Restoring Parquet and Herringbone Floors
From loose blocks to a flawless finish
A well-made parquet floor can outlive the house's kitchen, bathroom and windows several times over. Tired, loose or stained parquet can almost always be brought back, often for less than the cost of a new floor.
Signs your parquet needs attention
Loose or rocking blocks, often where the original bitumen adhesive has failed.
Missing blocks around doorways, radiators and old fireplaces.
Water and pet stains that have soaked into the timber.
An old finish that has turned yellow or is peeling.
Raised or dipped blocks that make the surface uneven.
Repairs before sanding
The first step is to make every block secure. Loose blocks are lifted, the old adhesive cleaned off and the blocks re-bonded with a modern flooring adhesive. Where blocks are missing or too damaged to save, we source reclaimed blocks in the same timber and size, so the repair is hard to spot once finished. Badly affected areas may need lifting and re-laying block by block. Our parquet repair service covers anything from a few loose blocks to complete re-laying.
The sanding technique
Parquet is more demanding to sand than floorboards because the grain runs in different directions. Sanding in only one direction would leave scratches across half the blocks. We work diagonally across the pattern, then refine the surface with finer grits and a multi-disc sander for a flawless finish. The result is a flat, smooth surface that shows off the pattern.
Many parquet floors carry several layers of old finish. Removing them carefully, without sanding away more timber than needed, takes experience. Our parquet floor sanding uses dust-free extraction throughout, so your home stays clean.
Finishing parquet
Oak parquet looks wonderful with a natural hardwax oil, which highlights the pattern and is easy to maintain. For high-traffic areas, a durable water-based lacquer is often the most practical choice. Darker timbers such as merbau, iroko or walnut often look best with a clear finish that lets their natural colour show.
Parquet patterns and their challenges
Parquet comes in many patterns, and each has its own character and challenges. Herringbone, where rectangular blocks are laid in a zigzag, is the most popular pattern in British homes. Chevron looks similar but uses blocks cut at an angle so they meet in a clean point. Basket weave, brick bond and block patterns are common in schools, halls and older public buildings.
Repairs always follow the original layout, so new blocks fit perfectly into the pattern. Many parquet floors include a border, which needs careful sanding to keep its crisp edges.
Restore or replace?
It is often possible to save far more than people expect. Traditional parquet blocks are usually solid hardwood with a generous thickness, which allows for repeated sanding. Even floors with large areas of loose blocks can usually be restored, as long as the subfloor is sound and dry. Restoration is often more cost-effective than a new floor, and it keeps the original character of the room.
The essentials at a glance
Every loose block is re-bonded and missing ones replaced with matching reclaimed blocks before sanding begins.
Because the grain runs in different directions, parquet is sanded diagonally before the finer finishing passes.
A multi-disc machine is used at the end to remove swirl marks and leave a smooth, even surface.
Hardwax oil highlights the pattern, while water-based lacquer adds extra protection in busy areas.
Looked after properly, restored parquet will continue to serve the home for generations.
Caring for restored parquet
Felt pads under furniture, good doormats and regular sweeping will keep a restored parquet floor looking sharp. Oiled floors benefit from an occasional maintenance coat, and lacquered floors from a re-coat when the sheen begins to dull. Looked after properly, the floor will keep going for decades.
Have parquet that needs some love? Arrange a free survey and we will assess the blocks, explain the options and give you a fixed price.