Materials you'll need:

· Tape
· Coarse, medium and fine sandpaper
· Wood stain
· Rags
· Clear finish Polish

Tools you'll need:

· Drum sander
· Disc sander
· Nail punch
· Hammer
· Vacuum cleaner
· Hand sander
· Paintbrush or applicator

1. Rent a large drum sander (an upright sander which looks a little like a vacuum cleaner). You will also need a disc or orbital sander to finish the edges close to the walls, and a hand sander for getting into corners.

2. Before sanding, empty the room of all furniture, curtains etc. Tape over heating and air conditioning ducts to prevent dust getting in. Remove skirting boards so you can get close to the walls. Now go over the floor with hammer and nail punch to drive in any protruding nails.

3. When you are ready to start open all windows. Plan alternative routes for family members.

4. You will usually need to go over the floor with three grades of sandpaper, starting with coarse, then medium, then fine grits.

5. Start sanding with the coarse grit sandpaper on the drum. Go over the whole floor, sanding with the grain.

Always keep moving so the sander doesn't dig into the floor. Make a forward and backward trip over the same boards then move over and do the next set of boards.

6. Next go over the edges and corners with the edge sander, using the same coarse grit sandpaper as was on the drum sander.

7. Change to medium grit sandpaper and repeat steps 5 and 6.

8. Now comes the fine sanding, using fine grit sandpaper. Don't omit this step because this ensures the floor will take the clear finish evenly.

9. Sweep the floor frequently as you work so you can monitor your own progress. Any spots which the big sanders miss should be gone over with a hand sander, working with the grain.

10. When the floor is sanded to your satisfaction, return the rented equipment. Vacuum the floor thoroughly.

11. Now decide whether to stain the floor or clear finish the natural timber.

12. After staining, apply the clear finish, usually polyurethane from your paint supplier. Follow the directions on the product, applying two and preferably three coats at intervals of at least 6 hours and not more than 24 hours.

WARNING! Extreme care must be taken because wood dust genera­ted by sanding is highly flammable and potentially explosive. Some of the lacquers and finishes are also highly volatile and must be handled with great care.