Parquet floor sanding: process, abrasives and finishing
A worn parquet floor often looks worse than it is. In most cases, sanding a parquet floor can give you a floor that looks new, without having to rip anything up. But parquet isn't just parquet: how many times you can sand, and which grit steps are appropriate, depends entirely on the thickness of the wear layer. Here you'll find the entire process of sanding a parquet floor, the right grits for parquet, and how to choose between lacquer, oil, and lye afterwards. If you want to know the price first, you can read about what floor sanding costs and then go to floor sanding and floor refinishing for a quote.
Can you sand a parquet floor?
Many parquet floors can be sanded if enough usable wood remains. Solid parquet and solid wood blocks have wood above the joints that can be sanded; engineered parquet has a real-wood wear layer over a core. Measure the remaining layer before choosing the treatment. Gulvfakta advises against sanding engineered flooring with a wear layer of 2 mm or less. Laminate flooring is a different material and cannot be sanded like real wood.
Solid parquet, woodblock parquet and engineered parquet: differences in wear layer
The difference between the three types of parquet lies in how much solid wood you have to work with. This determines both how many times the floor can be sanded and how carefully we need to proceed.
- Solid parquet: the entire plank is one piece of solid wood. The wear layer is effectively the entire thickness of the board down to the tongue and groove, often 6 to 10 mm of usable wood. Solid parquet is the most robust type and can withstand the most sandings.
- Woodblock parquet: smaller solid wooden blocks laid in a pattern such as herringbone or basketweave. The usable thickness depends on the block construction and how much wood remains above the joints. It must be assessed before sanding.
- Engineered parquet: a real-wood top layer bonded to a supporting core such as plywood or HDF. A new wear layer may be 2 to 6 mm thick, but its remaining thickness determines whether it can be sanded. Gulvfakta advises against sanding layers of 2 mm or less.
The first thing we do, before touching a machine, is therefore to assess the type and measure or estimate the wear layer. The same principle applies to sanding plank floors, where solid planks have a much greater wear layer than veneer-based floors.
How many times can a parquet floor be sanded?
As a rule of thumb, each sanding removes approximately 0.5 to 1 mm of wood. The thicker the wear layer, the more times the parquet floor can be sanded. The figures below are indicative, as previous sandings, deep scratches, and the condition of the floor also play a role.
| Parquet type | Typical wear layer | Number of sandings |
|---|---|---|
| Solid parquet | 6 to 10 mm | 6 to 10 times |
| Woodblock parquet | 4 to 6 mm | 3 to 5 times |
| Engineered parquet | 2 to 6 mm | Depends on the remaining layer; do not sand at 2 mm or less |
If the floor has been sanded before, you should subtract those rounds. A engineered parquet that has already been sanded twice may be at the end of its life. If you are in doubt about when it makes sense to do something, you can read more about when a wooden floor should be sanded.
Grit steps adapted for parquet
The actual process of sanding a parquet floor is similar to any other wood floor sanding: you sand in several steps with progressively finer grits. The difference is that parquet, and especially engineered parquet with a thin wear layer, cannot withstand the same aggressive coarse sanding as a solid plank floor. We therefore choose a finer starting grit and fewer, gentler steps, so that we remove as little wood as possible and preserve the wear layer.
| Step | Grit for parquet | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Coarse sanding | 36 to 60 | Removes old lacquer and oil, less aggressive than on solid plank floors |
| Intermediate sanding | 80 to 100 | Removes sanding marks from the coarse step |
| Fine sanding | 120 to 150 | Smooth surface ready for treatment |
A solid parquet floor with sufficient usable wood may allow a coarser starting grit. Engineered parquet needs a careful assessment and a less aggressive sanding sequence where appropriate. Do not try to make a wear layer of 2 mm or less suitable simply by choosing finer paper; Gulvfakta advises against sanding it.
Herringbone parquet: cross and diagonal sanding
Herringbone parquet and other pattern-laid floors require a different technique than floors where all boards lie in the same direction. When the planks are laid alternately at a 90-degree angle, sanding along one direction will always hit half of the planks across the grain, which causes scratches. Therefore, we sand herringbone parquet diagonally, i.e., across the pattern, and finish with fine grit along the direction of light. In this way, we hit all planks as gently as possible and avoid visible sanding marks in the pattern. This is precision work, and it is one of the reasons why sanding an old herringbone parquet floor takes longer than a regular board floor.
Lacquer, oil, or lye after sanding a parquet floor?
Once the parquet floor has been sanded clean and smooth, it needs to be treated. The choice affects both appearance, durability, and how easy the floor is to maintain for many years to come. On a thin wear layer, the choice is especially important because you want to avoid a brand new sanding for as long as possible.
