Parquet floors – Is it for you?
When thinking about remodeling, today’s families are looking for smarter and less expensive ways to beautify their living spaces. When it comes to flooring, the options are endless and can be one of the most expensive and daunting decisions in remodeling. While there are many options to choose from, such as carpet, tile, and even concrete, parquet flooring is another option that is sometimes overlooked. It’s a durable product that isn’t difficult to install and can last for decades, making it a reasonable and beautiful upgrade to any room in the house, from the kitchen to the basement. Parquet flooring can be installed over concrete, as well as existing hardwood, laminate, or ceramic tile, making it an easy DIY project.
Parquet floors date back to 1684, when it replaced marble in Versailles, France. The marble floor used before this had to be constantly cleaned, with water running into the underlying floor supports, causing them to rot. Parquet, which stood out for its beauty and resistance, was also easier to clean, so its use spread rapidly. Today, parquet floors are presented in solid parquet and parquet panels, using different types of wood, such as oak, pine, mahogany and walnut. Solid parquet consists of blocks of wood glued together in different patterns, the most recognizable being the herringbone pattern. It is typically between 3/4″ and 5/8″ thick and is glued, rather than nailed, as is traditionally done with hardwood flooring. Parquet panels are hardwood veneers glued to less expensive wood, such as plywood. Veneer (also called wear layer) can be 1/4″ to 1/16″ thick and is glued down using tongue and groove joints.
The cost of parquet floors is just one of its attractive features. There is parquet for all budgets and needs. It ranges from $0.99 per square foot to over $60.00 per square foot, depending on the type of parquet, whether solid or veneer, the woods chosen, and the thickness of the wood. Solid parquet is more expensive, but can be sanded and restored over the life of the floor, while sanding or restoring parquet panels can reduce the finish to the cheaper wood underneath. Great care must be taken to avoid ruining the floor. Medallions are also available, and while they are often quite expensive, they are beautiful works of art and there are no limits when it comes to design. Cost typically ranges from $1,300 to $3,500 depending on the size and types of wood used. Medallions use some of the most exotic woods, greatly adding to their cost. Caring for parquet floors is easy and usually only requires a damp mop to keep them looking their best.
Warranties for parquet floors vary. Some of the solid wood parquets come with lifetime coverage, while the less expensive panels can last up to 25 years, depending on the thickness of the veneers.
Just for fun, one of the most famous parquet floors began its journey in 1946 as the floor of the original Boston Arena, home of the Celtics. In 1952 it was moved, completely intact, to the Boston Garden and was used there by the Celtics until 1995, when it made another trip to the so-called Fleet Center, now known as TD Garden. The floor was in use until 1999, when it was cut up and partially sold as a souvenir, since the Boston Garden was demolished in 1998. Today, the Celtics play on a truly special parquet floor inside the TD Garden that combines some of the sections old of the original apartment and the new one.
When choosing a new floor, parquet may be just what you need to finish off that remodel beautifully.