How To Sand The Edges Of Hardwood Floors?

If you are a homeowner or a professional who has a sanding task waiting to be checked off the list, this article will surely be of your interest.

Many people who take up the sanding procedures of hardwood floors find the edges to be their worst nightmares.

No matter what you do, they don’t get the same level of grain as the rest of the floors.

However, we are going to solve this problem for you today so you don’t have to face it ever again.

You need to give the edges the same level of grit as the rest of the floors to sand them properly. Moreover, you would also require a diagonal sanding motion with the right tool to make the task successful and the desired results from the job.

Keep on reading to find out more about this process in detail so you can also sand the edges of your hardwood floors properly

How Much Should You Sand The Edges?

The most common verdict in this scenario is to sand the edges as much as you’ve sanded the rest of the floors.

However, there are many homeowners and professionals that do not agree with this opinion. They often state that leaving the edges a little less sanded is always better.

But this is not true due to various reasons; allow us to elaborate. Uneven sanding of the floors can cause a visible difference in the levels of the center and the edges of the floor.

Moreover, if there was any leakage or the floors were being cleaned with water, the water should slide from all the edges of the room and get puddled towards the center of the floors which can be highly dangerous.

Lastly, a difference in the sanding levels of hardwood floors can cause a difference in the level of thickness which can lead to variable strength in the planks.

As a result, the floors can get cracked or face other problems due to this difference.

Therefore, it is always better to ensure that the edges are equally sanded just as the rest of the floors.

How To Sand The Edges Of Hardwood Floors| A Comprehensive Guide

If you are also looking for the right way to sand down the hardwood floor edges and don’t know where to start, we have something in store for you which will surely help you a lot.

First of all, you must keep in mind that you will need either a small hand-held sander or a sanding machine with a supporting shape which can cover the edges and sand them down.

You can’t expect to sand down the edges using the conventional drum sander.

Another important fact to keep in mind is that the edges are meant to be blended with the rest of the floors.

This means equal sanding on all areas to maintain a unanimous look throughout the floors.

Vacuum The Floors

Before using any sanding machine on your hardwood floors, it is necessary to make sure that your floors are clean and that there is no visible solid residue on the floors which might cause any unevenness during the sanding procedure.

Besides, small pieces of debris can also cause scratches on the floor while sanding as they get ground on the wooden surface.

An easy way to do so is to vacuum the floors to collect any dust or debris which might be present on the floors.

Moreover, it is also necessary to vacuum the floors once before changing the grit of your abrasive pads.

This is a crucial step because the dust from sanding can also cause a serious level of scratching on the floors if it is accumulated on the wood.

It might sound like a tiring task but is surely necessary for the safety and integrity of your hardwood floors.

Finish Sanding The Rest of The Floors

It is always better to make sure that the edges are sanded down at the end of the process.

This is a useful way to achieve the right level of sanding throughout the floors and prevent unequal grain on the edges of the floor.

Once you are done sanding down the rest of the floors, you will have a target to which you will sand the edges to make them level and blend them with the rest of the floors.

It is important to keep in mind that the process and grit used on the center and sides of the floors will be repeated for the edges.

For instance, if you used a 100-grit sandpaper or abrasive pad for the rest of the floors, you will use the same on the edges.

Moreover, if you complete sanding in two steps, coarse sanding the floors first and then following with a higher grit sanding session to give it a smooth appearance, the same would be done for the edges.

Choose The Right Tool & Sand The Edges

The most important step before sanding the edges is to use the right tool to do so.

If you do not have the funds or opportunity to opt for more than one tool, you can also sand the floors with your hands using sandpaper.

This process will be a bit lengthy and hard but you will surely achieve the desired results if you put in the required effort.

A useful tip here would be to choose a sandpaper close to 100 grit and sand diagonally as this can make the process much faster and more efficient.

As far as choosing the right tool is concerned, you would want something light, compact, and with a small wheel which can run along the skirting and give you the right results.

While no tool is perfect for any job, you will have to figure out which one works the best according to your sanding style, the wood you used, and the area you want to sand.

A general recommendation would be to use a belt or palm sander mainly because they provide more control and the belt sander can easily work in Squarespace.

Lastly, if your hardwood floors are recently installed and are part of a renovation or construction process, it is best to have them installed at the end.

Most of the time, the cosmetics part of any construction or renovation project involves the use of paints, plaster of Paris, and a lot of other items.

Many of these can drip or get splashed on the floor either from the ceiling while drying or by accident.

Besides, other accidents where heavy items fall on the surface are also quite common.

Therefore, it is always best to have all these phases completed before you can opt for the installation and sanding of the hardwood floors to protect them from all these possible risks.

It is always better to give a touchup to the areas which were disturbed by the sanding process than to sand the floors again just because a splash of paint ruined your flooring.

Final Words

Hardwood floors need to be sanded either at the time of installation or at a refinishing session.

Moreover, maintaining the same level on the edges used to be a difficult task but not anymore.

After reading this guide, you will surely be confident enough to sand the floors right away and give the edges the right treatment and sanding that they deserve.