How to choose the most suitable parquet flooring for my home?
Reforms
For many, it’s a lifelong dream: to have a house with parquet flooring. If you’ve decided to make it a reality this year, we’d be delighted to be part of this journey and take charge of the renovation. But first, let’s explain some of the characteristics of parquet flooring so you can fully understand its features.
Everything you need to know about parquet flooring
Natural Parquet
Without a doubt, nothing compares to natural parquet in terms of warmth and elegance. Today we’re going to give you the guidelines to follow when choosing parquet flooring for your home. First of all, we need to clarify that most parquet flooring installed today is multi-layered.On one hand, we have the top layer, known as the wear layer or topcoat , which can have different thicknesses. The thicker it is, the more times it can be polished, and the higher the price. It’s common to find topcoat thicknesses between 2.5 and 6 mm on the market.
The rest of the board can be made up of different materials , from the most economical, HDF (high-density fiberboard), softwood boards, and plywood, made up of thin sheets of softwood glued together in different directions, this being the most stable and most expensive option (f1).
Above the options already mentioned would be solid hardwood flooring . This is the most expensive option and requires gluing or nailing for installation.
Wood Species
The most common wood is oak , as it has the highest density and stability . Tropical woods like Jatoba or Merbou are also available, but they are less stable. Coniferous woods such as fir can also be used , but it’s important to note that they are softer.
Format
In recent years the trend has been towards increasingly larger formats, but things are changing. Now, there’s a growing preference for very narrow and long slats. However, classic formats are still very much in vogue. The herringbone pattern, available in a multitude of sizes, as well as coffered patterns, remain favorites . It’s important to remember that these geometric designs must always be glued to the substrate.
Knot selection
As you know, trees have knots, and wanting knot-free parquet flooring means discarding a lot of wood to get a clean, uncluttered batch . The consequence? The price will go up. The truth is, we often think that knotty parquet flooring will give us a rustic look , but that doesn’t have to be the case at all. If you combine it with a contemporary design and good lighting, you can confidently choose rustic parquet for a city apartment.
Tonality
When we talk about oak , its natural tone is reminiscent of wheat. If we want lighter shades, we can opt for bleached oak , and if we’re looking for a darker tone, we can find stained or heat-treated oak .But remember: light colors tend to darken over time, while dark colors become lighter.The bleached tones will give us a more Nordic look, the medium tones are warmer and the dark tones are more masculine.
Finish
We need to choose the finish that best suits our profile. Although we like to follow trends, it’s important that you find the parquet flooring that suits you and your lifestyle. If you want a parquet floor that’s easy to maintain and stain-free, varnish is the best finish . The good news is that there are increasingly better quality varnishes on the market . We can also find products with an oil-effect varnish finish that has a very similar feel to oil and is completely matte. But just as we’ve told you about the advantages, we also like to be honest about the drawbacks. In this case, restoring the varnish requires polishing the entire room , or even the whole house. So it’s worth thinking twice. If you’re looking for a more natural finish, you can opt for an oil or a combination of oil and wax. This allows for direct contact with the wood, and the best part is that polishing isn’t necessary for restoration, making it ideal for spot repairs. However, it does require more care, and keeping it moisturized is essential. If you’re wondering how to moisturize it, don’t worry, it’s really easy. You just need to wash it with a little water and a pH-neutral soap once a week or every two weeks.Yes, water on the parquet floor is allowed. The reason? Parquet flooring is a hygroscopic material that absorbs and extracts moisture from the environment, and it’s important that it doesn’t dry out.
Touch
In this case, you can choose between a silkier, sanded, or brushed finish, which highlights the grain. You’ll also find aged and distressed finishes , giving it a more lived-in look. Let your taste guide you.Bezel
Finally, we can’t forget this factor which, although not the deciding factor, does influence your taste and style. Remember that beveled flooring is flooring with a groove or bevel running the length and/or width of each plank. Visually, this creates a slight difference in level, reflecting the separation between the planks. So, the question you should ask yourself is: Do I want my parquet planks to be beveled, or is it better if they aren’t? The most common option is micro-beveled flooring, a middle ground between the two. Currently, manufacturers are increasingly reducing the bezel notch for two reasons:- To achieve a greater sense of unity.
- To prevent dirt from getting between the slats.
