Protecting engineered parquet better immediately after installation?

Hello,

we are a bit concerned about the durability of our parquet. (Even though due to the current wood shortage, it does not look nearly as good as during the sample selection two years ago...)

Unfortunately, we only had "pre-finished parquet" available for our apartment. Since it only has a 3.5mm wear layer, it can only be sanded down once or twice.

A few more details:

[*]Pre-finished parquet (lacquered) with a total thickness of 11mm and a 3.5mm wear layer
[*]Underfloor heating (temperature unknown, district heating)
[*]Installation pattern "ship deck"
[*]Approximately 90m² in total

Especially in the entrance area (sand and other dirt) and in the office (chair moving back and forth) we suspect high wear.

What options are there or would make sense to protect the parquet?

[*]Yes, one could lay runners or other mats, but then they also spoil everything.
[*]Could the parquet be additionally lacquered (two to three coats (?) including primer) without sanding it first? Or wouldn't the lacquer adhere and would peel off? Must or should one sand between the coats?
[*]Could epoxy resin (including primer) be poured over it? It probably should not run onto the edges next to the parquet...

If any of this is an option: Could it be done by ourselves or should a professional handle it?

Error: Lacquered parquet. You can see every scratch twice. Oiled/waxed forgives scratches much better. You can also simply refresh the floor once a year, which is not possible with lacquered parquet.

Otherwise, a two- or three-layer parquet as finished parquet is completely sufficient. Sanding is a myth that persists stubbornly. You might do it once, but only after 30-40 years. Take a look at older houses from the 50s to the 70s. Usually, the untouched parquet from the year of construction is still there.

You have chosen a beautiful and warm floor. And on top of that, a natural material. It works and is worked on by your life. That’s not bad and especially with non-lacquered floors it’s no longer very noticeable. A floor aging with you – gets better and more authentic like a good red wine.
So don’t put anything on it, but rather consider which wood – oak/wenge or similar – is really hard and only difficult to scratch. Walnut or birch look good but are soft woods.
Additionally, you can also make sure that not too much sand or other abrasive materials get onto the parquet in the first place. Aids for this can be doormats embedded in the hallway floor (usually tiles). And in the office, in front of the desk or under the office chair, an appropriate mat is used.

Of course, you can sometimes put a carpet on parquet – but it then serves coziness and is not meant to protect the floor.

Is the floor glued down? With floating parquet, there is a great risk that everything will come loose when sanding with a machine. If your parquet is matte lacquered, you won't see the scratches as much. Oiled parquet is much less problematic, the scratches don't look bad on it, and if you re-oil, they almost disappear.

Best regards
Sabine

Mistake: Lacquered parquet.

I thought the same right away. We also ordered lacquered and only later learned that unlacquered is better. But luckily, after 9 years, we have no significant signs of wear since it’s only a secondary room.
Better than you can’t put it. You don’t do sanding every 5 years.

The fear of wear and the urge to preserve something new as much as possible is almost impossible with an item of use. You should also be aware that you actually choose wood because it is a natural product and should "continue to live" in the house through use. If you always want it to look neat and sterile, you choose something else.
You still have some time to change your mindset to this kind of attitude ;)

I have now had click parquet (oak, 3.5mm wear layer, total 18mm) in my apartment for almost a year and have thought a bit about this and that, less worry (about sand, small stones, water, etc.) A large dirt-trapping mat in hotel carpet style ;) keeps a lot out at the door, and a regular dirt-trapping mat at the terrace. Otherwise, just occasionally apply hard wax oil – done. I am amazed that oak is so tough and after the first year I am now "worry-free". The two rugs I initially had for protection have meanwhile been given away because they only covered the beautiful wooden floor.