Parquet Polishing Almaty

What is the difference between sanding and polishing parquet

Many people confuse these two procedures, although the difference is fundamental: sanding is a deep mechanical stripping of old wooden flooring, while polishing is the final leveling of the surface. The correct choice of method determines how long the parquet will last and whether waves will appear after the first season.

The destructive depth of sanding

Sanding is the abrasive removal of 2–5 mm of the top layer of wood using a drum or belt machine. Its purpose is to remove old varnish, deep scratches, stains, or board height differences when the floor has “shifted.” The process is aggressive: if the machine is tilted incorrectly, it can gouge a groove, which becomes visible as a dark stripe after varnishing. In older Almaty homes (Khrushchev-era buildings on Abay, Stalin-era buildings on Furmanov), the thickness of the parquet strip is often less than 8 mm due to previous sandings — there is nothing left to remove, and the boards become soft. In our practice, we refuse to sand such floors: instead, we recommend polishing with manual gap tightening to avoid wearing through the strip entirely.

Gentle polishing — what it provides

Polishing is the surface treatment with abrasive discs (rotary or orbital sander) removing 0.3–0.8 mm. The goal is to eliminate micro-defects, dull spots, and uneven gloss of the old varnish. Polishing does not fix “waves” from board shrinkage — that requires sanding. However, if the parquet is level and the varnish is merely scratched, polishing provides a smooth base for a new layer without the risk of damaging thin veneer. At sites in the Medeu district, where parquet is made of valuable species (oak, ash, beech), we always recommend polishing: it preserves the historical layer, and the client gets a refreshed floor without the risk of “wearing through” the exotic wood down to the plywood.

When sanding is harmful for modern parquet

In new Almaty developments (complexes like “Akbulak,” “Edelweiss”), engineered parquet with a top veneer layer of 3–4 mm is often installed. Sanding such a board is a guaranteed defect: after 2–3 passes, the veneer wears off, exposing the plywood, and the floor loses its strength. This is a typical mistake made by unprofessional crews who “clean the old-fashioned way.” For this type of parquet, we only use final polishing with P120–P180 grit and manual inter-tile treatment — it removes 0.2 mm without reaching the adhesive layer. Our recommendation: before ordering, check the veneer thickness with the manufacturer — if it is less than 4 mm, sanding is contraindicated.

How often should parquet be polished in Almaty

The frequency of parquet polishing directly depends on the floor load, indoor microclimate, and the type of finish coating. In Almaty apartments and houses, we observe three typical scenarios: high traffic (hallways, corridors, kitchens), moderate (living rooms), and low traffic (bedrooms, studies). Let’s break down each one.

Polishing in high-traffic areas — corridors and kitchens

In hallways and kitchens, parquet endures sand from shoes, heel impacts, spilled liquids, and temperature changes near the stove. In our Almaty orders, such areas lose their shine within 3–4 months — matte scuffs and micro-scratches from abrasive particles appear on the surface. We recommend polishing every 6–8 months to prevent the varnish layer from wearing down to the wood. This is cheaper than doing a full sanding with 3–4 coats of varnish every 1.5 years. At sites in homes on Dostyk Avenue, we noticed that entrance mats don’t help: sand still spreads throughout the hallway. A practical tip — install a dirt-trapping covering at the entrance at least 1.5 meters long; this reduces the polishing frequency by 2–3 months.

Polishing in living rooms — moderate traffic, once a year

Living rooms usually don’t experience constant mechanical stress, but they suffer from ultraviolet light and dry air during the heating season. Sunlight from the south side (typical for Almaty apartments with panoramic windows) fades the varnish within 8–10 months, making the floor look dull. Winter humidity in our apartments drops to 25–30% against a norm of 45–55% — the parquet dries out, gaps appear between planks, and the varnish begins to crack along micro-seams. The optimal polishing frequency for a living room is once every 12–14 months, combined with indoor air humidification. We advise installing a humidifier with automatic maintenance at 45% — this extends the life of the varnish layer by 6–8 months without intermediate polishing. For one of our regular clients in the “Almaly” residential complex, after installing a humidifier, the interval between polishings increased from 10 to 18 months.

Polishing in bedrooms and studies — once every 1.5–2 years

Bedrooms and studies have minimal foot traffic — 2–3 passes per day. Here, the main enemies of parquet are dust and pet claws. In Almaty, many owners have cats and small breed dogs; their claws leave pinpoint scratches that accumulate over time and dull the surface. In the absence of animals and carpets, polishing is needed once every 18–24 months. If there is heavy furniture in the bedroom (bed, wardrobe), dents appear under the legs — these are spot-sanded and coated with varnish locally, without a full room polish. In studies with office chairs on casters, wear occurs faster: within 12 months, roller marks appear. We recommend sticking silicone pads on the casters — this postpones polishing for another year.

