Many South African homes built in the 1960s and 1970s have blocks under the carpet, and parquet flooring restoration is how they come back. A restorer lifts the carpet, re-glues loose blocks, replaces the damaged ones, fills the gaps, sands the surface flat and seals it. The result is a floor that looks cared for, not new. Send one request and independent parquet restorers and floor sanders in your area quote you directly. It is free and there is no obligation to accept any quote.
What restoration involves
The steps are usually in this order:
- Lift the carpet and underlay, then scrape off old tack strips, glue and bitumen where needed.
- Tap the floor to find hollow, loose blocks and re-glue them, weighting them until the adhesive sets.
- Replace missing or broken blocks with matching timber, often taken from a hidden corner or a cupboard.
- Sand through coarse to fine grits, edge the borders, fill gaps and finish with sealer or oil.
Plain basic sanding is covered at floor sanding; restoration adds the repair work that block floors need.
Why parquet blocks come loose
Old bitumen or cement-based glue ages and dries out. Damp rising through a slab, a leaking pipe or a flooded kitchen loosens blocks and can make them swell or lift. Blocks laid directly on a concrete slab may sound hollow when tapped. A restorer should find the cause before re-gluing, because sticking blocks down over active damp only repeats the problem. If a whole area is lifted, the slab may need drying or a damp-proof treatment first.
Sanding and finishing parquet
Herringbone and basket-weave floors have grain running in several directions, so a drum sander can tear the surface. Many restorers use a heavy machine at an angle or a planetary sander, and finish the edges by hand. Block thickness is limited, so ask how much timber is left to sand. After sanding, the floor is sealed. Read about options at floor sealing and varnishing. A satin finish suits most old parquet.
Comparing restoration quotes
Ask whether loose block repair, replacement blocks, gap filling and stairs are included or extra, since that work varies from floor to floor. Request an on-site assessment, not a phone price. Compare the finish, the number of coats and the cure time. A restorer who taps the whole floor before pricing usually gives a more honest quote.
What to include in your request
- The rooms and their size in square metres
- Carpet still down, or already lifted
- Loose or missing blocks you have noticed
- Any damp, leaks or flood history
- The finish you prefer and your suburb
Parquet Floor Restoration for different clients
- Homeowners: 1970s herringbone blocks under old carpet, sanded back and sealed for lounges and dining rooms
- Flats and townhouses: parquet in older blocks restored quietly, with the body corporate told about sanding hours
- Builders, developers and renovators: salvaged or newly laid block floors sanded and sealed once other trades have finished
- Landlords and letting agents: tired parquet brought back between tenants instead of ripping it out for new flooring
- Offices, practices and showrooms: old block floors in converted houses and practices restored for reception and meeting rooms
- Guesthouses, lodges and restaurants: heritage parquet in guesthouse lounges and dining rooms repaired and sealed for traffic
- Shops, salons and cafés: character parquet in boutiques and studios restored so the floor becomes a feature
- Schools, halls, gyms and studios: block floors in halls and church buildings re-glued, sanded and sealed in the holidays
Frequently asked questions
Can an old parquet floor be restored?
How are loose parquet blocks fixed?
Will the sanded parquet look brand new?
Do you restore parquet floors yourselves?
Parquet Floor Restoration by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg