Unfinished flooring install in small room???

Boondox · Feb 1, 2015

I've installed unfinished hardwood before in large rooms, but now have one small bedroom (10x12) left to do. The flooring is 2 1/4 x 3/4 maple select unfinished; I don't like pre-finished because the micro-bevels show all the dirt that my three dogs track into the house. The problem is the handle on the floor sander won't let me get close to the wall unless I reverse direction, and since the drum is slightly offset the manual says to always go in the same direction. Seems a shame to rent a sander that can only do half the space.

Is this room one of those situations where I need to spend a weekend on my hands and knees with a belt sander or random orbital sander?

Pete

EddieWalker · Feb 1, 2015

Home Depot rents a random orbital sander that uses 12x24 inch sand paper. I might be wrong on the size of the sand paper, but it's big. You can get right into the corners with it and all along your edges without worrying about which direction the grain goes. You only pay for the sandpaper you use, so I always get a large amount in different grits. With a brand new floor, you shouldn't have to do this, just get a 100 then a 400 grit or finer to finish it off. I hate drum sanders, they are pain to use and real easy to ruin a floor. Plus you always have to do the corners and edges with another sander like you mentioned.

Eddie

leveled · Feb 1, 2015

you'll need a edger for the perimeter if your using a drum sander, and a hand scraper for the corners. When I use to sand floors when i was about 18 we would rough the floor in with 50 or 60 then final would be 120 grit, then 220 on the buffer pad for natural finish.