Caring for a parquet board at home: features of the material, the best means

Basic rules of care

Before telling how to care for a floor from a parquet board, it is worth listing the precautions that should be followed during the operation of the coating. So, damage to a parquet floor is caused by water and sand.

The coating swells and deforms from water, and sand is an abrasive substance that can leave scratches on the floor.

In this regard, in addition to proper parquet care at home, it is important to adhere to the following operating rules:

So that you do not have to regularly clean the floor of sand, moisture and dirt, put a rug by the front door that will hold them back.
To protect against moisture penetration, close windows during heavy rain, and buy special pallets under the flower pots on the floor.
No means can return the original color to the board, which has burnt out in the sun, therefore, the floor is protected from direct sunlight with curtains on the windows.
But even proper home care will not protect the coating from deformation if the air in the room is too dry. In this regard, maintain the indoor humidity in the region of 40-60 percent and the temperature of 18-24 degrees. During the heating season, humidifiers will help you, and in summer the air flow from the air conditioner should not fall on the floor. It is advisable to ventilate non-residential premises for 30 minutes a couple of times a week.
To protect the parquet from scratches and dents that furniture leaves, it is better to cover it with carpets and rugs, use special pads on the legs of the furniture. When rearranging, furniture is not dragged across the floor, but lifted and carried. It is also better not to walk on stiletto heels.

If you want to properly care for a parcel floor, never do the following:

frequent wet cleaning is prohibited;
do not wash the floor by pouring soapy water or water from a bucket onto the surface;
to clean stubborn stains, never use abrasive products;
it is forbidden to wash the parquet with bleach;
do not use concentrated detergents (always dilute them with water);
do not use a washing vacuum cleaner and a steam vacuum cleaner for care;
soap leaves streaks on the surface;
to clean the coating, do not use aggressive acids, powders, solvents.

Dry cleaning of parquet boards

Daily maintenance of a parquet product under oil or with a protective varnish layer consists in sweeping and removing accumulated dust. For these purposes, a vacuum cleaner with a nozzle for a wooden floor, a soft-bristled mop or a brush, a broom is suitable.

For regular maintenance of a parquet board coated with oil or varnish, manufacturers recommend using soft cotton fabrics and microfiber napkins. During sweeping, dust is thoroughly cleaned out of the grooves between the chamfered dies.

Wet cleaning of parquet boards

Intensive maintenance of varnished and oiled parquet boards involves not only sweeping away dust, but also periodic cleaning

It is important to know how to wash your parquet board so as not to damage the finish. Usually a damp, thoroughly wrung-out cloth is used.

Also use a mop with a nozzle made of soft microfiber material, but only well wrung out.

If you use a cleaning agent for parquet boards, then only products specially designed for the care of the parquet surface will do. However, the care products for matte oiled and varnished boards differ.

Important! There are mixtures for daily parquet maintenance on sale. They are diluted in water and not only clean the floor from stains and dirt, but also create a protective film on the surface.

Recommendations on how to clean a parquet floor:

the washcloth should be well wrung out;
the surface is wiped with zigzag movements in the direction of laying the boards;
after 2 minutes, the floor should be completely dry;
to get rid of streaks, after washing, wipe the surface with a dry cloth.

Parquet maintenance rules depending on the indoor microclimate

The material for the manufacture of parquet boards is natural wood. Despite the fact that during the production process the board is treated with special substances, it is sensitive to changes in the indoor climate.

Important! With an increase in air humidity, the wood swells slightly, increases in size. If the air is dry, the product dries out somewhat and may crack.

For this reason, even at the stage of installing the parquet, it is necessary to take care that a high-quality waterproofing material is used.

The parquet board is laid in such a way that a gap of about a centimeter gap remains at the walls, which is filled with a sealant. When swelling, the wood expands without the formation of tubercles on it.

Important! Air humidity is different in winter and summer. Therefore, at different times of the year, the planks have different sizes.

In principle, this phenomenon cannot be avoided. However, it must be remembered that exotic woods are more capricious in this regard, and oak, beech, walnut or ash react to changes in air humidity much more calmly. If strict control of indoor humidity is not possible, it is advisable to opt for these particular breeds.

Features of winter care

In winter, due to the operation of the heating devices, the air becomes dry and small cracks appear in the floor. This is not a cause for concern, since at the end of the heating season, the air humidity will increase, and the width of the dice will increase with them. Do you want to prevent the formation of gaps during the heating season? We'll have to humidify the air in the room. There are devices on sale that saturate the air with moisture. It is desirable to give preference to mobile devices. When the air humidity is over 45%, no cracks are formed in the parquet.

