Parquet has always been considered an elite floor covering, which was created according to special sketches and installed in palaces, being a work of art. In some houses built in Soviet times, the floors were also equipped with parquet with a simpler pattern; it has been preserved and continues to be used to this day.
Parquet is a rather capricious material that requires some care and periodic cleaning using a scraping machine. However, in some cases it is possible to restore parquet without sanding or replace its mechanical version with manual processing using mechanical or hand tools. Due to the fact that putting parquet in order remains a pressing issue, further information will be provided on the work processes and materials used for restoration.
Restoration of parquet without sanding
White wood stain
This substance is recommended for gentle lightening of floors. Unfortunately, it does not create a protective layer on the surface and requires additional application of varnish on top. This stain is applied with a brush or cotton cloth. After about 4 hours, the floor should be lightly sanded with sandpaper, then cleaned of dust and applied varnish. After the first layer of varnish has dried, you can apply a second one.
Preparatory stage
At the preparatory stage, it is necessary to carefully check the floor surface on which the parquet board is laid. Check its condition, make sure that there are no nail heads sticking out of the parquet. If there are any, then you should drive them deeper or remove them using pliers or wire cutters. All this must be done so as not to subsequently damage the grinding and scraping machines.
Make sure that the parquet does not creak, has no cracks, and does not move away from the floor. Otherwise, you will need to re-glue the parquet board. After this, you should wash the parquet surface using special detergents. Next, wait until it dries completely. The next stage of work requires removing the top layers of wax and varnish. So, before scraping you need to use solvents (regular White Spirit will do). After you have cleared the floor as much as possible of the top layer of wax, proceed to sanding.
Parquet scraping
This will require a special scraping machine, as well as skills to work with it. However, if you have such a car, then you probably have an idea of how to operate it. Otherwise, use the services of a professional.
Before applying varnish, make sure that the parquet does not move away from the floor and does not creak.
Using a scraping machine, the top layers of parquet that contain old varnish are removed. If you do not first clean the parquet with solvents, then the knives of the scraping machine will quickly become dull. Dull knives can cause chips and cracks on the parquet board. Approximately 8–10 mm needs to be removed.
Sanding parquet
After finishing the sanding process, you need to remove excess debris from the surface and proceed to grinding. For this you will need a special grinding machine. The device of such a machine is a round axis with a plane on which sandpaper circles are attached. The first step is high-grit sandpaper (30 to 40), the second step is medium-grit (60-80), and the final step is low-grit (100 and above). No, we were not mistaken: the lower the number, the grier the sandpaper. Ideally, a smoother transition between grain sizes ensures the highest quality of work performed.
By the way, in hard-to-reach places (corners, under the battery) you will need a “boot”. It is a smaller version of a grinding machine. In extreme cases, you will have to do a little manual work.
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Perfectly clean surface
After sanding parquet, never use a household vacuum cleaner.
Finally, you will need to remove all debris from the surface. Use a construction vacuum cleaner for this. Don’t even think about using a regular home vacuum cleaner for these purposes if you don’t want to run to the store after finishing the work for a new filter and dust collector.
After this, re-check the floor surface for chips and cracks. If there is a crack, it should be sealed with putty. Immediately before applying the primer and varnish, it is necessary to seal the seams between the parquet boards with a special solution for seams. After this, wait for this solution to dry and go through the sander again (but only with fine-grained sandpaper), remove debris from the surface, and wipe it.
Quick-drying varnish for wood
If you want to get a durable and impenetrable coating in the shortest possible time, you can use a quick-drying varnish. It can be applied with a flat or oval brush, or with a roller. It is recommended to apply 2 layers with an interval of 6 hours. To get the best effect, sand the first coat with sandpaper, then remove the dust, wipe with a damp cloth and, after drying, paint again.
Finishing work. Where to begin?
Finishing parquet flooring can be a creative activity
Finishing a floor is one of the most fun and creative renovation projects. Especially when it comes to decorative finishing, because the variety of paint and varnish materials that exist today allows you to recreate a wide variety of textures. At the same time, using your imagination, you can turn old parquet into a real work of art with your own hands.
But lack of experience in finishing flooring can prevent this. In order for your parquet flooring to look like new after repair and remain in this condition longer, you should take painting seriously. The first and most important task is to choose the right paint and varnish.
Alkali for wood
This substance is used for light wood species such as pine, spruce, birch, ash or maple. Work with it should be carried out exclusively with the use of protective equipment, since it is quite aggressive. For application, it is best to use a soft cotton cloth or brush, and after the layer of solution has dried, you need to sand the surface, remove dust and saturate the parquet with oil. A whitewashed floor protected in this way can be put into operation in about a day.
