Let's answer your questions on Parquetry Flooring - Part 1

When it comes to elaborate flooring, parquetry flooring shine like a star. It’s not only versatile and eye-catching but gives the space charm and warmth that no other flooring option can come close to. In this post, you’ll learn everything you need to know about parquetry flooring.

History of Parquetry flooring

Parquetry origin goes back to 17th century France.  In French, the term means “A small compartment”. In medieval French artisans would have to cut out wood into small pieces of a certain shape and fit them together to create a gorgeous flooring called “Parquetry”. However, this job was exhausting and required a lot of patience and skill. Therefore, parquetry was the advantage of wealthy people in society and public buildings.

Later in the 20th century with the emergence of the industrial method of woodcutting and treating the trend changed. This made parquetry accessible for many peoples regardless of how wealthy they are. Now more people can afford to buy and install parquetry flooring and because of an unrivalled flexibility parquetry is gaining in popularity day by day.

How is parquetry flooring made?

Parquetry is a type of wood flooring made by arranging small pieces of wood to create regular and geometric patterns. While traditional floorings were usually cut by hand and installed one piece at a time most modern parquets are manufactured by automatic machines. They usually come in the form of tiles and are installed by bonding to the subflooring material.

If you wish, you’ll find in the market parquetry tiles made from almost every wood species but the most common species are oak, walnut, maple, cherry, even Mahogany and other exotic timbers used for creating more expensive floorings.

Pros and cons of Parquetry

Sometimes designated as mosaic-flooring, Parquetry flooring is one of the most popular flooring options used in residential and commercial spaces. Some of the main pros and cons of the parquetry flooring are listed below:

Pros

• Parquetry flooring is super beautiful and eye-catching. This gives your flooring a look and appealing that few flooring types can offer.
• No other flooring can reach parquetry tiles in the terms of versatility and variety.  There are dozens of complex patterns available in the market.
• When installed properly parquet can create warmth and appeal of the real wood.
• It’s easy to clean and maintain. The only thing you should do is to mop and clean the flooring regularly but not with abrasive cleaners.
• Parquet is durable and long-lasting. You can ensure that the flooring will last for decades if maintained properly.
• Installing a Parquetry is a DIY-friendly process. No nailing or cutting is required.  
• Parquet is a material that adds value to your home. Homes with parquetry flooring can fetch higher prices in the real estate market.

Cons

• The surface of parquet tiles can be easily scratched by a hard surface. Once damaged it’s difficult to repair.
• When exposed to direct sunlight for a long period of time it can fade and discolour easily.
• Sanding and refinishing parquetry is a challenging task.
• The flooring should not be installed below grade(basement) and in moist areas.
• It’s not suitable for high humidity areas such as bathrooms and laundry rooms.