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Sanding a Parquet Floor: Which Sander, Which Grits and Which Steps
You sand a parquet floor with a drum sander or a heavy belt floor sander for the main area and an edging sander for the borders. Small corners are done with a detail sander or a random orbit sander. Work in three or four passes from coarse to fine, for example P40, P60 and then P100 to P120, and vacuum thoroughly between each pass.
That is the short answer to sanding a parquet floor. Below you can check if your floor can be sanded, see which machine does what and how to work through the job step by step.
What will you learn in this article?
- When does a floor need sanding?
- Can your parquet floor be sanded?
- Which sander should you use for parquet?
- How do you sand a parquet floor step by step?
- Lacquer or oil after sanding?
- How long does it take?
- Safety and dust
- Common mistakes
- Frequently asked questions about sanding a parquet floor
- In short: sanding a parquet floor
When does a floor need sanding?
Sanding is worth it if the lacquer or oil finish has worn through, if there are deep scratches or stains, or if you want to change the colour. You remove the old finish and a thin layer of wood so that you have a flat, clean surface again. New lacquer or oil adheres well to that. If a lacquered floor only has light surface scratches, a light sanding and a fresh coat of lacquer is often enough.
Can your parquet floor be sanded?
That depends on how the floor is made:
- Solid parquet: can be sanded several times, as long as there is enough wood above the tongue and groove.
- Engineered wood flooring: has a real wood top layer on a backing board. A top layer of a few millimetres can be sanded once or twice. With a very thin top layer, sanding is risky.
- Laminate and vinyl: cannot be sanded.
If you are unsure, remove a section of skirting board or a threshold strip and look at the edge to see how thick the top layer is.
Which sander should you use for parquet?
| Machine | Used for | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Drum sander | Large areas, removing old lacquer | Heavy and powerful, usually hired |
| Belt floor sander | Large areas | A little lighter than a drum sander, also often hired |
| Edging sander | Borders along skirting boards and walls | Gets to within a few centimetres of the wall |
| Detail sander | Corners, under radiators, stair nosings | Triangular sanding pad |
| Random orbit sander | Fine sanding, small floors, sanding between coats | Leaves few scratches |
| Hand-held belt sander | Loose boards, thresholds, small areas | Not suitable for a whole room |
For a whole room a random orbit sander is too small: it would take you days and the result would be less flat. It is useful for the fine work and for light sanding between two coats of lacquer. A cordless sander from the Maxxpack 18V range is handy for that, because there is no cable running under the machine.
How do you sand a parquet floor step by step?
Prepare the room
Remove all furniture, take off the skirting boards if you are replacing them anyway, and tape up doors and sockets. Drive any protruding nails deeper into the wood with a nail punch. Otherwise a nail head will tear the abrasive and damage the drum.
First pass with coarse grit
Start with P36 or P40 on a floor with thick lacquer or lots of unevenness, or with P60 if the floor is already fairly flat. On a floor of straight boards, sand along the grain. On herringbone or mosaic parquet, sand the first pass diagonally across the floor at roughly 45 degrees, so you remove height differences between the blocks. Only lower the drum onto the floor once it is running, and lift it before you stop, or you will create a dip.
Do the edges
After each pass, sand along the walls with the edging sander using the same grit. Do the corners and areas under radiators with the detail sander.
Second and third pass
Move on to P60 and then to P100 or P120. With patterned parquet, sand these passes along the length of the room. Do not skip a grit, or the scratches from the coarser grit will remain visible.
Vacuum and finish
Vacuum the floor thoroughly, including the joints. Wipe it with a slightly damp cloth or a tack cloth and let it dry. Then apply lacquer or oil according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Lacquer or oil after sanding?
Lacquer gives a closed, hard-wearing layer and is easy to keep clean. After a few years you lightly sand it and apply a fresh coat. Oil soaks into the wood, gives a more natural look and can be touched up locally, but needs more frequent maintenance. Between coats of lacquer, sand lightly with P150 to P180.
How long does it take?
For an average living room, allow one to two days of sanding, depending on the old finish and your experience. Then comes the drying time of the lacquer or oil, which varies by product. So plan for a few days when you cannot use the room.
Safety and dust
Dust from oak and other hardwoods is harmful to breathe in. Wear a dust mask with an FFP2 or preferably FFP3 filter, ear protection and safety glasses. Use a machine with a dust bag or extraction and empty the bag outdoors. Rags soaked in oil can catch fire on their own: dry them flat outdoors or keep them in a sealed metal tin filled with water.
Common mistakes
- Letting the drum sander stand still on the floor, which creates a dip.
- Skipping a grit.
- Sanding too far on engineered flooring, down to the backing board.
- Forgetting the edges, leaving a lighter strip along the wall.
- Applying lacquer before all the dust is gone.
Frequently asked questions about sanding a parquet floor
Can I sand parquet with an ordinary sander?
For a small floor or loose boards you can use a random orbit sander, but it takes a long time. For a whole room it is better to hire a drum sander or belt floor sander and use the smaller machines for the edges and corners.
Which grit should I finish with?
Usually P100 or P120. Sanding finer is not necessary on parquet and can reduce how well oil soaks in. Follow the advice of the lacquer or oil manufacturer.
How often can I sand a parquet floor?
Solid parquet can often be sanded several times, as long as there is enough wood above the tongue and groove. Engineered flooring with a thin top layer can only be sanded once or twice. Check the thickness of the top layer at the edge.
Should herringbone parquet be sanded diagonally?
Sand the first, coarse pass diagonally across the floor to level out height differences. Do the finer passes along the length of the room so the pattern looks calm and even.
In short: sanding a parquet floor
Check first that your floor has enough wood to sand, then hire a drum or belt floor sander for the main area and use an edging sander and detail sander for borders and corners. Work from coarse to fine without skipping grits, vacuum between passes and protect yourself from dust. Finish with lacquer or oil and allow a few days before using the room again.
