Everything You Should Know About Parquet Flooring
Abisola Writes
Introduction
Did you know that the Boston Celtics court built in 1952 was done in parquet flooring? Legend has it that the team could even tell how the ball would bounce off any of the wood pieces.
You might have seen one of these beautiful wooden floors with intricate geometric patterns at a friend’s home or in an old building and wondered what it was. When you asked, the answer might have come simply – parquet flooring. But that doesn’t tell you everything! Some people also refer to it as mosaic flooring.
So, how do you know if parquet floors are a good idea for your interior design project and where you can use them? Or should you go for the herringbone or chevron pattern?
Before you rush to get your parquet flooring from your supplier, you need the answers to these questions. Don’t worry; I am here to guide you. By the time we are done, you will know all you need to know about parquet floors.
Let’s start from the basics.
What is Parquetry Flooring?
Parquet is a type of wood flooring that involves arranging small slates of wood in distinct, repetitive geometric patterns. It is basically a wood mosaic, usually with square designs. However, you will find the occasional unconventional medallions or sunbursts.
The manufacturing of these modern-day parquet tiles is called parquetry flooring. You can make parquet floors today from oak, walnut, cherry, maple, mahogany, and even some exotic hardwoods.
When was Parquet Flooring Popular?
Parquet flooring started in the 16th century in France and became popular in the late 1680s when King Louis XIV used it to replace the marble floors in the Palace of Versailles. The design used on the palace floors has now come to be known as “Parquet de Versailles.” It had also been used in the 1620s for the Luxembourg Palace in Paris.
The word ‘parquet’ is derived from the Old French word ‘parchet,’ and it means little compartment or enclosure. The word refers to how the small slats of wood come together to form a design. Once parquet flooring gained popularity in France, it didn’t take long for its fame to spread in Europe.
Parquet floors reigned as a mark of opulence and elegance until the 1930s when they started getting covered with carpets. However, many of these floors in pre-war buildings are being uncovered again, getting polished, and lending some form of historical charm to these buildings. More than its significant history, we are beginning to see these floors return to the limelight.
Are Parquet Floors Still In Style?
Parquet floors are not just the elegance of the past. They are fast becoming a preferred type of flooring today. Not only do they exude luxury, but these floors can also last for a long time. The geometric designs of parquet floors remain flawlessly elegant and suitable for modern interior design.
Can you use parquet floors in every part of your home? The answer is yes! But you have to know that the intricate pattern of a parquet can look too busy for small spaces like your bathroom. It can also feel too much for spaces with several things like your kitchen.
However, more and more homeowners are embracing the style and durability of parquet floors. With the ease of maintenance and aesthetic appeal, you will find more modern homes with parquet floors. After all, everyone likes a good wooden floor!
What Wood is Parquet Flooring?
There is a wide range of wood options to choose from for your parquet flooring. Though oak wood is popularly used in parquet flooring, it is not the only kind of wood you can use in parquet flooring. You can use maple, walnut, cherry, or mahogany.
Almost any kind of wood that you can think of can be used for parquet flooring. However, you want to consider the durability of the wood. For areas where are high footfall, you want to use thicker wood that can withstand the movements.
You should also consider the aesthetics. With the right color, pattern, and finish, you will get to enjoy your parquet for longer without getting tired of seeing it. Here are some of the common woods used in parquet flooring:
Oak
This is the most popular choice. It is versatile, durable, and has both dark and light shades. It is best for high-traffic areas.
Maple
This is another highly durable option. It has a subtle grain with light colors. It is best for modern interior designs and high-traffic areas.
Walnut
It has a rich dark tone with fine grains. It is best for low-traffic areas and for those who want to achieve a luxurious and contemporary look.
Hickory
It is a very hard wood with varied grain patterns and color variation. It is very good if you want to achieve a rustic look and if you want extreme durability.
Bamboo
Though it is technically a grass, it is strong and eco-friendly. If you are looking for sustainable and contemporary interiors, then you might want to give bamboo a shot.
Cherry
It has a reddish-brown hue that darkens with age. It is not ideal for high-traffic areas. It is best suited in rooms where you want a mature and warm look.
Teak
It is durable and moisture-resistant. It is an ideal choice for rooms with high moisture content like bathroom.
If you are not sure about the kind of wood that will fit your interior design, you can speak to an expert to guide you.
What is Parquet Flooring Made Of?
As we’ve already established, parquet flooring can be made from different kinds of wood species like oak, walnut, teak, cherry, and pine. Also, different construction techniques can be used in parquet flooring. Parquet flooring can be made to be a solid or engineered floor. Solid wood is basically ordinary pieces of timber. While the engineered wood floor is like the name sounds: layers of wood bound together with a hardwood top.
Whether you choose to use solid or engineered wood for your parquet, it would not make much of a difference in the final look of your floors. However, it can affect the durability of your flooring. If you go for engineered wood, you want to choose a durable option without compromising on texture, finish, or pattern. Also, engineered wood is a more affordable alternative to solid wood flooring.
Remember that parquet is not just the classic hardwood flooring. Parquet uses small pieces of wood.
What Does Parquet Flooring Look Like?
