Dust-controlledhardwood floor sanding.
Professional sanding equipment connected directly to HEPA-filtered dust collection helps capture dust where it is created, while containment and surface protection help limit what travels through the home.
Dust collection connects directly to sanding equipment.
The EPA benchmark for HEPA filter efficiency.
Surrounding surfaces and adjacent areas are considered before sanding begins.
*99.97% refers to HEPA filter efficiency for 0.3-micron particles passing through the filter—not the percentage of jobsite dust captured. EPA: HEPA filtration
Dustless is the common term. Dust-controlled is the accurate one.
No hardwood sanding system makes a room literally free of every dust particle. The goal is to capture dust as close as possible to where it is generated, limit its movement into surrounding areas, and clean the floor thoroughly before coating.
What does 0.3 microns actually mean?
A micron (µm) is one-thousandth of a millimeter. EPA’s size references include an average human hair at about 70 µm, PM10 at generally 10 µm and smaller, and PM2.5 at generally 2.5 µm and smaller. EPA: particle sizes
0.3 µm is a HEPA filtration benchmark. It does not mean all hardwood sanding dust is 0.3 µm.
99.97% is a filter rating—not a dustless claim.
What the number means
The rating concerns particles passing through the filter. EPA describes 0.3 µm as the most penetrating reference size; HEPA media generally captures larger and smaller particles even more efficiently. EPA: filter efficiency
What the number does NOT mean
- 99.97% of all sanding dust disappears.
- Every particle created reaches the vacuum.
- The room will contain zero residual dust.
- Containment and cleanup are unnecessary.
The best place to control dust is where it’s being created.
The sanding machine creates the dust, so that’s where collection starts. Sanding equipment is connected directly to dust-containment equipment so material can be drawn away before it has the same opportunity to spread throughout the room.
Dust control is a system, not one machine.
Good dust management depends on more than having a filter. The connection at the machine, airflow, hoses, collection equipment, filtration, containment, maintenance and operator setup all affect how the system performs.
This is a process diagram, not an equipment specification. Final cleaning is a separate preparation step after sanding; it is not part of the vacuum’s airflow path.
Filtration, capture and containment are different things.
| Part of the process | What it does | What it doesn’t promise |
|---|---|---|
| Source capture | Collects material close to the sanding point | That every particle will enter the system |
| HEPA filtration | Filters air moving through the HEPA filter | That 99.97% of all room dust is captured |
| Containment | Helps limit movement into surrounding areas | A completely sealed, particle-free house |
| Surface protection | Protects nearby cabinets, furniture and finishes | Elimination of airborne dust |
| Final cleaning | Removes remaining settled material before coating | That sanding created zero residual dust |
HEPA is not just another MERV rating.
EPA lists the following efficiencies for MERV filters in the 0.3–1.0 µm range. The HEPA figure is measured at 0.3 µm and is shown separately for context.
Different reference sizes and test frameworks: this is not a direct equipment-performance comparison. HEPA is not a MERV rating. EPA: MERV and HEPA table
Capture. Contain. Clean.
Swipe to explore all three
Dust collection connected at the sanding equipment
Material is collected as close to the sanding point as practical rather than relying entirely on cleanup later.
Protect the surrounding home
Furniture, cabinets, built-ins, adjoining rooms, access points and other surfaces are reviewed before work begins.
Prepare for stain and finish
Residual dust and debris are removed as part of final preparation before stain, sealer or finish is applied.
No single step replaces the others.
Why every project is different.
Floor condition
Old coatings, repairs and uneven areas can change how the floor needs to be sanded.
Equipment connection
Collection depends on the sanding machine, hose and dust-control system working together.
Edges + details
Edges, corners and detailed areas may require different tools than open floor areas.
Room layout
Stairs, doorways, adjoining rooms and open floor plans affect containment planning.
Previous finishes
Different coatings and buildup may change the sanding sequence.
Operator setup
Equipment condition, connections and work practices matter.
Dust collection doesn’t replace home protection.
Source capture handles dust where sanding happens. Before we start, we also look at what surrounds the floor—cabinets, built-ins, counters, doorways, windows, adjoining rooms, and the paths our equipment will use. Protection is planned around the actual space rather than one fixed setup.
- Cabinets + built-ins
- Furniture
- Doorways + adjoining spaces
- Stairs + hallways
- Equipment paths
- HVAC registers when appropriate
What you should expect from dust-controlled sanding.
We WILL tell you:
- What areas need to be cleared
- What we’re covering or protecting
- Where sanding equipment will operate
- What level of residual cleanup to expect
- What happens before finish goes down
We WON’T tell you:
- That sanding creates zero dust
- That HEPA means 99.97% of all jobsite dust disappears
- That every project has identical dust levels
- That containment eliminates every airborne particle
Source capture changes when collection happens.
| Consideration | Source-capture sanding | Cleanup-focused sanding |
|---|---|---|
| Collection location | At or near sanding equipment | Primarily after dust settles |
| Timing | During sanding | After sanding |
| Filtration | HEPA when equipped with a verified HEPA system | Depends on equipment |
| Containment | Planned with work area | Separate consideration |
| Residual cleanup | Still required | More reliance on cleanup afterward |
| 100% dust-free? | No | No |
Why control wood dust at the source?
Sanding can put wood particles into the air. OSHA’s woodworking guidance emphasizes collection at or near the point where dust is produced. The EPA references explain particle sizes and filtration ratings; they do not certify Accolade’s equipment or measure our jobsite capture rate.
Inside our refinishing process.
Swipe to explore all three
Examples from our work, showing equipment, preparation and a finished result. These images are not presented as a single before-and-after project.
SEE REFINISHING PROJECTSClear answers before work begins.
Is dust-controlled sanding actually dustless?
No. Sanding creates dust. Source collection, containment and cleanup help limit what spreads, but no process makes the home completely free of every dust particle.
What does 99.97% at 0.3 microns mean?
It describes HEPA filter efficiency for particles passing through the filter at the stated reference size. It is a filtration benchmark, not a measurement taken throughout your home.
Does 99.97% mean you capture 99.97% of sanding dust?
No. Some material may never reach the collection system. Machine connections, detailed areas, layout and work practices affect collection, and residual cleaning is still part of the job.
How small is 0.3 microns?
It is 0.0003 millimeters. Using EPA’s approximate 70-micron average hair diameter, it is about 233 times smaller in diameter. This comparison does not mean all sanding dust has that size.
Why connect the vacuum directly to the sanding machine?
The machine is where sanding dust is created. Connecting collection there helps draw material away close to that point, before it has the same opportunity to spread into the room.
Will there still be dust to clean afterward?
Yes. We clean the floor and work area as part of preparation before stain, sealer or finish. We also discuss the residual cleanup to expect; dust control does not replace final cleaning.
Do you protect cabinets and adjoining rooms?
We review cabinets, furniture, doorways, adjoining spaces and access routes before work starts. What needs to be moved, covered or separated depends on your home and the agreed scope.
Does HEPA filtration mean I can stay in the house during refinishing?
Not necessarily. Occupancy depends on the sanding scope, room layout, access, coatings and finish system, drying and cure requirements, and household needs. We discuss the plan before work begins; HEPA filtration alone does not determine when a space is ready to use.
Plan the sanding, protection and finish together.
We’ll review the condition of the wood, access, repairs and finish options, then explain the preparation your project needs.
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