Herringbone parquet: sanding and maintenance

Øens HåndværkerCentralPublished September 7, 2026 · 8 min. read

Herringbone parquet is first sanded diagonally across the pattern, then along the length of the room. Otherwise, the machine crosses the grain of half the blocks and can leave visible scratches. The Danish flooring industry's Gulvfakta guidance also cautions against sanding engineered floors with a wear layer of 2 mm or less. We assess the remaining wood before recommending sanding. Our standard floor sanding with a standard finish costs 175 kr per m2 including VAT from 36 m2.

• 175 kr/m2Including VAT and a standard finish, from 36 m2
• 24 hoursReply with a fixed quote
• Workmanship guaranteeOn all work performed

Why is a herringbone floor harder to sand?

Herringbone uses blocks laid at right angles to each other, so a sanding pass can run along some grain directions and across others. An unsuitable technique can leave scratches that become obvious after finishing. The sanding sequence and machine handling therefore need careful attention.

The Danish Flooring Association's "Gulvfakta" directly describes the method: "Wooden floors laid in patterns are normally sanded first diagonally and then in the length direction of the room." Alternatively, the floor is sanded in the direction of light, so that the last, fine sanding marks disappear in the light incidence. You can read the full guide in The Danish Flooring Association's guide to sanding wooden floors. The diagonal start ties the pattern together and evenly distributes the sanding pressure across both grain directions.

It's the same basic mechanics as with regular parquet floor sanding, with particular attention to the changing grain direction of the short blocks.

How is herringbone parquet sanded?

Sanding is done in three to four passes with increasingly fine grit, where the first pass is diagonal and the last ones follow the length direction of the room or the incidence of light. Edges and corners are done with an edge sander, and the surface is thoroughly vacuumed before treatment. The method is described in the industry guide TRÆfakta 10 on sanding wooden floors from Træinformation.

1. Assessment and measurement. Assess the remaining wood at a threshold, radiator cut-out or another accessible edge where the floor construction is visible.
2. Preparation. Loose planks are glued, nails are countersunk, and cracks and holes are filled - see repairing cracks and holes in wooden floors.
3. Coarse sanding diagonally. The first pass goes diagonally across the pattern and removes old lacquer, oil, and differences in height between the planks.
4. Intermediate and fine sanding. The grit becomes finer with each pass, and the final passes follow the length direction of the room or the light.
5. Edges and corners. Sand carefully along skirting boards and into corners so the edge work blends into the main surface.
6. Vacuuming and treatment. "Gulvfakta" specifies that both the floor surface and adjacent horizontal surfaces such as skirting boards and window sills should be vacuumed before lacquer, oil, or lye is applied.

Can your herringbone floor even be sanded?

It depends on how much wood is left above the tongue and groove. Solid hardwood planks typically tolerate 4-6 full sandings in their lifetime, while engineered floors have a thin wear layer glued to a core board. The Danish Flooring Association is unambiguous on this point: engineered floors with a wear layer of 2 mm or less should not be sanded.

If you are in doubt about how many times your floor has been sanded before, the guide on how many times a wooden floor can be sanded provides practical benchmarks.

What does it cost to sand a herringbone floor?

For 45 m2 of herringbone parquet, standard sanding with a standard finish gives an illustrative total of 7.875 kr including VAT at the rate of 175 kr per m2. A light surface refresh needs its own assessment and quotation. Straightforward sanding work may be completed within one working day, but the floor must then dry and cure according to the finish instructions.

Herringbone parquet needs careful sanding in the correct directions and detailed edge work. We assess its condition and the work required before confirming a quotation. Standard sanding with a standard finish costs 175 kr per m2 including VAT from 36 m2. For scale, illustrative totals for standard work are 11.375 kr for 65 m2 and 14.000 kr for 80 m2; these are calculations, not historical project invoices.

The quotation considers area, timber, the remaining wood, access and any work beyond standard sanding and finishing. Carrying equipment to an upper floor without a lift also affects the job. Read more about what floor sanding costs per m2, and read about the special conditions for floor sanding in an apartment if the floor is in an owner-occupied or cooperative apartment. You receive a fixed price before work begins - no additional charges.

Lacquer, oil, or lye on a herringbone floor?

Lacquer provides the most robust surface and typically lasts about 10 years before the floor needs re-sanding. Oil penetrates the wood, enhances the pattern, and can be spot-repaired, but requires re-treatment every 1-2 years. Lye gives a light, raw look and is always finished with soap or oil.

Træinformation has independent industry guides for each method: TRÆfakta 07 "Wooden Floors - Lacquering", TRÆfakta 08 "Wooden Floors - Oil Treatment", and TRÆfakta 09 "Wooden Floors - Lye Treatment". On a herringbone floor, the choice has an additional consequence: oil emphasizes the changing grain directions, making the pattern more distinct, while a matt lacquer evens out the contrast between the planks.

Drying and curing times depend on the product and conditions. Some oils permit light use after about 24 hours, while varnishes may need 1-3 days, but always follow the specified schedule for furniture, rugs and full use. Our guide to lacquering vs. oiling wooden floors compares durability, appearance, and maintenance, while lye treatment of floors covers the lighter solution.

How do you care for a herringbone floor afterwards?

Dry cleaning is the main rule: vacuum or sweep with a soft broom, and only wash with a well-wrung mop, at most once a week. Water in the joints between the planks is the herringbone floor's weakest point. Træinformation's handbook TRÆ 63 "Wooden Floors - Selection and Maintenance" (Brandt and Slott, 2010) compiles recommendations for daily care and maintenance.

Herringbone contains many joints between short blocks, so wipe up spills promptly and use felt pads under furniture. On an oiled floor, a worn route in front of the kitchen worktop can often be refreshed locally. Read more about maintenance of oiled wooden floors and on washing and cleaning wooden floors.

If you want a systematic overview of floor types and their care throughout the year, the guide on parquet floor types and their care explains the differences between solid parquet, engineered parquet, and patterned floors.

Can you sand herringbone parquet yourself?

You can technically rent the machine, but herringbone is the type of floor where mistakes are hardest to fix. An overly aggressive diagonal pass eats away the wear layer unevenly, and transverse scratches in the planks are only visible when the treatment is applied - and then the entire surface has to be redone.

In addition, there's safety. The Danish Working Environment Authority classifies wood dust among carcinogens in AT guideline C.2.1, and exposure must therefore be kept as low as technically possible. Professional equipment sands with attached extraction.

When comparing DIY with professional sanding, include machine hire, abrasives and your time. Our standard sanding with a standard finish costs 175 kr per m2 including VAT from 36 m2; smaller jobs have fixed prices starting at 3.700 kr. We assess the work and confirm a fixed quotation before starting. Read our comparison of DIY and professional floor sanding.

If your herringbone floor needs new life, you can see the full service under floor sanding and surface treatment or contact us at 20 98 88 11. You will receive a response within 24 hours and a fixed price before the work begins.

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Øens HåndværkerCentral

We sand and surface treat floors, stairs, balconies, wooden decks and worktops - based in Aarhus Ø and working nationwide. You get a fixed price before work begins and a workmanship guarantee on the work performed.

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