Parquet flooring comes in various colors, patterns, and textures. Usually, they are made by arranging planks in repeating shapes, angles, or patterns. The shapes could be squares, triangles, zig-zags, suns, and stars. The colors and materials of the pattern could also vary.
Here are some popular parquet patterns and what they look like.
Herringbone
The herringbone parquet design uses wood planks of equal length, cut into rectangles with flat 90° angles, and arranged in a zigzag pattern. The pattern is formed by connecting the end of one plank to the side of another. This design is stable as the planks are tightly packed, and no movements happen between them.
Chevron
This chevron parquet design is close to the herringbone but different. The planks are of equal length, cut at a 45° angle to form a true V-shape when connected. The V-shape it forms is also known as a chevron, which is where the design got its name from.
Versailles
Mosaic or Brick
This parquet design is also called ‘square on square.’ This pattern uses equal-sized wooden panels arranged in rows of two or four to form square tiles. The design is formed by placing each tile perpendicular to the next tile. While simple, this design can be really pleasing to the eye.
Basketweave
This parquet design is just like its name implies. The wooden planks are arranged in such a way that they look like a woven basket. The planks are interwoven under and over each other to form this pattern.
Why is Parquet Flooring So Expensive?
The price of getting parquet flooring done varies based on several factors. Do not go thinking that your neighbor got it done at a certain price and you can do the same unless you are replicating the exact thing your neighbor did.
So, what are the factors that you need to consider? The type of wood used is the first factor on the list. With cheaper wood options like pine, you might not spend as much as if you decide to go for more expensive options like oak. You can also stay somewhere in the middle with maple and other mid-priced types.
Another factor that will affect your overall price is the parquet pattern you choose. The more intricate the pattern you choose is, the more expensive your parquet will be. You can save costs by going for the more popular chevron, herringbone, or brick patterns.
The type and thickness of the wood will also affect the cost of your parquet floor. The wood finish and the craftsmanship used for the parquet are additional considerations that determine the costs.
Is Parquet Flooring Expensive?
As discussed above, the cost of parquet flooring varies based on various factors, including your choice of a custom installation or parquet-style tiles. Parquet flooring is basically expensive because of the intricate installation process and the high-quality materials involved.
Where to Buy Parquet Flooring?
You can get your parquet flooring from a number of well-known manufacturers and suppliers. You can compare the costs and prices of these suppliers to get the best prices for you. I have handpicked some of the best international parquet flooring suppliers to help you make the best choice of parquet flooring.
Royal Oak Floors
DuraMagicFloor
Listone Giordano
Quick-Step Flooring
PergoFlooring
You can get quality top-shelf parquet flooring from these suppliers directly without incurring the extra cost of using an intermediary.
How to Repair Parquet Flooring?
The maintenance of your parquet flooring is not much different from what you will do to maintain any other kind of wooden flooring.
You can dry mop its surface once a week or bi-weekly, vacuum with a hardwood floor attachment occasionally, and deep clean monthly with a cleaning product for hardwood floors. Note that maintenance might vary based on the kind of finish used on the wood.
If you feel like your parquet flooring is losing its shine, you can sand and refinish the wood a couple of times. It will help add a new touch to the wood.
However, it can be a bit more difficult to refinish parquet floors as the wood’s grain is not arranged in the same direction. The several directions of the planks can lead to cross-grain scratching, making it hard to buff the wood and make the surface smooth. It might require hand sanding.
Parquet tiles of similar thickness as hardwood planks only need to be refinished roughly the same number of times. You might only need to do this every 20 or 30 years. You can also fill the cracks in the parquet tiles and replace damaged tiles with new tiles.
Conclusion
When choosing the right parquetry floor for your project, there is no one-size-fits-all. You just need to choose the flooring that works best for you. You want to take the cost of materials, pattern, and installation costs into consideration when choosing the parquet flooring for your interior design project. I recommend speaking to an expert about your needs before choosing the parquet for you.
At Duramagicfloor, we specialize in providing premium-quality parquetry flooring solutions to meet your unique needs. Whether you’re a wholesaler, building contractor, or interior designer, we supply both custom-made and ready-made products that fit your exact needs.
FAQs
Can parquet flooring be reused?
Yes, you can reuse your parquet flooring. You will only have to restore the wood and find replacements for the damaged wood. You can also get professionals to inspect each wood piece for damages and sand down any surface imperfections on the wood. With proper refinishing, you can redo the previous design or try an entirely new design with your reclaimed parquet flooring.
What is the life expectancy of parquet flooring?
With proper care and low traffic, your parquet flooring can last for as long as 100 years. However, it might start experiencing some wear and tear after 30 to 35 years. You should invest in refinishing and restoring the parquet tiles once they start looking worse for wear.
Is parquet flooring suitable for kitchens?
Parquet flooring might not be the best idea for your kitchens. However, you can still use reclaimed parquet and parquet tiles of dense woods like oak and pitch pine in your kitchens. These woods are more likely to withstand the water, heat, and footfalls that your parquet will be against in a kitchen.
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Posted Apr 23, 2025
Created a comprehensive guide on parquet flooring for Duramagicfloor.