Signs that your parquet needs polishing, not waiting for the scheduled time

Relying solely on the calendar is a mistake. There are three visual signals we use to determine the need for polishing in Almaty: 1) matte “paths” appear on the surface in high-traffic areas — the varnish is worn down to 50% of its thickness; 2) during damp mopping, the cloth leaves streaks — micro-cracks in the varnish absorb water; 3) in the light, fine scratches are visible that dry cleaning cannot remove. If you notice at least one of these signs — don’t wait for the calendar date, order parquet polishing from profi-clean: we will arrive within 60 minutes and assess the condition. A delay of 2–3 months beyond the norm leads to the varnish layer wearing down to the wood, and instead of polishing (price calculated individually based on area and condition), sanding with a complete refinishing will be required — 2–3 times more expensive and time-consuming.

Almaty specifics: how the microclimate affects polishing frequency

Almaty is a city with a sharply continental climate: dry, hot summers (+35 °C) and cold winters with heating that dries the air. Humidity fluctuations throughout the year reach 40–50%, causing the parquet to “breathe” — planks expand and contract, and the varnish cracks along the seams. In homes with central heating (old housing stock — Abay, Zhibek Zholy areas), winter humidity drops to 20%, while in new buildings with individual heating (residential complexes “Akbulak”, “Nurly Tau”) — to 30–35%. For apartment owners in older homes, we recommend reducing the interval between polishings by 2–3 months compared to new buildings. In practice, this means: in a living room in a 1980s building, polishing is needed every 9–10 months, while in a new residential complex — every 14–15 months. Additionally, Almaty has higher dust levels (especially in areas with active construction — microdistricts “Duman”, “Gorny Gigant”), which settles on the parquet and acts as an abrasive — polishing under such conditions is required 15–20% more often.

Which wood species are best for polishing

Not all wood species respond equally to polishing — the fiber structure, hardness, and oiliness directly determine how many layers of varnish are needed and how many times you’ll have to sand to achieve a shine. Our experience with cleaning and dry cleaning in Almaty shows that profi-clean cleaners most often encounter three scenarios: European oak, exotic ash, and inexpensive pine.

Oak — the ideal base for a gloss finish

Oak has a Brinell hardness of 3.7, which is above average, and its pores are large but uniform. This combination makes it a favorite: the varnish absorbs into the pores but doesn’t penetrate too deeply, leaving an even film after the first coat. In our parquet polishing orders for homes and apartments in Almaty, oak appears in 70% of cases — and the result is almost always predictably glossy. One nuance: scratches from pet claws are clearly visible on oak, so before the final polishing, we recommend using fine-grit sandpaper P220 — this removes micro-scratches that are unnoticeable on other species.

Ash — a challenging but rewarding material

Ash has a higher hardness than oak — 4.1 on the Brinell scale, but its texture is pronounced, with sharp contrasts between early and late annual rings. During polishing, these contrasts behave differently: soft areas absorb varnish more actively, while hard areas absorb almost nothing, causing the gloss to appear patchy. In our practice, we’ve found that the only solution for ash is a matte, water-based varnish with low viscosity — it fills the soft zones without creating contrast. It’s best not to polish ash with a glossy varnish at all, otherwise you’ll need to apply 4–5 coats and sand between each layer — this increases drying time by one and a half to two times.

Pine — a finicky but budget-friendly alternative

Pine is a softwood (2.5 on the Brinell scale), and during polishing, the resin that remains in the fibers even after drying begins to rise to the surface under mechanical friction. If you don’t wait for the first primer coat to fully cure, the resin mixes with the varnish, creating a sticky, cloudy film that must be removed by scraping. In homes in Almaty’s private sector and in old “Khrushchev-era” apartments, pine is rarely polished — it’s usually just sanded and oiled. But if the client insists on a gloss finish, we apply an isolating layer of shellac-based primer before the varnish: it blocks the resin and provides a clean base for polishing.

Which wood species should not be polished at all

Larch, despite its hardness of 3.2, produces a poor gloss due to its high oil content — oil droplets rise to the surface within the first 48 hours after varnish application, creating a “greasy stain” effect. Alder and linden are too porous: the varnish penetrates deeply without forming a film, and polishing results in a matte finish with no shine. Exotic wenge, with a hardness of 4.5, polishes well, but its dark base requires at least 3-4 coats of varnish; otherwise, unpainted areas are visible in the light. Our advice: if you have parquet made from these species, order parquet polishing with matte oil rather than varnish — oil doesn’t require shine and hides structural imperfections.

Specifics of parquet polishing in Almaty’s climate conditions

Sharp humidity fluctuations, hot radiators in winter, and dry air during the off-season — Almaty’s climate dictates its own rules for parquet polishing. Without considering these factors, even a well-sanded floor can develop cracks or swell within a single season.

Impact of seasonal humidity swings on wood structure

In winter, humidity in Almaty apartments drops to 18-25% due to central heating, while in summer it rises to 60-70% on rainy days. The wood constantly releases and absorbs moisture, acting like a pump. In our practice, there was a case: a client ordered polishing in a dry December, and by March, after a thaw, micro-cracks appeared on the parquet — because the varnish was applied to maximally dried boards, and when the wood humidified, it swelled and tore the film. Now, before winter polishing, we always condition the room with a humidifier for 48 hours to 40-45% to stabilize the boards. If polishing in July, conversely, you need to dry the floor with a heat gun to 10-12% wood moisture content — otherwise, applying varnish to damp wood will cause it to peel off in bubbles within a month.

