Parquet Flooring

What type of wood is best for parquet flooring?

Originally made from just 100% solid wood, today parquet flooring can be made with solid and engineered wood. Engineered wood is composed of a combination of solid wood (usually for the top layer), combined with different types of wood used in the middle and back layers. As the wood used is selected for its stability and functionality, using engineered wood is more resistant to fluctuations in temperature and humidity when compared to using solid wood. Common types of wood used for the top layer of parquet flooring include oak, maple, walnut, and cherry, amongst other hardwood species.

Alongside the choice of wood, other aspects of your parquet flooring project to consider include underlay and underfloor heating, which boast insulative properties that can help increase overall comfort and reduce wear and tear in your indoor space.

What is flooring underlay?

Flooring underlay is a thin layer of material such as foam, cork, fibre, which helps to absorb shock and noise, reduce wear and tear, and provide insulative properties. Well-installed flooring underlays can also improve adhesion and provide a smoother surface for the floor covering.

Benefits of flooring underlay

1. Acts as a barrier against moisture and prevents your flooring from coming in contact with water or other chemicals from concrete subfloors; and
2. Has to be good quality to reduce movement and risk of squeaks; and
3. Good flooring underlays can help hardwood floors retain their original features and reduce walking sound and impact sound; and
4. Well-installed flooring underlays can bridge minor subfloor imperfections.

What is underfloor heating?

While carpets can provide effective insulation and comfort, it lacks the durability, versatility, and aesthetic appeal of wood flooring. Underfloor heating is a way to evenly heat your floorboards through a system installed underneath your flooring as opposed to radiators.

Benefits of underfloor heating

Underfloor heating provides a number of benefits when compared to traditional radiators.

• Underfloor heating is hidden, so it doesn’t take up space or clash with your décor.
• The warmth from underfloor heating spreads more quickly and evenly throughout the room than an individual radiator – which in turn reduces wasted heat energy and lowers bills for homeowners.
• Warmer floor temperature makes it unfavourable for dust mites, lending to a more hygienic environment.