Whitewashed parquet adds lightness and a feeling of cleanliness to the interior. When choosing this color, you should also take into account the operating features, because keeping a light-colored surface clean can be quite difficult. Before deciding which product to purchase and use, it is advisable to consult with a specialist.
Parquet painting options
An old, worn-out wooden floor causes a lot of inconvenience to owners of city apartments or country real estate. Cracks and crevices immediately catch the attention of the visitor, but to restore the coating, you will have to invest considerable financial resources, which many are simply not ready for. A way out of this situation may be to paint the parquet floor. Thanks to such work, you can completely transform the coating and refresh it. The before and after photos on our website indicate the results that can be achieved without spending much effort.
Before you begin the main work, you need to understand the types of dyes that can be used to finish the surface of the floor covering. The floor can be treated with the following compounds:
- Special paint for wood products.
- Stain. This composition compares favorably with the others; it allows you to highlight the natural texture of the wood.
- Tinting varnish allows you to obtain painted parquet of a certain color depending on the composition. This solution protects wood from the harmful effects of moisture.
- Special mastics are able to restore the original texture of parquet and have protective properties. Such compositions protect the material from moisture and mechanical damage.
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Each of these compositions has its own technical characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, and application features, which must be taken into account when working with a specific solution. Painting parquet in a light color or a darker tone can be done by yourself. To perform such work, minimal knowledge in the field of construction and a limited set of tools will be required. So a paint brush and roller can be found in any apartment.
Before painting the coating, you need to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the dyes. The most popular option for painting parquet is considered to be water-soluble acrylic paint based on latex. This composition is made from natural raw materials, has good performance characteristics, and can be applied to a wooden base without any problems.
Water-soluble latex and acrylic enamels are available on the modern construction market in a wide range of colors and shades. This allows the user to choose a flooring tone that will perfectly match the existing interior of the room.
Important! Designers recommend painting the floor white, because this tone fits perfectly with interior items and masks small cracks and other defects on the surface of the parquet.
General information
But it is very expensive to completely replace the flooring. It is made of wood, which makes it possible to subject it to repeated processing. In this article we will consider the option of partial restoration of parquet flooring at home, depending on the defect that appears. There are 2 types of partial repair of such flooring:
- Correction of individual dies.
- Surface.
The second includes the following types: eliminating cracks, chips and gouges, restoring or changing the shades of the board. One of the restoration methods is to renew the old parquet without sanding, and we will also consider this.
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Applying a paint layer
Tools are of great importance for the correct application of the coating, so painting parquet should begin with the selection of suitable rollers and brushes. Most often, paint rollers (made of wool or mohair) with a long handle are used for this. Foam rollers are not suitable for painting parquet, as they can slip and leave marks that are noticeable after drying. The compositions can also be applied with a brush, and if they are liquid enough, with special sprayers.
Applying varnish
Let's look at how to paint parquet with your own hands step by step:
- It is necessary to make sure that the floor is even and clean.
- Make sure that the room is well ventilated, as fumes from some varnishes and paints can be harmful to health.
- Use a protective suit to avoid damaging your clothes and wear a respirator.
- The paint and varnish composition is applied starting from the far corner of the room, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
- When you start applying the coating, you need to make sure that no drops of paint remain on the still unpainted surface. In case they do appear, you should keep a dry cloth nearby to remove them. It is better to remove traces of paint immediately.
- If varnishing is carried out, the parquet is usually coated with several layers of varnish. In this case, each new one is applied across the previous one. The intervals between applying a new layer should be at least two days.
- After finishing painting or varnishing, the parquet should be allowed to dry, then you can apply the next layer if you need to achieve a more saturated shade.
Note! Drying of paint and varnish mixtures, as a rule, occurs in 8-12 hours (unless otherwise indicated on the packaging of the product). After this time, you can walk on the floor, but placing furniture or laying carpets is not recommended. It is permissible to fully use the coating after no less than 14 days.
Caring for parquet
In order for your parquet to serve for a long time, you need to pay attention not only to proper processing and painting, but also to its further care. For optimal operation in the room, you need to maintain a temperature of 15⁰C-25⁰C and air humidity of about 50%.
If the parquet has been varnished, then cleaning must be done without using water using special cleaning agents. It is also not recommended to walk on varnished surfaces in shoes, and to reduce the load from furniture legs, felt heels should be placed under them. Take care of your parquet properly!
