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Step 4: Refinishing Hardwood Floors: Sanding Edges and Corners

By Justin Archer | August 29, 2024 | min read

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A step-by-step guide on sanding edges and corners of hardwood floors during the refinishing process, covering necessary tools and techniques for a smooth, professional finish.

Table of Contents

Learn how to expertly sand the challenging edges and corners of your hardwood floors for a seamless refinish. This guide details the tools like floor edgers, sandpaper progression, and hand-sanding techniques crucial for achieving a professional look in your DIY project.

When it comes to refinishing hardwood floors, sanding the edges and corners requires special attention. These hard-to-reach areas can be challenging to tackle, but with the right tools and techniques, you can achieve a beautifully refinished floor. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the process of sanding edges and corners to ensure a smooth and professional finish.

Step 4: Sand Edges and Corners

  1. Gather the Right Tools: To sand edges and corners, you’ll need a floor edger or a small orbital sander. Additionally, have a variety of sandpaper on hand, starting with a coarse-grit paper and gradually progressing to finer grades. If there are areas that the edger can’t reach, you’ll also need a scraper and sandpaper to remove the old finish manually.

  2. Start with the Floor Edger: Begin by using the floor edger or small orbital sander with the coarse-grit sandpaper. Work carefully and methodically, focusing on one section at a time. Move the edger or sander along the edges and corners, following the natural grain of the wood.

  3. Gradually Switch to Finer Grits: Once you have sanded the edges and corners with the coarse-grit sandpaper, switch to a medium-grit paper and continue sanding. This will help smoothen the surface further. Finally, use a fine-grit sandpaper to achieve a polished finish.

  4. Hand Sanding for Inaccessible Areas: If there are tight spots or areas that the edger or sander cannot reach, use a scraper along with 80- and 100-grit sandpaper to manually remove the old finish. This process requires patience and attention to detail, ensuring that the entire floor has a consistent look.

  5. Check for Smoothness: After sanding the edges and corners, run your hand across the sanded areas to check for smoothness. If you detect any rough spots or unevenness, re-sand those areas with the appropriate sandpaper until you achieve a uniform surface.

  6. Clean the Area: Once you have finished sanding, use a vacuum cleaner or broom to remove any dust or debris. It’s crucial to have a clean surface before proceeding with the next steps of refinishing.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to effectively sand the edges and corners of your hardwood floors, creating a seamless transition between the main floor area and the walls. Remember to take your time, work patiently, and ensure that the entire floor receives the same level of sanding for a professional-looking finish.

In the next step, we’ll cover screen sanding the floor to achieve an even smoother surface. Stay tuned for our comprehensive guide on how to refinish hardwood floors.

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