Executive Mansion - Episode 15

Parquet Floor Restoration

Related Showrooms

As he Virginia Executive Mansion restoration gets into full swing, a product called Dura-Runner from a protective products company is laid on the existing floor to protect the parquet while work is underway in the vicinity. This product, which is waterproof and very durable, will protect the 1906 parquet floor from accidental scratches and other mishaps during the restoration. Bob joins Fred Ecker of TideWater Preservation in the Ladies Parlour where the century old parquet floor with its squeaks and movement is being restored. Under the parquet is the original 1813 Southern Pine flooring. In order to preserve the option of restoring the original Southern Pine flooring in a future restoration project, a special acrylic adhesive was developed and tested extensively before work began. The oak parquet floor with a herringbone design had numerous squeaks, movement, and holes to be filled. As one objective of the flooring restoration is that it be reversible, emphasis was placed on utllizing products and techniques today that would expedite future restorations. The acrylic adhesives were specially formulated for this project and went through rigorous testing with old hard pine flooring and some oak parquet pieces that were removed from the hallway next door. In order that the restoration be reversible, it was necessary that the adhesive stick to the old pine flooring with minimal pull when removed and yet adhere securely enough to the oak parquet to eliminate squeaks and movement. This acrylic adhesive, which is still in the experimental stage and not yet available commercially, will be used in many aspects of the floor restoration. There is a lot of patching to be done where old receptacles and radiators were removed. To do this, the edges of both the hole and the old hard pine patch piece are routed out to create a lap joint, then the special adhesive is applied to all sides, and finally the patch piece is fitted and tapped into place. The parquet is then re-laid over the sub-flooring. In conjunction with the patching from above, the floor is also being worked on from the basement below. 1/8" in diameter holes are drilled in the tongue section of the under side of the flooring. These injection ports are then filled with the acrylic adhesive utilizing a bulk loading caulk gun. Care has been taken not to drill all the way through the flooring and permanently mar it. Because of the extra care taken in this restoration project, years from now on another restoration the oak parquet flooring can, if it so desired, be removed with minimal damage to the Southern Pine below.