How to Restore Parquet Flooring

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Parquet flooring can be a stunning addition to any home and in many period homes it is already present. Often sorely neglected beneath old carpet it usually requires restoring before it can be displayed to its best advantage. Parquet flooring in good condition can increase the value of your home so it is well worth the effort it takes to restore and maintain it.

What is parquet flooring?

Parquet floor is made up of many small blocks of hardwood which is traditionally put together in a basket-weave pattern or a herringbone pattern though other, more complex patterns can be found with different wood types being used to create complex almost 3D designs.

What issues can you have with it and how do you fix these issues?

The most common issue with old parquet flooring is that some blocks are loose or even missing; if this is the case with your floor then you will need to replace the missing blocks and then sand them down along with the old blocks. When stained, the difference won’t be noticeable at all.

Replacing missing blocks is not difficult. Traditional parquet blocks are secured with nails or pins, though sometimes you may find that bitumen glue has been used too and this will need scraping off the floor before you try to add a new block.

Once you have replaced any missing blocks, you will need to sand down the entire floor; an orbital sander is the best tool for this job as it is gentle on the wood yet creates a lovely, smooth finish.

Start with an 80 or 120 grit paper on your sander and go from one end of the room to the other, then return to the end you started; sanding in strips makes the job easier and ensures that no sections get missed out. Once you have completed the entire floor, it must be repeated with a 220 or 240 grit paper. This will smooth the floor out more and reduce the roughness in general.

Cleaning up and protecting it

Now it’s time to clean up the dust! The best way to do this is by using a water filtration vacuum cleaner, as this ensures that the dust does not escape back into the atmosphere. If you can’t get hold of a water filtration vacuum cleaner like this Draper 13785 W/ Dry 20 Litre Vacuum Cleaner, 230 Vthen use an ordinary vacuum cleaner followed by a mop with a little mineral turpentine.

Next up is adding sealant. You can purchase ready-tinted sealant or add your own choice of stain to a clear sealant. We quite like this one: Liberon FSW1L 1L Floor Sealer. Whichever option you choose you will need to paint the sealant on with a brush around the edges of the room and you can then use a roller on the main surface area. The first coat may be absorbed almost completely, this is fine; allow it to dry completely before rubbing lightly with fine steel wool. Add a second and then a third coat of sealant for the ultimate in long-lasting shine.

Let each coat dry completely before adding the next and do not use the room for 24 hours after the last coat. Replacing furniture too soon will leave nasty marks on your beautiful floor!

Keep your newly refurbished parquet floor clean with regular mopping. If you use the best products, the finish will last for many years.