30 Jan What is Parquet Flooring?

The term parquet flooring is often mistaken for a type of material, when it’s actually a type of patterned wood flooring. Rather than laying wood planks in a traditional strip pattern, at one time, parquet flooring was created by arranging small wooden slats in repeating patterns. Once reserved for the rich and famous, installation was a highly time consuming and labor-intensive process.

Modern technology has created planks and tiles of hardwood flooring with parquet patterns already crafted into the wood. It’s also available in laminate and wood veneers. Installing parquet flooring isn’t a task for amateurs. Always engage the services of a flooring professional with the experience to ensure the tiles are installed properly to maintain the design.

Parquet flooring is durable and requires the same care as other hardwood flooring. Designs range from herringbone, basket weave and mosaic to chevron, Chantilly, Bordeaux and checkerboard. For the truly adventurous, parquet flooring can even be laid in patterns that give the appearance of a 3-D surface.

The intricate designs of parquet are highly decorative. It makes a bold and dramatic statement but may be too busy for some. The subflooring must be perfectly flat and highly sturdy to prevent flexing. It’s not recommended for basements or rooms with high humidity levels such as bathrooms.

The word parquet originates from the old French parchet and means small compartment or enclosure. Invented in Versailles in the 1600s, it was comprised of small blocks of wood that were painstakingly arranged like puzzle pieces. Parquet flooring was laid in geometric patterns and the shapes of the wooden blocks varied in color and size.

Parquet began to replace marble flooring that was more expensive and required more maintenance. The wood flooring was equated with luxury and opulence since it required time and an exceptional level of artisan skill to create the floors.

The flooring attained maximum popularity in Europe during the Edwardian era. It reached its peak in the U.S. during the 1960s, but never completely vanished. With new manufacturing processes and a wider range of wood species from which to choose, parquet flooring is making a comeback.