SANDED WOODEN FLOORS - GAP FILLING

How to Gap Fill Sanded Wooden Floors

Filling gaps in a sanded wooden floor is an optional, yet integral, part of the sanding process.

Gap filling a floor is an option that many people like since it brings a uniform finish to the floor and helps exclude draughts.

The Professional Floor Sanding Company recommends filling gaps in boarded floors with solid wood.

Warning! Since wood is a natural material it will expand and contract. Natural and sub-floor movement can work loose ANY filling, no matter which technique is used.

Techniques for Filling Gaps in Boarded Floors

There are three basic techniques for filling gaps in sanded floors.

1. Resin: fine dust from the floor being sanded is mixed with a resin and applied to gaps with filling knife.
   
   
2. Flexifill: an acrylic filler with approximately 12% flexibility. The filler is applied by filling gun and filling knife.
   
   
3. Solid Pine Strip: strips of reclaimed pine are glued, forced into the gaps, and chiseled back.

How to fill gaps in a sanded floor with resin

• Make sure all boards or wood blocks are thoroughly secure. Try to eliminate all movement in the floor since movement will cause filler to crack.
• Empty dust-bag from the belt sander and edger so that you can collect only 80 grit wood dust.
• Sand the floor to 80 grit with both machines.
• Take the 80 grit dust from the machines and mix with the resin. Mix to a thickish paste, not too dry that the filler wont spread evenly but not too wet so it slips down in between the gaps.
• Vacuum floor thoroughly and clean in between gaps
• Take a filling knife and spread filler over/into gaps.
• Let the filler dry for 2 hrs.
• When filler is dry, sand over the floor with 80/120 grit.
• Fill a second time: mix the filler slightly wetter this time. Touch up any areas where the filler has slipped down or cracked.
• Lightly sand areas filled a second time.
• Clean the floor and seal with a professional seal.

Warning! Resin gives off fumes. Work in a well ventilated room.

Warning! Do not try to fill gaps bigger than 6mm.

>> Buy Resin in the shop.

Filling gaps in a sanded wooden floor with Flexifill

• Make sure all boards or wood blocks are thoroughly secure. Try to eliminate all movement in the floor since movement will cause filler to crack.
• Sand the floor to 80 grit with both machines.
• Thoroughly clean floor and gaps.
• Take Flexifill and apply over and into gaps.
• Take a filling knife and scrape over the filler to smooth it out.
• Leave filler to set for 24hrs.
• When filler is dry, sand over the floor with 80/120 grit.
• Clean the floor and seal with a professional seal.

Warning! Do not try to fill gaps bigger than 6mm.

>> Buy Flexifill in the shop.

Filling a sanded wooden floor with Solid Wood

Strips come in two sizes: 0-6mm & 0-8mm.

Before you begin, look over the gaps on the floor and decide what size strips you require. Gaps over 8mm should be filled with individually cut strips.

• Make sure all boards or wood blocks are thoroughly secure. Try to eliminate all movement in the floor since movement will cause filler to fail.
• Sand the floor to 40 grit with both machines.
• Take strips and good quality PVA glue.
• Apply glue to strips and hammer into gaps.
• Leave the strips to set for 2hrs.
• Take a chisel and cut back the strips flush to the floor surface.
• Continue sanding with 80/120 grit.
• Clean the floor and seal with a professional seal.

>> Buy Strips in the shop.