You might have a beautiful surface hiding under those tired, old timber floorboards. If your flooring is worn, scratched, or dull, a good sanding can breathe new life into them and refresh the entire space. It’s a lot of work, but with the right tools and preparation, you can do it yourself.
In this guide, we walk through the full DIY floor sanding process, including the tools you’ll need, the sanding steps, and the final preparation before coating.
The video below also walks you through everything you need to sand a floor, so you can use it as a reference while you work.
Throughout this guide, we’ll reference timestamps from the video so you can see each stage demonstrated.
Quick Answer: How Do You Sand a Timber Floor?
Here’s a quick overview to give you an idea of what to expect. To sand a timber floor:
- Prepare the floor by removing any debris
- Punch down any protruding nails
- Sand the main floor area using a drum or belt sander
- Sand the edges using an edger sander
- Use detail sanding tools for corners and tight areas
- Fill any nail holes with timber putty
- Perform a final sanding pass and buff the floor
- Vacuum thoroughly to remove dust
- Apply a protective floor coating
If you follow the correct sequence, you’ll end up with a smooth finish.
Tools & Equipment You'll Need
Before starting, make sure you have the following equipment ready.
1. Drum/Belt Sander (Galaxy Seirios 8" / HireTech)
2. Sanding Belts (ATS Abrasives Inferno Red Ceramic)
3. Edger (American Sanders Super7 / HireTech Edger)
4. Edger Discs
5. Hand Scraper
6. Hammer
7. Nail Punch
8. Wood Putty
9. Putty Knife
10. Buffer (American Sanders Epoch / HireTech Square Buffer)
11. Buffing Screens
12. Orbital Sander
14. Vacuum Cleaner
16. Roller & Frame
17. Brush
(See tool overview at the end of the video: approx. 6:00 – 6:20)
Step 1: Prepare the Floor
Before sanding begins, you need to prepare your space.
Remove furniture and thoroughly inspect the floor for nails, staples, or debris that could damage sanding equipment. Use a hammer and nail punch to drive any protruding nails slightly below the timber surface to stop them from tearing your sanding belts.
Step 2: Start Sanding with a Drum or Belt Sander
The main sanding process begins with a drum or belt sander to strip the old coatings and level the timber surface. Work with the grain of the timber where possible and keep the machine moving steadily to avoid gouging the floor.
Start with a coarser grit sanding belt to remove old finishes and flatten the surface. Using high-quality sanding belts, such as Inferno Red Ceramic belts, helps you work for longer without having to constantly replace worn-out belts.
(Drum sanding and belt comparisons shown around 0:16 – 1:19)
Step 3: Sand the Edges of the Room
Large drum sanders can’t reach the edges of your room, so you need an edger to complete this area. Attach edger discs and carefully sand around the edges of the room, blending the edge sanding with the main sanding area. Be careful not to oversand the edges, which can create visible dips along the walls.
(Edge sanding shown from 1:20-2:25)
Step 4: Detail Sanding and Corners
Machines are efficient, but they can’t do everything. Corners, tight spaces, or areas under cabinetry may still need some attention from smaller hand-held tools like:
- Hand scrapers
- Orbital sanders
- Detail sanding discs
These allow you to get into the areas larger machines can’t reach and smooth them out.
(Detail sanding shown around 2:26)
Step 5: Fill Holesand Imperfections
Once the initial sanding passes are complete, inspect the floor for cracks or nail holes. Punch down any shiny nail heads, and apply wood putty to fill imperfections and allow it to dry before sanding again.
(Nail punching and filling shown between 2:54-3:34)
Step 6: Final Sanding and Buffing
After filling, do a final sanding pass using finer grits. A floor buffer with sanding screens helps get rid of any sanding or swirl marks from different machines and get your floor extra smooth to prepare for finishing. A handheld orbital sander is used along the edges of the room.
(Buffing shown between 3:34-4:46)
Step 7: Clean the Floor Thoroughly
Before applying any finish, remove all dust. Don’t underestimate the power of a quality vacuum cleaner, and consider wiping down surfaces if necessary.
(Cleaning process around 4:49-5:10)
Step 8: Apply the Floor Coating
The final step is applying a protective finish. Use a roller and brush to apply your chosen product evenly across the timber surface. Depending on which coating system you use, you might need multiple coats with light sanding in between.
(Coating stage shown around 5:12 – 5:55)
Step 9: Enjoy Your New Floors!
By using the tools and techniques we’ve recommended, you should have a beautifully finished floor to enjoy for years to come. To take care of your investment, make sure you learn how to clean timber floors the right way and learn which products will help you extend their lifespan.
Want to see more guides and real project outcomes?
Check out our YouTube channel: @QuicksandFlooring
Start Your Project the Right Way
Sanding a timber floor is a detailed process for any DIYer, but with the right preparation, equipment, and sanding sequence, you can achieve a great finish.
Using professional-grade supplies can significantly improve your results and efficiency, so make sure you consult our list and explore the full range of floor sanding and finishing products from Quicksand Supplies.
And if you’re in Melbourne, you can always call in the experts. The Quicksand Flooring team has seen just about every situation and restored any timber there is over the last 25 years. Whether you’re dealing with a tricky situation or you just want to leave it to the professionals, give us a call on 0451 326 307.