Parquet Flooring Restoration

Name: Eleanor Stanier
Brand: Eleanor Stanier
SKU: 1191191
Rating: 4.9 (80 reviews)

Let's start with an example of a nice surprise that happens in life - you remove the carpet from a room in your home and discover a valuable original parquet floor is hiding beneath it! Especially when you consider that installing a new parquet flooring may costs anything between £70.00 - £120.00 per sqm. And that's just for a simple herringbone or basket weave pattern.

That little treasure will need a little bit of work to bring back its beauty and here are few steps of advice how to achieve it. If you are interested in booking with professional contractor these are the prices for parquet floor restoration. So, without further ado here is what you have to do in such situation.

Missing, Damaged or Loose Blocks

An important part of any restoration project is parquet flooring repairs. Check the floor for blocks which are no longer firmly attached to the subfloor – you either notice movement or a hollow sound comes after a ‘knock-on-wood'. Check for missing blocks – usually caused by works on central heating or other plumbing/building work.

Parquet floors produced over the last 20 years have a tongue & grooved sides used for the fitting. Handle the removing of loose/damaged blocks with care or you may loosen connecting blocks needlessly. Missing blocks can be sourced perhaps from another room, which you do not plan to restore - cupboards in or around the room. Another option are the reclamation yards. Before you set out to find replacements, check the size of the existing blocks - there were plenty different types of wood blocks in Imperial measurements around when these floors were popular (1930 – 1970). Another thing to assure for the supply is to check the timber is from the same type to prevent colour variation between the new and the old floors to happen.

Dust-free Floor Sanding

All our equipment is equipped with dust extractors.

Parquet Floor Repairs

We repair herringbone, chevrons & mosaic parquet flooring.

Commercial Floor Sanding

We restore parquet flooring in schools, restaurants & offices.

Cleaning The Blocks & Subfloor

"In the old times" parquet floors were normally fixed down with bitumen – a black tar used as ‘adhesive' which is no longer allowed to be used. Any residue of bitumen and subfloor material stuck to the blocks must also be cleared.
The Bitumen will affect the bonding time of the modern adhesive you use to install the blocks back. If normally it takes between 6 – 8 hours, the bitumen may increase this to 14 or even over 24 hours!

Levelling The Subfloor

You may discover that the subfloor below the blocks removed is quite uneven. Or removing the Bitumen has damaged the concrete or sheet material. You can use acrylic leveling compound to level a concrete floor out as best as possible – 3mm maximum per coat. Always read the instructions carefully before you begin with this type of job! And even though it is non-water based, allow sufficient time for the compound to dry before you start installing the wood blocks back.

Refitting The Blocks

Wood Floor Repairs for Parquet, Mosaics, Boards

If there is a height differences between the blocks, especially where old meets new – the reclaimed blocks – start with G24. Recommendations come to sand with the grain, but herringbones and various other patterns could make this a bit problematic. However, the various sandings you will have to do will sort this.

Start from one wall and ‘walk' with the belt-sander across to the opposite side; walk back sanding the floors over the same area. After doing the last row in this direction, turn 90 degrees and redo the whole room in the same way.

Place G40 paper on the edge-sander and tackle the areas the belt-sander couldn't reach.

Repeat the area with G80. Make sure you start the floor sanding with empty dust bag - you'll need the dust of G80 – for mixing with the wood-filler later. The dust from the first sanding will contain dirt and residue of the old finish layer.
After finishing with process 2, vacuum-clean the whole floor.

Gap Filling

If you like to fill the gaps in your restored parquet flooring, mix the collected dust from the second sanding process with resin wood filler. Don't make too much at once, it dries rather quickly. Fill the larger gaps as best as possible – the excess filler on the wood blocks will be removed by the third sanding round. If you like you can also do gap filling of the entire floor with a thin layer of filler, using a flat trowel, to fill almost every tiny gap.