Important! The humidity level can be monitored with a hygrometer

Summer care features

Has its own characteristics and parquet care in the summer. If there is a lot of precipitation, then the humidity level can reach 90%. This leads to an increase in the size of the wooden planks. Sometimes, with strong swelling, the die takes the shape of a boat. With a decrease in humidity to about 60%, the floor is leveled again.

Deformation protection methods

However, frequent deformations tend to shorten the life of a parquet floor. Therefore, the laying of dies in wet rooms has its own characteristics:

Before laying, the boards are covered with an oil composition.
Parquet is laid on a special substrate.
It is not recommended to use the glue method.

Important! The optimum temperature regime for a parquet floor is 15-25 degrees, with a maximum air humidity of 60%

Classification of mastics and application features

These funds are classified according to the scope and conditions of use, as well as technical characteristics. There are two large groups of parquet mastics: the first is intended for laying a parquet floor, the second is for extending the service life of the coating.

The mastic used in the installation of panel board or type-setting parquet is an adhesive composition, which, in turn, can be hot or cold. Let us dwell in more detail on the second - protective and ennobling group. Depending on the composition, parquet polishing mastics are divided into:

water-based;
water soluble;
turpentine (anhydrous);
wax.

There are also mastics designed exclusively for processing the side walls of the dies and the seams between them.

Water-based mastic

This tool is universal, as it is suitable for almost all tree species.It contains active substances that perfectly clean the surface.

Water-soluble mastic

It is, quite obviously, diluted in water. The water-soluble composition is used to polish strong and reliable oak flooring - the most moisture-resistant representative of the "parquet family". No, no, this does not mean at all that this mastic cannot be applied to other tree species! You just need to make the solution thicker - by reducing the amount of added water.

Turpentine (anhydrous) mastic

Appears to the buyer in a ready-made form - no water is required for its dilution. Ideal for parquet floors made of wood with a tendency to absorb moisture - the already mentioned beech and birch species.

Wax mastic

Contains a waxy substance, solvent and necessary additives. Parquet wax mastic is capable of qualitatively decorating pine, birch, beech, maple, etc. parquet.

If the parquet is laid on a bituminous adhesive, it is strictly forbidden to use wax mastic with turpentine!

Features of the laminate

Laminate is a panel made of chipboard or MDF boards and several layers of paper, which are impregnated with melamine resins and then pressed under high pressure and high temperature. At the end, the products are coated with durable acrylic or melamine paint.

Laminated products are classified according to wear resistance classes. Commercial laminate with increased wear resistance has been in service for over 30 years. Such material is more often used to cover floors in institutions and various organizations, but you can also put this coating in the house.

In any case, for an apartment, choose a waterproof laminate with increased strength, then it will last for several decades.

Prefer lacquered laminates as matte surfaces are very difficult to clean. Matte laminate flooring will have to be wiped clean every day with a soft brush or cloth.

Whereas the varnish does not attract dust so much, and cleaning can be done no more than once every three days. And how to remove dust so that it does not sit down for a long time, see here.

But regardless of the class and type of laminate, the care of the coating is necessary.

In this case, it is important to avoid exposure to large amounts of moisture, as it negatively affects the wood material and provokes the formation of mold or mildew. Let's take a closer look at how to ensure safe and proper maintenance of your laminate floor.

How to remove scratches on a parquet floor?

Even with careful maintenance, the parquet floor can sometimes be scratched. In this case, you can remove scratches in several ways:

