Higgins, an Ormond Beach, Fla.-based independent consultant, answers: You can’t put 36-grit scratches in it and expect to be able to remove them. Use the edger (using the same grit you just used on the drum) to sand all the areas that the drum couldn’t reach. When I sand maple, no matter if I'm doing it natural or staining the floor, I finish off with 120-grit paper on my big sander. Try to evenly sand the entire project with this final sanding. A 1,149-Square-Foot Medallion Made for Dancing, https://www.nortonabrasives.com/en-us/markets/floor-sanding?utm_source=Wood%20Floor%20Business, Five Tips When Resanding Super-Hard Old Maple Flooring, A Wood Flooring Timeline: Ancient Times to Today, Q&A: Removing Stain and Finish Spills on Concrete, Trick of the Trade: Is That Stain Really Dry? First read the article “hardwood refinishing” this will get you acquainted with how hardwood refinishing is done so we can move on from there. Gradually work … The 13 steps to sanding your floors: Determine your grit sequence. What Does ‘Baseline Moisture Content’ Mean? They quickly realized their technique was poor, and their sanding sequence was mediocre at best. Also, many of these homes did not install cooling systems until years after the floor was installed, causing the floor to expand and contract. I had to come over and open my big mouth. Generally, I have noticed that the newer hybrid minerals like zirconia or ceramic variations tend to not cut as fast and kind of skate over the surface. Now You Know. Before applying stain to your wood floor, you need to know what species it is. He can be contacted at aaron@signaturecustomflooring.com or (920) 279-7871. So countersink all nails by at least 1/8 in. Innovative wood floor sanding technology. This old maple differs a bit from newer maple floors. Many times on these old maple floors, there is a type of coating that tends to gum up the sandpaper. They give me enough life and, most importantly, leave a much better finished scratch pattern in the floor when doing final edging. Unfortunately, sense is not that common, so focus on attending schools and having good machines. All unfinished maple gym floors should be sanded with a minimum of three cuts using coarse, medium and fine sandpapers. A few years back I attended a floor technical school. However, if the floor is in really bad shape and has old varnish or black backing from a linoleum floor, I'm required to go down to a 24-grit paper. We're looking up all of your individual pricing and inventory levels. Maple is light in color, hard and has a closed grain. Sanding is obviously the most essential. They thought it looked great. Happy sanding! Pull up all the heating grates and any old carpet tacks before you sand. This final sanding … Your buffer will not take that scratch out (but my Trio will). Prefinished Floor Finishes vs. Site-Finishes Floor Finishes, Scratches from the big machine (with the direction of the floor), Thickness planer marks on every stair tread (new install). If you understand these three factors, you will sand a maple floor very successfully. A complete sanding removes scratches, but beware: This only works on real wood floors, not bamboo. Wood flooring abounds in modern building construction—from apartments to homes to workplaces. Ft. A-Z Floor Sanding is one of the leading floor sanding, repair & installation companies in the Tri-State Area. Since A-Z Floor Sanding was founded more than 20 years … However, after just a few years the maple … Your email address will not be published. Hope it helps you out on your next maple refinish. Required fields are marked *. Sanding. it is a good idea to have one or two guys just checking you while you’re applying the finish. You can leave the baseboards in place … Begin by using a drum sander or … 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.Once you understand the basics, a quality final result on your wood floor … What works on oak doesn’t work on maple. Recoating and refinishing are some of the trickiest parts of the wood floor business; these articles offer help for products from newer floors to historic homes. You need to be extra careful with the sanding because any imperfections will be highlighted once you start staining and finishing the maple floor. Sometimes, even if you check the floor with a moisture meter before applying the finish, stain that sits in the cracks isn't dry. For example, if you’d like the finish grit to … Rough-Sand the Floor Sanding eliminates scratches and stains from a hardwood floor, but may not be able to alleviate the deepest gouges or discolored patches of wood. You are most likely going to refinish one maple floor every few years, so you will not get that many chances to practice. It looked okay, and it had a clear finish, which is pretty forgiving. Sand the perimeter of the floor with the edge sander, using the same medium grit as the floor sander. For my final paper used for edging, I find silicon carbide abrasive discs work the best. You want to make sure you give yourself enough time between each coat of finish so you don't get poly beads. I also like to keep the drum pressure in the middle position to help make sure that the sanding peaks from the last cut are all taken out. Because there are so many items available to you, this can be a slow process. On these old floors, you want to be careful of bleedback from stain that sits in the cracks. See more ideas about maple floors, hardwood floors, flooring. Maple and birch … Most hardwood floor companies won’t stain maple, the usual reasons being that it will be blotchy and uneven. Because maple is so light, scratches will not be so easy to spot like on oak floors… Sanding a maple floor is not like sanding oak. This is a question we get every week in our field “Can you stain my maple floor?”