Hi Janes, I am so glad I found this site! I've just bought my first home and am definitely having some issues. The entire house is covered in berber carpet that has BEAUTIFUL hardwood flooring underneath. So, I am pulling up all the carpet and redoing the floors. So far, I've just about finished my son's room and am working on the living room. Here's my problem: the "contractor" that installed the carpet put WAY too many staples in the padding. I've read it should be one staple every 6 - 12 inches, but I'm talking up to five staples in a one inch area! And most of the staples are flush with, if not lower than, the floor. So, as I am taking out staples, I'm creating gouges and scratches in my floor! I've already got the first two coats of polyurethane on my son's room, and I can definitely see ALL the scratches and gouges. While the room looks better than with the carpet, I'd like to be able to keep the marks from being so obvious in my living room. I've not used a drum sander because I don't want to put a hole in my floor, but I sanded 4 times with an oscillating sander and still have all those marks. Is there anything else I can do or do I just have to sand with the coarse paper for hours and hours? Thanks to all in advance! Laura