Parquet Floor Sanding
Specialist parquet sanding that respects the pattern and brings the grain back to life.
Parquet is one of the most beautiful floors you can own, but it is also one of the trickiest to sand well. Because the blocks run in different directions, a standard approach can leave cross-grain scratches that show up as soon as the finish goes on.
We sand parquet in carefully planned passes, finishing with fine abrasives so the pattern looks crisp and even from every angle. This is a specialist branch of our floor sanding services.
Fixing loose and missing blocks
Old parquet often has loose, hollow or missing blocks, usually where the original bitumen adhesive has failed. We lift and re-bed them, and replace missing blocks with matched or reclaimed timber through our parquet floor repairs service. Our parquet restoration guide explains what is involved.
Patterns we restore
Herringbone and double herringbone
Chevron
Basket weave and brick bond
Mosaic panels and borders
Oil or lacquer on parquet?
Oil gives parquet a soft, natural sheen and can be spot-repaired, whereas a water-based lacquer is ideal for high-traffic hallways. If you would like a different tone, we can add wood floor staining before the final coats.
Why specialist sanding matters
Over the years parquet blocks can lift, dip and wear unevenly, especially in hallways. We start with angled passes to flatten the floor, then work through finer grits until the surface is smooth in every direction. Edges are finished with detail sanders so borders and corners match the centre of the room. The result is a crisp, even pattern with no swirl marks under the finish.
Our parquet work ranges from small hallways to large school and church halls around Kingston. Bigger spaces are covered by our services for public spaces. Every survey includes a check for loose blocks, so repairs and sanding can be planned together.
Most parquet rooms take two to three days including repairs and finishing. Full dust extraction keeps the rest of the house clean while we work.
Aftercare
A maintenance re-oil every couple of years keeps an oiled parquet floor looking fresh. Our restoration work comes with a 3-month service guarantee. See guide costs on our prices page.
Guide prices
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Floor sanding & oiling
Dust-free sanding back to fresh timber, finished with two coats of hardwax oil.
from £22 per m²
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Floor sanding & lacquer
Full sand and three coats of hard-wearing water-based lacquer.
from £24 per m²
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Parquet sanding & finishing
Multi-direction sanding for block and herringbone floors, with your choice of finish.
from £28 per m²
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Gap filling
Resin filler or reclaimed pine slivers between floorboards.
from £6 per m²
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Floor staining
Colour samples on your floor and an even stain before finishing.
from £5 per m²
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Stairs stripping & restoration
Paint and varnish removal, repairs and finishing of treads and risers.
from £45 per step
Guide prices — we confirm a fixed price after a free survey.
Questions about parquet floor sanding
Are your oils and lacquers pet-friendly?
Yes. We use low-VOC oils and water-based lacquers that are safe for families and pets once cured. Keep pets off the floor for the first 24 hours, and trim claws to help the finish last.
What about the black adhesive under old parquet?
Many older parquet floors were laid on bitumen adhesive. It does not stop us restoring the floor, but loose blocks need cleaning back and re-fixing with a compatible adhesive. We look at it at the survey and include it in the quote.
How many coats does a floor need?
Oiled floors normally get two coats, and lacquered floors three. Busy hallways and commercial floors can have an extra coat for added protection.
How do you sand parquet without damaging it?
Parquet runs in several directions, so we sand it in stages at different angles. A final pass with a fine-grit buffer removes swirl marks and leaves a flat, smooth surface.
How should I prepare the room?
Empty the room where possible and take down curtains that reach the floor. If you need help with heavy pieces, let us know when booking. Our guide to preparing your home has more tips.
Can old parquet be saved?
In nearly every case, yes. We re-glue loose blocks, replace missing ones with matched or reclaimed timber, then sand and finish the whole floor for an even, seamless look. Find out more about parquet floor repairs.
What our customers say
Very good parquet restoration
“The parquet in our dining room had several loose blocks and lots of bitumen. The result is excellent. The job ran over by a day because of extra repairs, but they talked us through it and kept the price fair.”
Coombe
Decking looks much better
“The deck looks warm and rich again. We had to rebook once because of rain, which is understandable, and they were flexible about the new date. Would use again.”
Surbiton
Great with our dogs around
“With two dogs, we needed a tough finish. They recommended a hard-wearing lacquer and it has held up brilliantly so far.”
Tolworth