Parquet tiles are a timeless yet stylish flooring option, with the patterns of blocks complementing both classic and contemporary interiors, and making a feature of the wood’s grain. However, the look doesn’t come cheap, so it’s essential to understand what will work in your space.
Here, experts share their tips on which wood is best, where in your home to lay parquet flooring and what differentiates engineered from solid wood.
Expert advice from
Jonathan Wright of McKay Flooring; Justin Miskinis of Hitt Oak; Jago Anderson of Element7
Hitt Oak Ltd
What type of wood is best for parquet?
Each type of wood has benefits, from durability and natural colour to availability and price. However, all three experts here agree that oak is the best.
“The king of these, without a doubt, is European oak,” says Justin Miskinis of Hitt Oak. “It’s famous for its hard-wearing properties and its ability to be stained to any colour. Untreated oak is naturally light in colour, so it takes on any tone easily, like a white piece of paper.
“Most importantly, it’s easy to source, which means suppliers keep it in stock and sell it at a very reasonable price.”
10 things you need to know about solid wood flooring
Brian O'Tuama Architects
What is engineered parquet flooring?
Engineered parquet flooring is made up of core and hardwood – typically oak – wear layers. “The core usually consists of three to 12 thin layers of plywood,” explains Miskinis. “The wear layer is securely bonded to the core and is usually 2mm to 6mm thick, depending on the overall thickness of the flooring.”
How to choose the right engineered wood flooring
How do they differ in terms of performance?
Solid wood is a completely natural product and will expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity. “This is why you may hear creaks and cracks whenever heating is turned on in a property with solid wood flooring,” says Jonathan Wright of McKay Flooring.
Solid wood not only adds value to your home, but also warmth and character. What’s more, it gets better looking with age.
Engineered parquet flooring is less susceptible to the effects of moisture and temperature fluctuations, because of the way it’s made. There are other benefits, too. “It’s suitable for installation over underfloor heating [unlike the majority of solid wood floors], allows for easier methods of installation and can come in bigger dimensions compared to solid wood,” Wright adds.
“However, in terms of performance,” he continues, “the wear layer on engineered boards is a lot less than a solid parquet block, and in terms of longevity, a solid could be sanded several times (we would recommend only every 10-15 years), whereas an engineered pre-finished might only take one sanding and it would lose the pre-finish.” (See more on finishes below.)
Get the lowdown on what you need to know about underfloor heating
A1 Lofts and Extensions
What are the most popular parquet designs?
There are many options, some of which feature in these photos. Search online for ‘parquet’ plus terms such as ‘basketweave’, ‘diagonal basketweave’, ‘Monticello’, ‘Versailles’, ‘Bordeaux’ and ‘brick pattern’ to see just some of the laying ideas out there. However, there are two patterns that dominate the world of parquet flooring:
- Herringbone, in which rectangular tiles are arranged in rows at right angles. There are several variations of herringbone pattern, from single herringbone to double and square.
- Chevron, in which parallelogram-shaped tiles are arranged to form a succession of V shapes.
Both patterns create a zigzag effect, but there are key differences. “Herringbone has a classical look. Chevron is more modern and creates a sort of optical illusion due to the angle it’s laid and the way it reflects the light, which changes the look of the wood depending on the viewer’s perspective,” says Wright. It is also the more expensive option in terms of buying and laying costs, this is due to the block shape and precision required, which make the layout more complicated to produce and fit.
Size matters when it comes to your floor. Always be mindful of the dimensions of the parquet blocks you choose. “For example, a narrow hallway can only fit a certain number of ‘arrows’ in, so oversized chevron or herringbone parquet may not be an ideal option,” Wright adds.
Cochrane Design
What are the popular treatments for parquet flooring?
Both engineered and solid wood parquet can have a variety of treatments to give them different looks.
“Distressing is popular, because you can customise how your floor looks,” says Jago Anderson of Element7. “If you want it to looked aged, you can have worm holes added by hand or even introduce repair patches.”
