Buying parquet - what to consider

Long Live Parquet Flooring! What You Absolutely Need to Know About the Classic Among Floor Coverings!

Often pronounced dead, but more alive than ever! Despite the wide variety of exciting flooring options available today, not only the nostalgic among us remember the good old parquet floors of our grandparents. Find out why parquet floors are back in trend, why not all parquet flooring is the same, and what you should definitely know before buying your new parquet, so that your attractive favorite floor becomes even more beautiful over the years:

Wideplank Parquet to the products 2-strip Parquet to the products 3-strip Parquet to the products Herringbone Parquet to the products Chevron Parquet to the products XL Plank Parquet to the products

What Makes a Good Parquet Floor Stand Out:

"And the winner is: …… " If there were an Oscar for flooring, parquet floors would win in many categories. A high-quality and timelessly elegant real wood floor excels in terms of

• Feel underfoot
• Texture
• Natural appeal
• Appearance
• Variety
• Healthy living
• Durability

compared to many other types of flooring. The variety of wood species, qualities, patterns, and finishes makes parquet floors a diverse treasure trove for various requirements and many applications.

How to Create a Homely Atmosphere All Around? The Right Wood Species Makes the Difference!

Whether it's maple, bamboo, beech, oak, ash, olive, walnut, or pine: Each wood species has its own unique characteristics and complements specific interior styles and living situations.

• Scandinavian living works wonderfully with light and friendly woods. Pine, maple, and ash bring plenty of nordic hygge and a touch of lightness to living, sleeping, and dining areas. If you are furnishing a cozy wooden house for a young and lively family, pay attention to the Brinell value, the hardness of the wood species used. Here, the rule is: the higher the Brinell value, the harder and more robust the flooring.
• Classic living is a lot of fun with oak, beech, and walnut. Oak parquet can, but doesn't have to look traditional and elegant. Depending on the wood processing technique, you can bring a rustic look or a striking and extravagant flair to your rooms with oak parquet. Your existing furniture can be more minimalist and understated with particularly expressive woods.
• For extravagant and exclusive living, cherry and pear or combinations of different woods are currently on trend. Here again, consider the Brinell value of the wood and the surface treatment used in your selection criteria before buying your new parquet.

How Are Parquet Floors Actually Made?

Everyone knows and loves parquet floors, but few of us know exactly how this type of flooring is manufactured. What the different types of parquet mean is also a mystery to many of us: Single-layer parquet, multi-layer parquet, ship floor, plank flooring? What lies behind these well-known and frequently used terms, and what should you definitely consider when buying new parquet?

The production of every high-quality solid wood parquet involves the following steps:

• Step 1: Cutting - Every tree trunk is cleverly divided to make the most of the wood for parquet production. Wood experts know exactly which parts of the tree are suitable for long or short planks and which cut produces the most beautiful effects for each type of parquet. This requires a lot of experience, care, and aesthetic sensibility on the part of the parquet manufacturer.
• Step 2: Storage - Fresh wood contains a lot of natural moisture. This moisture needs to slowly evaporate during outdoor storage over several months. This is the only way to ensure that the flooring remains healthy, durable, and dimensionally stable.
• Step 3: Cutting and Sorting - The dried wooden boards are now precisely cut to the millimeter in professional facilities and meticulously sorted by grain and wood quality.
• Step 4: Drying Chamber - In high-tech drying chambers, the accurately cut wood is systematically dried of any remaining moisture before further processing.
• Step 5: Surface Treatment - After removing any unwanted irregularities or knots, the parquet production enters the finishing phase. Now the wood is carefully oiled, impregnated, lacquered, brushed, lye-treated, or smoked. Artful techniques create a wide range of effects that later contribute to the ambiance and flair of the room.

What Should I Know About the Surface Treatment of My Parquet Floor?

To some extent, whether your wood floor should have a rustic or minimalist look is a matter of personal taste. Nevertheless, there are a few practical and informative arguments for or against specific wood treatment methods and parquet finishing techniques.

• Unfinished parquet floors: Here, you can practically see, feel, and smell the forest in which your "parquet tree" once grew and thrived. The natural patina is beautiful, but it offers no protection against moisture, scratches, and wear and tear. Care and maintenance bring out the charm and character of unfinished wooden floors exceptionally well. For many, unfinished parquet floors become more beautiful with each passing year and tell their own personal story.
• Naturally oiled parquet floors captivate with the silky matte finish of their patina. The high-quality oils penetrate deep into the wood and provide reliable protection against moisture. By the way, you should never have naturally oiled parquet floors sanded because it would lose its unique surface and charismatic appeal. Regular re-oiling every one to two years preserves and enhances the natural beauty of this flooring. Natural oiling is a criterion that requires regular care and a bit of attention to continually revive the wood's attractiveness and uniqueness.
• Lacquered parquet floors are low-maintenance all-rounders. The matte or glossy lacquer provides reliable protection against minor scratches and moisture penetration. This durable flooring for heavy use can be sanded and re-lacquered multiple times, depending on its thickness, for a fresh parquet experience like the first day.

