Sanding a Worn Out Basketball Court Floor

Shiny basketball court floors take a lot of abuse from ball impacts, skidding shoes, and falling bodies during games and practices. Remember too that basketball courts are not just used for its intended sport but also for other activities such as volleyball and running. These activities slowly eat away the protective coating of the floor and the wood itself. Scratches and pockmarks begin to appear, which can actually cause injuries if they are stepped on.

That is why basketball court floors need to be sanded when they become damaged. Sanding of this magnitude usually calls for a professional sander. This is how they do it:

First, the sanders prepare the floor by getting rid of all obstructions to lessen the possibility of damaging the sanding machine. Nails that protrude above the boards are hammered down until they are flushed to the board. Tacks, pins, staples, and other objects embedded in the floor are also taken out as well as adhesives and adhesive residue.

After the floor is prepared, the actual sanding begins. First, a large sanding machine is loaded with coarse-grit heavy duty sanding papers, usually 40 grit, to remove the old coating and the old layer of paint. This stage also makes the floor flat by eliminating minute height differences. If there are holes in the floor, they are filled at this stage.

Second, a belt sander loaded with 80-grit sanding paper smoothens out the scratches made by the first sanding. Finally, a finishing machine is utilised to create the final smooth finish using 100-grit papers. Once the sanding dust is swept away, the floor is painted with the court markings and the logo of the home team. Finally, it is coated with oils, polyurethane, and other sealants.