How Do You Refinish Engineered Wood Flooring?
Engineered flooring is an inexpensive, green alternative to traditional 3/4-inch hardwood. Layers of filler material are sandwiched together under a hardwood veneer that can be anywhere from 1/32 to 3/16 of an inch. The thickness of this veneer determines the feasibility of sanding the floor because thin veneers will wear through, exposing the layer underneath. Before sanding and refinishing, you should verify the thickness of the veneer; if it is less than 1/16-inch, you should limit the operation to the application of a new finish coat. Remove all baseboard from the room. Move all wires and cables out of the way and separate the room from the rest of the house by hanging plastic in the doorways. Thin some latex floor filler with water until it is the consistency of peanut butter and spread it over the floor with a 6-inch drywall blade. Make sure you fill in all cracks, holes and imperfections. Let it dry before proceeding. Sand the main part of the floor with the drum sander, using 8
