Restoring an Original 1960s School Hardwood Floor
As part of a major school refurbishment and structural upgrade project, we were contacted to assess an original hardwood parquet floor dating back to the 1960s.
The floor had suffered from decades of heavy daily use with very little maintenance carried out over the years. The surface was heavily worn, dull, damaged in areas, and showing significant signs of age and deterioration.
However, after our assessment, we confirmed that the floor made from beautiful tropical hardwood, still had excellent restoration potential beneath the worn surface. Instead of replacement, we proposed a full restoration process designed to preserve the original character of the flooring while bringing it back to life for many more years of use.
From Worn and Damaged to Fully Restored: School Parquet Floor Restoration
The restoration began with essential parquet floor repairs. Several areas had missing, loose or damaged parquet blocks, which needed to be carefully repaired and replaced before the main sanding work could begin. Once the floor was stable and structurally sound, we carried out a full professional parquet floor sanding process using heavy-duty floor sanding equipment.
The floor was sanded through a full grit sequence, starting with coarse 24 grit to remove the old worn surface, damage and uneven areas, before progressing gradually through the grits up to 120 grit for a smooth, clean finish.
As the parquet was made from tropical hardwood, we applied a suitable solvent-based primer to help lock in the natural oils within the timber before lacquering. This is an important step when restoring tropical hardwood floors, as it helps improve adhesion and prepares the surface correctly for the final protective finish.
Tropical Hardwood Floor Restoration
The floor was then completed with two coats of high-quality floor lacquer, creating a durable, hard-wearing protective surface suitable for a busy school environment. The finish enhanced the natural colour and character of the original hardwood parquet flooring while providing long-lasting protection for future daily use.
This project is a great example of how hardwood parquet floor restoration can preserve original flooring, reduce unnecessary replacement costs and bring historic school floors back to life.
