Before I had even taken steps into my modern condominium, I knew I needed to have it. No, it wasn’t due to the high-quality of appliances (they’re early-aughts models on their closing legs), the closet area (minimum), or the amenities (nonexistent); it became the flooring that got me. The parquet flooring, to be precise. Hallmarks of pre-conflict homes inside the U.S., parquet floors are a decorative element beloved by traditionally and aesthetically minded alike. Here’s what you need to recognize approximately them.
What precisely *is* parquet?
Parquet is the time period for floors made of inlaid wooden, arranged in a geometric pattern. The maximum common styles are numerous riffs on square motifs, though greater unconventional takes, like sunbursts or medallions, additionally count numbers. The word “parquet” comes from the antique French parquet, a small compartment or enclosure.
It has royal origins, too: Parquet flooring become first used within the 1600s at Versailles, wherein it replaced marble floors that required extra maintenance. After catching on in France, the parquet received recognition throughout Europe. Since its setup required technical skill and lots of time, the cloth became a signal of opulence in grand houses.
What makes it special?
Besides its origins in France’s most famous château, Parquet is an ornamental detail that adds immediate interest and texture to the floor. In addition to a primary sample, maximum parquet floors have a specific decorative border, making the floorboards essentially function as a built-in rug.
What does it look like?
Since it’s basically a wood mosaic, parquet can are available honestly any sample possible. Popular designs consist of herringbone, Versailles (named authentic), Chantilly (named for yet another French château), checkerboard, mosaic, and basket.
Where do I locate it?
In both the US and around the sector, parquet is most not unusual in pre-warfare (pre World War II) homes. In the U.S., the fabric became especially popular throughout the so-called Gilded Age towards the end of the nineteenth century, whilst architects constructed ornate apartments and townhouses—regularly modeled after older European architecture.
One not likely parquet ground that has stood the take a look at of time? As modernism received a reputation following World War II, decorative info like parquet was often eschewed in favor of carpet, concrete, or extra easy timber flooring. The Boston Celtics courtroom, which changed into constructed in 1952 and have become so famous that legend had it, the team could figure how the ball might jump off of any wooden piece. Portions of the unique ground continue to be within the court docket nowadays.
Can I DIY it?
Yes, although until you’re an actually skilled DIYer (and genuinely in case you’re putting in an extra complicated sample), it’s an awesome concept to rent a professional. Find a hardwood installer near you on Thumbtack. If you do try and cross about it yourself, there are several matters you will need to don’t forget: Inlay ought to be installed on a strong subfloor, wood tiles need to acclimate for up to 2 weeks before set up, and—like with all initiatives—you may need to triple degree to make certain your tiles align successfully. Home Depot has useful instructions in case you pick to move this path.
How do I take care of them?
Not a great deal differently than any other sort of wooden ground: dry mop frequently, vacuum now and again with a hardwood floor attachment, and do a deep clean monthly with a product made for hardwood flooring.
Having spent 25 years as a floors contractor and the beyond 4 years as a store of both engineered and strong hardwood flooring, I have observed several misconceptions approximately both varieties of flooring. Many customers believe that solid hardwood floors are superior to engineered hardwood floors and can even refuse to keep in mind engineered flooring for their domestic. I would really like to share the following statistics and my experience to make a knowledgeable decision approximately the excellent ground for your task.
Before I start assessing engineered and stable floors, let us first clear up the misconception that engineered flooring is the same as laminate floors (ie-Pergo.) More than some human beings walk into my showroom with this idea, which isn’t always actual. Laminate floors aren’t actual timber; engineered floors are. The surface layer of laminate floors is a picture of timber grain on paper impregnated with melamine, no longer actual wooden. The top layer (also known as the wear layer) of engineered timber floors consists of (actual!) splendid timber. Engineered hardwood flooring is constructed from multiple layers of wooden, which might be move-banded for balance and glued onto a plywood base.
