Sanding a parquet floor can transform tired, scratched or heavily coated timber, but parquet needs a slightly different approach from straight plank flooring. Because the blocks run in several directions, controlling the scratch pattern and completing a consistent final sanding stage are especially important.
The aim is not simply to remove the old finish. A successful renovation should leave the parquet flat, clean and evenly sanded without unnecessarily removing timber. The floor must then be prepared to accept the chosen filler, primer, oil or lacquer system.
This guide explains the process using professional Bona sanding equipment alongside the abrasives, fillers and finishing products stocked by Wiltshire Wood Flooring Supplies.
Before You Start: Check Whether the Floor Can Be Sanded
Solid parquet blocks can normally be professionally sanded several times during their life, provided sufficient timber remains above the tongue, groove or fixing system.
Engineered parquet is different. It has a limited real-wood wear layer above its core, so the remaining thickness must be assessed before aggressive sanding begins.
Before starting, check for:
- Loose or hollow parquet blocks.
- Protruding nails, screws or other metal fixings.
- Deep damage or excessive previous sanding.
- Movement within the floor.
- Loose filler or failing repairs.
- Bitumen, wax, polish or other contamination.
- Signs of moisture damage.
Tools and Products You May Need
Bona Belt Sander UX
For efficient removal of old coatings and flattening of the main floor area using professional sanding belts.
Bona Edge UX
For sanding the perimeter and areas that cannot be reached by the main floor-sanding machine.
Bona FlexiSand
A versatile rotary sanding machine for bare-wood sanding, intermediate sanding, fine sanding and final preparation with the correct drive plate.
Bona Quattro Disc
Particularly useful for the final stages of parquet sanding because it helps reduce belt and edger marks and produces a more uniform surface.
Professional Abrasives
Choose the correct belts and discs according to the machine, floor condition and required grit progression.
Bona Mix & Fill
A waterborne filler mixed with clean fine sanding dust for suitable small joints and minor defects up to approximately 2mm.
Step-by-Step: How to Sand a Parquet Floor
Prepare the room
Remove furniture, rugs and any objects that could interfere with the sanding process. Check the perimeter for protruding fixings and inspect the floor carefully before running a sanding machine over it.
Professional extraction should be connected to the sanding equipment wherever possible. This significantly reduces airborne sanding dust and keeps the abrasive cutting more efficiently.
Seal or protect adjoining areas where appropriate, but maintain safe ventilation and follow the requirements of the sanding equipment and any existing coating being removed.
Test the starting grit
Do not automatically begin every parquet floor with P24 or P36.
Start with the finest grit that you reasonably believe may remove the existing coating and begin flattening the surface. A P40 grit may be a sensible test on many traditionally finished floors, while a lighter renovation may allow you to start finer.
If the abrasive cuts efficiently, continue. If the coating remains, the abrasive loads rapidly or the floor cannot be flattened, move backwards to a coarser grit and test again.
Complete the initial sanding
The first sanding stage removes the old coating, surface contamination and major irregularities.
A professional belt sander such as the Bona Belt UX can be used on the open areas, while the Bona Edge UX brings the perimeter to the same sanding stage.
Alternatively, the Bona FlexiSand fitted with a Bona PowerDrive can perform powerful direction-free sanding down to bare timber using four 150mm discs.
Direction-free rotary sanding is particularly useful on parquet because the individual blocks run in multiple grain directions.
Progress through the intermediate grits
Once the old finish has been removed, the purpose of each subsequent abrasive is to remove the scratch pattern from the grit before it.
A typical progression may look like:
P40 → P60 → P80 → P100 or P120
A more heavily damaged floor might require an earlier P24 or P36 stage, while a lightly worn floor may begin at P60.
The exact sequence should be determined by the floor rather than followed as a fixed recipe.
Fill suitable small gaps and defects
After the coarse and intermediate sanding stages, vacuum the floor thoroughly and assess whether filling is appropriate.
Bona Mix & Fill is mixed with clean fine sanding dust from the floor to create a colour-matched filler for joints up to approximately 2mm and other minor defects.
