Parquet Flooring

[crapmemory]

I have parquet flooring in my lounge that is quite a dark wood. Is there anyway I can lighten it? TIA

[woofgang]

are you sure its the wood and not the varnish and stain? You could try sandpaper on a tiny hidden area to see what the colour of the actual wood is and if you like it, get the floor sanded and refinished. I remember the big hall at school had a parquet floor. It was a sort of treacle colour then one september when we came back it had been sanded and refinished and was a very pale honey colour. I am jealous, would love parquet.

[The Builder]

Rent a floor sander, Craps. It'll come up just as Woofters has described.
You'll need several sanding belts though. The layers of wax/varnish will clog them up.

Or, you could do as Scrivens has said, and chemically strip it first. Very labour intensive though. Then the floor sander.