Lacquering
Lacquer forms a hard film on top of the parquet and effectively protects against wear, liquid, and dirt. A lacquered parquet floor is durable and easy to keep clean, but when the lacquer is worn, the entire floor must be sanded and re-lacquered. On parquet with a thin wear layer, this is a disadvantage because each re-sanding consumes some of the sparse wear layer.
Oiling
Oil penetrates the wood instead of forming a film on top and gives a natural, matt look that highlights the grain of the parquet. The great advantage for parquet is that oil can be spot treated: high-traffic areas and dining table areas can be re-oiled without sanding the entire floor, which preserves the wear layer. If you want to delve deeper into the difference, we have a complete guide on lacquering or oiling a wooden floor.
Lye treatment
Lye gives parquet a light, Nordic expression, almost white, and prevents especially oak parquet from turning yellow over the years. Lye is a chemical treatment that opens the pores of the wood, and it always requires a subsequent treatment with soap or oil, as well as ongoing care with lye soap. It is the most demanding solution in terms of maintenance, but the result is popular in Scandinavian homes. See how it's done in our guide to lye treatment of floors.
When can parquet not be sanded?
There are cases where sanding parquet is not worthwhile or not possible at all. The most important signal is a veneer layer that is too thin.
- Too thin veneer layer: an engineered floor may no longer have enough usable wood after earlier sanding. Gulvfakta advises against sanding a wear layer of 2 mm or less, because further removal can expose the glue line or core.
- Worn-through areas: if the veneer is already worn through in high-traffic areas, so that the core is visible, sanding cannot restore the missing wood.
- Peeled or loose veneer: if the top layer separates from the core, a new sanding and treatment will not hold.
In these cases, the solution is typically a new floor rather than sanding. We will tell you honestly if your parquet has reached the end of its life, rather than sanding a floor that cannot withstand it. A preliminary assessment quickly answers the question.
What does it cost to sand a parquet floor?
Standard floor 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. Standard oil and lacquer share the same base rate. We assess the parquet pattern, remaining wear layer, condition and any additional work before confirming a fixed quotation.
Ready to breathe new life into your parquet floor?
We will assess your parquet floor, measure the wear layer, recommend the correct grit steps, and guide you in choosing between lacquer, oil, and lye before we start. You will receive a fixed price without surprises. Call us at 20 98 88 11, or send a couple of pictures and the floor area, and you will hear from us within 24 hours with a specific price. Get a non-binding quote for floor sanding here.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sand a parquet floor?
Yes, most parquet floors can be sanded. It depends on the wear layer, i.e., how much solid wood there is above the tongue and groove or above the core. If there is enough wear layer left to sand through the old treatment and a bit into the wood, the parquet floor can be sanded and given a new surface.
How many times can a parquet floor be sanded?
The guide figures are 6 to 10 sandings for solid parquet and 3 to 5 for solid woodblock parquet, but the remaining usable thickness matters more than the category. Engineered parquet allows fewer, and Gulvfakta advises against sanding a wear layer of 2 mm or less. Each full sanding typically removes around 0.5 to 1 mm, so earlier work reduces the remaining allowance.
Can woodblock parquet and engineered parquet be sanded?
Solid woodblock parquet can often be sanded if enough usable wood remains. Engineered parquet needs careful measurement of its real-wood top layer before work is agreed. Gulvfakta advises against sanding an engineered wear layer of 2 mm or less; a finer abrasive does not remove that limitation.
What grit should be used to sand parquet?
For parquet, we typically start with grit 36 to 60 for coarse sanding, move on to 80 to 100 for intermediate sanding, and finish with 120 to 150 for fine sanding. For thin engineered parquet, we often skip the coarsest step and start with finer grits to remove as little of the wear layer as possible.
Should a parquet floor be lacquered, oiled, or lye-treated after sanding?
Lacquer provides a hard, durable film, but requires re-sanding of the entire floor for re-treatment. Oil gives a natural, matt look and can be spot-treated in high-traffic areas without complete re-sanding, which preserves the wear layer. Lye gives a light, Nordic look, but requires the most ongoing care with lye soap. For parquet with a thin wear layer, oil is often the most gentle choice.
What does it cost to sand a parquet floor?
Standard floor sanding with a standard finish costs 175 kr per m2 including VAT from 36 m2. Smaller jobs start at 3.700 kr, and standard oil and lacquer share the same base rate. We assess the pattern, condition and any additional work before confirming a fixed quotation.
Do you live in Aarhus or Copenhagen? See our local pages about floor sanding in Aarhus and floor sanding in Copenhagen with price examples and references from your area.