Parquet Flooring

Flooring is an art. You could see that by just looking at parquet flooring. Parquet flooring is a kaleidoscope-like geometric mosaic of wood that was first introduced in Versailles, France in 1684 to replace marble flooring that constantly needed washing.

Parquet floors were a status symbol, as the complexity of creating such designs during that period involved a lot of time, skill, artistry (given the meager carpentry equipment that was available at the time), and financial expenses. The use of parquet as a décor is not only applicable to flooring but also to furniture like tabletops and chairs as well.

Its use is evident in many old homes and structures built in the Edwardian and Thirties period. Even after years of construction, the beauty and durability of parquet flooring will still shine through and never fail to amuse its spectators.

Parquet flooring can be done in different patterns, textures, and colors. The many shades and colors in a parquet flooring is possible thanks to various wood timber that is used in its construction which mostly consists of top hardwood trees like walnut, lime, maple, oak, cherry, pine, bamboo, mahogany, etc. The usual geometric patterns of parquet flooring include triangles, squares, and lozenges although for the artistic mind, any pattern is quite achievable. Some patterns that are commonly used in houses and other structures include the herringbone (most popular), brick pattern half bond, diagonal basket, square basket, square or diagonal herringbone, and double herringbone. Those with love of intricate details can also opt to place block borders, feature strips, or both to enhance the beauty of their parquet flooring.

Forms of Parquet Flooring

• Solid Parquet

Solid parquet is composed of wood blocks that are glued down in several geometric patterns like the ones listed above.

• Parquet Panel

Parquet panels utilize a tongue and groove system to lock together. It is composed of a wear layer consisting of a hardwood and then glued in geometric patterns to a plywood base.

Maintenance of Parquet Flooring

Cleaning and maintenance of parquet flooring depends upon the type of wood material that is used. Take care as you would your other wood items: dry immediately when wet, don’t expose to too much sunlight, apply some wax occasionally (preferably the ones recommended by your supplier), and clean using a dust and mop. Just remember to use a damp mop and not a wet one. It is not recommended to use upright vacuum cleaners because it can scratch and wear the surface due to the grit particles that may be present on the cleaner’s brush. You could also add a protective finish as a final layer of the parquet to maintain its excellent condition.

If you find that a piece of your parquet flooring is chipped or damaged in any way, you can repair it by going to your supplier, home improvement store, or lumber yard to ask for a similar block that looks like the ones you have installed at your house. These blocks are then sanded and then re-glued to the base. If you used bitumen to initially glue your parquet flooring, then you will have to use a hot and cold bitumen emulsion to re-glue your new block as other glue types will not adhere well to bitumen.

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