What tips should I keep in mind?

Rent a drum sander and edger from Home Depot — about $85/day for both. Start with coarse grit (36 or 60) and progress to 100 grit — never skip grits. Water-based poly dries faster (2 hrs vs 8 hrs) but oil-based is more durable.

Floor Sanding Calculator

Calculate sandpaper, finish, and supplies needed to refinish a hardwood floor.

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How It Works

Refinishing hardwood involves sanding through multiple grits (36, 60, 80, 100), then applying stain and 2-3 coats of finish.

The Formula

Discs = (Area / 200 sq ft per disc) x Sanding Passes | Finish = (Area x Coats) / Coverage per Gallon

Variables

Sanding Passes — 2 for light, 3 for moderate, 4 for heavy condition
Coverage — 400-500 sq ft per gallon of finish

Example

200 sq ft moderate condition: 3 passes x 1 disc = 3 drum discs + 9 edger discs. 3 coats poly = 2 gallons.

Tips

Rent a drum sander and edger from Home Depot — about $85/day for both.
Start with coarse grit (36 or 60) and progress to 100 grit — never skip grits.
Water-based poly dries faster (2 hrs vs 8 hrs) but oil-based is more durable.
Screen (buff) between finish coats with a 120-grit screen for adhesion.
Good ventilation is essential — wear a respirator during sanding.