Manufacturers offer a special repair varnish or oil to fight scratches. All actions must be carried out according to the instructions. Means of the brands Kahrs, HG, Novoryt are effective. It is better to choose products from the same manufacturer as for the parquet board.
You can paint over a small scratch with a permanent marker or stain corrector. The main thing is to choose the right color.
Another way to paint over a small scratch is with a stain. You can purchase a product in a suitable color and rub it in gently with a clean, dry cloth. Deeper damage can be removed in the same way. First you need to process the damage site. For this, fine-grained sandpaper or an iron scrubber will do. Then you need to wipe the surface with a solvent and let it dry. The stain must be applied in a thin layer and rubbed with a dry cloth (in a circle) - such manipulations must be repeated until the color difference disappears.
To remove minor scratches, you need to purchase a colored wax to match the parquet. It is more convenient to use wax crayons. The wax must be melted in the oven or microwave. The softened composition must be applied to the scratch and the surface must be carefully leveled, removing excess funds.It is best to use a rubber spatula for this. Then you need to polish the place of repair with a soft cloth.
Another way to deal with minor damage is walnuts. It is necessary to rub the scratch with the core of the walnut - after a while the treated area will darken. This method is not suitable for light-colored parquet boards.
Another home remedy is iodine. It can be used for parquet in oak, walnut or mahogany shades. Iodine must be diluted with water and applied to the scratch with a brush.
Deep scratches can be removed with a special filler. It must be selected in the color of the parquet board. The composition is applied and leveled with a spatula, and then the treated area is sanded. This requires fine-grained sandpaper. The remaining dust must be removed with a soft cloth and the repaired area must be varnished or waxed.
If there are a lot of scratches on the parquet, then you need to perform a fine sanding and apply a layer of varnish.
If the damage is quite serious, then you should contact a specialist to replace the damaged area. Another cardinal method is full sanding and re-coating. You can do the sanding yourself, but for a large area it is worth using a sander. Read more about self-sanding parquet and repairing parquet flooring with your own hands.

Repair

Scratches and other damages may appear during use of the parquet. In stores, it will be possible to purchase special preparations to restore coverage.

Special repair varnish or oil

A protective coating will help repair damage and prevent scratches from reoccurring.

HG

The HG polish perfectly protects the paintwork from wear, scratches and other damage. The product gives the coating a shine, in addition, it has an anti-slip property.

Novorut

Wax "Novorit" is a soft putty mass that will allow you to close up scratches, cracks, holes and other defects on wood surfaces.

Kahrs

Kahrs offers a wide range of products for parquet maintenance. The compositions easily remove dirt of any complexity.

Permanent marker

Repair of minor damages on the parquet can be carried out with touch-up markers. They are produced in various colors, so it is possible to paint over scratches on the surface of any shade:

Dust and other contaminants are removed from the problem area.
The pencil is used with soft point movements along the structure of the tree.
After 5-6 seconds, the excess marker is removed with a dry cloth.
After final drying, a protective varnish layer is applied.

Stain

Stain is a tinting fluid that is used to give wood the desired color. Stains are based on water, alcohol or oil:

Pre-prepare the floor for staining. Remove the old coating and remove stains and grease marks.
To make the composition better penetrate the wood fibers, it is heated.
The brush is moistened in stain and then applied to the floor along the wood fibers. All actions are carried out quickly so that no spots remain.
Several layers are applied.
At the last stage, the stain is varnished.

Colored wax

Colored restoration wax is intended for repairing minor scratches and defects on parquet floors. The wax is applied to the damaged area with a spatula. Excess composition is removed with alcohol.

Walnut

A young walnut will help to disguise small scratches on the parquet. The core is taken out of the shell and rubbed against the problem area. The juice that comes out of the walnut gradually turns the parquet into a dark color.

Iodine

Small defects will help to hide the iodine solution. 6 drops of iodine are dissolved in a liter of water. The composition is applied to the scratch with a soft cloth or brush.

Special putty

It will be possible to restore the original appearance of the parquet with a putty. The composition is used to eliminate small cracks and scratches on the wooden floor.The mixture can be latex, oil, alkyd, gypsum or acrylic based.

At the beginning of work, the floor is covered with a special protective compound. Only after that, a putty of a suitable shade is applied. Once the filler is dry, it becomes invisible and evenly covers the floor, covering the scratches.

Fine grinding

Fine grinding is carried out using a surface grinder. The device removes all irregularities, minor damages and scratches. For work, circles with a grain size of 60 to 120 units are used. After work, the floor should be vacuumed and wiped with a damp cloth.

Full resurfacing

The parquet has to be fully polished every 5 years. The work involves the following actions:

dust and all dirt should be removed from the floor;
using sandpaper No. 120, process the entire surface in the direction of laying the boards;
after polishing, the floor is varnished.

Full resurfacing takes 5.5 hours. After work, the floor should be level and smooth, without defects.

If the damage is deep and there are many of them, it is better to seek professional help. With the help of special equipment and materials, they will return the parquet to its original appearance.

Maintenance of varnished parquet boards.

Although after applying the last layer of varnish (when covering in place) it is possible to walk on the floor in a day, it is advisable to install furniture in the room not earlier than after two weeks, which are required for the final curing of the varnish. Factory varnished floors can take full load immediately after installation. If it is necessary to protect the surface of the varnished parquet board during installation, it can be covered with corrugated cardboard, but in no case with polymer, impermeable films.

