Best Sandpaper for Preparing Wooden Floors Around Fireplaces and High-Traffic Areas

Wooden floors around fireplaces and in high-traffic areas like hallways or entryways experience more wear than other parts of the home. Heat, soot, and heavy footfall cause scratches, dents, and dullness. Sanding is the key to restoring these surfaces before refinishing with stain or polyurethane.

Why Sand Floors in High-Wear Areas?

Floor sections near fireplaces collect ash, soot, and heat damage, while high-traffic spots wear unevenly. Sanding removes surface damage, levels worn boards, and preps wood for uniform stain absorption. Without sanding, finishes will appear patchy and wear out faster.

Tools You’ll Need

• Floor sander for large areas
• Edge sander for corners and around fireplace hearths
• Sanding sponges for tight spots
• Vacuum with HEPA filter
• High-quality silicon carbide sandpaper sheets

Best Grit Sequence for Floors

• 60 grit: Heavy removal of burns, soot, and deep scratches.
• 100 grit: Smoothing after coarse sanding.
• 150 grit: Refining for consistency across planks.
• 220 grit: Final sanding before stain or polyurethane.

Step-by-Step: Sanding High-Wear Floor Areas

1. Start with 60 grit. Use 60 grit (25-pack) to strip away deep damage and soot near fireplaces.
2. Smooth with 100 grit. Switch to 100 grit (25-pack) for general leveling.
3. Refine with 150 grit. Use 150 grit (50-pack) to create an even texture across boards.
4. Finish with 220 grit. Lightly sand with 220 grit (100-pack) for a smooth, finish-ready surface.
5. Clean thoroughly. Vacuum with a HEPA filter and wipe with a microfiber cloth before refinishing.

Special Cases

For engineered hardwood floors, avoid coarse grits below 100 to prevent sanding through the veneer. For severe heat damage around fireplaces, multiple passes with 60 grit may be needed.

Pro Tips

• Always sand with the grain of the wood.
• Replace sandpaper frequently—floor grit dulls quickly on tough damage.
• Seal floors promptly after sanding to prevent soot or dirt from penetrating raw wood.

Aftercare

• Apply at least two coats of polyurethane for durability in high-traffic zones.
• Use rugs near fireplaces to reduce future wear.
• Maintain with regular cleaning to extend finish life.

FAQs

• Can I spot sand just high-traffic areas? Not recommended—blending can be difficult. Full refinishing ensures uniform results.
• Do I need special sandpaper for floors? Yes—floor sanding requires durable, high-cut sandpapers designed for hardwoods.

Watch & Learn

Proper sanding makes high-wear floor areas around fireplaces look new again. Shop our floor sanding collection for the right grits to handle tough refinishing projects.