Did you know that design records indicate that parquet flooring was invented in 16th-century France? These 16th-century floors consisted of wooden blocks laid in various geometric patterns. Each block had a different size and shade to give it a unique aesthetic.
Many people believe that parquet flooring is out of fashion, but that can’t be further from the truth. The herringbone parquet flooring is still trendy because it now comes in various wood species, shades, and finishes.
If you’re looking for unique floor patterns for your hallway, bedroom, or home office, parquet is the perfect flooring to consider. It’s easy to install, and it doesn’t simply come in dark and light brown colors anymore.
Parquet Flooring Buyer’s Guide
There are many types of parquet flooring on the market. You can also choose from plenty of designs and colors. So how do you pick the correct parquet flooring for your home? Perhaps the below buyer’s guide will help you with your decision. Read on to find out more.
What Is Parquet Flooring?
Parquet flooring is wooden blocks placed in various geometric patterns. It’s also known as the mosaic of wood because of the different patterns you can create with these tiles. The most popular parquet flooring pattern is herringbone, a popular option for kitchens.
Types Of Parquet Flooring
There are three types of parquet flooring on the market. To pick the right type, take a look at the short descriptions of each type of flooring below:
- Engineered Parquet: This type of parquet flooring is made up of three layers with a thickness between 10 mm and 15 mm. The floor base is made with high-density wood fiber, while the center is made with blockwood. Lastly, the top layer is 2.5 mm thick and is made from solid wood or oak. The thicker the cladding or top layer is, the more durable the flooring will be.
- Solid Parquet: Parquet hardwood flooring is made with 100% solid wood. These wooden blocks fit together with the tongue and groove method, which locks them together for stability. These floors can be glued or nailed down, but they don’t come in floating floor types. Solid parquet flooring comes in many kinds of wood species, such as beech, oak, ash, and teak. The thickness of these wooden parquet tiles can be between 12 mm and 23 mm. These are the most expensive types of parquet flooring, but they’re also the most durable.
- Vinyl Parquet: A vinyl parquet flooring gives you the aesthetics of authentic wood finishes, but they are synthetic tiles. The top layer has wooden textures and parquet patterns on it, while the backing has an adhesive sticker so you can stick it to your subfloor. They aren’t as thick as parquet wood flooring, but they are easier to install.
Best Types Of Parquet Finishes
Many homeowners love parquet flooring because it comes in various finishes that add an elegant touch to their homes. There are also a variety of textures from which you can choose. Take a look at your parquet finish options in this next section.
Oiled
The parquet flooring is treated after manufacturing with two to three layers of oil. Some oils add a UV protective coating to prevent sun damage. Oiled finishes are recommended for high-traffic areas or environments with a lot of moisture. What’s more, only engineered or hardwood parquet flooring can be oiled.
Varnished
After cutting the wooden blocks or tiles in the manufacturing process, two to three layers of varnish or glaze are added to the top. This varnish coating prevents the parquet flooring from getting stained or damaged from watermarks.
Some varnishes can add a matte, gloss, or satin finish to your parquet wooden floors. So if you want a high glossy floor, you’ll have to either pick solid or engineered parquet flooring because varnish doesn’t work on vinyl.
Bleached
If you’re looking for a lighter wooden parquet floor, then consider bleached finishes. The manufacturer will bleach the parquet wood to make the tiles lighter. What’s more, bleaching accents the wood’s veining to bring out the wood’s unique patterns.
Therefore, if you want to brighten up your home, then bleached parquet flooring is the perfect choice to add lighter hues to your room.
Waxed
After sanding parquet floors, you should add wax to give a stunning patina to your flooring. This process provides a rustic aesthetic to your home. The wax doesn’t offer that much protection, though, and it requires a lot of maintenance. However, it’s great if you want a weathered look over time.
Tinted
With natural wooden parquet flooring, you can add a slight tint to the tiles if you want a color other than brown. You can color your parquet flooring black or darker shades of brown. Some homeowners prefer grey because of its neutrality.
Brushed
With these tiles, the surface is brushed and then painted and varnished to highlight the wood grain. These parquet flooring types are known for their decorative appearance and are mainly used for entertainment areas or decking.
How To Care For Parquet Flooring
Like other flooring types, such as porcelain tiles or carpeting, parquet flooring requires routine maintenance. You must sweep or vacuum your floors regularly to rid them of dust and debris. You can also mop your floors with a damp mop provided the wood has been treated.
Never mop solid or engineered wood parquet flooring with a soaking wet mop because it can damage your flooring. The same goes for vinyl peel and stick type parquet floors because the water can lift the tiles.
You should oil or wax your natural wooden parquet flooring regularly to prevent it from drying out and to add a protective coating.
FAQs
Parquet flooring was never placed in high moisture environments, such as kitchens or bathrooms in the past. However, if you add a protective coat of varnish on your parquet flooring, it can be suitable for the kitchen or bathroom.
Avoid placing adhesive products in the kitchen because they may lift. Instead, use interlocking flooring with tongue and grooves to prevent them from lifting. The interlocking tiles will also prevent water from getting underneath them and damaging the wood.
If you’re installing parquet flooring in your kitchen or bathroom, coat your floors with at least three layers of varnish. Or simply purchase parquet flooring that comes pre-varnished.
Is Parquet Flooring Suitable For Underfloor Heating?
There are parquet flooring brands that are suitable for low-temperature underfloor heating. Vinyl or solid wood parquet can be installed on floors with underfloor heating provided the temperatures don’t exceed 80℉.
These parquet flooring options can either be glue-down applications or floating floors. You may have to include underlayment with floating floors to provide more cushioning and add more stability to the flooring. Ensure the underlay is compatible with underfloor heating too.
Is Parquet Flooring Difficult To Install?
Parquet flooring is relatively easy to install the DIY way. However, the purpose of parquet flooring is to add a unique geometric pattern to your floor, which can take a lot of time and patience to perfect. After all, you don’t want your floor to look uneven.
You want a seamless look that perfectly emphasizes the floor’s stunning patterns and designs. Therefore, you must take your time when creating your parquet patterns not to make mistakes.
Do You Have To Glue Down Parquet Flooring?
Some parquet flooring can be glued down per block, or you can get peel and stick vinyl with parquet patterns on them. For solid wood parquet, you can lay the tiles down with concrete, similar to ceramic tiles, or nail them down.
How Many Years Does Parquet Flooring Last?
Solid or engineered hardwood parquet flooring can last between 10 and 15 years if you take care of it correctly. Like other types of wooden flooring, you must polish the floors regularly to prevent them from drying out.
Is Vinyl Parquet Flooring Good?
Many brands on the market sell high-quality parquet floors that last many years. The advantage of this flooring type is that you can get parquet geometric shapes printed on 12-inch x 12-inch tiles, so they will be quicker to install.
What’s more, vinyl parquet flooring is water-resistant, and it comes in a variety of colors and designs. So if you want to mix and match colors to create different types of patterns, it will be easier and less expensive with vinyl parquet flooring.
What Is The Cost Of Parquet Flooring?
For new natural wooden parquet flooring, you can expect to pay $3.50 per square foot.
Final Thoughts
For easy installation, use parquet vinyl peel and stick products that can be placed over any smooth subflooring. However, if you’re looking for more durable flooring, buy solid parquet wooden tiles. Or, if you don’t want to spend time making your parquet patterns, you can get your parquet tiles installed by a professional.
Do you have any first-hand experiences with parquet flooring? Leave us a comment below or send pictures on our social media sites.
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