Q: After sanding and staining our hardwood floors we applied polyurethane, clear semi-gloss. As the first layer started to dry we noticed the floor is covered with the sanding grooves! What can we do to make them not or less noticeable?
A: I’m surprised you didn’t see these marks as soon as you started applying the stain. Short of starting the entire process over, choosing the proper grits to use along with a proper preparation procedure, your next best bet is to go with a very low shine as a finish. The higher the shine the more unforgiving it will be visually. So, I would go with satin or even a matt finish. This will help hide and deflect attention away from the sanding marks.
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