Parquet renovation: what you need to know

Parquet renovation is an art that only professionals truly master.

Your parquet flooring has stood the test of time and now deserves special attention to reveal its full splendour and enhance your interior spaces. Wondering how to breathe new life into old parquet flooring?

The different stages

Here are the essential steps for parquet renovation:

• Preparing the floor: Before calling in a professional, carefully prepare the surface. Remove the furniture and clean the parquet thoroughly.
• Sanding: Sanding is crucial to remove irregularities, scratches and old finishes. It is important to choose a professional sander, as using a tool that is too light will take too much time and risk creating irregularities that may be irreparable.
• Repair cracks, holes, uneven slats, etc.
• Seal, wax or oil: Choosing between these techniques can be complex.

By following these steps carefully, you will breathe new life into your floor and create a warm and elegant interior. Don't hesitate to seek the expertise of a professional floor renovator for impeccable results.

Sanding

The room is empty and the sanding work can begin. There are several phases and several passes. To this, we add the idea of location, because we first sand the entire room and then finish with the edges of the skirting boards and the more difficult-to-reach corners.

The sanding work can begin. Traditionally, professionals use a heavy belt sander. However, the new generation of machines, such as the 4D single-brush machine from Repex, can also be used. Please note that this machine is powerful and heavy enough to do the job. It is nothing like the small single-brush machines used for polishing.

When renovating parquet flooring, a belt sander is always used in the direction of the wood grain.

A craftsman begins his first pass of parquet renovation work with a fairly coarse abrasive grain (between 40 and 60). Why?

• Removal of irregularities: The coarse abrasive grain quickly removes roughness, old finishes and imperfections from the surface of the wood. This creates a uniform base for the subsequent sanding steps.

• Level of stripping: A coarser grain removes a greater amount of material. This is particularly useful for very damaged parquet floors, which may have deep scratches, stains or dents.
• Time saving: Starting with a larger abrasive grain speeds up the initial sanding process. Once the major defects have been removed, the craftsman can move on to finer grits to refine the surface.

After this first pass, the floor renovation craftsman can gradually move on to finer grits (such as 80, 100 or 120) to achieve a perfectly smooth surface before applying a finish (sealing, oiling or waxing). But before that...

What if there are scratches or slats that are too far apart?

To deal with cracks or holes in parquet flooring and bring together slats that have become separated over time, here are some effective methods often used in parquet renovation:

• Filling cracks and holes:

A craftsman uses wood filler or a mixture of sawdust and resin to fill cracks and holes.

They apply the filler or mixture to the gaps using a spatula.

They leave it to dry and sand it lightly to achieve a uniform surface.

• Bringing the slats closer together:

If the slats have become separated, they insert strips of wood into the gaps and then select strips of wood of the same type as your parquet flooring. He inserts these into the gaps between the slats to bring them closer together. To do this, he uses a rubber mallet to hammer them in until they are level with the floor.

• Repair with string:

A craftsman may use natural fibre string (such as cotton or jute).

They will choose a rope that matches the colour of the wood and insert it into the gaps between the boards.

• Checking humidity:

Ensure that your floor is not exposed to extreme humidity, as this can cause gaps to appear. Maintain a stable humidity level in the room to minimise dimensional variations in the wood.

Parquet renovation requires a great deal of expertise!

How to remove stains?

To remove stains from parquet flooring, even after sanding, here are some effective methods that you can recommend to your craftsman, a specialist in parquet renovation, between sanding passes.

• Hydrogen peroxide: Soak a cloth with hydrogen peroxide. Place the cloth on the stain and leave it to work overnight. Remove the cloth and wipe the area with another clean, damp cloth. Repeat if necessary.
• Bicarbonate of soda: Mix two parts baking soda with one part warm water to create a paste. Rub the paste onto the stain using circular motions until it disappears. Clean the area with a damp cloth to remove any residue.
• Methylated spirits: Soak a cloth with methylated spirits. Gently rub the stain until it fades. Wipe the area with a clean, dry cloth.
• Baking soda and water: Mix baking soda with water to form a paste. Apply the paste to the stain and leave it to work for a few minutes. Gently rub with a damp cloth and rinse.
• White vinegar: Mix one part white vinegar with one part water. Apply the mixture to the stain and rub gently. Wipe with a clean, dry cloth.

Remember to test these methods on a small, inconspicuous area of the floor before applying them to the visible stain. Renovating parquet flooring requires curiosity and skill.

Final protection in parquet renovation

Here is a quick overview of what you need to remember in order to choose the method that best suits your aesthetic preferences, the use of the room and the amount of maintenance your client is willing to provide. Do not hesitate to consult a professional for personalised advice.

Sealing: Sealing involves applying a protective varnish to the surface of the parquet. In general, a well-maintained sealed parquet floor can last between 20 and 30 years or more. However, it is essential to monitor its condition and take preventive measures to extend its life.

Here are its main advantages:

• Durability: Varnishing creates a solid barrier against wear, scratches and stains.
• Ease of maintenance: Varnished parquet flooring is easy to clean, as it only needs to be swept or mopped with a damp cloth.
• Shiny appearance: Varnishing gives the parquet flooring a shiny, uniform finish.

Oiling: Oil penetrates the wood fibres and nourishes them deeply. Parquet flooring oiled with high-quality products and applied correctly can last between 6 months and 2 years before a new coat of oil is needed.

Here's why you might choose oiling:

• Natural appearance: Oil enhances the natural beauty of the wood without creating a film on the surface.
• Moisture protection: Oil protects the floor from water infiltration and moisture.

Wax: Wax provides a protective layer and a warm shine to the floor. A floor that has been properly waxed with high-quality products can last between 2 and 5 years before a new coat of wax is needed.

Here are its characteristics:

• Elegant patina: Wax gives the wood a subtle and attractive patina.
• Regular maintenance: Waxed flooring requires more frequent maintenance, but it is easy to renovate.

When renovating parquet flooring, you can switch from one technique to another without any worries.

Key points

When renovating parquet flooring, do not hesitate to seek the expertise of a professional for impeccable results and, above all, make sure you maintain a newly restored parquet floor properly. A well-maintained solid floor can be sanded up to five times, but it is essential to monitor its condition and take preventive measures to extend its life. You can see why investing in a durable solid floor is recommended.

Floor renovation has many mysteries, but we hope we have shed some light on the subject.