Renovating a parquet floor can improve the functionality and aesthetics of your home's wooden flooring. To ensure the success of the work involved, it's a good idea to call on the expertise of a competent and experienced specialist company. Why renovate a wooden floor? How do you go about it? As an established specialist in wood care and protection solutions, Anova Bois presents what you need to know about renovating a wooden floor.

WHY AND WHEN SHOULD YOU RENOVATE A PARQUET FLOOR?

No matter what product you use (sealant, oil, varnish, wax, etc.), you can't prevent external aggression from damaging the floor's protective layer. Variations in temperature, washing down with water or cleaning with abrasive products can cause irreversible stains and scratches to appear on a wooden floor. When the finish is no longer shiny and there are a lot of unsightly marks that refuse to go away, parquet renovation is called for.

Renovating the floor means restoring all the aesthetic qualities of the wood protection by choosing a new finish if possible (matt, gloss, lacquer, satin, etc.). Renovation extends the life of the material by renewing its protection against humidity, water splashes, scratches and other external aggression. For example, sealing an old parquet floor makes it more resistant to frequent use and unsightly stains.

DIAGNOSIS OF THE FLOOR TO BE RENOVATED

To assess the extent of the renovation required, the specific problems relating to the functionality or aesthetics of the floor must be identified. If the wear is located on a floor treated with oil or wax, partial renovation can be envisaged. With varnished or sealed parquet, it is very difficult to carry out a partial renovation (the touch-up is likely to be visible). It may be necessary to thoroughly sand the damaged boards or to completely renovate the floor by replacing some of the boards.

PREPARING TO RENOVATE THE OLD PARQUET

Before removing the wax or parquet sealant from your old floor covering, you need to prepare the site properly to make the work easier. All the furniture in the room must be removed. You'll need to check the condition of the floor and see if the strips are still in place. You can then vacuum the entire surface to be renovated. Don't forget to air the room properly and maintain a temperature of between 12 and 25 ⁰C in the workspace.

To renovate your parquet floor, you will mainly need the following accessories :

  • a parquet sander,
  • a triangular sander
  • an edger
  • a scraper
  • an abrasive
  • a hoover
  • a mop,
  • a wood finishing product (sealant, varnish, wax, oil, etc.),
  • an undercoat (pore-filler primer, hardwood floor primer, etc.),
  • roller or spalter brush.

If necessary, you should also wear personal protective equipment such as gloves, goggles, a dust mask, etc.

REPAIRING MINOR DAMAGE TO PARQUET

To remove small scratches, you can use a metallising renovator or a parquet polish. Put a few drops of the product of a slightly damp microfibre cloth. Wipe the cloth over the floor in circular or straight movements according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

SANDING THE FLOOR TO BE RENOVATED

You will need a triangular sander to sand down the damaged finish in the corners of the room.

An edger makes it easier to sand the edges of the parquet surface. To equip your sanders, use coarse-grit sandpaper (30 or 40) for the first pass. Start with 60 or 80 grit sandpaper if the old parquet is only slightly damaged. For a second pass, medium or fine grit sandpaper (80, 100 or 120) can be used.

Sand board by the board, following the grain of the wood. After each sanding pass, vacuum the surface. You can then clean the surface with a slightly damp mop. The scraper is used to remove any dirt between the wooden strips of the sanded floor. You may now apply an undercoat to ensure that the finish adheres well to the floor.

APPLYING THE NEW FINISH FOR PARQUET RENOVATION

On the Anova Bois shop, you'll find the right products such as wax, varnish or wood sealant to effectively renovate your parquet floor. All our products are nontoxic, easy to use and environmentally friendly. Read the instructions for your product to find out how to use it and the correct number of protective coats to apply. Apply the parquet finish with a spalter along the length of the skirting boards, following the grain of the wood.

The product must be applied evenly and uniformly. After applying the first coat, lightly roughen your floor with fine abrasive paper (120 grit) to smooth the surface of the wood. Don't forget to remove the dust before applying the other finishing coats. Drying time between each application varies between 2 and 4 hours. After the last coat has dried, wait 24 hours before walking on the renovated floor.

HOW CAN I PREVENT FUTURE DAMAGE TO MY FLOOR?

To maintain your parquet, vacuum regularly and clean with a broom fitted with a slightly dampened microfibre cloth. Clean in the direction of the boards. The next time you renovate your parquet floor, you should do so when unsightly, irreversible marks appear on the floor again.

PRODUCTS FOR RENOVATING YOUR PARQUET

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