1970s parquet floor, safe to sand?

Happyfairy94

My bungalow was built 1969/1970.
it has a parquet floor but it could do with a sand I would prefer a slightly lighter and less red toned colour.

I decided to test sanding a patch under the rug to see how easily the varnish removes and it does sand back pretty easily. This patch was maybe 5 minutes of sanding.
I wondered what kind of wood it is too? When I wiped it down, it went back to red and then dried like this.

I did have a thought regarding the adhesive holding it down is that black bitumen, will it be safe to sand back in regards to potential asbestos? The tiles are all firmly fixed and my plan was to use an orbital palm sander since it seems to come up pretty easily.

I couldn’t see why sanding would be an issue since there’s no bitumen on the tiles themselves? So I would only be sanding back wood?

Any advice would be really appreciated 😊

knightstyle

I sanded a floor like this many years wgo. I hired a big floor sander and did a large room in less than two hours. Then used a hand sander to do the edges and corners. Empty the dust bag often and wear a good mask.

IMO no danger of asbestos and fix any loose blocks before sanding.

I then used a water based floor sealer which kept the lovely wood colours.

Eldi_Dos

The bitumen type material will be acting as a moisture barrier as well as a levelling compound when floor was laid.

Floor looks in good condition considering it is well into its sixth decade and should come up nicely.As above I would urge you to use a sander with dust collection and good masks along with disposible paper overalls.

silvercar

Should come up well. We have a wooden floor from the 1930s, the only problem is that in a small area with heavy footfall that has been sanded a few times over the years, there is an area where the top layer of the tongue and grooves has been sanded away so the top groove has eroded a way or is to thin to act as a groove.

On colour, I find it naturally reddens a bit in the sun over the years, so go for something very neutral now.

Happyfairy94

Thanks for the advice, I will definitely make sure that I use a good mask or respirator and the paper overalls are a good idea too.
My brother has an orbital sander which has a dust collector too, are the rental ones better at catching the dust overall?

I think the floor has fared well as the previous owners had carpet over it for 40 years or so.

I was reading a bit more and it sounds like it is a possibility the varnish could contain Lead too? I will order some tests to check before I start.
I love these old features but the hazards are everywhere 😂

Could anyone recommend any oils or floor treatments which are more neutral toned and more of a lighter oak colour?
I find most wood treatments naturally make the wood look much darker.

I am really excited to see how it will look after a proper sand 😁

Albermarle

I was reading a bit more and it sounds like it is a possibility the varnish could contain Lead too? I will order some tests to check before I start.
I love these old features but the hazards are everywhere 😂

Normally when you read about issues like this, it relates to people who worked with toxic chemicals in the past. So regular/daily exposure for years.

grumpy_codger

Lead in transparent vanish? Extremely unlikely. I think it could present in some pigments, but not in vanish.

And asbestos (if any) trapped in the bitumen mastic is absolutely harmless, at least until you disturb it mechanically.

Chickereeeee

as to the colour, the original varnish would have been transparentransparent, but sometimes gets a bit darker with age. The colour you will get with new transparent varnish will be similar, or a bit darker, than that of the wet boards.

Rosa_Damascena

Well maintained parquet is a thing of beauty!

Post a pic when you're done?