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Original poster

Updating wood floor

84 replies

GinAndOnIt · 07/11/2016 12:13

We have varnished wood parquet floor in the kitchen, but it's very dated. It's a very yellow-y/orange colour, and I want it dark brown.

When we had a carpenter here fitting the shutters, he said I could scrub it with something and then varnish over it, but I can't remember what he thing he said to scrub it with. Something similar to a green dish sponge I think. Anyone got any ideas?

I'm not interested in sanding it or buffing it with a hired tool, I just want something to make sure the next coat of varnish will actually paint on.

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shovetheholly · 07/11/2016 12:55

I could be wrong about this but unfortunately, I think if you want to recoat wood, you have to get rid of any current coatings first, back to bare wood. That means stripping back any varnish/oil/wax/other gunk that is on the surface before you even think about repainting. The only things I know that will do this are nitromors-type strippers or mechanical methods (i.e some kind of sanding). However, I'm no expert with flooring!

Wrinklytights · 07/11/2016 13:00

Because varnish is transparent I don't think it will look good unless you strip off all the existing varnish off first. and even then you have to be very careful with parquet because of the blocks going in different directions so you can't always sand with the grain, which can leave stains/varnishes looking patchy.

Original poster
GinAndOnIt · 07/11/2016 13:03

I might just paint it then

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shovetheholly · 07/11/2016 13:56

I'm so sorry, gin but I don't know if you can just paint over the finish.

I know you are doing loads and loads right now, so please don't hate me for this suggestion... Grin... but...

Parquet is a really valuable floor. It takes a lot of skill and labour to fit, and the blocks ain't cheap either. (I'd love to have one in my house, but it's always going to be too expensive for me!) I know you don't like what you have right now, but with a bit of TLC it could be absolutely sensational. If I were in your shoes, I would look at doing a slightly more patient restoration with a sander and a refinish. You can get companies in to do this for you, without it costing a fortune - I think £20 a metre would be about average, possibly less depending on where you are.

The trouble with painted floors is that they don't look good for long. Even the toughest paints won't deal with the kind of battering a floor gets over the longer term - they will chip and mark and unless you're going for that kind of look, it really isn't good. You'll then have a huge job in future to strip off all the paint!

Original poster
GinAndOnIt · 07/11/2016 14:29

Ah thanks shove - I've painted other floors in the house with a varnish already on, and it's given it a lovely old white colour. I'd do it all over if DP and GinDog weren't so bloody dirty Grin we do like the 'worn' look though.

Am going to buy a tester of varnish and a tester of paint to try on a hidden patch and see what it's like. It's not the nice parquet that everyone has, it's like tiles of square parquet. Hold on, I'll take a picture...

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Original poster
GinAndOnIt · 07/11/2016 14:33

It's 'retro' for the wrong reasons Wink

Updating wood floor
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Original poster
GinAndOnIt · 07/11/2016 14:34

To be honest, the whole lot needs ripping out and new floor laying. It's not in the best of states, but we are most definitely not doing that!

So it would be more of a quick fix to make it bearable until that's an option IYSWIM.

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SwedishEdith · 07/11/2016 14:47

Don't they call that woodblock? I'd still trade it for our flooring.

shovetheholly · 07/11/2016 14:52

gin - I don't know how to say this - I really, really love it like that! Yes, it looks like it needs a bit of a revarnish (to be honest, so do I!!!) but the colour and pattern are gorgeous!

I appreciate not everyone has the same tastes, but honestly I don't just like it, I really love it!

shovetheholly · 07/11/2016 14:53

PS Just checked up and the price to fit - just to fit - a parquet floor like that is £60 /metre. Shock

shovetheholly · 07/11/2016 14:53

PPS I bet if you posted it in the 'modernist appreciation' thread, you would get a whole chorus of admiration!

FrickOnAStick · 07/11/2016 15:07

That 5 finger parquet can look fab with the right furnishings and finished properly. Don't get rid of it.

FrickOnAStick · 07/11/2016 15:10

edith, the pattern is called '5 finger parquet'.

SwedishEdith · 07/11/2016 15:13

Oh, thanks frick.

Original poster
GinAndOnIt · 07/11/2016 15:15

Oh gosh. Well this was all rather unexpected. I've just posted a photo of the kitchen to see how you think it matches as a 'whole' but I've lost the post somehow. And lost the picture. I'll try again later. I'm just not sure it matches the colours of the walls.....but maybe I'm looking for fault. Hmm.

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FrickOnAStick · 07/11/2016 15:15

Reminds me of my school hall when I was a kid Smile

Original poster
GinAndOnIt · 07/11/2016 15:16

Some might say I shouldn't have painted the walls those colours if they don't match floor, but y'know.... Grin

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Original poster
GinAndOnIt · 07/11/2016 15:17

Ha Frick! The spare room floor did that to me. Very dark cherry brown varnished floorboards!

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Kidnapped · 07/11/2016 15:20

That is like our hall floor. It has been down since the previous owners put it there in the 70s.

I looooove it. I'd have it all over the ground floor if I could afford it. We have a big hall and it looks nice with big rugs on it. Honest.

And I don't refer to it as yellowy/orange. I call it honey-coloured. Wink

If you really don't like it then get your carpenter fella to have a go at with the green sponge thing first. Have a look at it then and if it doesn't look great then get him to give it a light sanding before putting a darker varnish on it. Wouldn't cost a fortune to do.

And if you're still not so keen on the finished product, then chuck a big rug over it.

Original poster
GinAndOnIt · 07/11/2016 15:22

I had a little pick at it earlier with my fingernail and it came off really easily like nail varnish, and was a lighter colour but still shiny underneath? I wonder if someone else put varnish on top of varnish at one point and it would be quite easy to lift that top layer off maybe. There are bits that are quite chipped but it kind of 'goes' with our messy rustic farm cottage.

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shovetheholly · 07/11/2016 15:23

From your picture gin the blocks look like they have a lovely grain too. Bet they'd just glow in the sunshine! I honestly think that colour of floor goes with loads of different wall colours as well - can you remember what the paint is called?

Kidnapped · 07/11/2016 15:34

Our hallway looks a bit like this.

And yes, it is channelling the 1970s and not to everybody's tastes of course. But I love the flooring. And I get loads of compliments from people on it. Honest.

Updating wood floor
Original poster
GinAndOnIt · 07/11/2016 15:48

I did the walls mainly Skimming Stone with French Gray on the fireplace wall and kitchen unit wall!

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shovetheholly · 07/11/2016 15:55

I like that combination! I know there is a fashion at the moment for lots and lots of grey colours all together with cream flooring, but I honestly think the parquet warms up the grey-cream paint in a way that's really beautiful. And it won't date nearly as quickly.

For what it's worth - I spent an hour earlier combining greys, creams and warm wood tones like those of your floor trying to find a combination for my new room!!

Updating wood floor
shovetheholly · 07/11/2016 15:55

Oh and kidnapped - that navy is gorgeous. I would never be brave enough to do that. But it looks amazing.