«Should I rip out the old parquet or have it refurbished?» – we hear this question almost every week. And the honest answer is not a blanket «sand» or «replace»; it depends on a few concrete factors. Here they are, without the sales talk.
When sanding is worthwhile
An existing parquet floor is often worth more than its worn surface suggests. Sanding and resealing is the right choice when:
- There is enough wear layer – almost always with solid parquet, with multi-layer parquet if the top layer of wood is still thick enough
- The floor is basically stable – a few loose boards can be fixed, which is no reason to rule sanding out
- It is a matter of scratches, dull patches or yellowed lacquer – purely cosmetic wear disappears completely when sanded
- You want to keep the character – a well-worn floor in an older building has a presence that no new covering can imitate
The economic point: sanding does away with material costs and disposal of the old floor. That is why refurbishing an intact floor is almost always cheaper than replacing it – and more environmentally friendly too.
When a new floor makes more sense
There are cases, though, where we honestly recommend replacement:
- The wear layer is used up – once you have sanded too often, you hit the base layer; you can go no further
- Large-scale water damage – swollen, warped wood can no longer be sanded flat
- You want a different type of floor – for example a waterproof design floor in the kitchen or bathroom, where wood reaches its limits
- The subfloor has problems – if the build-up has to be renewed anyway, a new covering is often the cleaner solution
The honest decision guide
Our rule of thumb: as long as there is enough wood and the floor is stable, sand it. It is cheaper, quicker, kinder to resources and keeps the character. Replacing is worth it when the material is used up, there is water damage or you deliberately want a different covering.
What we don't do: talk you into replacing a floor that can be sanded because a new floor brings in more revenue. At the free site visit we tell you honestly what is worthwhile – even if that is the cheaper option.
Have your floor assessed free of charge More on flooring
As at April 2026. Whether a floor can be sanded depends on its specific build-up and should be assessed on site.
Parquet – what our customers ask us
How often can parquet be sanded?
Solid parquet can usually be sanded three to five times over its lifetime, multi-layer parquet once or twice depending on the thickness of the wear layer. What matters is not age but how much material is left above the tongue-and-groove joint – we check that on site.
What does sanding parquet cost compared with a new floor?
Sanding and resealing parquet costs CHF 38–45 per m² with us (complete, including preparatory work). A new floor covering including removal and laying comes to CHF 80–160 per m² – depending on the covering. Sanding is therefore clearly cheaper when the floor is in good basic condition, because there is no material or disposal, and it also keeps the character of a floor that has grown old well.
How do I know whether my parquet can still be sanded?
Rules of thumb: if the floor still feels firm underfoot without heavy creaking or cupping, the boards are not worn through to the wood beneath the wear layer, and there is no large-scale water damage with swollen wood – then it can usually be sanded. If in doubt, we assess it free of charge.
How long does a parquet renovation take?
An average flat is usually sanded and sealed in two to four working days; after that, depending on the system, the seal needs another one to two days to cure before the floor can take full use.
Quote within 48 hours
Free, without obligation and at a fixed price – site visit on request.