Everything You Need to Know About Parquet Flooring

Few home renovations are as transformative as new flooring. New floors can instantly make your home feel like new while adding texture and visual intrigue to its design. Parquet floors check all of those boxes and then some.

Parquet flooring is a popular choice for many homeowners, thanks to its ability to infuse spaces with compelling patterns and welcoming warmth. Here’s everything you need to know about parquet floors so you can determine if they're right for your flooring project.

What Is Parquet Flooring?

Parquet flooring is composed of small wood blocks arranged in mosaic patterns. It originated in France in the 17th-Century. The flooring was primarily used in more affluent households since artisans needed to cut, fit, and glue each small piece of wood in precise patterns, which took quite a bit of time and money to complete.

Parquet flooring gained popularity in the U.S. around the 1960s, becoming more affordable and mainstream thanks to new installation techniques. Rather than artisans cutting and fitting each piece, most parquet flooring now comes in pre-cut square tiles topped with strips of hardwood. This makes installation much simpler and faster, thereby reducing costs.

Like many trends, parquet flooring installations slowed down after the mid-century, but the time-tested style has experienced a resurgence in recent years. Given its unique, dynamic look, it's easy to see why so many homeowners are interested in adding parquet flooring to their home’s aesthetic.

Pros and Cons of Parquet Flooring

Knowing the pros and cons of parquet flooring can help you figure out whether this flooring style is right for your home.

Pros

• Versatile: Parquet flooring comes in many different finishes and patterns, including herringbone, hexagonal, and chevron, so you should have no trouble finding an option that complements your aesthetic.

• DIY-able: Parquet flooring tiles are relatively straightforward to install, so you can potentially save money by installing them yourself.

• Low-maintenance: This flooring type is durable and stands up to daily wear-and-tear, making it a good fit for high-traffic, busy households.

Cons

• Refinishing challenges: Although parquet flooring is fairly easy to maintain, all hardwood flooring finishes usually begin to lose their luster after 10 to 15 years. Refinishing any wood floor involves sanding in the direction of the grain. Because parquet flooring comprises wood pieces in many different directions, refinishing can be a time-consuming and expensive process.

• Only suitable for certain spaces: Like most standard hardwood floors, parquet flooring isn't typically a good fit for rooms prone to moisture or humidity, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basements, since excessive moisture can warp the wood.

Parquet Flooring Pattern Options

One of the most appealing aspects of parquet flooring is its versatility. You can create parquet floors in virtually any pattern imaginable, but some of the most popular designs include herringbone and chevron.

If you're in the market for very elaborate or unique patterns, you'll likely need a custom parquet flooring company to help you out since most parquet tiles are pre-cut to create the most popular patterns.

Parquet Flooring Wood

Parquet flooring is essentially a hardwood floor arranged in an interesting pattern, so just about any species of wood used on hardwood floors can be incorporated into parquet floors. Oak, chestnut, and walnut wood are all popular parquet flooring options for their appearance and durability.

But the wood species you choose affects the overall cost. For instance, walnut wood is relatively rare and challenging to source, so you'll likely pay more for it than you would for a more common type like oak. In the end, the best wood for your floor depends on your budget, lifestyle, and personal preferences.

Parquet Flooring Maintenance

Parquet flooring is relatively low-maintenance. Because it's hardwood, you'll want to wipe up liquid spills quickly with a dry mop to avoid warping the wood. You should also avoid cleaning parquet floors with steam mops since the heat can damage and warp the wood. For sticky spills, you can use a lightly damp washcloth or sponge.

When it's time to give your parquet floors a thorough cleaning—ideally about once per month—use a cleaning product specifically designed for hardwood floors. You can also add rugs to your floor to help protect its finish in high-traffic areas.

Parquet Flooring Prices

Parquet flooring prices vary, depending on whether you opt for custom parquet flooring or parquet flooring tiles.

Parquet Flooring Tiles

Today, most parquet flooring comprises square tiles topped with hardwood and bonded to a plywood or mesh base. The tiles typically come in 9-inch, 12-inch, and 18-inch squares. Parquet flooring tiles are easier to make and install than custom parquet, so they're typically less expensive.

If you install parquet flooring tiles yourself, you can expect to pay around $3 to $5 per square foot. Flooring professionals usually charge around $7 to $10 per square foot to install parquet flooring tiles.

Custom Parquet Flooring

Custom parquet flooring involves custom-cutting many small pieces of wood and fitting each piece together to make the floor's pattern. This intensive process requires a skilled artisan, so custom parquet costs more to install than parquet flooring tiles.

Custom parquet flooring companies usually charge around $20 to $45 per square foot, depending on the project’s complexity.