Caitlin Troutt
Refinishing hardwood floors is a great and relatively simple DIY project, provided you can get the right tools. Lowe’s may be your first thought when you want a floor sander rental. Currently, though, most Lowe’s stores do not offer tool and equipment rentals. However, the company is currently rolling out a multi-year tool rental program that will include floor sanders. Below, we have more information about the upcoming tool rental program at Lowe’s, as well as floor sander purchase options and other places to rent them.
Lowe’s Floor Sander Rental Policy
Most Lowe’s stores currently do not rent floor sanding equipment. We spoke with customer service representatives from Lowe’s who confirmed that the company does not rent out floor sanders. In general, Lowe’s does not rent out any equipment other than carpet cleaners (as previously reported).
However, Lowe’s recently instituted a tool rental program, starting with a store in Charlotte, NC, that will expand nationwide over several years.[1] This program allows customers to rent a variety of floor care items, including sanders.
You can contact your local Lowe’s to find out if store associates have any information about when the store will be starting its rental program. At stores where the program is available, customers can reserve floor sanders online and pick them up at the store. Rentals are available by the hour, day, week, or month.[2]
If you urgently need to rent a floor sander, our related research has the list of places where you can rent a floor sander.
Buying a Floor Sander at Lowe’s
Although you can’t currently rent a floor sander at most Lowe’s stores, the home improvement chain does sell sanders. Keep in mind, Lowe’s does not sell full-size floor sanders — only hand-held sanders, which you can use to sand a floor. Below, we’ve listed some of the top-rated sanders available for purchase at Lowe’s.
Drum Sanders
Drum sanders are very efficient, but their power can make them difficult to control if you don’t have experience using a sander. Also, since drum sanders only sand in one direction, you’ll need to pay attention to the direction of your wood grain to avoid messing up the final finish of your floor.
Orbital Sanders
Orbital sanders are gentler on floors and easy to pick up and use, but that means it can take much longer to sand your floors. An orbital sander may also not have the power you need to get off paint, caked-on varnish, or smooth any serious dings or scratches.
More Information
If you want to make a large purchase at Lowe’s and pay over time, you may want to consider opening a Lowe’s Advantage Card. Our article has more information about using the shopping cart trick to get approved for a credit card at Lowe’s.
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