Surface sanding

Surface Sanding / Planing
From £18.00 per square metre

Surface sanding or planing is an optional process designed to strip the top face of reclaimed parquet blocks prior to installation. However, we advise that only a small number of batches require this treatment, and in most cases, we discourage surface sanding before fitting, as the floor will still need to be sanded in full once installed.

Typically, surface sanding is carried out after bitumen removal from the underside. At this stage, any damaged or mismatched blocks are easier to identify, and the exposed underside often reveals the wood species and any signs of deterioration.

While pre-installation sanding can slightly reduce the amount of dust created during the final sanding process, modern floor sanding machines are virtually dust-free, making this benefit minimal in most cases.

It’s important to note that the true condition and species of the blocks may only be revealed after sanding. Hidden defects such as rot, repairs, or mixed species are common in reclaimed flooring—especially if previously patched or heavily lacquered. Patches may have been filled in over the years using different timbers, often stained to match the original. This is sometimes only evident once sanding begins.

This variability is part of the character of reclaimed flooring. While it carries inherent risks, it also offers unique charm, history, and sustainability. Reclaimed parquet will never be perfect—but it will always be admired.

Once the floor is fitted and sanded, any underlying defects—such as damage concealed beneath layers of varnish, lacquer, or wax—may only then become visible. At that stage, replacing individual blocks is the only option.

See below for examples of surface sanding and planing results.

Adhesive on the surface. 

Yellow Sereya parquet before and after surface stripping.

Showing adhesive removal from reclaimed strip flooring. 

Adhesive and tar on reclaimed Pitch Pine parquet. 

Paint removal from Rhodesian Teak Parquet.  

Opepe Reclaimed Parquet Floor, with a few damaged blocks in it, only visible once sanded! A lot of people love this look, whereas, a lot of people also dislike this. 

Showing Yellow Meranti parquet flooring, with stray Beech blocks in, only visible once sanded

Showing Beech Parquet Floor, damaged by damp, only visible once sanded. A lot of reclaimed parquet floors have been sat in damp buildings prior to reclaim companys purchasing, some do slip the net. 

Showing Sereya Strip Floor, with 2 stray lengths of Red Mahogany, only visible once sanded