What is Parquet Flooring?

 

You may have heard people talk about “Parquet Flooring”, however you might not know exactly what they are talking about. Dating back to the late 1600s, Parquet flooring was prevalent when concrete and other hard floors were the norm. It was created by cutting small blocks of wood, usually of various colours and wood types, and then glueing them to a concrete floor in various geometric shapes to create a decorative pattern. The most popular design being the herringbone, which is still used commonly today.

 

The more this flooring grew in popularity, the more of a luxury it became. Not soon after its inception more intricate designs were being created and Parquet Flooring become a task that could only be carried out by skilled professionals, making it an extremely expensive flooring option. It got to the point where Parquet flooring was only seen in the homes of the wealthy and palaces, most notably in the Palace of Versaille.

 

In comparison to the original glueing installation method, at the turn of the 20th century a tongue and groove feature on the flooring blocks was invented allowing for quick and easy laying of the floor. This “floating floor” (glueless) was highly innovative for its time and is still used today around the world. If you have carried out research into these types of floating floors you will have no doubt seen the new click lock system that has taken the DIY world by storm.

 

A big advantage of parquet flooring, and one of the reasons why it was so popular, is that it is extremely durable and versatile. Although the more detailed designs will be expensive it can become a very affordable option by choosing a simple design, for instance a herringbone or a three-fingered square.

 

The effects of the introduction of carpeting 

 

Many historians will note the introduction of home carpeting, in the 1930s, as the biggest killer of parquet flooring and to an extent all hardwood flooring. When carpeting was introduced as a cost-effective alternative, people decided to opt for this new flooring rather than the more traditional hardwoods.

 

Parquet flooring remained obscure for about 50 years before coming back into fashion in the 1980s when interior designers began looking back at the more traditional options. With the introduction of computer design software, flooring companies are able to create more intricate patterns and designs than before.

 

Modern Parquet Flooring

 

As stated above, modern parquet flooring is commonly created using either a tongue and groove or a click lock system. These innovative floorboard designs allowed any homeowner to lay their own flooring without the need for glue or professionals. The biggest benefit of these floating floors is the speed at which they can be laid. Compared to traditional glued Parquet flooring, this flooring can be laid in a fraction of the time by a professional, resulting in a cheaper installation process. However, in order to truly recreate the durability of parquet flooring that made it so popular, we always suggest that you get a professional to lay the flooring for you.

At Hudson Flooring we offer a range of parquet flooring options. We create parquet blocks out of almost all the hardwood that we offer, whether you are looking at engineered hardwood or solid hardwood we can cater to your specific needs.

Posted in Real Wood