How to Strip Hardwood Floors

One way to change the entire look and feel of a home or business is to strip the hardwood floors and refinish them. Sanding, though labor intensive and time consuming, is the easiest way to strip hardwood floors. Hardwood floors can also be chemically stripped, but this should only be attempted by professionals or those with previous experience.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• • Drum sander
• • Edge sander
• • Palm sander
• • Assortment of sandpaper
• • Drop cloth
• • Towels or rags
• • Dust mask
• • Ear protection
• • Eye protection
• • Hammer and pliers

Strip Hardwood Floors

1. Remove all furniture and rugs from the room.

2. Check the surface of the hardwood floor for nails that need to be pounded below the surface of the floor. Carpet tacks or staples should be removed, and large gaps or cracks in the wood should be fixed before sanding. Walk across the entire floor to find squeaks. Make any repairs at this time.

3. Sweep the floor thoroughly.

4. Hang plastic over the doorways to avoid spreading dust throughout the house. Place towels or rags under doors and on top of vents.

5. Rent or buy a drum sander, edge sander, and palm sander. Buy the other supplies you need to strip the floor. Ask for instructions or a demonstration on how to operate the sanders.

6. Fit the drum sander with 20 to 36 grit sandpaper. Wear a dust mask, eye and ear protection while operating the drum sandpaper.

7. Start the sander with the drum off the floor. Slowly lower the drum and push or pull the drum sander over the floor in the direction of the wood grain in straight, even strokes. Don’t stop moving the sander when the sander is turned on—it could gouge the floor. If you do gouge the floor, push or pull the sander over the area in several long motions to even it out. Sand as much of the room as possible with the drum sander. Areas that are difficult to reach with the drum sander such as along walls and corners should be sanded with an edge sander. Fit the edge sander with course sandpaper, start it, tip it back and slowly lower it to the hardwood floor. As you move the edge sander, use a left to right semicircular motion.

8. Remove the course grit sandpaper from the drum and edge sander. Fit each of the sanders with 60 grit sandpaper and repeat Step 7.

9. Remove the 60 grit sandpaper from both sanders after the whole floor has been sanded. Fit each of the sanders with 80 grit sandpaper and repeat Step 7. The surface of the floor will get smoother with each sanding.

10. Remove the 80 grit sandpaper from both sanders after the whole floor has been sanded. Fit the drum sander and a palm sander with 100 grit sandpaper and repeat Step 7. After the whole room has been sanded with the drum sander, feather the perimeter of the room with the palm sander.

11. Vacuum the room thoroughly. The old finish has been stripped and the hardwood floor is now ready for a new finish.

Tips & Warnings

• The first time you use the drum sander, sand in an area such as under a sofa until you get more comfortable with its operation.