Does screening need to be done after first coats of poly before applying fianl coat of poly ? Trying to get a good knowledge base together before actually going into business and refinishing first customers floor. I have one customer aleady but he wants to see how well I do my floor first.

I suggest taking the basic sand & finish classes, offered by the NWFA, and NOFMA.

Thanks for that info. In the event that I'm not able to take that class any time soon, what about the screening question I asked ?

Depends, what finish are you using.

Fabulon gloss

That finish needs to be abraded between each coat. Read the directions on the back of the can.

Ok thanks. What kind doesn't require it ?

To look good, most floor finishes do. Waterbased will often adhere fine to itself but raises the wood grain, so screening is needed to smooth the finish. Oil-based will not raise the grain as much but needs screening (abrading) to adhere to itself.

Mr Hand, I see you are asking many questions about sanding and finishing woods floors. I strongly recommend either taking a class by NOFMA, BONA, Basic or the NWFA. At least buy a book on it. A discussion forum cannot cover all the different aspects of sanding and finishing wood floors

http://www.amazon.com/Hardwood-Floors-L ... 376&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Flooring-Handbook ... 376&sr=1-2

Thanks. I ordered one

ONe thing that has me asking some of the questions is that I have a freind who has a refinishing business and has been doing it for 20 years. He's been telling me some things and it is sometimes contradictory to some of the advice I've been reading on this forum.

That is because your friend has never had any formal training, or received the education, that the guys here have.

Most likely, he learned from someone, that learned from someone, that learned from someone, all finding that corner to cut, to speed up the process. It might look decent when he leaves, but what about a year later??

We all have the book, and it is best to go by the book, as deviating from the book, is cheating your clients, that are paying for a job done to standards and requirements that a professional should know like the back of their hand.

You're right. He never had any formal training. He learned by working for a friend and I don't know where that guy learned from. He's talking about taking the class you guys were telling me about.

I ordered book by Bollinger and video. Can't wait to get them. I appreciate yours and Gary's help. In the past I've done living room and dining room with random orbital rental sander. One bedroom. sunroom. Also did living and dining room in a rental property. Didn't sand rental property. Just applied poly. Sunroom was sanded using a vibrating had sander. Applied oil based Olympic poly to all rooms using lambswool. Have yet to do a paying customer.