Spread the mixed filler across the appropriate areas and allow it to dry fully before completing the final sanding stages.
Complete the final sanding
Sand the dry filler and refine the entire floor to the final grit required by the chosen finishing system.
The Bona Quattro Disc fitted to a Bona FlexiSand is particularly useful at this stage. Its four sanding plates help smooth belt marks and rotational scratches from edging machines while creating an even finish across changing parquet grain directions.
Depending on the finish being applied, P100 or P120 is commonly used as part of the final preparation. However, always follow the technical guidance for the selected stain, primer, oil or lacquer.
Why Final Multidisc Sanding Matters on Parquet
A parquet floor is made up of many short blocks facing different directions. This makes scratch control more difficult than on long straight boards.
A multidisc system such as Bona Quattro Disc provides a highly effective final blending stage because the discs work across the surface from several directions simultaneously.
This can help reduce:
- Belt-sander lines.
- Edger swirls.
- Cross-grain scratches.
- Differences between the perimeter and main floor.
- Visible sanding patterns beneath stains and pigmented finishes.
Choosing the Final Grit
The finest grit available is not automatically the correct finishing grit.
Timber that is sanded excessively fine may absorb stains, oils and pigmented primers differently. The finishing system should therefore determine the final sanding specification.
| Finishing stage | Typical final preparation | Important point |
|---|---|---|
| Clear waterborne primer and lacquer | Often around P100–P120 | Follow the exact Bona primer and lacquer instructions |
| Natural or white-pigmented primer | Consistent fine sanding is essential | Different edge and centre grits can create visible colour differences |
| Wood stain | Follow stain-specific preparation | Over-sanding can reduce stain uptake |
| Oil or hardwax oil | Product-dependent | The timber needs sufficient openness for even oil penetration |
Vacuum and inspect the floor
After final sanding, vacuum the floor thoroughly, including edges, joints, skirting lines and adjoining surfaces.
Inspect the floor under strong directional light before applying any liquid finish. Scratches that are difficult to see on dry bare timber may become considerably more obvious once the grain is wetted by primer or oil.
Look particularly for:
- Edger marks.
- Deep coarse-grit scratches.
- Uneven filler.
- Cross-grain marks.
- Missed old coating.
- Differences around doorways and perimeter areas.
Choose the primer and finishing system
Once the parquet is clean, evenly sanded and dust-free, choose the finish according to the required colour, sheen and durability.
For most domestic projects, Bona Mega EVO provides a straightforward one-component professional lacquer with strong resistance to wear and household chemicals.
For heavily used homes, commercial interiors or areas where maximum durability is required, Bona Traffic HD is the premium two-component option.
Where the aim is an exceptionally natural ultra-matt appearance, Bona Traffic HD Raw can be combined with the appropriate Bona primer.
The primer underneath the lacquer has a major influence on the timber colour. For a clean natural appearance, consider Bona Classic UX.
Always follow the current Bona treatment schedule for the exact primer and lacquer combination.
Recommended Bona Finishing Options
Bona Mega EVO
Ready-to-use 1K waterborne lacquer for heavy domestic and suitable commercial floors.
Bona Traffic HD
Premium 2K polyurethane lacquer for demanding domestic and commercial floors.
Bona Traffic HD Raw
Ultra-matt premium lacquer for protecting timber while retaining a very natural appearance.
Bona Classic UX
Easy-to-apply waterborne primer producing a clean, medium-light natural timber colour.
Can You Sand Parquet with a Bona FlexiSand Only?
Yes, depending on the floor and the accessories fitted.
Bona PowerDrive uses four powered 150mm sanding discs and allows powerful direction-free sanding down to bare wood. Bona states that this system can remove thick lacquer and, in suitable situations, replace conventional belt sanding.
For particularly uneven or heavily coated floors, a professional belt sander may still provide faster initial stock removal.
The FlexiSand then becomes especially valuable for intermediate and fine sanding using PowerDrive, Quattro Disc or another compatible sanding plate.
