Why Lecol 5500 Is the Go-To Adhesive for Fast, Secure Wood Floor Sanding Repairs
Repairs is a big part of wood floor sanding. As most five-finger and herringbone jobs over old bitumen bases will need to be re-stuck, so it's not always about the surface as what ends up on top. When you're repairing herringbone or 5-finger parquet flooring, you need to choose an adhesive that is quick drying, bonds correctly, and has the trust needed to not even think about a callback.
At Ultimate Floor Care, we support contractors with products that work in real-world conditions, including bitumen-based subfloors, time-pressured jobs, and historical flooring that needs care. Lecol 5500 is quietly becoming the industry standard, and how it supports best practices across wood floor sanding and finishing.
Understanding the Demands of Professional Wood Floor Sanding
It's not just all about sanding a floor and putting a coating over the top. One minute you're on the belt sander or edger, then next you're playing with a jigsaw of loose fingers from mosaic tiles and popped blocks around the edge of a room. Here's what I would look for when choosing a repair adhesive,
- High bond strength
- Compatibility with older adhesives
- Fast turnaround for sanding and sealing
- Available in different sizes.
Contractors are increasingly taking on repair jobs in schools, period properties, and commercial spaces where parquet or herringbone floors were originally laid with bitumen adhesive. A dual-purpose glue and damp-proof membrane was widely used decades ago. Sometimes you don’t even know what you're walking into, as a standard sand and seal can easily turn into a repair job if the floor wasn’t inspected properly in the first place.
Modern water-based adhesives can struggle when being used over bitumen bases. The result can be the following: Lifting, shifting, or long drying times that stall progress and add cost.
Lecol 5500: A Proven Performer for Parquet and Repair Work
Lecol 5500 is a water-free synthetic resin adhesive specifically designed for wood floor sanding professionals working on:
- 5-finger or herringbone parquet floors
- Floors laid over old bitumen
- Time-sensitive repair jobs
Key Benefits:
- Solvent-based formulation reactivates old bitumen layers — giving you a stronger, more reliable hold than most modern adhesives.
- Fast-drying: Sandable in as little as 8 hours, depending on substrate absorption (but in small sections earlier than from first-hand experience)
- High shear strength: excellent for mosaic, stick, and ready-made parquet
- Compatible with floor heating and wheelchair use
- Available in 6kg, 10kg, and 16kg sizes to suit any scale of job
This isn’t just a repair adhesive; Lecol 5500 is also used for full floor installations, particularly where bitumen is present or performance matters.
How Lecol 5500 Supports Best Practice Standards
Lecol 5500 aligns with DIN 281 standards, the benchmark in wood adhesive performance in Europe. It’s also recognised by contractors working under NWFA (National Wood Flooring Association) guidelines for proper substrate prep and material compatibility. Learn more at NWFA.org.
Application Best Practice:
- Use with TKB B2 serrated trowel (or Pajarito C)
- Compatible with cement composition floors, chipboard, and more so not just bitumen bases.
- Prime very absorbent substrates with diluted Lecol 5500 + Lecol K50 thinner
- Use proper expansion joints and maintain ambient temperatures above 15°C
Solving Real-World Challenges Contractors Face
Water-based adhesives often fail when bonding to bitumen-coated subfloors, which are common in older UK properties and commercial settings. Lecol 5500 solves this by chemically softening and binding to bitumen via solvent reaction. Providing faster set times, so you can sand and finish the same day, while also offering a strong mechanical grip to resist movement
Whether you’re replacing a single herringbone block or fitting 30m² of parquet, Lecol 5500 saves time and is my go-to choice to have on the van just in case.
Why Ultimate Floor Care is the Trade’s Quiet Advantage
At Ultimate Floor Care, we don’t just stock the best; we understand why it’s best.
From floor refinishing products to dustless floor sanding machinery, we support professionals who take pride in their work. Our team helps contractors solve problems like:
- Adhesion over bitumen
- Long dry times
- Moisture-sensitive substrates
- Equipment compatibility
We stock Lecol 5500 in multiple sizes and ship fast. We also offer the full range of professional floor sanding equipment to help you deliver the results your customer is looking for.
