This is a long shot but hey maybe some/one of you have experience with it or have had the same problem as me.

My kitchen has parquet flooring which my grandfather laid when he bought the house 30 years ago, and to be fair it aged really well until the last few years and now it just looks tired.  EXCEPT when you wash it and it is still wet, it looks brand new but as soon as it dries it goes back to being dull and scratched.

I have looked it up on YouTube about restoring this type of flooring and it is possible according to them but only with an industrial sander and some skill, which I'm not sure I possess...

My question is, does anybody here have a better (easier) suggestion for getting it looking decent again?  I don't need to be a perfect finish, but something better than it is just now, and something that will stop it deteriorating even more would be preferable.

Below are some pictures of it in its current state...

The problem you will have is getting a nice consistent finish

You can hire floor sanders from tool hire shops BUT you only need a re-finishing type so don't get one of the heavy duty beasties

Once you have taken all the crud off the floor - wash with white spirit or similar

Then re-finish with clear lacquer or wood oil - check out the DIY stores for what you like best

Buy the best you can afford and it should last well

Wickes used to do a free leaflet on how to do thi sort of job - I dare say there will be YouTube videos out there which will help

You should have a realy nice floor wfter that - much better than cheap laminate that is not so cheap to buy or do 

3 hours ago, Westville said:

The problem you will have is getting a nice consistent finish

You can hire floor sanders from tool hire shops BUT you only need a re-finishing type so don't get one of the heavy duty beasties

Once you have taken all the crud off the floor - wash with white spirit or similar

Then re-finish with clear lacquer or wood oil - check out the DIY stores for what you like best

Buy the best you can afford and it should last well

Wickes used to do a free leaflet on how to do thi sort of job - I dare say there will be YouTube videos out there which will help

You should have a realy nice floor wfter that - much better than cheap laminate that is not so cheap to buy or do 

Thanks Jim, your advice is greatly appreciated!!  That was my concern in hiring a sander that I would end up ripping half the wood off, but as you say I need a lighter duty sander to refinish it.

I'll have a look at Wickes in Inverness next time I'm there and see what they have.  I know HSS hire out sanders and they have local-ish collection points so I will research more into that.

As you say that flooring is better than anything I could buy new, unless I went for something really expensive which is a waste unless you are starting from scratch.