Log in to view the full article
Q . Why don't I get a perfect sand and finish job, even when it seems that I take all the proper steps? Are there little details I'm missing?
A . Oftentimes contractors do all the major steps right, but overlook small detailson the job site. The result is a job that is good, but not great. This can make the difference between an angry customer with a callback and a happy customer with several referrals. Here are areas that I often see contractors overlook.
Many contractors don't take the time to properly clean the job site — both inside and out. They sweep and clear out all of the dirt, debris and trash that's left behind from other trades, but they often seem to overlook cleaning the path from the truck to the house, preventing dirt and grit from being tracked back inside the house.
A regular maintenance schedule for your equipment is also important in achieving quality results. Some contractors spend thousands of dollars on a top-of-the line big machine but don't perform periodic maintenance. Then they wonder why it sands as if it were 50 years old. They may jump to the conclusion that the chatter on the floor is the result of a defective drum, but wheels, as well as bearings and belts, that are not true and clean are often the culprits.
Following simple rules with sandpaper can also prevent problems. Sandpaper that has imperfections may cause sanding lines, which may not be detected until you stain the floor. When the paper loads up in one area, whether it's from filler, paint, glue or aboard with a high sap content, you probably will see sanding lines. Sanding over unset nails, slivers or splinters also damages the paper.
Problems also arise when contractors try to cut costs by over-using sandpaper—especially in the final cut. A contractor may wonder why the stain in the first room he sanded is darker than the last room. If he sanded 1,200 square feet with a new, 80-grit belt and didn't bother to change the sandpaper, it will cut like 120-grit paper by the time he reaches his last room and affect the color of the stain.
Contractors often try to save time by skipping two or more grits. That leaves severe sanding lines that stick out like a sore thumb when the floor is stained. I've seen contractors start out with a 36-grit paper and skip up to an 80-grit paper. Then the home owner questions why her floor isn't as smooth as the neighbor's. Who do you think will get the referrals in the neighborhood?
When using the edger, most contractors know to look for dips and edger marks and to take them out, but what they use to remove them may cause problems. Some contractors use thin backing pads with a screen so it doesn't leave marks initially. But when stain is applied to the floor, a light halo effect will occur in the areas sanded with the edger because the abrasive was overused and created a slick surface, causing the floor to not accept the stain. Another common way many contractors remove edger marks is with orbital sanders, which may also cause a light halo effect. If too rough of a grit is used, they may also leave a scratch pattern or a halo.
It's important that the edges blend in with the field when staining the floor. If you use the edger with a white or maroon pad, be sure to open the grain back up by hand-sanding with the grain with an 80- to 100-grit paper. Otherwise you should use a buffer with screens or a paper disc to get the floor scratch from the buffer the same as where the edger was used.
There are other common mistakes with the bufferthat can affect the quality of the finished floor. There undoubtedly will be a time when you will start buffing with a screen thinking the job is almost complete—until the dreaded chatter marks appear. You will then buff the floor so long that you get blisters on your hands. Your diligent buffing will remove the chatter marks, but in the process you will have over-screened using a red or white pad, which will severely dish out the grain. After staining and four coats of finish, the home owner will be irate that the floor looks wavy and the stain color is three shades lighter than the sample area you did for her a day ago.
When using the buffer to clean up imperfections in the floor, use a hard plate with sandpaper. This will highlight any imperfections that are difficult to see with an untrained eye. It will take many of the imperfections out and, if done properly, will flatten the floor. As a final check, inspect the floor under bright lights, which reveal imperfections more than natural light. Also, always prepare the stain sample area using the same procedures you will be using on the job site.
Be aware of problem areas in the home that show off sanding imperfections more than others. Hallways and rooms with recessed, canned lights that beam straight down onto the floors show sanding scratches more than other types of lighting. Any wave or dishout will be more apparent in large rooms, such as a great room, that has a wall full of windows. Also, the transition around a corner through an opening such as a doorway will highlight an edger dishout more than other areas in the room.