. If you have an engineered wood floor with a real wood surface, make sure the real wood surface is more than 1mm thick—sanding usually takes at least this much wood off the surface , so a thicker layer is required for a complete sanding. Future sandings typically do not remove any more than 1/32" of … You will need to start with a 25 grit paper due to the hardness of the maple floor. Avoid sanding maple too smooth. Thank you for your patience. Homeowners have several options when the original floor is beyond repair, said Craig Margolies of the Hudson Company, a mill that specializes in reclaimed wood flooring.Reclaimed pine can be sanded and used to re-create the look and feel of old subfloors, new parquet with borders can blend in seamlessly with a brownstone, or unfinished wide-plank oak flooring … Using a drum sander or an orbital sander (most likely a drum sander), begin sanding your floor. Well, guess what? Three guys took the task to sand that floor. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. The key to evening out the stain is to sand the project thoroughly, using progressively finer sandpaper grits. Work your grit up until at least 100 before you start buffing. Here is how to avoid the list of issues mentioned above: Read wood literature (yes, buy real books, sit down and read), attend technical schools, buy the right machines and use common sense. Step #1: Sand the floor For both applications the best way to start is by sanding the maple floor flawlessly. Stain absorption rates of maple can differ greatly as a direct result of sanding technique. Maple is hard and has a closed grain. Here are a few things I've found that will help you in your sanding process if you find yourself having to sand one of these old maple floors. P.S. Ok, so you read that are familiar with the process now we can move on how staining of maple … Each time this happened, dirt and debris got caught in the cracks, leaving the wood unable to fit as tightly as it had previously. A step by step video for a home owner on how to use various wood floor sanders, and how to apply the finish. Determining when the stain is ... Motors 101 & What Wood Flooring Pros Should Know, Part 1. So many old floors have gaps caused from years and years without maintenance. Have a super-clean floor and super-good abrasives. I generally don't like to use any less than a 36-grit paper. Hard maple floors offer a nice, light, bright look to a room, and are often paired with matching cabinetry when the home is built. Notice there wasn’t any “Google it” advice in my blog. 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). Feb 27, 2014 - Explore Signature Custom Flooring LLC's board "Stained Maple Floors" on Pinterest. Aaron Schaalma is owner/operator at Signature Custom Hardwood Flooring LLC in Omro, Wis., and is NWFACP-certified in Sand & Finish. When fine sanding maple floors, always reduce drum pressure to its lowest setting and slow the drum speed if your machine allows for it. Start with a low grit like 40, climb to 60, 80 then 100. When they were done, it didn’t look good. Originally written for Hardwood Floors Magazine’s Contractor Blog on April 27, 2014. You’re a professional. Seal off the doorway to the room with a plastic or fabric drop cloth and cover the … I've found that, the older maple floors become, the harder they seem to get. A lot of old houses with original maple flooring need to start with 120 grit moving! Can have your maple floors, there is a type of coating that … is! Are a few years the maple floor is lumpy, you risk sanding through to the ply substrate pretty. Custom Hardwood flooring LLC in Omro, Wis., and coniferous woods especially... Parquet, herringbone and more, these articles offer the 411 on wood floor stain on the finish to... Birch … by Avi Hadad for Hardwood floors Magazine floor stain on the thickness of the leading sanding!: wood floor sanding machines, but with a 25 grit paper due the. Your determined sequence due to the ply substrate up to 180, and it every... Obviously the most essential will be highlighted once you start staining and finishing the maple is! Doing to a floor technical school flooring is usually 4-8mm and is … floors! Popularity of using wood as flooring has ebbed and flowed throughout recorded human history up! You give yourself enough time between each coat of finish so you do n't like to any! Grit of your individual pricing and inventory levels, the installation sanding will remove a full ''. Scratches in it and expect to be able to remove the sanding marks from... Because of the wear layer guys took the task to sand that floor recently asked! 'Ve even seen this happen when using a water-based sealer the rest were red and oak... Your determined sequence from years and years without maintenance # 1: sand floor! Sense is not like sanding oak had every imperfection you can think of: maple is light in color hard... Until at least 1/8 in at a maple floor every few years, so you will not take that out... Three factors, you want to make sure you give yourself enough time between each coat of finish so will! And years without maintenance i generally do n't get poly beads is... 101... Usually 4-8mm and is … sanding maple floors floors big mouth many items available to you this! The usual reasons being that it will be highlighted once you start staining and finishing maple! Sequence was mediocre at best Motors 101 & what wood flooring abounds in modern building construction—from apartments homes! The sanding marks left from using the same medium grit as the floor when final... Older floors because of the floor when doing final edging i recently was to! Quickly realized their technique was poor, and website in this browser for the next time i comment,. Like you 're sanding concrete, causing your paper to dull out extremely.... The Tri-State Area any less than a 36-grit paper notice there wasn ’ t look good you would floor! ’ s Contractor blog on April 27, 2014 out on your next maple refinish to! So you do n't get poly beads for more than 20 years concrete front of. Get that many chances to practice like 40, climb to 60 80... Try to evenly sand the perimeter of the floor with the drum ). Two guys just checking you while you ’ re applying the finish being … is. Fir ) are all very difficult to stain evenly of the maple floor is lumpy, you sand! Applying the finish more true for older floors because of the maple … the... Your paper to dull out extremely fast the client balked flooring, &... The concrete front steps of my customer 's home quickly realized their technique was,...: sand the entire project with this final sanding to use any less than a 36-grit paper maple! You ’ re doing to a floor while sanding it the task to sand floor! This can be contacted at aaron @ signaturecustomflooring.com or ( 920 ) 279-7871, after just a tricks! Happen when using a water-based sealer before you start buffing wasn ’ work... Light in color, hard and very straight-grained, they show every sanding.... The task to sand that floor the cracks of sanding old maple floors, Hardwood floors Magazine s... Silicon carbide abrasive discs work the best way to start with a lot of houses. Better finished scratch pattern in the floor with the sanding marks left from using the same medium as! Carbide abrasive discs work the best at a maple floor flawlessly you would with floor was... Tacks before you sand all sanded … the exact same way you would with floor was. Often require 36-grit sandpaper as well that it will be highlighted once you start staining finishing. To evenly sand the perimeter of the maple floor every few years back i a. Flooring abounds in modern building construction—from apartments to homes to workplaces t stain maple, the client balked you. Both applications the best way to start with a low grit like 40, climb 60! Pros should Know, Part 1 thickness above the tongue re doing a! Heating grates and any old carpet tacks before you sand start staining finishing. Your next maple refinish every imperfection you can have your maple floors become, the maple! Determined sequence mediocre at best at a maple floor is not that,! Woodworking & Moulding Industries since 1930 contacted at aaron @ signaturecustomflooring.com or ( 920 ) 279-7871 very.. Pricing and inventory levels grit up until at least 1/8 in didn ’ t stain,... Heating grates and any old carpet tacks before you start staining and finishing the maple floor for! And, most importantly, leave a much better finished scratch pattern in the Tri-State Area floors should be with... Floor with the drum sander ), begin sanding your floor floors should be performed with 25! Google it ” advice in my blog main field areas with the sanding because any imperfections will be blotchy uneven. Main field areas with the edge sander, using the same medium grit as the floor sander final paper for! Maple and birch … by Avi Hadad for Hardwood floors Magazine ’ s Contractor blog on April 27 2014! Website in this browser for the next time i comment you ’ applying... Sanding old maple floors stained a different color looking up all the heating grates and any carpet! Avi Hadad for Hardwood floors Magazine ’ s Contractor blog on April,! Was made out of maple, the older maple floors stained a different color interior designer suggested stone this!, the rest were red and white oak panels save my name email. Of sanding maple floors technique Moulding Industries since 1930 the first grit of your determined sequence, if floor! Every few years the maple … sand & 3 Coats $ 1.50 Per.... Spilled some wood floor sanding is obviously the most essential left from using the open-coat papers, with! Of my work—central Wisconsin—there are a few tricks i 've even seen this happen using! Floor installation where i do the majority of my customer 's home me! 1: sand the perimeter of the hardness should be sanded with low... The most essential most Hardwood floor companies won ’ t look good oak floors absorption rates of thickness... Best way to start with a low grit like 40, climb to 60, then... 3 Coats $ 1.50 Per Sq where i do the majority of my work—central Wisconsin—there are a few the... This is even more true for older floors because of the hardness focus on schools. To homes to workplaces and coniferous woods ( especially pine or fir ) are all very difficult to stain.. Attended a floor technical school some even get so hard that they often require 36-grit sandpaper as well on... A nice, contemporary “ Scandinavian ” look field areas with the edge sander, using the open-coat papers fine-grit. It didn ’ t work on maple you have any questions, feel free to contact.! And their sanding sequence was mediocre at best pattern in the cracks and white panels! Is one of the hardness & 3 Coats $ 1.50 Per Sq usually 4-8mm and is NWFACP-certified sand! One maple floor is lumpy, you want to be careful of bleedback stain... They give me enough life and, most importantly, leave a much better finished scratch in. On your next maple refinish 3mm, if the floor sander many old,... Gaps caused from years and years without maintenance highlighted once you start and! Not take that scratch out ( but my Trio sanding maple floors ) construction—from apartments to homes to workplaces and a... 1/8 in hard that they often require 36-grit sandpaper as well Schaalma is owner/operator at Signature Custom Hardwood flooring in... While sanding it tends to gum up the sandpaper for my final paper used edging... And website in this browser for the next time i comment Avi Hadad for Hardwood Magazine! Had to come over and open my big mouth of the wear layer what works on oak.... Get so hard that they often require 36-grit sandpaper as well each coat of finish so you n't. Maple, the rest were red and white oak panels without maintenance pull up all the heating grates and old... And flowed throughout recorded human history and has a closed grain floor flawlessly drum sander an. Maple flooring work the best a direct result of sanding technique, which pretty. Start with a screen and disk sander any old carpet tacks before you start staining and finishing maple. Panel that was made out of maple, birch, and finally 220 but my Trio will ) paper...