Discussion
I have been asked to help my cousin sand a floor. Any tips, tricks and advice gratefully received.
The room is large - around 20’x20’.
My cousin says it would be a fairly routine task but for the black edge… At some point in its’ history someone has painted/treated the edge of the room and there is a 2/3 foot wide of black. Best guess is that this was an adhesive to hold down a linoleum flooring but could be anything.
Cuz has had a go at the black with a sheet sander to little or no effect other than the almost total and immediate destruction of the sand paper.
I plan on going over tomorrow and spending some time with a punch and a hammer getting all the nail heads set down, before going to hire a large belt floor sander.
Should I hit the black with chemicals first? Or just wade in with the coarsest paper available for starters?
The room is large - around 20’x20’.
My cousin says it would be a fairly routine task but for the black edge… At some point in its’ history someone has painted/treated the edge of the room and there is a 2/3 foot wide of black. Best guess is that this was an adhesive to hold down a linoleum flooring but could be anything.
Cuz has had a go at the black with a sheet sander to little or no effect other than the almost total and immediate destruction of the sand paper.
I plan on going over tomorrow and spending some time with a punch and a hammer getting all the nail heads set down, before going to hire a large belt floor sander.
Should I hit the black with chemicals first? Or just wade in with the coarsest paper available for starters?
We have the black border as well. At worst it might be a bitumen based paint but probably is just an old fashioned gloss. I`d use coarsest grade sheets you have & keep moving to avoid heating it up & melting instead of actually abrading it away.
If you haven`t done it before I`d seek out some tips, but wear a mask & ear plugs & have a cold beer when it`s over - it isn`t much fun! Good luck!
If you haven`t done it before I`d seek out some tips, but wear a mask & ear plugs & have a cold beer when it`s over - it isn`t much fun! Good luck!
Pay for someone to do it, it's an awful job 
I'd imagine the black border will be a bitumen type of coating. It's very tricky to get off as it heats up and clogs the sanding pads.
I think I ended up using a tar remover or something (car cleaning stuff) after reading something on the internet. I think it seemed to help!
I'd imagine the black border will be a bitumen type of coating. It's very tricky to get off as it heats up and clogs the sanding pads.
I think I ended up using a tar remover or something (car cleaning stuff) after reading something on the internet. I think it seemed to help!
If you have not used a large upright belt sander before be careful. Iwas working in a house and the customer asked me if I was interested in sanding the hall floor and varnishing it. I said no thanks to busy and not my thing. The husband got snotty about it, said how hard can it be and rushed off to the hire shop. He set the sander going shot across the floor, hit radiator pipe,pulled it out bottom of valve and flooded the hall. I laughed long as he was a big headed git and looked down his nose at everybody, some kind of banker or w
ker. So makesure you are comfortable with the machine as they sure do go well
ker. So makesure you are comfortable with the machine as they sure do go wellV8OW said:
Pay for someone to do it, it's an awful job
This is gospel. The dust gets everywhere, the noise is terrific, I would happily hand over my first born than do that nonsense again. However, if you're absolutely set on doing it then you know,have fun.
Tape up any gaps in doors or any aperture, you'd like to fail at keeping dust free, open the windows or die quickly. Wear a dust mask, ear defenders & someone else's clothes.
Whatever else you do, don't stand still with the sander. You might think it's artistic but the world is still not ready for undulating wooden floors & by undulating I mean whacking great grooves in them. Keep the thing moving or lift the belt off the floor altogether. Ask me how I know this...
Knock any protruding nails in or prepare to open an account with sanding belts-r-us. Start with heavier grain belts as required & work down to lighter grit for the finish. Do the corners with, unsurprisingly, a corner sander. But really, if you can pay someone, do that. It really is a horrible job.
Bitumen comes off nicely with various solvents, some will be left behind but the bulk can be wiped off. Messy but much easier than mechanical removal.
Floor sanding machines are evil things. If it doesn't need heavy sanding a normal random orbit will be more work but much more forgiving.
Floor sanding machines are evil things. If it doesn't need heavy sanding a normal random orbit will be more work but much more forgiving.
I did a couple of rooms with standard hire shop machines before I'd moved into the house. Despite covering up the doors it was still a very messy job.
Next two rooms (+hallway and landing) I got someone in to do it. Cost more, but they were done in a day and left no trace of dust. It cost more, but for me it was a bargain!
Next two rooms (+hallway and landing) I got someone in to do it. Cost more, but they were done in a day and left no trace of dust. It cost more, but for me it was a bargain!
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