Just had rock maple stairs installed, the installer helper did not know how to use an orbital sander and put some divots into the maple, did not see them until the stain an lacquer went down.

Do I need to sand theses out and refinish the entire floor or just the area the has the shallow divot? Another though was to spray coats of lacquer and block sand until I fill the void, then put poly down. Other suggestions.
Thx

Likely you'll need to resand. Spot sanding will be tough depending on where the marks are in the floor and staining after finish has been applied can leave a darker ring where the finish gets feathered into because it is roughened up enough to hold onto the pigment from the stain.

Problem with the other method is, those marks will always be there, even if the "dip" is filled in, you'll see the difference in the right lighting anyway. Besides, the effort required to fill in the dips would be the equivalent to fixing it the right way when it's all said and done.

Better to tough it out and go through the process again and not regret the end result of your floor if you have the time and patience to deal with it.

Rookies and veterans make mistakes, it's how we learn, but you need to correct your mistakes the right way to learn the lesson.

The best way to find and remove sanding marks is at the time the floor is stained.
If a natural finish is applied, then after the first coat of seal. This is the time to scrape, or sand the problem with a machine. The minor touch-up can be accomplished before the final coat of finish.

I'm sorry to hear about the issue with your newly installed rock maple stairs. If the divots are shallow, you may be able to sand them out and refinish just the affected area. However, if the divots are deeper, it may be necessary to refinish the entire floor to ensure an even appearance.

Your idea of spraying coats of lacquer and block sanding until the void is filled is also a viable option, but it may take some time and effort to achieve a smooth surface. Another option is to use a wood filler to fill the divots, sand it down until it's level with the surrounding wood, and then refinish the stairs.

Ultimately, the best course of action will depend on the severity of the divots and your personal preference. If you're unsure of how to proceed, it may be best to consult with a professional flooring contractor who can assess the damage and provide recommendations for repair.

Wood patch is not made to fill divots. You will need to try sanding again to make the surface flatter. Most novices work too hard without the skill to produce a good surface resulting in low spots. The object of sanding the first time is just to remove any mill marks and get the edges of the boards smooth with each other...Anyone can make mistakes, but a good mechanic will know how and when to correct a defect.