Hypothetically speaking, let's say someone (totally not me, of course 🙄) decided to refinish their hardwood floors DIY-style and ended up with uneven staining, random swirl marks, and a finish that feels kinda gritty underfoot. Um...would sanding everything down again fix it, or would that just make things worse? Just curious how you'd handle it if you ended up in this mess.
Honestly, sanding again might help, but it also depends on how deep those swirl marks are. If they're shallow, yeah, another round with a finer grit could smooth things out. But if they're deeper gouges from aggressive sanding pads or uneven pressure, you might just be chasing your tail. I had a similar situation in one of my rentals—thought I'd save some cash doing it myself and ended up with floors that looked like abstract art. Ended up renting a drum sander, going slow and steady with progressively finer grits (like 60 to 120), and then applying stain in smaller sections to keep things even. Also, that gritty feeling underfoot usually means dust or debris got trapped in your finish coat. Vacuum thoroughly between coats and use tack cloths religiously. If you're patient enough to redo it carefully, you'll probably get decent results...but honestly, if it's driving you nuts already, no shame in hiring a pro this time around.
"Ended up renting a drum sander, going slow and steady with progressively finer grits (like 60 to 120), and then applying stain in smaller sections to keep things even."
Totally agree with this. Drum sanders can be intimidating at first (I swear mine had a mind of its own), but they're lifesavers if you take your time. Also, consider water-based finishes—they dry quicker, have less odor, and are way easier on the environment. Plus, cleanup is a breeze...no more sticky brushes haunting your garage for months.
