4 Types of Equipment Needed for Hardwood Floor Refinishing

Some specialized equipment needed for refinishing hardwood floors are a drum sander, floor sanding edger, palm sander and floor buffer.

Hardwood floors can be a beautiful feature in the home. They have a timeless elegance that can almost instantly match any room and compliment its design. Beyond their aesthetic value, hardwood floors are also long-lasting and very durable, so it is quite common to find old, ancestral houses with their original hardwood flooring still in place. Hardwood floors are relatively easy to maintain and with regular Bloomfield hardwood floor refinishing, this type of floor can easily look as good as new. There are specialized types of equipment made for maintaining and refinishing hardwood floors. Whether you have hardwood flooring at home or are interested in this application, it is good to know what equipment can be used on this type of flooring.

Drum sander

There are many types of sanders that can be used for keeping hardwood floors in optimal condition. The most common sander is the drum sander. A drum sander is a power tool that somewhat resembles a massive vacuum cleaner. In fact, two people might be required to transport this equipment up and down the stairs. A drum sander has an electric motor, which rotates a loop of sandpaper at high speed. The sander strips off the floor’s finish and then smooths the wood underneath. This is necessary for preparing the floor for re-staining and refinishing. This can be quite a messy and laborious undertaking, but with appropriate preparation and care while operating the sander, an ordinary person can easily accomplish this task.

Floor sanding edger

While sanders are efficient at getting the sanding process completed quickly, because of their massive size they are not able to reach tight spaces, especially near the remaining inches between the floor and the wall. Because of this, the floor edges may still be untouched. A floor sanding edger is made especially for this purpose since it is a smaller version of the drum sander and can sand the edges of the floor and other tight spaces with the same sandpaper grit. The floor sanding edger helps finish the sanding process and results in a more complete smoothness.

Palm sander

Palm sanders are hand held pieces of equipment used to give hardwood floors a range of finishes from medium to fine. Palm sanders are practical for small to medium projects and are perfect for doing fine detail work which makes them commonly used to sand furniture and complete millinery work. This equipment has sandpaper attached at the bottom and is operated by moving in circular motions.

Floor buffer

Floor buffers are used to clean, sand and polish floors and usually resemble an upright vacuum cleaner with a large rotary brush and a speed that can be configured depending on the type of floor. This equipment is typically used together with a cleaning agent used to loosen dirt and other residue from the floor surface in preparation for the sanding process.

Hardwood floors are a popular choice of flooring, and in order for them to last a long time, proper care and regular refinishing must be applied.