What do the layers in parquet floors mean?

Is it "the more, the better," or is it exactly the opposite for parquet floors? There is no clear answer: Depending on your usage behavior and personal price range, you may prefer exclusive single-layer parquet variants or opt for a more affordable, easily installable three-layer parquet.

In our brief overview, we will introduce you to the essential characteristics of both parquet categories:

What are the advantages of single-layer parquet floors?

• Solid wood parquet made from continuous hardwood planks is a luxury floor for the highest demands. These noble planks can be over 20 millimeters thick, making them a lifelong investment because solid wood floors of this thickness can be sanded and refinished repeatedly. Solid wood floors are generally installed unfinished and receive the desired patina and surface treatment on-site. Therefore, an experienced parquet specialist should always be hired or consulted for installation.
• Strip parquet made from solid wood strips allows for creative design patterns. Herringbone or Chevron are the most famous strip parquet variants, where the solid wood planks are installed with tongue and groove on the floor.
• Mosaic parquet or lamella parquet consists of solid wood lamellas, some of which are already arranged in finished patterns on a panel. Mosaic parquet usually has a lower overall height and is therefore most suitable among the single-layer parquet types for underfloor heating.

What distinguishes multi-layered parquet floors?

Engineered parquet is a clever invention from Sweden. Three thin layers are carefully glued together. Only the top layer is made of precious wood, while the two lower layers consist of less expensive softwood. This gives the floor a lot of dimensional stability. Depending on the thickness of the real wood wear layer, high-quality three-layer parquet can be sanded once or even twice. Engineered parquet planks are the perfect playground for enthusiastic do-it-yourself fans. With various tongue-and-groove click systems, high-quality engineered parquet provides quick achievements and is also suitable for less experienced DIY enthusiasts.

What is the difference between country house planks and ship's floor?

Three-layer parquet is available in both classic country house plank style and as dynamic ship's floor.

In the traditional country house plank, the continuous planks can be up to 3 meters long and 20 cm wide. This creates an elegant and spacious ambiance in the house.

With ship's floor parquet, multiple bars are placed side by side, which immediately reminds many of the lively maritime appearance of old ship decks. Ship's floor parquet adds a lot of movement and liveliness to your rooms.

What quality criteria are important when buying parquet?

Before you fall in love with a particular wooden floor, you should check if quality, craftsmanship, and price match your usage and budget. The more precious and high-quality the wood, and the more elaborate the processing, the higher the price of real wood parquet logically. The most expensive parquet is not always the best choice for you and your family. Among our renowned manufacturers, there are quality parquet floors for every taste and the highest standards of design, durability, and quality: natural oiled or varnished, brushed or lye-treated, from brands like Skaben, HARO, Wicanders, and Tarkett. In all categories, you can find quality parquet floors that suit your taste and meet the highest standards in design, durability, and quality: natural oiled or varnished, brushed or lye-treated. Let yourself be inspired and discover your personal parquet favorite.

• Criterion Hardness: The harder the wood, the more durable and resistant your wooden floor will be. Scratches and signs of wear have little chance on a hard maple solid wood parquet. This is an undeniably important criterion, especially in high-traffic living areas, shops, and offices.
• Criterion Wear Layer: The thicker the wear layer, the higher the quality and durability of a multi-layered parquet floor covering can be. Solid and robust single-layer parquet always excels in terms of the wear layer since it can be sanded down as many times as needed. In less frequently used living areas or bedrooms, this criterion becomes less significant.
• Criterion Sorting: The best woods with professionally milled edges and no fungus or mold infestation should be important factors in your choice of flooring. This way, you get a healthy and aesthetic flooring that brings joy to you and your family over many years, providing a healthy living atmosphere.
• Criterion Environmental Friendliness and Sustainability: High-quality parquet from brand manufacturers is an extremely environmentally friendly and low-emission flooring. Many quality seals and certificates regularly assess the environmental friendliness and sustainability of parquet floors. Quality seals like the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) or the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and The Blue Angel are awards that guarantee environmentally and health-friendly floors. With the "GEV- EMICODE- EC 1 very low emission" seal, you can be sure to bring an almost pollutant-free flooring into your home.

Classic, Lively, and Versatile - Parquet Floors for Connoisseurs and Enthusiasts

It's no coincidence that they say "The rumored death live longer." This certainly applies to natural wood parquet. This multifaceted natural wood floor is, with a little care, a timeless classic and a guarantee for cozy living with a natural touch. For lacquered parquet, regular vacuuming and occasional damp mopping are usually sufficient. Avoid using excessive water or having excessively dry air, as it may not be very friendly to parquet floors. During the heating season, using a humidifier can be beneficial. The higher the quality of the flooring, the more you'll cherish the loving care of your treasure.

If you happen to notice signs of wear - don't panic! After all, you know: A few wrinkles on the face stand for lovable charm, appealing maturity, and a wealth of life experience. It's quite similar with beautiful parquet floors: Their lively patina and small scratches contribute to the distinct personality and charisma of high-quality hardwood floors that accompany you through life with your stories. So here's to the revival of parquet - a triple cheer!