What type of grinder is suitable for scraping the floor?

Parquet - no matter how high-quality it may be, will require repair in a few years. This coating withstands heavy loads every day, and wood - a material, although durable, but mechanical damage leaves traces on it. Therefore, a mandatory point of restoration work is polishing parquet using special tools and electrical equipment. This allows you to speed up the process and carry out high-quality repairs. What type of grinder is suitable for scavenging the floor, how to use it in the restoration process, in what sequence to grind the parquet? You will find answers to these and other questions in this review.

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When is a repair needed?

Over time, even parquet, which is considered one of the most reliable types of flooring, becomes unusable. And it requires, if not a complete replacement, then at least cosmetic restoration. The reasons why the coating may become unusable ahead of time can be very different:

• use of soft wood for work;
• parquet laying performed in violation of technology;
• large traffic in the room, the coating is under heavy loads;
• lack of proper surface care.

To make sure that it is necessary to polish the parquet, clean the surface from dirt and debris and conduct a thorough inspection. It is time to carry out the restoration if you observe the following defects:

• small scratches and cracks that cover the surface - these can be both traces of the claws of pets, and shoes with heels;
• gaps between the individual elements of the parquet;

Important! To see how wide the gap is, attach a ruler to the gap. If the distance between the strips is more than 2 mm, then this surface area needs to be repaired.

• insufficient floor gloss, lacquer coating in places is completely absent;
• when pressed, the floorboards creak;
• when tapping, a dull sound is heard, which means that voids have formed under the floor.

Important! To get rid of excess noise, fix the strips with fasteners. Make sure that the self-tapping head is recessed 2-3 mm into the surface.

There are also serious flaws in which it is already useless to sand the parquet. Sanding the floor is by no means recommended if you find the following problems:

• parquet boards have dried up so much that the distance between the planks is 5 mm or more;
• places that are under constant load have erased to such an extent that differences in coating height are already noticeable - usually this happens in the middle of the room or at the threshold;
• there are potholes and bumps on the floor, visible to the naked eye;
• the surface is constantly wet - this is the result of improperly installed waterproofing;
• the tree is hit by a grinder bug;
• there are traces of mold or mildew on the tree.

All of the above problems are not a reason for a complete replacement of the coating. Just before polishing the parquet, you will need to eliminate all the shortcomings - solve the problem with good waterproofing, treat the wood with antiseptic and moisture-proofing compounds, fit the strips to each other and replace the worn out elements. And only after that you can polish the parquet.

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Grinding and picking

Before solving the question, what type of grinder is suitable for scrapping the floor, it is worth understanding the construction terms:

• Cycling is the first stage of work, manual grinding of parquet boards, during which chips are removed from the wood.
• Grinding is the next step. It is already carried out using equipment to facilitate the work and get a perfectly smooth surface.

There are no special tools for the initial stage; there is equipment for polishing parquet, which is sometimes used for scraping. In general, the whole process can be divided into 4 stages:

1. Looping. Using a tool called a cycle, remove the old varnish. The process is laborious, but it avoids dust and noise. In addition, any, even hard-to-reach surface areas can be treated with cycles. However, if you do not have the appropriate skills and equipment, it is better to turn to professionals. They will quickly and in a short time spend inexpensive scraping of the parquet floor and your parquet will shine like never before.
2. Grinding. This process will require the use of special equipment for rough processing and elimination of roughness. Do not do in the process and without angle grinders.
3. Finishing sanding. It is also carried out using a special machine for polishing parquet, but already for fine processing to create a perfectly smooth surface.
4. Antiseptic and varnish treatment.

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Grinding equipment

Some masters use not only hand tools at the looping stage. There is another way to remove the old varnish without special equipment: sandpaper is attached to the sole of the shoe and the coating is thoroughly wiped. The method, of course, is effective, but rather old-fashioned, and just like the work of cycles, it is very laborious.

Types of equipment

These old-fashioned methods have long been replaced by machines for polishing parquet. They reduce restoration time and give excellent results. Each is designed for a specific type of work:

• Tape machines, as a rule, are applied first of all. They are designed for rough coating and for processing large areas. The band tool has a different power - the higher it is, the faster the surface is processed. For these purposes, the machine has a special speed controller.
• Parquet grinder. It relates to loop type equipment with a drum. Such equipment allows you to clean the surface from minor damage - after processing, scratches and cracks are removed. Often such machines for polishing parquet come with garbage bags. Dust does not scatter throughout the room and further processing of the floor is greatly simplified.
• Surface grinding machine. Equipment that is equipped with one or three discs, during rotation, they eliminate defects and smooth the surface. Masters very often use it for the so-called “jewelry” polishing, because the use of this type of equipment can eliminate even the smallest flaws and flaws in the tree.
• Vibrating machines for polishing parquet can rightly be called universal. They are used for both coarse and fine grinding. This work is done by a flat platform with a plate fixed on it. The platform makes reciprocating movements and levels the flooring. For finish processing, a lower amplitude of vibrations is set, for rough this parameter is increased.
• The looping equipment that is used to process hard-to-reach spots is called a “boot” by craftsmen. It allows you to align the surface in the corners, in places behind the radiator, under the pipes. Such devices are equipped with special soles to which emery wheels are attached. Finishers began to use this equipment recently, it replaced the most ordinary grinder with an abrasive disk;

Important! The most popular manufacturers of power tools, whose quality has remained at a high level for many years, are: Makita, Bosch, Black & Decker, Sparky, Metabo, Atlas Copco. Take a look at these brands first.