After all gaps are filled, leave the applied filler to dry out sufficiently - 30 to 60 minutes depending on how deep the gaps were.
Use G120 sanding paper for the third sanding round, this will remove the excess wood filler and give your wood floor the smoothest surface, ready to have new finish applied to it. Once again carefully vacuum-clean the whole floor.

Application of The Sealer

The hardwax-oil will bring up the natural beauty of the parquet floors best in a non-glossy way. The oil will penetrate the wood for long term protection and the wax will create your wear and tear layer, protecting your floor against dirt and drips.

Another option is the varnish. It comes in matt, satin or gloss finish. Significantly more durable than the hardwax-oil based products, the varnish requires less maintenance, although a polyurethane coat of polish is always recommended.

For both products, recommended from the trade comes will be Osmo, Bona and Junckers products. These products are only available in specialised wood flooring suppliers and come in bottles of 5L (varnish) or 2.5L (oil) enough for one coat of 50 sqm. Always, read the instructions of the product you're going to use.

The Perfect Finish

It's here you have to decide how perfect you would like to finish your floor. And when we say perfect we really mean it. Using a G120 screen or G150 fine sanding disk, placed on a slow rotary machine over a white buffing pad and applied just before the final coat of the varnish or oil, will do desired effect.

This fine floor sanding will put down the "hair of grain" raised by the hardening and application of your finish and let your final coat of sealant bond perfectly to the previous coat.

Job done! Allow at least 12 hours before you put furniture back in the area.

Quick Calculator?

Get a quick estimate for your wooden floors restoration using the form below floor restoration or alternatively check our all our floor sanding services prices.

sqm

Include Gap Filling

Include Staining

Approx. Total Price:

Excl. repairs or staging completion, due to furniture

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Some Frequently Asked Questions
About Floor Sanding

More help...

How long does it take for an oiled floor to dry?

For an oiled wood floor, the initial drying time for light foot traffic typically ranges from 4 to 12 hours after the final coat, depending on the specific oil product used and environmental conditions like humidity and temperature in your home or premises. However, it's crucial to understand that "dry to touch" does not mean fully cured. For the oil to reach its maximum hardness and durability, allowing for heavy furniture placement and normal traffic, a full curing period of 5 to 14 days, and sometimes up to 30 days, is recommended. Adequate ventilation during this period is essential to facilitate proper curing.
What is the lead time for your floor sanding services?

Lead times can vary, but usually we accommodate works within 1 week even in the summer when there is higher demand for the service. However, we do occasionally receive cancellations, so availability can be more flexible than initially anticipated. If your floor restoration works are urgent, we recommend checking with a member of our team to explore the possibility of an earlier appointment.
Do you do floor repairs to herringbone parquet flooring?

Yes, we can supply matching blocks for most solid and engineered herringbone flooring. Usually after herringbone floor repairs, the floors may need to be sanded, gap filled and re-sealed to achieve a uniform appearance.
How often is re-oiling needed for my wood floor?

The frequency of re-oiling for your wood floor depends significantly on the level of foot traffic and the specific type of oil finish applied. In high-traffic areas like hallways, kitchens, or living rooms, re-oiling might be needed every 6 to 18 months. For areas with moderate traffic, every 1-3 years might suffice, while in low-traffic zones such as bedrooms, a re-oil might only be necessary every 3-5 years or even longer.
How are your floor restoration service prices calculated?

Our wooden floor restoration service prices are primarily calculated based on several key factors. The most significant element is the type of wooden flooring and the total size in square meters of the area to be restored. We also consider the current condition of the floor, as heavily damaged floors requiring extensive repairs. The type of finish chosen (e.g., oil-based, water-based lacquer, hardwax oil) also influences the price, with commercial grade finishes often being more expensive and some are slower drying.
Finally, any additional services like staining, custom colour matching, or intricate pattern work will be factored into the final price. We aim to provide a transparent, itemised quote after an on-site assessment to ensure you understand all components of the cost.