Should You Buy A Floor Sander Or Rent One From Home Depot?

When refinishing hardwood floors, sanding is often necessary. It removes the old finish from the floor, as well as scuffs and scratches, stains, and other surface imperfections, aiding in restoring the wood's natural beauty. Floor sanding is the most labor-intensive and time-consuming part of the refinishing process, and it also requires specialized equipment, which is why homeowners might hire a pro to refinish hardwood floors. The majority of the cost of professional floor refinishing, though, is labor. 

If you are budget-conscious, you may want to skip the labor costs and refinish your own wood flooring, but that requires you to source your own equipment. When it comes to the sanding machine, your two main options are to rent one from Home Depot (or another home improvement store) or buy one. A rental sander offers benefits in terms of cost and practicality, often making it the best option for the average homeowner completing a one-time flooring project. Buying one, though, may be a better option if you have an extensive sanding project or may need a sander again in the future.

Researching the benefits and drawbacks of each option is crucial before beginning your floor refinishing project. Whether you rent a sander from Home Depot or buy one, there are a number of things to consider. Going into your refinishing project fully informed can save you a lot of money, as well as frustration.

Buying a sander could be beneficial if you're considering it for both home and business use. If you are in the contracting or home renovation industry, you might be able to use the purchase as a tax write-off. Even as a homeowner, purchasing could be a good option if you plan to use the sander for multiple projects. While the upfront cost is significant, you can use your sander repeatedly without paying a rental fee, which, over time, can make it a more economical choice if you use it enough. You also have access to your sander whenever you need it, saving you the effort and time associated with renting, and you don't have the hassle of hauling a bulky machine to and from Home Depot when you need a sander. Owning gives you more opportunity to become familiar with the machine, which can help you sand your floors faster and produce higher-quality work. Finally, when you buy your own floor sander, you get to choose a brand you trust and a machine with the features you want.

A major downside of buying a floor sander is the cost. You can expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 to $13,000 or more, depending on the type and brand you buy. You will also be covering regular maintenance, as well as repairs, which can add significantly to the cost of ownership. Additionally, if you don't have sufficient storage space for a large piece of machinery, you may want to reconsider purchasing a floor sander, as they can be space-consuming. For many people who just want to refinish their hardwood floors, buying a bulky, expensive sander isn't practical or cost-effective, but it could be an option if you have several flooring projects planned.

There are plenty of reasons renting a sander from Home Depot is a good idea for many people. Instead of paying potentially thousands of dollars for a sander, you can rent one for well under $100 per day. If you need it longer, you can get weekly and monthly rental pricing that averages a much lower per-day rate. Since it's possible to sand an entire house in just two to three days, the savings can be significant. When renting a floor sander, you don't have to worry about paying for maintenance or costly repairs. You also don't need to worry about finding a place to store it. When you are finished with your project, you simply return the sander to Home Depot, and move on with your next steps.

Of course, nothing is without its downsides, including refinishing your hardwood floors with a rental sander. One major downside of renting a floor sander from Home Depot is that it may not be possible in your area. While there are plenty of Home Depots across the country with rental departments, your local store may not have one. Another con to renting is that if your Home Depot does have a rental department, a sander with the features you want may not be available for your desired day and time. You're limited to the types of machines the store offers and the availability schedule of that location, which means you might not find a sander that fits your needs or timeline. Finally, whether you are sanding a floor for the first time or you are experienced, using an unfamiliar machine can come with a learning curve, which can lead to longer rental times or even damage to your floors.