How to Attain Perfect Parquet

If you have parquet flooring that is in urgent need of some care and attention then the first thing to do is to carefully remove all shreds of carpet or vinyl that is hiding your parquet flooring under a less-than-attractive covering! Even if the design is hardly visible, parquet is remarkable in that it will come up like new with some proper care and the right treatment.

Parquet designs

In addition to the classic herringbone, Hungarian point, chevron and square designs, parquet is the only flooring design that offers a beautifully constructed 3D effect. If you are fortunate enough to have uncovered a wonderful circular or step-effect 3D synchronic pattern then you are on to a unique showpiece which, when properly restored, will be the envy of everyone who sees it.

Parquet flooring adds value to your home

Classic parquet designs come in a variety of natural hardwoods, although if your flooring dates to around the 1920s then it is likely to be an oak variety, beech or mahogany.

Whatever the wood type or design, perfect parquet adds real value to any property. Estate agents and conveyancing solicitors agree that properly restored real wood flooring adds value and stimulates viewing interest, making it easier to sell your property, even in the middle of a soft real estate market.

Fools rush in

If you wish to do the restoration yourself then take time to plan ahead. Be aware too that the perfect restoration will require a high degree of DIY skills, so be sure you can carry out the process before starting out.

You will of course need to remove the original veneer and this is safely done by using an up-to-date sanding machine with integral dust collector. The floor should be examined first and all ragged or broken nails removed, replaced or hammered in. Check for gaps too as all spaces between the boards, however small, should be filled before the sanding process begins.

If you have never operated an industrial sander before then make sure you ask questions at the hire company so that you are confident you can handle the machine before you take it out of the shop.

Depending upon the shape of the room, the condition of the flooring and whether there are any stairs, you may also need to hand sand to get into those difficult to reach areas. Hand sanding is done on the knees so in addition to your safety equipment of gloves, goggles and dust mask remember to use knee protectors.

Perfecting sanding

When sanding, make sure you travel over the blocks carefully and slowly. Be sure you spend an equal amount of time on each block, although of course if some blocks have particularly stubborn residual veneer sticking you will of course have to spend extra time on those. But in the main do not over-sand any areas, as this will become evident in the finished look.

You will probably find that you need to sand your parquet flooring more than once, especially if it has been a few years since it received the attention it deserves! In between sandings it is always a good idea to sweep the floor with a soft brush before re-sanding.

Your sanding is finished when the floor has an even smoothness all over. Remember that the natural wood colour will be lightened by the process, and your floor will now look several shades lighter. This is normal and is sometimes referred to as ‘bleaching’. To inject colour into the wood you can choose a coloured wood stain for finishing.

When the sanding process is successfully completed it is then time to apply your veneer of choice. Whether you choose stain, varnish, oil or lacquer always go for toxin-free products that leave little or no residual smells and will not cause harm either to your floor or your family.

It is always a good idea to take time over the sanding process. Don’t set yourself targets or declare you will finish the floor in one weekend. Perfect parquet comes naturally when lovingly restored and is well worth taking time on. And if you’re in any doubt as to your ability to give your parquet flooring the attention it needs, talk to your local professional Floor Sanding experts for qualified advice and guidance.

Parquet Floor Sanding | Sanding Parquet

Hardwood Floor Restoration

There are many reasons why hardwood and parquet flooring require ‘back-to-the-bare-boards’ restoration work. Extensive water damage, interior building work, mould or plain, simple neglect can all cause a hardwood floor to rapidly disintegrate and require a little TLC to bring it back to its former glory.

The process

Before anyone goes near your floor with any type of sanding machinery, it’s vital to find out exactly what needs doing. An in-depth examination of the floor will reveal damaged, unsafe and/or missing boards. The professional restorers will always match replacement boards as closely as possible to the originals. Specialist care will also ensure that replacement flooring has been obtained from a reclaimed or sustainable source, and be the perfect match for the floor.

When the damaged boards have been replaced and made safe then cracks and gaps in the wood can be filled in with wood slivers, neutral or coloured fillers that will blend beautifully with the floor so that the ‘new’ boards will not be prominent.

Any loose or missing nails should be taken care of at this stage before the sanding, sealing and staining commences and the floor magically returns to its former elegant state.

How many sandings a floor requires will be entirely dependent on the individual flooring. A properly sanded floor will feel smooth all over. Edges, nooks and crannies will also be sanded to the same level.

Planning is everything

It may appear that the process of restoration is relatively easy from the few sentences above but, as with most things in life, this is rarely (if ever) the case! Whether you choose a professional Floor Restoration company or decide to do it yourself you should know that planning is paramount to a successful wood floor renovation.

