How to Rent a Floor Sander

You've installed your beautiful hardwood floors. Now it's time to sand them down and remove all those rough spots to put the finishing shine on them. It's important to rent the right kind of floor sander for the job.

Instructions

1. Go to your local tool and equipment rental store to rent a floor sander. Some home improvement stores also rent floor sanders. There are different kinds, so be sure to get the right kind for your particular job.

2. Rent a drum floor sander for the wide open spaces on your hardwood floors. This kind comes in 240-volt power for commercial use. Make sure you have a connection large enough to handle this one if you decide to rent it. Some people use their clothes dryer connection (which is usually 240-volt in most homes) for this size sander. The 110-volt floor sander is what most people rent for residential use.

3. Choose an orbital, disc floor sander to get the tight places around your hardwood floors. This sander is handheld and usually 110 volts. It's great for sanding along baseboards and around door openings.

4. Get different grits of sandpaper when you rent a floor sander. The sandpaper comes in grits that go from very rough to smooth. The roughest grit is what you'll need to begin sanding your floors. It levels out the rough spots faster and takes care of the hardest spots. Use the smoother, finer grit of sandpaper for the final sanding. That's what makes the finish slick on your finished hardwood floors.

Tips & Warnings

• There's also a floor sander for concrete floors. It can take out the high spots on cured concrete for a smooth finish.

• You walk behind the drum sander. It has a lever for forward and reverse.