Parquet Flooring & Gap Filling
When sanding or sealing parquet flooring, you need to know that it is important to fill in any large or small gaps in between the blocks. A parquet floor, which is laid accurately does not need any gap filling. However, if the parquet floor is old enough, or is has been exposed to humidity or movement, there are changes that the blocks will have contracted and expanded, which leave gaps. Therefore, gap filling is an essential part of most wood floor restoration projects.
Gap Filling - How is it Done?
The most efficient way to fill gaps in between the parquet blocks is using resin fillers and mixing it with the fine dust, which is sanded off of the parquet floor. Preferably, you can use the finest dust from an eighty-grit sanding belt or the edging sander while sanding the edges of the floor.
Once you reach the phase of fine sanding and ready to begin the process of gap filling, you must get a small size bucket. Next, you will add the clean fine dust in the bucket. After filling the half of the bucket, you will add the resin filler to it and begin mixing it thoroughly until you are sure that the dust has been mixed to the texture of the custard paste. It is important to ensure that you mix it correctly, for instance, if there exist any dust balls, then keep in mind that they won’t look good when you trowel it into the gaps.
Next, you will start troweling this mixture into the gaps. Get a filling knife or large trowel and start troweling the mixture over the floor. Make sure to accurately push this mixture into each joint or gap. It is likewise important to clean off the excess filler as this will help you to easily sand off the floor as well as complete the second coat if required. If there are large gaps, then you will only need to carry out completing the second coat to fill the gaps. Make sure or confirm whether or not you need a second coat, for instance, in case the filler has contracted or shrunk below the blocks of the parquet floor.
What Comes After the Gap Filling?
Once, you have filled all the gaps between the blocks of the parquet floor, and you have ensured that they are completely dry, it is then time to begin the process of sanding off any excess filler that is left on the parquet blocks. In addition, you must sand the excessive filler off by using hundred-grit or finer sanding paper.
Moreover, you should make sure to remove the excessive gap filler with the usage of belt sander since it will be very difficult to remove with the buffers that is the last step of the process of floor sanding. We recommend the use of Bona Resin Filler, which does not have unpleasant smell and is very effective. Also, we advise you to have better ventilation when filling the gaps between parquet floor blocks to ensure quick drying.