If you choose the DIY route then it is essential to make a list of materials you will require. Professional flooring companies generally have access to higher-grade trade materials that are not available in DIY shops. Similarly, the sanding equipment they use will probably be the latest hi-tech kit generally not available to hire.

Don’t cut corners

The most common reason for a botched floor restoration is taking shortcuts. A reputable professional floor sanding expert will never do this, as their reputation is on the line with every job they undertake. Similarly, if you take the DIY route and cut corners any flaws will be glaringly obvious in the light of a varnished finish.

Many a perfectly good wooden floor has been ruined by corner cutting, so don’t let your floor be one of them. Take care over the planning stage, be flexible and willing to read up on each stage of the restoration process if you are going it alone. Don’t put your floor in jeopardy due to lack of foresight as it may cost dearly to put it right.

Every floor has the potential to look fabulous

Whether the floor is hardwood, softwood, parquet or bamboo it has the ability to look fabulous once it has been restored back to its former glory. No matter how tired, dull, broken or stained a floor may be, it can always be improved considerably by the restoration process.

With a successful restoration, the finishing veneer adds the final touch of glamour. A properly restored floor will accept any type of topcoat, and by applying your own choice of finishing and colour options you can have the floor you have always wanted.

Commercial or domestic

Any type of premises benefits considerably from restoration. Offices, schools, public buildings, restaurants, hotels as well as homes of every shape and size look fantastic with a properly restored hardwood floor. In addition to adding real value to your property, a restored floor speaks of elegance, beauty and grace and is a real talking point with customers and visitors alike.

Oak – the traditional choice

With so many exotic wooden flooring options to choose from these days, going ‘traditional’ could be seen as playing it safe. But oak flooring is still as popular as ever, and one of its key selling factors is the reason the Navy built its ships from English Oak for centuries – its sheer robustness. Oak is a dense wood with a very tight grain, which means it is far less prone to splitting, warping or cracking than other softer, less dense woods. But if you’re planning on installing an oak floor, there are a few things you need to look out for first.

Oak – a tough customer

Because it’s so much stronger than many other types of wooden floor sanding, oak is actually quite difficult to work with unless you’re a professional with all the right equipment. Its tight grain means that it can be difficult to cut, but it also means that you end up with much cleaner edges as the grain doesn’t tend to ‘rip up’ as easily as some softer woods.

If you’re planning on fitting your wooden floor in a high traffic area then oak is the perfect choice. It is extremely resistant to wear and tear, making it ideal for staircases, hallways and entrance areas where footfall and the risk of damage through dirt and mud being trampled into the wood are highest. With a good layer of varnish or wax on the surface, oak is practically invincible!

Water resistant

Another advantage of using a tight grained wood such as oak is that it is more impervious to water damage than softer woods. White oak in particular is water resistant, making it particularly useful in a commercial setting such as a lobby or entrance area, where there is a higher possibility of moisture reaching the surface of the floor. In the home, white oak is one of the few wooden floors that is suitable for use in kitchens or even in the bathroom, as again its water resistance means that it can cope with the damper conditions.

Coloured oak

While oak’s advantage is its strength and general resistance to wear and tear, woods with very tight grains tend to be quite bland and uniform in colour. Whereas you may have a greater variety of pattering and natural formations in looser grained woods (including knotholes and swirls, depending on how the timber was cut), oak tends to be very even in texture. This can be a little dull in comparison to more decorative woods, so most people choose to brighten up their oak floors by using coloured staining or waxes. This gives the wood greater depth and warmth and brings out the hidden patterns within the boards.

However, staining oak is not a job for a happy amateur! It takes specialist knowledge, expertise and experience to stain oak successfully. Oak’s reduced levels of absorbency can lead to ‘patchy’ results, so it takes years of experience and understanding to ensure that the stain or wax is applied evenly to prevent a sub-standard result.

Easy to care for

But once your floor sanding and polishing experts have finished breathing new life into your oak floor, you can rest easy in the knowledge that it takes very little maintenance indeed to keep oak looking its best. Oak flooring is easy to look after and care for. You can protect it against deep scratches caused by furniture by applying pads to the bottom of chair and table legs. Then it’s simply a matter of basic maintenance on a weekly basis such as wiping over with a duster, light vacuuming and an occasional wash down with a damp mop. As long as you avoid using abrasive cleaners and treat it to the occasional polish, you should have an oak floor you can be proud of for years to come.