Protecting and Restoring Parquet: Sanding, Lacquer and Oil

Everyday protection for parquet, lacquer versus oil, when a spot repair is enough and when full sanding is needed, and the stages of restoration.

Real parquet is one of the few floor finishes that can last for decades with the right care. Its advantage lies not only in its looks but in the fact that it can be restored: sanding the surface and refinishing it makes a worn floor look new again. To make good use of that, you need to know the rules of protection and restoration.

The main enemies of parquet

Most damage to parquet comes from everyday life:

• sand and grit carried in on shoes, scratching the surface like sandpaper;
• furniture legs, especially chairs that are dragged;
• stiletto heels and pets' claws;
• over-wet mopping or spilled water left standing;
• sharp swings in humidity, very dry air in winter and damp air in summer;
• direct sunlight, which changes the colour of some species.

Most of these are reduced by simple habits: a mat at the entrance, felt pads under furniture, a protective mat under desk chairs, and cleaning only with a well-wrung damp cloth.

Humidity

Wood takes moisture from the air and gives it back. When the air is very dry, boards shrink and gaps open; in humid periods they expand and can cup. This movement is natural, but when it becomes excessive the floor's geometry suffers.

That is why homes with parquet should keep indoor humidity within the range the manufacturer recommends. A humidifier in winter, when heating dries the air, and sensible air-conditioning use in summer help maintain that balance.

Lacquer or oil

The surface of parquet is protected in two main ways, and the choice affects both appearance and future maintenance.

Lacquer forms a hard film on top of the wood. It stands up well to water and stains, and daily care is simple. But when lacquer is scratched or worn, local repair is difficult: a fresh coat can look different from the surrounding area, and often the whole room has to be refinished. Lacquer comes in different sheens, matt, satin or gloss; matt and satin finishes show minor scratches less.

Oil penetrates the wood and does not form a thick film. The floor looks more natural and feels like wood to the touch. The big advantage of oiled parquet is spot repair: a scratched area is lightly sanded and re-oiled and blends in with the rest. In return, an oiled surface needs more frequent care, a dedicated cleaner and periodic re-oiling.

Repairing minor damage

Not every scratch needs a full sand. For small damage there are several options:

• manufacturers' refresher products for light scratches in the top coat of lacquer;
• colour-matched wax or repair pencils for shallow dents and scratches;
• local treatment and re-oiling of a damaged patch on oiled parquet;
• removing and replacing a badly damaged individual board, which on solid parquet is a job for a professional.

Full sanding and refinishing

When wear covers a large area, the lacquer is peeling or the wood has greyed, a full restoration is needed. The work usually goes through these stages:

• the room is emptied of furniture and skirting removed if necessary;
• protruding nails and pins are checked and loose boards secured;
• the surface is sanded in several passes from coarse to fine, with edges done by a separate machine;
• joints and cracks are filled with a special filler mixed with wood dust;
• all dust is removed and, if wanted, the floor is stained;
• a primer and several coats of lacquer or oil are applied, with light sanding between coats.

Every sanding removes part of the wood's top layer. Solid parquet can be sanded several times, while with engineered parquet the thickness of the wear layer limits the number of restorations. On boards with a thin top layer full sanding may not be possible, which should be established before starting by examining a board's cross-section.

Safety and scheduling

Restoration produces a lot of fine wood dust, so sanding equipment with dust extraction should be used. Some lacquers and solvents have a strong smell; the room must be ventilated, and children and pets should stay elsewhere until the work is finished. Before putting furniture back and laying rugs, wait until the finish has fully cured; the time is given in the manufacturer's data.

In apartment and villa renovations Zaferoğlu İnşaat schedules floor restoration together with other finishing work, so sanding dust does not affect freshly finished walls. Show us the board thickness and a few photos of the scratches, and we can tell you whether sanding is realistic.