Tiny wood slats are arranged in distinct, recurring patterns to produce parquet or wood flooring. Unlike traditional parquet flooring, which was installed one slat at a time, contemporary parquet is primarily tile-style, with the wood slats linked to a backing material. Using glue, screws, or staples, the tiles for the parquet floors are fastened to the subfloor. This resembles classic solid-hardwood strip flooring in appearance and functionality because the parquet strips are made of hardwood.
You are probably interested in learning more about the background, design, longevity, and origins of parquet flooring if you are reading this. Learn everything there is to know about parquet and engineered timber flooring in the following sections to decide if it would work for your upcoming project.
What Is the Origin of Parquet Flooring?
Starting in the 16th century in France, parquet flooring has a lengthy and illustrious past. Interlocking timber panels would be put into geometric forms by skilled craftsmen to replace hard stone or marble flooring. The new parquet floors would be simpler to preserve and would place less stress on the timber framework because they weigh significantly less than marble or stone.
The marble floors in the chambers of the Palace of Versailles were replaced by what is now referred to as the “Parquet de Versailles” design by King Louis XIV. Since then, this flooring has come to be associated with class, distinction, and luxury.
What Variations Exist in Parquet Flooring Designs?
It is impossible to overestimate the elegance and toughness of a wooden floor when it comes to a parquet floor. A parquet floor’s geometric patterns are chic, timelessly elegant, and have the power to change the look of your room completely.
There are essentially an endless amount of parquet flooring ideas because parquet pertains to a geometric pattern made of inlaid wood panels. Nonetheless, the top four flooring patterns are as follows:
Chevron
This uses equal-length wood planks, much like a herringbone pattern. Yet because the ends are angled, a chevron-shaped pattern is created when the top end of one plank is laid against another.
Herringbone
Equal-length panels of wood are cut into rectangles with flat 90° angles to create the herringbone pattern. Each plank’s end is positioned so that it touches the side of an adjacent panel, creating a lovely and sturdy structure that minimises movement despite the planks’ close proximity to one another.
Mosaic
Simple but effective, the mosaic pattern is comprised of tiny rows of hardwood panels that are arranged into square tiles. The mosaic pattern is created by aligning each tile perpendicular to the tile directly adjacent to it, creating an easy-to-appreciate visual impact.
Versailles
This design is well-known since it was used in the magnificent Palace of Versailles—the diagonals in this exquisitely detailed pattern interlace.
What Benefits and Drawbacks Can Parquet Floors Offer?
These are five benefits and drawbacks of choosing a parquet floor for your house or apartment renovation.
Benefits
1. Hypoallergenic
For anyone with allergies, especially those who have asthma or rug allergies, parquet flooring is an excellent solution. Maintaining your floors free of dust and other allergens is simple with parquet because it is so simple to clean. There aren’t any lengthy strands like those found in carpets that allergens like pet hair, dander, and dust mites could become entangled in.
To keep your floors appearing neat, all you need to do is give them a quick mop every couple of weeks and clean them every few days.
2. Durable
This is extremely resilient and, because it is composed of hardwood, will exhibit relatively few signs of typical wear and tear over time. This was initially used to substitute marble and stone floors. Your parquet floors can endure for a very long time.
3. Stylish
This adds beauty and style to any house or contemporary apartment. A sign of excellent quality and durability is parquet. With a parquet floor, you have access to such a wide variety of patterns, hues, and wood grains that you may choose something as distinctive as the area it covers.
Drawbacks
1. Moisture-Related Damage
Given that parquet is constructed of wood, water and humidity are its natural enemies. Bathrooms or other areas where water may stay and pool on the engineered timber flooring for a while may not be a good place for flooring. It’s crucial to keep a wooden parquet floor neat and dry to prevent warping or spreading over time.
2. Needs Frequent Maintenance
As time passes, parquet flooring will need care. To guarantee that your wooden panels continue to look their best for a number of years to come, it’s necessary to reseal your floors as needed. You can also choose to just sand and polish the floor.
3. Noisy
A parquet timber floor may be noisy underfoot, as with any solid surfaces, particularly if you wear shoes inside the home. Nevertheless, the noise can be decreased with expert installation and sufficient insulation beneath the hardwood planks.
In reality, a parquet floor’s benefits far outweigh its drawbacks. In addition to being sustainable and environmentally responsible, the parquet designs’ superb craftsmanship increases the value of your home by giving any area a striking highlight.
