The World's Quietest Laminate Floor
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Parquet as a modern floor covering
An overview
The first rays of sun shine through the curtains. Bare feet pad from the bed to the coffee machine. Every step a pleasure and a special feeling underfoot. Do you dream of a parquet floor? A little piece of nature in your home? Whether longstrip or plank 1-strip, the right floor creates a warm ambience in your home. Find the right floor for every interior style: from rustic ambience to modern look, the choice of parquet variants is vast.
But what is parquet made from? Can you install it yourself? Discover more about natural floors:
What is parquet?
Parquet is a high-quality floor covering made from wood. Hardwoods are typically used for processing, frequently oak or beech. But other hardwoods too, such as maple, ash or walnut and even larch, are also possible options. Each wood species offers its own special properties.
The wooden floor has developed to include two main types principally: solid parquet or multi-layer parquet.
- Solid parquet is the time-honoured way of installing a wooden floor. It consists of one complete piece of wood. Once solid parquet is installed, a couple of finishing touches are still needed, as it is then sanded and sealed on site. In former times, the boards were nailed, screwed or glued down. There was usually no fixed connection between the boards, which can be seen from the gaps between the boards, for example, in old farmhouses. That’s because wood is a living material. Wooden floors react more strongly to temperature fluctuations and changes in humidity. Parquet recedes in winter and tends to swell in summer. These fluctuations are much greater in solid wood flooring.
- Multi-layer parquet is the modern variant of a floorboard. This type offers many advantages since the floor works much less and the environment is protected thanks to lower resource consumption: A two- or three-layer construction is possible. The visible upper layer is called the wear and tear layer. It is made of choice, high-quality precious wood and according to its generic name must be at least 2.5 millimetres thick. The thicker the top layer, the more often you can sand it down. Beneath this layer is a middle layer and possibly also a third layer, which is generally made from softwood. This improves the stability, especially with a transverse middle layer. This more stable multi-layer construction also allows a click connection to be fitted, which distinguishes today's easy-to-install parquet floors.
Solid wood parquet
3-layer construction
What is finished parquet?
Finished parquet is when the surface of the parquet has already been treated and can thus be walked on directly; regardless of whether multi-layer parquet or solid parquet. A practical solution that is ready to be lived on straight away.
Note: Parquet is not the same as laminate
You can install laminate yourself in the same way as finished parquet. In contrast to finished parquet, however, laminate consists of wood fibres. It does not have a wear and tear layer made from precious wood, rather a robust synthetic resin surface. Paper with a wooden look is laminated into this surface, as a reflection of nature. Laminate is hard-wearing and easy to maintain. However it cannot be sanded and resealed. In addition, it does not offer the natural and vibrant sense of touch of a parquet floor.
What other differences are there with parquet?
Oak, walnut or beech, plank 1-strip or longstrip: The look is one of the most important criteria when it comes to choosing the right floor. That’s because the floor is a long-term investment in your home. The sense of space results from the colour and the structure of the surface as well as from the wood species, grading and design, in other words the size of the individual boards.
The numerous variants available are also a result of the grading, with options stretching from harmonious to vibrant. Harmonious finished parquet has a very calming effect. The choice woods are unpretentious and have a calm grain and few knots. The irregularities of the different wood species are more visible with a vibrant plank 1-strip. This is characterised, for example, by a larger number of knots and cracks. The natural character of the wood can be felt more distinctly underfoot.
Apart from looks, the surface treatment also plays a major role, in other words whether the wood is varnished or oiled. The choice is yours. While varnished floors are more resistant to scratches, oiled floors cope better with moisture and can also be repaired to an extent. The look of the wood is accentuated when the parquet floor is oiled. Brushing a floor transforms it into a tactile experience. The more brushed a surface, the more texture can be felt underfoot.
What is the impact of the installation pattern in the room?
Installation type: Would you prefer a calm effect? Or should the floor be striking? A lot can be achieved with the right pattern.
Discover the effects of the different installation patterns.
Where can parquet be used?
Parquet offers the benefit of a wide selection and therefore diverse applications: You can design your home so that every room is shown to best effect. Every step you take.
Installation in living areas and bedrooms is the classic application: Click parquet in longstrip appearance radiates a natural warmth in the bedroom for example. Bright floors, in oak for example, are especially attractive. And ensure a minimalist ambience. Finished parquet made from darker wood is ideal for large spaces with white furniture. Floorboards can also be found increasingly in the kitchen. Chestnut brown beech adds an exciting contrast to modern kitchen lines.
Realise your dream living space: Thanks to modern methods, you can even install parquet in the bathroom. It is oiled twice following installation and can ward off moisture optimally.
Those who like especially fashionable looks can fit the oak boards to the wall using a rail system. And create wall panelling with warmth and character.
Which floor suits your individual living situation? Find out in the Floor Studio .
Can you install parquet yourself?
Finished parquet, click parquet – the variants mentioned above have one thing in common: as a skilled DIY enthusiast you can install the high-quality click parquet yourself. With a simple click. No prior knowledge is required. Thanks to modern installation systems, parquet can be installed quickly and easily. The click system allows you to install your new wood parquet as a floating installation, meaning no glueing and pasting. Skirtings are the perfect complement.
Good to know: Floating installation refers to installing floorboards without glueing them to the subfloor. You can remove click parquet again without leaving any residues.
The alternative is glue down installation, where you glue the parquet to the subfloor using special adhesive. And the result? The wooden floor can no longer work as hard. While this installation method is more challenging and time consuming, it is ideal for experienced DIY enthusiasts. This installation method is somewhat more challenging and time consuming. We recommend you use an experienced installer in this case.
Do you have underfloor heating in your home? Then seek the professional support of a specialist when it comes to installing your floor.
More about installation, footfall sound installation and the right tools.
What care does high-quality parquet need?
Once finished parquet is installed, caring for it is the next step.
Parquet floors are a long-term investment, which are made from a natural material, namely wood. And wooden floors work when parquet boards are exposed to light and humidity. Another effect is that as a natural product, wood changes. Or matures so to speak. In essence: Light wood darkens and darker wood lightens, resulting in a natural patina over time. Simply follow our few recommendations and enjoy your finished parquet boards for a long time to come.
- Parquet is not fond of either high humidity or dry heat.
- Excessive temperature fluctuations should also be avoided.
- A comfortable climate is around 50 to 60 percent relative humidity and an indoor temperature of 20°C.
A vacuum cleaner with special parquet brush is all you need to regularly dry clean your parquet floor. Now and then you can wipe down the surface of the wooden floor with a slightly damp cloth or mop using a suitable cleaning agent. Special care products are available to additionally treat sealed floors and oiled parquet floors.. This way you can preserve the quality and beautiful appearance of the boards.
No need to worry about scratches: You can conceal minor damage using suitable, specially formulated agents. When it’s time for renovations, there is no need to replace finished parquet. Simply sand it down and reseal it. You can usually sand down your parquet floor several times. The frequency depends on the thickness of the wear and tear layer.
Are you looking for a durable floor covering for your home? Discover more about the different types of parquet.
