If you’re planning on painting your hardwood floors, you’ll need to sand them first to create a smooth surface for the paint to adhere to. But what grit sandpaper should you use for refinishing hardwood floors before painting?
The answer depends on the condition of your floors and the type of paint you’ll be using. If your floors are in good condition and you’re planning on using an oil-based paint, you can use a coarse sandpaper with a grit of 60-80. However, if your floors are in poor condition or you’re planning to use an acrylic paint, you’ll need to use a finer sandpaper with a grit of 100-120.
No matter what grit sandpaper you use, be sure to sand in the direction of the grain and to vacuum up the dust afterwards. If you don’t, your paint job will be full of sanding scratches!
Other related questions:
What grit sandpaper do you use to refinish hardwood floors?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the type of sandpaper you’ll need will depend on the specific type of hardwood floor you’re refinishing. However, in general, you’ll want to start with a coarse grit sandpaper (such as 60 grit) to remove the old finish, then move to a finer grit (such as 120 grit) to smooth out the surface.
Do you have to sand hardwood floors before painting?
You should always sand your hardwood floors before painting them. This will help to create a smooth surface for the paint to adhere to and will also help to prevent the paint from peeling or chipping over time.
Can I go from 36 grit to 80 grit?
Yes, you can go from 36 grit to 80 grit.
Bibliography
- A Guide to Refinishing Hardwood Floors | Norton Abrasives
- How to Pick the Right Grit Sequence for a Hardwood Floor
- The Fine Art of Sanding – Wood Floor Sanding Guide Part 1
- The Sanding Process | The Hardwood Flooring Experts