Sanding Stair Landings: Blending Edger Overlap Marks

Stair landings often show visible overlap marks where a floor edger meets the main sander path. Without proper blending, these transition zones look patchy and uneven under stain or finish. Careful sanding eliminates lines and ensures a seamless surface across the landing.

Why Stair Landing Sanding Is Tricky

Unlike wide floor areas, stair landings have tight spaces that require multiple tools. The overlap of edgers and hand sanders creates scratch patterns that show through finish. A smart grit sequence and blending technique make those lines disappear.

Tools You’ll Need

• Floor edger or orbital sander
• Hand sanding block for corners
• Detail sander for edges
• Pencil for tracking scratch removal
• Vacuum and tack cloth

Recommended Grit Sequence

• 60 grit: For removing deep edger marks and leveling surfaces.
• 100 grit: For smoothing overlap zones and blending edges.
• 150–180 grit: Final sanding for finish-ready smoothness.

Step-by-Step Process

1. Mark the overlap zones. Identify areas where edger and main sanding paths meet.
2. Start coarse sanding. Use 60 grit (25-pack) to remove ridges and visible scratches across the landing.
3. Smooth with medium grit. Blend overlap lines using 100 grit (50-pack) on both orbital and hand sanders.
4. Finish fine sanding. Refine with 150 grit (100-pack) or 180 grit for a uniform, finish-ready surface.
5. Check under raking light. Scratches and swirl marks are easier to spot at low angles—re-sand as needed.
6. Clean carefully. Vacuum and tack cloth the landing to remove dust before finishing.

Special Cases

For stained stair landings, sanding to at least 180 grit ensures even color absorption. For clear finishes, you may want to continue to 220 grit for extra clarity. If landings are heavily worn, start at 40 grit before moving into the sequence above.

Pro Tips

• Feather your sanding strokes into the adjoining areas for seamless blending.
• Work diagonally across overlap zones before sanding with the grain.
• Keep sandpaper sharp—dull grits burnish wood and highlight scratches.
• Always test stain on a small sanded section before finishing the entire landing.

Aftercare

• Maintain landings by using felt pads under furniture to prevent scratches.
• Re-sand lightly with 220 grit before refinishing in the future.
• Clean regularly with a damp mop—avoid harsh chemicals.

FAQs

• Why do overlap marks appear? They happen when different sanding paths meet at slightly different depths or angles.
• Can I remove overlap marks after staining? Not effectively—always blend before applying finish.
• Is hand sanding enough? For small areas, yes, but blending is faster with an orbital sander.

Watch & Learn

By carefully blending overlap zones with the right grit sequence, stair landings can look as seamless as the rest of the floor—free of visible lines and ready for a flawless finish.