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Originally made from just 100% solid wood, today parquet flooring can be made with solid and engineered wood.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 include oak, maple, walnut, cherry, amongst other hardwood species.

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

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.
2. Has to be good quality to reduce movement and risk if squeaks.
3. It will help hardwood floor to retain its original features and reduce walking sound and impact sound.
4. Improve problem of uneven sub-flooring.

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.
• 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 is unfavourable for dust mites, lending for a more hygienic environment.