When you start renovations in your home and get to the flooring, don’t be in a hurry to throw out the old solid parquet. Although at first glance it looks very worn, blackened and worn – straight for the trash, you should know that it is subject to restoration, after which it will look like new again, and the wood will stand out in all its beauty and brilliance.
Unlike laminate, which cannot be renewed and once worn, must be thrown away and replaced with a new flooring, or 3-layer parquet, which can be cycled up to 2 times, solid parquet can be cycled as many as 4-5 times and with proper maintenance can last 100 years or more. In Western Europe, for example, there are parquet floors 200-300 years old, which are renewed regularly and are in excellent condition.
It is imperative that you hire a specialized company for parquet cycling and maintenance, which has not only experienced specialists, but also the necessary equipment. For example, a special disk machine is needed for the quality restoration of the old parquet. In addition, only suitable machines should be used, as the parquet is placed at an angle, and unsuitable sanding machines will cause damage to the parquet.
In general, the renovation process of the old massive parquet takes place in several stages:
If parquet flooring is damaged or missing, due to previous construction work or water leakage, new parquet flooring must be supplied and carefully glued to the floor with suitable adhesives.
Cycle the parquet with a disc machine with coarse sandpaper to remove dirt and black spots and level the floor. This can last a day or more, depending on the square footage and the wear and tear of the parquet.
Sanding with finer sandpaper.
Jointing of the parquet – represents filling of the joints with wood dust obtained from the cycling of the parquet and mixed with a special paste.
Sanding with several types of finer sandpaper to smooth the joints and polish the parquet floors. Grouting and sanding is repeated several times until the desired result is achieved and may also take at least another day. Polishing the parquet.
Applying one coat of polish.
The next day, a second coat of varnish is applied in the morning, and a third coat of varnish in the evening.
Before or after the third coat of varnish, the skirting boards are placed, and since the old ones are usually quite worn, it is better to put new skirting boards.
The next day, the lacquered floor can be walked on, but it is not advisable to move furniture in the next 10 days, so as not to imprint on the renewed parquet. For the first 10 days, the parquet should not be washed with water or other preparations. It is good to buy pads for furniture legs and silicone wheels, which are sold in construction hypermarkets.
Varnish or oil?
Besides varnishing the parquet, another option is to oil it, but this requires much more regular and specific maintenance. At 2-3 years old, the parquet must be cleaned and oiled, which means moving furniture, it takes time, money, etc. Oil/wax requires frequent coats and sometimes machine polishing. On the other hand, oil is absolutely ecological, without side effects, and therefore parquet with oil is suitable for people suffering from allergies or asthma.
However, most professionals recommend a high-quality varnish as the best choice for a final finish. Depending on the way of use and load on your floor, if it is lacquered in quality, it can last up to 8 years without getting dirty or dented.
While 15-20 years ago, reactive varnishes were used to cover the recycled parquet, which apart from smelling unpleasantly for a long time, were harmful to health, modern varnishes are quick-drying, acrylic/water-based and completely harmless.
How much will it cost you?
Flooring professionals typically charge 3£ to 8£ per square foot, so a bedroom can cost 300£ to 800£, while an entire home will range from 2,400£ to 6,000£. These costs vary based on many factors.
