What is parquet flooring?
Even if you can’t describe it exactly, you’ll have seen a parquet floor before now. It’s essentially a type of wooden flooring comprising small geometric blocks or tiles arranged in repetitive patterns such as herringbone to create an intricate, decorative design. And its classic appeal makes it a popular choice when it comes to adding a hint of sophistication and elegance to any space.
The shapes can be squares, rectangles, diamonds or triangles, while the floor can be made from engineered or solid wood.
When it comes to restoring a floor like this, there are a number of clear steps to follow:
Preparation
Take out all your furniture and clean up any loose debris and dust with a vacuum cleaner and a damp (not dripping) mop. You can also use a hardwood food cleaner or pH-neutral solution.
Check whether any blocks are damaged or loose, and then try to address these problems.
Sanding
A rectangular orbital sander is perfect for parquet thanks to its varied grain direction. Kick off with a coarse grit such as 36-grit, before slowly moving to finer versions of between 60 and 120 grit.
It’s a good idea to sand each area several times, overlapping each sweep of the sander or paper, so that you remove the previous finish and any imperfections evenly.
Sand the perimeter of the area and any other tight spaces using an edge or random-orbit sander.
Between grit changes, vacuum the floor thoroughly to get rid of sanding dust and stop swirl marks from forming.
Filling in the gaps
Prepare your filler, and have a mixture of fine sawdust (from the sanding) and resin, Create a paste which matches the colour of your floor.
Apply with a trowel or putty knife to fill in the gaps, taking care to keep it level with the surrounding timber.
Refinishing
Next, pick a varnish, lacquer, sealant or wax to protect the floor and improve its appearance. You should apply several coats, and then allow each layer to dry out properly before you apply another.
If you wish, you can also add a stain at the end, and so change the colour of your floor.
Regular upkeep
Sweep or vacuum regularly, before cleaning with a damp mop and appropriate hardwood cleaner. This will help maintain the appearance of your floor.
In addition, you can also protect it with furniture pads and rugs. And remember to minimise how often you walk over it in high heels.
Talk to Royal Stone Care
Does all this sound a bit too much like hard work? Then we can’t say we blame you! Get Royal Stone Care to help. We serve businesses and homes, and we do high-quality wood floor restoration sanding and repair in London.
Get in touch today and request an initial consultation.