You can of course also buy reclaimed parquet blocks, but the cost of laying them can be significantly higher than with new ones. This is because they’re likely to need to be individually cleaned, then sorted so they’re the same depths. Depending on the condition of the blocks you buy, the whole floor may also need sanding after laying, and possibly a lot more filling to account for irregular gaps. There can be a higher percentage of wastage, too, because the blocks may not all be useable.
Another technique for ageing parquet is to ‘tumble’ the blocks, giving them a reclaimed quality – more of a rustic feel with scratches and dents. “This basically involves putting blocks in a cement mixer with large stones and rocks and ‘tumbling’ them,” Wright says.
Alternatively, the wood can be darkened. “Fuming involves using a heat-treating technique, which is more environmentally friendly than ammonia,” Anderson explains. “We can darken the wood to any colour.”
Staining is equally popular, says Wright. “There are a number of stains available, ranging from light oaks to dark oaks, orange-toned, redder hues and yellowy colours.” Which you choose comes down to personal preference, so investigate the options thoroughly.
Kia Designs
Why choose a lacquered floor?
Parquet flooring is available with a lacquered or oiled finish, and there are pros and cons to each. Lacquer is more hard-wearing than oil, as it sits on top of the surface instead of sinking into the wood like oil. This seals it against liquids.
Lacquered finishes require very little in terms of maintenance, but a deep scratch usually means the whole floor has to be sanded back and re-lacquered, since touching up a small area will leave a visible difference in the sheen.
For weekly maintenance, Miskinis advises using a wood floor cleaner to remove ingrained dirt and keep the floor nourished. “We recommend Bona Cleaner,” he says. “Over a period of time, your floor may start to look tired or dull,” he adds. “At this stage, apply a coat of Bona Freshen Up or Bona Polish Gloss (for gloss sheen) after a cleaning. It revives scratched and dull surfaces, giving a newly finished look and continuing protection against wear.”
This type of treatment can only be applied a limited number of times before the floor has to be sanded down and refinished.
Found Associates
What about oil?
Oiled parquet flooring is less hard-wearing than lacquered and needs re-oiling every two or three years. This will nourish the wood and bring back its lustre. On the plus side, oil gives the wood a more natural finish and if it gets scratched, you can re-oil a small area.
“Always wipe up spills and spots on an oiled floor immediately with a damp cloth,” says Miskinis “Because of their more porous nature, oiled floors should not be cleaned using excessive amounts of water.” For weekly cleaning, he recommends using Osmo Wash And Care, which removes ingrained dirt and keeps the floor nourished.
Do a periodic clean with a liquid wax cleaner, such as Osmo Liquid Wax Cleaner, to refresh and revitalise the floor. You can also do this to remove more stubborn stains and marks.
Stiff and Trevillion
What are the pros and cons of finished and unfinished boards?
Parquet flooring either comes finished (when the stain and protective layer is applied at the factory) or unfinished, which allows you to finish the floor in situ. The advantage of the latter is that it allows for a level of customisation. However, factory-finished floors are generally more durable, quicker to install (because there’s no need to allow for drying time) and come with a manufacturer’s guarantee.
Price very much depends on the processes involved in finishing the boards. “While unfinished battens aren’t particularly expensive, they then need to be sanded, stained [this is optional] and sealed,” explains Wright. “Pre-finished boards simply need to be laid and fastened, meaning the cost is in the materials themselves, rather than the treatments that happen after laying.”
Element 7
How can I protect my floor?
Place high-quality floor mats and rugs near outside doors to prevent dirt from being tracked directly onto the flooring. If you have wood flooring in your kitchen, use a small rug or runner with a soft or felt backing in front of the sink area to catch spills and splashes.
“Attach felt floor protectors on moveable furniture that sits directly on the floor, including chairs, tables and sofas,” says Miskinis. “Keep pets’ nails trimmed and filed to minimise excessive wear.”
50 Degrees North Architects
Where can I lay parquet flooring?
Parquet flooring is suitable throughout the house. However, engineered parquet is best for humid areas, such as the bathroom, and it should have a lacquered finish that will completely seal the floor and prevent water penetrating it.
Do you have experience of parquet flooring – or are you considering installing some? Let us know your tips or design plans in the Comments below.
