Everything You Need to Know About Parquet Flooring for Your Home

The parquet style of flooring is seeing a resurgence of sorts all over the UK. Somewhere in the early 20^th century, this once-coveted floor waned in popularity largely due to new innovations in flooring. Homeowners and entrepreneurs started to veer towards no-fuss, modern alternatives of flooring – while parquet flooring was typically seen as being expensive and laborious.

But recent breakthroughs in vinyl flooring have changed all of that. Luxury vinyl has managed to revive this glorious flooring style and make it more accessible to a wider audience. Parquet floors are now infused with more resilience, more ease and more durability. These floors are not a recent invention though. In fact, they go way back.

Throwback to the good old days of parquet.

The word ‘parquet’ comes from old French and means ‘a small, enclosed space’ or ‘a small compartment’. But parquet floors, like the now ubiquitous Herringbone, were around since the time of the Roman empire. It was used mainly to build roads since the tightly packed structure made it more resilient and durable.

Before long, Herringbone became a staple in the homes of the aristocracy who became enamoured by its stunning beauty. However, it was a time-consuming and expensive affair. Always crafted with solid wood that was cut and sanded on site and then laid out by skilled master craftsmen.

In the 1620’s, Marie de’Medici is said to have installed an intricate Parquet Marquette in her closet in the Luxembourg Palace. As the most influential building in Europe at that time, Luxembourg was perhaps instrumental in spreading the use of parquet.

But of course, the most famous use was at the Palace of Versailles, where King Louis XIV replaced all the marble floors with parquet flooring – mainly the chevron pattern and the panel de Versailles.

We could first see the use of parquet flooring in Britain at Denmark House in London, which later became Somerset House. The Queen’s Bedchamber at Ham House was also bestowed with parquet flooring.  But beyond these stately residences, it was rarely seen. Over time, it was perceived to be old-school and granny-décor, meant to grace only grand mansions and chateaus.

But thankfully, innovations in flooring have re-ignited interest in these remarkably striking floors. Luxury vinyl, especially, has made this aristocratic flooring available to all.

Let’s delve into the different kinds of parquet floors that are out there.

Herringbone

By far the most popular, Herringbone is a classic that stands the test of time. Herringbones are so named because the pattern resembles the bone structure of a Herring fish. This type of parquet flooring involves equal sizes of rectangular boards that are interlocked in an intricate zig-zag pattern. They are so arranged that the end of each plank touches the side of another.

The fluidity of movement that Herringbone is capable of achieving makes it even more attractive. What’s more, it can lend expanse to a space and lengthen a room visually. While Herringbone floors were traditionally used only in grand entrances and opulent living areas, today we see them in the most unlikely places, like the kitchen and bathroom.

Herringbone floors were typically made of timber and were a cumbersome affair to install. But with Pro-Tek™ luxury vinyl floors, you could install this gorgeous parquet floor by yourself with a simple click lock system. On offer are 12 stunning colours and finishes to choose from – which isn’t the case with traditional wood Herringbone floors.

How about a contemporary edge with grey Herringbone? Or would you prefer the classic hues of richly textured Oak? Take your pick from the widest range.

Mosaic or Brick

Another much-loved and simpler form of parquet flooring, this is achieved by stitching small strips of wood, usually 2 or 4, to form one panel or ‘brick’. Each brick is then placed perpendicular to the one next to it. You could even place bricks of dark and light shades together to get an even more dramatic effect.

Basket Weave

Meant to mimic the weave of a wicker basket, this is one of the most intricate and complex forms of parquetry. Here, the planks look like they are interwoven which creates a diamond shape that is filled by a square block. Due to its complexity, it isn’t one of the most common forms of parquet flooring found in modern homes today. Period residences, however, would shine with the Basket Weave pattern of flooring.

Chevron

Many people mistake Chevron for Herringbone and vice versa. While Chevron does look a lot like Herringbone, it differs in the way the rectangular planks are cut. The planks are cut at a 45 degree angle, which gives them a more precise, clean line when laid out. It looks more ‘V’ when compared to the ‘W’ look of Herringbone.

This is likened to an arrow point and helps elongate a room by creating long lines.

There are other styles like the Bordeaux and the Chantilly that are incredibly complex and an art in itself, although not as popular as the other styles.

So, is a parquet floor right for you?

Absolutely yes. If your décor aesthetic and personal taste leans towards a parquet, go for it. You will be rewarded with a stunning floor that will be admired by all. But do yourself a favour and opt for the ease of luxury vinyl parquet. This way, you get the gorgeous look of parquet with the affordability, ease, longevity and extreme durability of vinyl. Really, the last thing you need is a real wood parquet floor that is labourious to install, highly expensive and prone to warping, mildew and rot.

If you wish to go the parquet way and don’t know where to begin, we are here to help.