Why oil coating lasts longer than varnish in Almaty

On our projects in the city center (areas near the Medeu slope, where groundwater is close), oil polishing lasts 2-3 times longer than varnish — matte oil penetrates deeply into the pores and doesn’t form a rigid film that cracks with board movement. On Zharokova Street, where houses are on stilts and the foundation “moves,” we specifically recommend oil: it’s more elastic and doesn’t peel off during seasonal floor deformation. Varnish is hard but brittle: in dry winters, it contracts more than the wood, causing hairline cracks along the joints. On projects with underfloor heating (increasingly common in Almaty), oil is also preferable — it doesn’t melt at 27-28°C on the surface, whereas some polyurethane varnishes yellow and lose their gloss after just two heating seasons. When choosing between varnish and oil in Almaty’s spring conditions with its sharp warm-ups, oil coating offers a durability advantage of at least a year.

How temperature fluctuations affect the drying of varnish and oil

In Almaty, a typical situation: +15°C during the day, +2°C at night, and indoors without heating — drafts from the entrance hall. Polishing parquet with such temperature fluctuations is a guaranteed defect if the microclimate is not controlled. Water-based varnish dries at 18-25°C, but if the temperature drops below +15°C at night, polymerization slows down by 2-3 times, and the film becomes sticky and then cloudy. On one project in the “Almaty-2” microdistrict, we went out in April: we applied the first coat of varnish during the day, but by evening it got colder, the radiators were already turned off — we had to install heaters and maintain a stable temperature of +22°C for three days, otherwise the client would have gotten a “milky” floor. Oil is more capricious in this regard: it requires +20-22°C and humidity of 40-55% for the entire 12-24 hour drying period; any draft or nighttime temperature change causes oil streaks that cannot be removed even by re-polishing. Our technologist always checks the three-day forecast before leaving — if the temperature is expected to drop below +12°C at night, we postpone the work for a week or set up heat guns with a thermostat.

Common mistakes when polishing parquet yourself

Attempts to save money on professional services lead to damage to expensive flooring, and the Almaty climate only exacerbates these mistakes. At profi-clean, we see the consequences of this approach every week — here are the five most common blunders.

Using a household rotary machine instead of a professional orbital one

A household rotary machine (e.g., with a single speed of 1500 rpm) does not remove old varnish evenly — it burns the board and leaves “waves” at the joints of the planks. A professional orbital sander with adjustable speed from 500 to 3000 rpm and planetary motion levels the surface without overheating, preserving the geometry of the locks. In our practice, there was a case where a client in the elite residential complex “Triumph” got such unevenness after self-treatment that we had to remove 1.5 mm of oak — that’s minus one sanding cycle out of three possible over the floor’s lifespan.

Skipping the dust removal stage before applying the top coat

Even microscopic dust particles (10-20 microns) left on the board after sanding are absorbed into the fresh varnish and create matte specks that cannot be removed without complete re-sanding. Professional industrial vacuum cleaners with HEPA class H13 filters capture 99.97% of particles, while a household vacuum cleaner lets through up to 30% of fine dust. Before the final coat, be sure to wipe the floor with a sticky microfiber cloth — this is a cheap way to avoid costly defects.

Violating the interlayer drying time of the varnish

Standard water-based polyurethane varnish requires an interlayer drying time of 4-6 hours at 40-60% humidity and a temperature of 20-22°C, but in Almaty apartments in winter, humidity drops to 15-20% — then the varnish sets in 2 hours but remains under-polymerized inside. The result is a sticky film that peels off after a month. We use a hygrometer at every site and adjust the drying time: at humidity below 30%, we place a humidifier in the room for 2 hours before applying the second coat.

Using incompatible chemicals from different brands

If the first coat is oil from Osmo and the finish is varnish from Bona, the adhesion between them will be no more than 30% of the norm, and the coating will “flake” within a month. In Almaty, hardware stores often offer “universal” primers without specifying compatibility with a specific finish. Our recommendation: use the entire product line from one manufacturer — from primer to top coat — otherwise, the manufacturer’s warranty on compatibility is voided, and a new polishing cycle will cost the full price.

Ignoring parquet acclimatization after sanding

Freshly sanded wood absorbs moisture from the air more actively than old wood, and if varnish is applied immediately, the wood “breathes” — micro-cracks at the joints appear within 2-3 weeks. On our orders at sites in the “Samal-3” microdistrict, we let the parquet rest for 12-16 hours after sanding with the climate control system running so that the board reaches equilibrium moisture content (8-10%). If you sanded it yourself, leave the floor for a day without varnish at a temperature of 20-22°C — this prevents joint separation in 80% of cases.