Machinery Required:

• Professional Belt Sander
• Edging sander
• Corner Sander
• Trio Finishing Sander (optional)

Abrasives recommended:

• 40 grit
• 80 grit
• 120 grit

Having got the floor sanded true and level with your first cut, you are now in a position to continue with the main bulk of the sanding.

Successive cuts will all be aimed at removing the previous cut until the floor is smooth enough to be sealed.

You should integrate sanding the edges and corners with sanding the main body of the floor.

Levelling Floor -1st cut 
i) 45 degrees and /or crosshatch
ii) Align grain

Belt sander

24 grit

Edging – 1st cut
i) All edges

Edging sander

24 grit

Polishing cut – 2nd cut
i) In line with grain

Belt sander

40 grit

Edging – 2nd cut
i) All edges

Edging sander

40 grit

Corner sanding – 1st cut
i) Work all corners and/or areas
hard to reach

Corner sander

60grit

Polishing cut – 3rd cut
i) In line with grain

Belt sander

80 grit

Corner sanding – 2nd cut
i) Work all corners and/or 
areas hard to reach

Corner sander

80 grit

Edging – 3rd cut
i) All edges

Edging sander

80 grit

Filling – 2 fills
i) 1st fill a little thicker
ii) 2nd fill wetter

Manually

N/A

Corner sanding – 3rd cut
i) Work all corners and/or areas hard to reach

Corner sander

120 grit

Edging – final cut
i) All edges

Edging sander

120 grit

Polishing cut – final cut
i) In line with grain

Belt sander
Trio (optional)

120 grit

Cleaning
i) Whole floor, thoroughly

Vacuum

N/A

Colouring the Floor
(optional)

Manually

N/A

Sealing – 3 coats
With finishing in between coats

Manually

N/A

Note: this sequence will require adjusting for parquet and specialist floors. For specialist advice please contact the office

Remember: not all floors require a heavy first cut. If the floor is level and true you can move straight into the second cut.

Lining Up the Belt Sander

In order to maximise the life of the abrasive, line up the drum on the floor so that each successive run is offset by about 1/3, meaning that you overlap about a 1/3 of the drum over the area you have just sanded. Remember, work left to right:

Hint: When sanding the floor after the first cut, divide the room into sections of two thirds/one third. Remember: always work left to right.

Start sanding in line with the grain in the larger of your sections (as indicated). Having completed the large section of the floor, turn around and work the smaller section of your floor.

Using the Edging Sander

Edging and corner sanding are to be integrated into the sanding of the main area of the floor as indicated in the table.

Finishing the Floor

After all that, if you still want more (?!) and for a truly professional finish, after cutting the wood with a belt sander, polish the floor with the Trio Sander.

How to sand a floor Preparation Choosing Abrasive Levelling the Wood Sanding the Floor

Viper floor sanding machine available for hire in Bristol and throughout South West