Buffing is a maintenance task designed for superficial wear, while sanding is a restorative process for structural or deep-surface issues. During buffing, a technician abrades the finish to ensure adhesion for a new topcoat. During sanding, industrial equipment uses increasingly fine grits to strip the finish and a microscopic layer of wood, creating a new, perfectly flat, raw surface. Sanding is more labor-intensive and creates significant dust, whereas screening is faster and less intrusive.
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What is the visual difference between buffing and sanding?
Buffing (screening) removes only the surface finish layer to prepare it for a new coat. Sanding, however, is a deeper process that removes wood material, effectively flattening the floor and eliminating deep scratches, gouges, or severe wear marks.