During operation, traces of dirt may appear on the varnished surface of the parquet board. To eliminate them, use special cleaning agents - the so-called "cleaners". Some of them are available in the form of concentrates and are diluted with water, others - in aerosol containers, ready to use. The peculiarity of these funds is that they are chemically neutral in relation to the composition of the varnish. The assortment of all major manufacturers of parquet boards includes lacquered parquet cleaners. For Finex parquet floors, we recommend using Finex Hydro Cleaner. It is best if the cleaner used is from the same company as the parquet board, or from the same company as the varnish used as the protective floor covering.

No matter how high resistance to wear the parquet varnish has, sooner or later micro-scratches, local abrasions and other defects will appear on its surface. Therefore, a protective coating should be periodically applied to the varnished surface of the parquet board.

Particular attention should be paid to this point for pet owners, since scratches and claw marks can spoil the surface layer in a short time, and the ingress of urea destroys the varnish coating of the parquet board and leaves stains on the wood.

Currently, to preserve the varnish film of a parquet board, two types of protective agents are mainly used: polishes containing wax, and preparations that can be conditionally called analogs of highly diluted varnishes. These products are water-thinnable and odorless. For Finex parquet floors, we recommend using Finex Hydro Care.

Types of preventive treatment of varnished parquet boards:

in case of loss of gloss and to remove stains, the parquet board with a varnish coating can be treated with a special composition "freshener"
it is recommended to polish the parquet to protect it from moisture once every 2 months
for local abrasion of the varnish layer of the parquet board, use a varnish-spray
the renewal of the varnish layer of the parquet board should be carried out, on average, after 12 years of operation (depending on the load on the floors)

Maintenance of an oil-waxed board

There are several rules that must be followed when caring for a parquet board treated with oil-wax protective agents:

The coating applied to the board does not cover it from above, but penetrates deep into the wood, protecting it from the inside. To restore the board treated in this way, its damaged fragments are sanded and covered with a protective layer again. This operation usually takes no more than a day to complete.
Before washing a parquet board, you need to think carefully and understand this simple process. It is possible to carry out wet cleaning of such a floor, but very carefully and only if necessary. For high-quality cleaning of the surface, aqueous solutions with soap are used. The floor is wiped with a wrung cloth along the wood fibers. To achieve the maximum effect, after the boards have dried, the coating can be polished (in more detail: “Why polish the parquet and how to do it”).
The protective coating should be renewed, but at different intervals: with intensive traffic, the floor is opened with an oil-wax composition every six months, otherwise it can be done once a year. For these purposes, a special oil is used.
If the floor has only been treated with wax, it can only be cleaned dry, using products that contain solvents or wax. Soap solutions containing alkaline components can change the color of the coating.

In addition to regular cleaning, you can carry out maintenance work every quarter using the following algorithm:

First, the floor is washed and dried (about 6-7 hours);
Then the boards are impregnated with oil using a special brush;
After five minutes, the remaining oil is removed from the floor surface with napkins;
After a day, a layer of wax is applied to the floor;
Further processing is carried out only if necessary.

How to upgrade at home

Renovation of the floor covering is required for any parquet maintenance after several years of operation. It will return freshness to the wood, relieve it of cracks and swelling. Consider several repair options.

Dyeing

Dirty old wood often needs to be painted so that the floor does not look shabby and unpresentable. A few tips for painting:

it is better to choose a dark paint color - maintenance will be easier;
before painting, the floor is washed, cleaned and the gaps between the parquet floors are sealed, thoroughly dried;
apply paint in a thin layer, immediately remove the incrustations.

After painting, varnish and polish.

Grinding

Sanding and sanding - removal of a thin top layer from wood to an undamaged level. It is better to do it with a special machine, although it is possible to do it manually

They do it carefully on old floors, since the parquet boards are not thick, you need to be sure that there is something to cut. After scraping, sanding is performed using sandpaper or special tools

Putty

If the coating is dry, gaps have appeared between the planks, it is required to seal the gaps. Pre-brushes carefully remove debris and dust from the cracks, rinse and dry them.

Toning

Tinting renews, refreshes the floor, makes wood patterns more contrasting, gives a different color. Before tinting, it is necessary to perform sanding and sanding in order to cut off the damaged layer of parquet boards and fill up the cracks. All work must be done with high quality, since after tinting, wood defects and gaps between parquet floors will become more noticeable.