Hardware Parameters

When choosing equipment for polishing parquet, also pay attention to the following characteristics:

• Many household devices have relatively small sizes of moving elements - up to 10 cm. With the help of such equipment it is possible to carry out work indoors up to 10 square meters. At the same time, professional machines have tapes up to 25 cm wide, which allows you to clean a large area in a shorter time.
• Sanding belt is the weakest point in both domestic and professional equipment. Even the most ordinary nail can damage it and reduce the quality of surface treatment. When purchasing a tool, pay attention to how quickly you can replace this item and configure it.
• Any industrial equipment for polishing parquet is heavy - more than 100 kilograms and quite bulky.
• Cars for domestic use consumes power up to 1 kW, so it can be used in any room. A professional equipment for work requires more than 2.5 kW. The electrical wiring of not every apartment is designed for such a load.
• When buying equipment, give preference to machines that are equipped with speed switches - this will allow for various types of work. And pay attention to the presence of a limiter - it will not allow damage to the wall during the restoration process.
• The presence of a dust bag in the kit is very important when working with wood such as walnut or wenge. Particles of these rocks are very small and have coloring properties. Dust, falling on the walls, can give them a new shade, which will be difficult to get rid of.

Important! The same principles should be adhered to if you want to save money and do not buy such expensive equipment, but rent it.

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Materials for work

Before polishing the parquet, we recommend stocking up with materials for further work. Here the list is small and familiar to anyone who has made repairs at least once:

• Sandpaper. It will be needed both for manual work, and for some type of equipment. At the initial stages for rough cleaning, experienced finishers advise using coarse-grained material. At the final stage, arm yourself with fine-grained sheets to eliminate even the smallest defects.
• Putty. It is useful in order to mask the cracks that may appear between the dies. Processing joints in this case is required. It will not allow moisture to penetrate under the floor covering, which can lead to mold and mildew.
• To finish the polished surface, varnish is required without fail. Here, the choice of material depends only on your preferences and on the desired end result.
• You can hardly apply varnish with your hands, so prepare rollers and brushes for the final stage.

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Terms of work

Before using the equipment for polishing parquet, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the working conditions and basic safety rules:

• It is better to take out all the furniture from the room, and cover the one that remains with a film and fix it with construction tape. It will not be possible to avoid dust during floor polishing, so make sure that it is easier to remove after finishing work.
• Before hinging the surface, remove all protruding screws and nails. Even a 1 mm protruding head can damage the grinding equipment.
• Skirting boards are dismantled and removed before work, so that it is possible to process the entire surface, without exception.
• Sanding parquet is best in the daytime. The equipment for these works is quite noisy - think about your neighbors.
• Also think about your health.Therefore, arm yourself with protective equipment such as goggles, a respirator, and gloves to prevent dust from getting on your skin, eyes, and respiratory system. It is worth buying headphones for protection against noise.
• During work, keep an eye on the equipment and avoid overloading during grinding.
• Constantly monitor the condition of the abrasive belt and the occupancy of the dust bag, if any.

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Expediency of purchase

Parquet sanding equipment is not cheap. Therefore, before buying, think about whether your expenses are advisable if one-time work is planned. It may be worth considering renting a parquet sanding machine. We give approximate calculations:

• Rent a drum machine - $ 25.
• Disk equipment rental - $ 25.
• Rent a three-disc machine - $ 55.
• Rental of angle grinders - $ 15.

This is the cost of renting equipment per day, that is:

• The total price for 3 cars will be $ 95. Moreover, using different types of machines, you can qualitatively process the surface and according to the timing you can meet a day.
• The acquisition of the same three cars of the lowest price category will cost twice as much. Despite the fact that after work the equipment for polishing parquet will be in the pantry. Unless, of course, you decide to qualify for this type of repair.

You can rent any type of equipment upon presentation of documents. This is usually a passport or driver’s license. You will also need to leave a deposit, the amount of which depends on the cost and condition of the equipment.

Important! Before borrowing this equipment, carefully read the terms of the contract in order to protect yourself from surprises. It is also worth carefully checking the performance of the machines when an employee of the company.

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Stock footage

In conclusion, we say that polish parquet - It’s not so difficult if you competently approach the selection of the necessary equipment and study the main characteristics. Advice that experienced craftsmen have long applied in their work will not be superfluous. It is also worth exploring the feasibility of acquiring such machines. It is possible that after a careful study of the issue, you decide to entrust this matter to specialists, because there is no better assistant for the quality performance of work than many years of experience.