Can a Parquet Floor Be Sanded with Screens?
Bona 407mm Sanding Screens are useful for controlled surface preparation, denibbing and suitable intercoat abrasion, but they should not normally be used as the primary method for sanding a worn parquet floor back to bare timber.
Screens follow the existing surface. They do not provide the same flattening or coating-removal ability as a belt sander, PowerDrive or other purpose-designed abrasive system.
Common Parquet Sanding Mistakes
Starting much too coarse
Very coarse abrasives can remove unnecessary timber and leave scratches that take several stages to remove.
Always sanding in one direction
Parquet has multiple grain directions. The process should be designed to flatten the floor and progressively refine scratches across the entire pattern.
Skipping grits
Excessive grit jumps can leave coarse scratches beneath the final surface.
Filling gaps after final sanding
Filler normally needs to be sanded flush after it dries. Apply suitable filler before the final sanding stage rather than after the floor has already received its finished scratch pattern.
Filling every visible gap
Older parquet floors often move seasonally. Fine stable joints may be suitable for filler, but larger movement gaps can crack or shed filler later.
Using different final grits around the edges
Different surface textures can absorb primers, stains and oils differently, creating a visible perimeter around the room.
Over-sanding engineered parquet
Engineered parquet has a finite wear layer. Confirm how much timber remains before using aggressive abrasives.
Applying finish before inspecting the dry floor
Once the liquid finish is applied, many sanding defects become significantly easier to see.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grit should I start sanding parquet with?
Test with the finest grit likely to remove the existing coating. P40 is a common starting test for an older finished parquet floor, but lighter floors may start finer and heavily coated or uneven floors may require P24 or P36.
Should parquet be sanded with the grain?
Not in the same way as straight plank flooring because parquet blocks run in multiple directions. The objective is to create a consistent scratch pattern and progressively refine it across the whole floor.
What is the best final grit for parquet?
P100–P120 is common for many modern finishing systems, but the exact final grit should be determined by the chosen stain, oil, primer or lacquer.
Can I fill parquet gaps?
Fine, stable joints can be filled with an appropriate product such as Bona Mix & Fill. It is intended for joints up to approximately 2mm. Large or actively moving gaps should be assessed rather than automatically filled.
When should parquet filler be applied?
After sufficient sanding has produced clean dust for mixing and before the final sanding stages, so the dried filler can be sanded flush with the timber.
Can a FlexiSand sand parquet back to bare wood?
Yes. Bona PowerDrive is specifically designed for powerful direction-free sanding to bare timber and can remove thick lacquer in suitable situations.
Do I need a belt sander and a FlexiSand?
Not necessarily on every project. A belt sander is exceptionally effective for heavy stock removal and flattening, while FlexiSand systems are excellent for direction-free sanding and final surface refinement. The ideal combination depends on the floor.
Can engineered parquet be sanded?
Yes, provided there is sufficient real timber wear layer remaining. The construction and previous sanding history must be checked before work begins.
Which Bona lacquer should I use after sanding?
Bona Mega EVO is an excellent all-round 1K domestic option. Traffic HD offers premium 2K durability, while Traffic HD Raw is designed for a very natural ultra-matt appearance.
Do I need a primer before Bona lacquer?
A compatible Bona wood floor primer is normally used on freshly sanded bare timber. The primer affects both the coating system and final colour, so choose it alongside the lacquer rather than as an afterthought.
Shop Parquet Floor Sanding & Finishing Products
Wiltshire Wood Flooring Supplies stocks professional abrasives, Bona sanding machines, fillers, primers, lacquers and finishing accessories for parquet and wooden floor renovation.
Shop Abrasives Shop Bona Lacquers Shop Bona PrimersSanding requirements vary according to timber construction, remaining wear layer, floor condition, previous coatings and the final finishing system. Always follow the current machine, abrasive, filler and finish manufacturer instructions. Historic coatings or adhesives may contain hazardous materials and should be assessed appropriately before mechanical sanding.