Over time, the traffic, moving furniture, and other activities, our wooden floors wear out and lose their shine. This is a completely normal phenomenon that can be easily resolved with a little refreshing. Generally, a simple revarnishing is enough to restore the beautiful appearance of your parquet. It’s a fairly easy step, depending on the surface to be treated, that some people choose to do themselves. However, the varnishing technique must be done properly, and it’s very important not to skip certain steps. Thus, varnishing your floor without sanding is a mistake that should not be made. Here’s why.
Cleaning
Varnishing your floor is done in several steps that should be meticulously followed. We will logically start by emptying the surface of its furniture so that it is completely clear. The walls and ceilings can keep their paintings and lamps, although it would be prudent to clean them thoroughly of any dust they may contain.
Indeed, the cleaning step is crucial in floor varnishing. Whether the floor is already varnished or untreated, it is necessary to render the surface bare before any treatment. By skipping this step, the varnish will catch oily and greasy residues. We will therefore start by cleaning the floor several times, vacuuming in the smallest corners to remove all dust stuck between the boards. We will finish this cleaning step with a specific product that will decontaminate the floor and prepare it for the following steps.
Sanding
Here again, we aim to remove any residue that has accumulated on the floor over time: chemical products, oily buildup, dirt, or other matter. This step is crucial, as it will dull and depolish the surface to allow the varnish to adhere properly. Sanding is a tedious and difficult step. You can choose to do it by hand for a small surface with medium-grit sandpaper, but a sander will generally be recommended. After sanding, you will again pass a powerful vacuum, called a workshop vacuum, to remove all particles. Some more sophisticated machines now allow sanding while vacuuming all the tiny dust particles released. This allows you to stay at home and even occupy the treated spaces between work sessions, as dust is no longer a problem.
The only exception: oiled finishes. Increasingly common, this option allows skipping the sanding and varnishing steps. Indeed, you will either use pre-oiled flooring that will not need to be sanded, or raw wood flooring that once sanded and installed will only require light polishing.
Following the preparation steps, varnishing can begin. With more and more options on the market, it is now possible to use eco-friendly varnishes that release fewer toxic fumes in the house. Depending on the choice of varnish, it will be very important to carefully follow the steps and ventilate the space for the recommended time.
Finally, although the products and machines available on the market are increasingly effective, the sanding step remains essential in floor varnishing. Advances allow spending less time out of the house and reduce the inconvenience caused by products or cleaning. But to have a perfect result, the very base must be impeccable. Alone or with a professional, prepare to sand your floor!
