It is not merely a floor where you walk, parquet flooring represents something. It is a piece of art which can transform ugly rooms into classical styles of rooms. The deepness of the wood, the geometrical accuracy and the cozy atmosphere that it introduces could be only cited as the reasons why the owners of the houses keep being fascinated by parquet. It could be the ever popular herringbone look, the attention-catching chevron or the retro mosaic look, but whichever way you choose parquet will certainly sound off, and more to the point certainly be exacting.
Start with Understanding Your Needs
Parquet floors have a variety of forms including unfinished, engineered, traditional or contemporary solid or engineered. Perhaps you admire the sharp lines of herringbone, or the stylish movement of chevron, or the patrimony of Versailles panels. All of them are different in the installation process.
Being aware of what you want, what will fit in your space and the communication towards the installer of your choice allows you to be better equipped with the knowledge that this individual should have the right expertise in the matter.
Assess Their Expertise – Pattern Matters
Installation of parquet is not a job of a novice. As opposed to ordinary plank flooring where planks follow a straight line, parquet is made up of hundreds and sometimes thousands of microscopic inch sized blocks that must be excellent fitted together to a geometric pattern. Normally a consistent and symmetrical installation on an inconsistent or an ill-prepared surface can become a nightmare when your installer is not up to snuff with the process.
Subfloor Preparation is a Dealbreaker
Parquet blocks are reliable as the surface below them. The sub floor must be leveled and smooth and solid without any compromise. Your flooring contractor will need to know how they are going to inspect and readiness your subfloor. When they brush it aside, propose to take shortcuts in order to save time, that is a red flag.
whether it is the lay-up of plywood on top of original timber floor boards or the installation of damp-proof membrane over a concrete sub-floor it is proper preparation that will see your parquetry floor lasting literally decades without shifting, creaking or buckling.
Installation Methods & Finish Options
Each parquet block should be installed with caution and proper fastening with most likely being glue-down fastening. This also involves sanding, sealing gaps with products such as Bona, Loba or Osmo which one knows well, in case of unfinished blocks. The same way you want would love to have a natural look or a custom-stained look you require, your installer ought to take you through each and every step of the post-installation.
Quality over Bargain
Sooner or later, the urge to make some savings in pounds can become very counterproductive. A suspiciously low quote is often a bad sign, as the company will either cut the corners (inappropriate wood, poorly stored wood, inadequate subfloor preparation, or hasty finish), or perform the job exactly as requested, which may not be good quality.
When you turn to a reputable flooring company specialising in herringbone flooring, it will still not be enough to lay the floor, but also to make it a part of your home history. They will also warranty their work and will make use of the materials that are by industry standards to be durable, beautiful and safe.
How to Choose a Flooring Company for Your Parquet Flooring Project
Parquet flooring is not something you would walk on, it is a statement. It is an art work that can turn boring rooms into everlasting, luxurious rooms. The many different kinds of wood, the geometrical accuracy, and the cozy feel that gets with it, are all some of the reasons as to why homeowners still end up loving parquet. Be it timeless herringbone, dramatic chevron, or vintage mosaic, parquet needs to be noticed, and, what is more important: it requires accuracy.
Check for a Specialisation in Parquet, Not Just Wood Flooring
Unlike most flooring companies that say they do it all, parquet flooring is in a category of its own. The question is not whether a company has experience in laying oak planks or laminate tiles, parquet requires complicated design patterns, symmetrical designing of the layouts and matching of the final finishes of thousands of small wooden blocks. There may be no sophisticated craft or knowledge of the procedure involved in installing parquet that this kind of flooring typically requires on the part of a company which only occasionally installs it. Just ask the rate in which they do parquet floors especially. Are they aware of the sawing blocks at exact angles to form chevron? Are they able to construct with decorative borders or uses dissimilar types of woods into the pattern to add visual appeal? An expert will discuss these aspects authoritatively and provide additional feedback that you have never imagined.
Ask About Their Finishing Products and Processes
Raw Parquet flooring is really charismatic; it gives absolutely freedom in colour and shine. However, it is more complex too, as the installer has to sand, fill, stain and seal all with perfection. Finishing is not only the last phase of demanding processes, but the one which makes wood alive. Quality floor installation companies will work with high-quality products of well-known brands such as Osmo, Bona or Loba that can advise the choice of finishing depending on your lifestyle and usage of space. When you keep pets, or there is a lot of people walking around, it might be suited to use lacquer with high durability instead of oil. They are also expected to possess dustfree sanding systems to maintain a good quality of air indoors. A highly qualified technician will be concerned with the completion as much as the installation one would do it patiently with no cutting corners.
Look for Design Versatility and Custom Work
There are no identical homes and your parquet floor should not be like everyone else. An awesome parquet flooring company does not imitate something that has been done previously. They assist you to bring your own vision to reality. And you can choose a classic herringbone with a twist, two tones chevron or a dramatic dark walnut on pale ash border and the company must be able to perform it to perfection. Specific experts can even customize 3-strip borders or identifying highly unusual timbers such as merbau or wenge.
Final Thoughts
Parquet flooring is a purchase, not only a money purchase, but a purchase of life to your home. It is made to be trodden on, lived in and worshipped throughout decades. It is therefore worthwhile to be selective in the installation choice of who will know how to do it.
Find a team that has authentic experience, is well communicating, and is proven. Your floor is not just something you should have installed, rather, your floor needs crafting.
You may aslo read (6 benefits of laminate flooring in home bathrooms).