You have discovered hardwood floors in your house. It has been decided that you want to give them a makeover, befitting the times and look that would add value to the overall presentation of the house. A debate has raged in your mind on the options, of handing out this messy job to a professional with cost implications or doing the project yourself, with resultant savings and inevitable gloating that comes with it. Hardwood floors equipment are great investments in such cases as they come handy in the long run.
You have rolled up your sleeves and have got to the task of sequencing tasks that will make up this project. Here figures, first and foremost, the list of equipment needed to complete the task at hand. This means the difference between a project running smooth as butter or yanking hairs with million trips to hardware stores. Hence, the detailed list of refinishing hardwood floors equipment.
Specialty Equipment
* First and foremost you will need a good sander. It could be drum sander or a belt sander. Drum sanders are equipped with high speed motors that turn bundles of sandpaper at high velocity. This piece of heavy refinishing hardwood floors equipment is needed to wear out the earlier finish from your hardwood floor, which may not be that easy to remove by hand.
The sander wears away the finish from the floor, smoothing the wood below. If the floor had been carpeted before, you will find glue stains or furniture scratches or deep stains which need to be evened out. This helps the surface of the wood be receptive for the subsequent coat of stain and finish. It is physically challenging hauling this refinishing hardwood floors equipment around, so if you are taking it up the stairs to another floor, be sure to have help at hand.
Please note that these sanders can be difficult to handle at first, so get tips from salespeople at the hardware stores on the proper use of refinishing hardwood floors equipment. Practice with them at a neutral corner or surface and ensure that you do not place the sander on the same place as they will cause swirls in the floor, which will require additional work. It is a messy job, with clouds of dust swirling up while sanding, so take precautions to use eye, ear protection and a dust mask.
* Though the drum sander is used for most of the floor sanding purpose, it is cumbersome to use it on the floor edges or corners. This is where the Edge sander figures in the larger scheme of things. It is a hand-held piece of equipment that can be used on these peripheral areas to bring the sanding to an even scale with the rest of the floor.
Though not as unwieldy as the drum sander, this refinishing hardwood floors equipment can still be an exertion as it has strong vibrations. Also, you have get on your hands and knees, which may leave you exhausted pretty easy and aching all over. Factoring in knee pads as well as elbow protection, will go a long way in mitigating the after effects.
It has to be used in broad sweeping motions from one side to another, till you cover the whole area that needs treatment. You will get comfortable within no time and just carry on till the feathering has been achieved on al edges and corners. Since your face will be close to the dust swirls coming off the sander, dust mask, eye glasses and ear protection are a must.
* Another refinishing hardwood floors equipment needed for the project will be a buffer. This is akin to the drum sander, except that it rotating brushes. This is used to smooth out the floor after the sanding process, which will bring out the grain of the wood. This helps the floor better assimilate the stain and finish to give the floor the splendid look you need to bring out.
It can also be used between each coat of stain, to take out the brush tracts and extra layering that will render the floor uneven, which could affect the sheen of the finish. It also creates an abrasive layer that helps fit the next coat ever so well when applied.
Regular Equipment
* Modern tools which refinish with dustless systems are available at most rentals nowadays. It can add to the expense and if you decide to skip it, you will most necessarily need a Shop vac, as an important refinishing hardwood floors equipment, at almost all stages of the project. This is different that a regular vacuum cleaner as it has more power, which will help clear the dust and debris that is generated by the refinishing process.
* Sandpapers of differing grits for all sanders, to the lower numbered ones that are coarser and help in removal of paint and finish from the floor, and a bit higher numbered ones are good for leveling out raw wood floor that are uneven. The finer grit sandpaper, the ones that are higher numbered, are used for the final sanding and also for smoothing between coats of stain. Have an ample supply of them, anticipating tough resistance from the floor being worked upon.
* You will need a good supply of wood filler, to fill up all the cracks and crevices as well as carpet staple openings that will be present in the old floor, also those new ones that might spring up once the sanding process takes place, and also the gaps between the boards that need not be there for climate based expansion.
* A strong metal hammer with a soft grip, with a claw in the back to pull off unnecessary jutting nails as well as hammering protruding ones. This also can be used to nail down boards that have come off, by hammering the nails at an angle to firm the board in place. Boards that are completely worn out, that need to be replaced can be pried out using the claw of this hammer as well.
* Stains of your choice from a range in a color chart and depending on the look you would want for the wood. You would like to finish it light if you want the wood to shine through, in natural hues, or a medium and dark shade, that goes in sync with the walls, furniture etc. You could also go in for custom made jobs that are a bit expensive and also have a strong effect.
* You will also need brushes, rags, wool stain applicators,
* The one component of refinishing hardwood floors equipment that you will definitely need to bring together before anything else will be safety equipment comprising protective eye glasses, ear protection and dust masks. Additionally you can throw in hair covers, and gloves if you need them. These refinishing hardwood floors equipment can make a big difference in your home projects.
Be prepared and save yourself loads of trouble and regret. Bon Travailler.