A professional floor sand is not a single step. Here is the complete process I follow on every job, from assessment to handover. No shortcuts.
I inspect the floor for loose boards, protruding nails, moisture problems and previous coatings. Nails get punched, loose boards get re-fixed and damaged sections are discussed. The room is cleared and adjacent areas sealed with plastic sheeting. My dust extraction equipment captures the vast majority of airborne particles.
The first cut with the drum sander uses 40-grit abrasive on a slight diagonal to the board direction. This removes old finish, surface damage and unevenness. The edges and corners are done with an edger sander, blended carefully with the drum-sanded field. This is the heaviest pass and where the floor gets levelled.
Progressive passes at 60, 80, 100 and 120 grit refine the surface. Each grit removes the scratch pattern left by the previous one. Species like spotted gum with interlocked grain require careful angle adjustments to prevent tearing. This stage takes time but determines the quality of the final result.
Gaps and nail holes are filled using Bona Mix Fill mixed with the fine sanding dust from your floor. This creates a colour-matched filler that blends seamlessly. Not every gap gets filled, as timber needs room for seasonal movement, but cosmetically significant gaps, joins and nail holes all get attention.
A light pass at the final grit removes filler residue and ensures a perfectly smooth surface. Thorough vacuuming and tack-cloth picks up every last particle of dust. The floor must be immaculately clean before the first coat of finish goes on.
One coat of Bona primer applied with a T-bar applicator. The primer choice (Rich, Classic or Nordic Tone) determines the final colour tone. See my Bona finish guide for details on each option.
Two coats of Bona Traffic HD polyurethane in satin finish. Each coat goes down thin and even, with light abrasion between coats using a buffer and fine screen to ensure proper adhesion. Each coat dries to touch in about three hours.
Clean up, remove dust sheets and final inspection. Walk in socks after 24 hours. Furniture back (with felt pads) after 48 hours. Full cure at seven days. I provide written care instructions based on Bona guidelines at handover.
A standard three-bedroom home takes three to four days from first sand to final coat. Larger homes or heavily damaged floors may take longer. I always provide a clear timeline before starting. For a full breakdown, read my detailed sanding process article.
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