DIY Sanding Our Floors

A DIY project that we have never done before. This is our experience with sanding our 1917 white oak floors.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• sanding floors
• refinishing floors
• white oak
• lowes
• floor sander

[finishedtimber]

should be renamed "how not to sand and finish your floors"..........laughable....­.never caeses to amaze how desperate people are to waste time and money on a second rate diy job. Some people should just stay on the couch......call the pros thats why we are here. Watch this video and learn.

[ThisOldErieHouse]

@finishedtimber I'm not sure are getting it. It turned out beautifully. When the Maytag guy came to install my dryer he even said, "Wow, what beautiful woodwork!" The gas guy on the way out after reading our meter in the basement also commented that the wood in our house was so beautiful. The point is that it is very pretty and we couldn't afford to hire someone. The alternative was to do nothing. You wouldn't have had my money either way. I kept at it until I got it right.

[1968mrhomer]

what a waste of time and money

[ThisOldErieHouse]

@1968mrhomer

We finally did get it sanded down using this machine and my hand sander for the edges and it turned out beautifully and probably 1/10 of what you would have charged. I know your comment is because you are losing business but we couldn't afford you so.......

[ThisOldErieHouse]

@JCanada92227

A drum sander can ruin a floor a whole lot faster than an orbital sander. That is why it took so long to do it. Orbital sanders aren't as aggressive. A drum sander if you aren't really careful will put a dug-out spot on your floor, like a belt sander would if you don't keep it moving just right. The orbital doesn't do as fast a job but for a beginner it is better than taking too much off in one spot because you might pause for a second.

[hyosunggv22]

@1968mrhomer ...time is money!...sounds like you bid way too high homer if you bid 10 times what they spent in materials and rentals. i might have bid a high price too if i had to move furniture that many times and fight a cat! at least i would have had it done in one day! i'm the type that would try to do it myself too..to bad the learning/trips back and forth add up.

[kenaida]

Good video. I have and old house (1918) that I am planning on remodeling and the floor that you're showing is actually exactly the same, even the color. It's great because now I know what it would look like after it's done. Thanks!

[TheFloorBoys]

That's odd. Im here on the east coast, and have never seen a Lowes with a Rental Center, unlike Home Depot. Always wished they did, but now I know that it is all in where you are located. Nice job. Actually, great job! Thanks for posting. Good luck on any and all of your future projects! Wish my wife would help out sometime! LOL!

[tjspg13]

@janedoe1024 She said Lowe's in the begining

[deeovi]

@ThisOldErieHouse i think you did a great job, since is you first time sanding those floors, keep up the good work!

[wacina92]

Thanks for posting. This has been helpful

[bastardluv]

Boo-hoo that contractors are losing business. If contractors were more reasonable with their prices DIY wouldn't be necessary. Many contractors try to sell layman and woman levels of excellence that only another craftsman could appreciate. Most of us just want/can afford something that looks presentable, after all most of the floor will be covered by furniture. But that idea seems to disgust most contractors. If they can't sell you the most expensive package than they act like it's beneath them