Finish coating

After the restoration of the flooring is completed, the method of final processing of the parquet is chosen. Waxes, polishes give a sparkle of gloss, appropriate in large living rooms, or a soft matte gloss, suitable for small cozy rooms.Note that with a mirror shine, dust, debris and all the defects of repair and cleaning are more visible.

Elimination of large gaps

If large gaps appear between the parquet floors, filling with putty will not bring any benefit - the floor will look ugly.

The splitting method is used:

warm up the glue on which the wooden planks are planted with a construction hairdryer;
a spatula is inserted between the parquet floors and the boards are shifted towards each other with light blows;
make one large gap in the most inconspicuous place on the floor.

Next, this hole is closed up by inserting a narrow sliver of the required width, greased with putty. All problem areas are corrected in this way.

Leveling expanded parquet

Swelling of parquet is due to the swelling of wood from moisture

Therefore, it is important to dry the floor quickly after being exposed to water. What measures help:

Drying the floor with a building hair dryer for 1-3 hours. They warm the floor for 10 minutes, then take a break for the same amount. Then the heating is repeated.
Next, a dense fabric, a sheet of dense plywood is placed on the parquet flooring and loaded with heavy objects, pressing it to the floor. Withstand a day.
If the condition has improved, but has not returned to normal, repeat heating with a hairdryer and the subsequent leveling of the parquet with a load.

If the measures taken do not work, the floor covering will have to be changed.

Parquet care products

To properly clean the floor, you need to carefully choose the tools with which you will maintain the floor in a tidy condition.

For arranging a private house, it will be useful for you to find out what is the best way to process wood, how to insulate the basement of the foundation from the outside, how to sheathe a door, how to sheathe the walls with plasterboard, how to make a blind area at home, how to make a wall of plasterboard, and also how to equip concrete paths.

Home

For light dirt on the parquet floor, it is best to use a damp, clean cloth (soft, moistened with ordinary water without detergents), with which small stains are removed. Older stains can be removed with soapy water.

Important! Before cleaning with water, be sure to brush away dust and sand from the coating with a soft brush. There are some tips on how to effectively remove greasy stains from hardwood floors:

There are some tips on how to effectively remove greasy stains from hardwood floors:

Apply talcum powder (a silicate mineral often used by athletes) to the greasy stain and sweep it off with a broom after 5 minutes.
Apply magnesia powder (magnesium sulfate) to the stain and leave in place for 2 hours. After this time, also sweep away the powder with a broom.

If you are worried about stains of various origins, then here are some tips on how to get rid of them:

Shoe marks can be removed with a nylon cloth - just wipe black stains with this cloth.
If there are drops of wax on your floor or if you have chewing gum glued on, then you just need to freeze these spots with ice cubes, and then gently remove the dirt with a plastic spatula.

After using the above cleaning methods, wipe the dirt with a damp cloth and apply a special protective agent according to the type of parquet.

Did you know? The most expensive parquet in the world costs 1 million dollars per 1 sq. meter, such parquet is produced by Pietra Firma.

Special

Special remedies can help in more advanced cases. To purchase such cleaners, you need to contact household chemicals stores. If you notice stubborn dirt on the coating, then you will need a special solvent-based composition. But a prerequisite for the adequate use of such a tool will be that after applying the cleaner, it will be necessary to update the protective layer (re-soak with oil or apply varnish) of the parquet flooring. You need to use such a product as follows: just apply a little product on a soft cloth and wipe the stain with it.

If you could not find the necessary cleaner for your parquet, then ordinary white spirit can help you, you need to apply it according to the same instructions. For varnished parquet, aerosol cleaners are best suited, they are the easiest to use, and besides, such a tool will take care of the parquet. Apply the aerosol directly to the stain and wipe the area with a dry cloth.

Regular parquet maintenance

Once every 1-3 days, the parquet floor must be cleaned of dirt and dust. If you do not do this, dirt will clog into the joints between the boards, and you will have to disassemble the covering to put it in order.

Cleaning is carried out according to the following scheme:

Collect large debris by hand.
A soft nozzle is put on the vacuum cleaner (preferably a special one designed for parquet), vacuum cleaned. A regular vacuum cleaner is used for cleaning; it is not recommended to clean the parquet with detergents.
If there are stains on the surface, remove them.

Important! A broom is not used to remove dust - hard rods can leave microdamages on the surface, which will increase over time, shortening the service life of the board