If your hardwood floor is looking a little worse for wear and sanding will bring it back to life, you might be asking yourself: “Can I sand my floor myself?”
You may consider DIY floor sanding to save money and get the job done at a time that is most convenient for you. However, there are a number of disadvantages to sanding your floor yourself and often working with a professional is the best option.
Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before deciding to sand your floor yourself.
How much knowledge do I have about the process?
To perform a professional-level sanding and refinishing job on your hardwood floors, you need to have an extensive amount of knowledge about the steps required.
Think seriously about the amount of experience you have in undertaking DIY projects within your home and working with hardwood flooring in particular.
Evaluate the condition of your floor before deciding to DIY your floor sanding. Are there small scratches or damages that you feel confident you can fix? Or are the problems a bit deeper and harder to restore?
Do you know each step you need to take to ensure a finish that is not only attractive but durable and even?
Once you have finished sanding your floor, do you understand how to apply a seal and finish to ensure that moisture doesn’t get trapped? If you perform this step incorrectly your hardwood floor could be subjected to water damage down the line, which could lead to a far more costly full renovation.
If you aren’t completely confident or feel you lack experience, hiring a professional will be a better option to avoid potential long-term damage and additional cost.
What equipment do I need?
A wide variety of tools are required to effectively sand your hardwood floors, including a drum sander, an edging sander, and sandpaper grits.
And that doesn’t even consider what you need to achieve a flawless finish – stains, sealers, and protective coatings. How do you know which one is right for you?
Do you already own this equipment? If not, do you know how you will access each piece?
You need to consider the cost of renting equipment when you decide to sand your floor. Additionally, if you aren’t sure how long the project is going to take to complete, purchasing the equipment could be the best option to avoid availability issues or additional fees. This is a big investment to make if you aren’t going to use the equipment very often.
A professional floor sanding company on the other hand will have immediate access to all the equipment that is needed to sand your floor.
How much time will DIY floor sanding take?
Sanding hardwood floors is an intensive process that requires a lot of physical labour. Before you even start, for example, you need to remove all of the furniture from your room, which requires a certain level of fitness and mobility.
Additionally, floor sanding takes a lot of time. Do you have the availability alongside all of your other commitments to complete the project? Or will it end up taking significantly longer if you do it yourself?
If you aren’t sure if you can spare the time or commit to the physical nature of floor sanding, hiring a professional will save you a lot of hassle and effort.
What is my budget?
Finally, you need to consider your budget. Hiring a professional will cost more than doing it yourself, as you are paying for someone else’s labour, equipment, and years of experience.
However, look at sanding your floor as a long-term investment. If you make a mistake when doing it yourself, you will need to pay for repairs or get your floor sanded and refinished again further down the line.
Working with a professional floor sanding team ensures the job is done right the first time around.
We hope this blog has helps you answer the question you’ve been asking yourself: “Can I sand my floor myself?”
Ultimately, if you are questioning your skill level or the time you can spend on this DIY project, you should probably consult with a professional to avoid making mistakes.
At PA Floor Sanding, we provide expert floor sanding and refinishing services for hardwood floors and staircases in both domestic and commercial settings.
Check out the case studies on our website and get in touch if you would like to learn more about how we can bring your flooring back to life!