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Wood Parquet Flooring Review: Pros and Cons

Is Wood Parquet Flooring Right for You?

Wood parquet flooring in brightly-lit kitchen

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

Wood parquet flooring—tiles created by arranging small pieces of hardwood in repeating patterns—was once common in homes across the U.S. During the 1960s, it seemed that almost every home had a kitchen, dining room, den, or rec room with this type of geometric hardwood floor. From its heyday during the 1960s, this hardwood flooring style gradually fell from favor as other low-cost options appeared, such as laminates and luxury vinyl. Where hardwood was still desired, it was more often installed as solid hardwood or engineered hardwood planks.

Gradually, wood flooring retailers stopped carrying a wide selection of parquet tiles, and today there are only a few major sources for wood parquet floor tiles. Some of the major manufacturers of wood parquet, such as Bruce, sell limited stock of parquet or have discontinued their product lines, although you may be able to find some inventory offered for sale at some outlets. You can, however, find more offerings for vinyl flooring with a wood parquet design than you can actual wood parquet tiles.

Wood parquet is still manufactured, though you may need to hunt a little to find the style you want. Choosing it for your floor will mean that you are creating a floor that is somewhat unique by today's standards, though this choice is great for period-correct restorations and remodels. Make your choice carefully; some viewers will see parquet as an adventurous choice, while others will see it as dated.

Pros
  • Bold style

  • Easy installation

  • No initial finishing required

  • Ideal for midcentury modern styles

  • Refinishing may be possible

Cons
  • Hard to find

  • Style may seem dated

  • Poor choice in moist, humid locations

  • Refinishing options limited

  • Susceptible to scratch damage

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The History of Parquet Flooring

The earliest true parquet hardwood floors date to the 16th century when wealthy aristocrats began having it installed over marble flooring by craftsmen who created the effect by painstakingly arranging tiny pieces of hardwood in geometric patterns. Hardwood floors of various types, including parquet in upper-end houses, were the staple for centuries, but in the post-war era when carpet reigned, American homes began to cover them over.

It changed when flooring manufacturers began to mass-produce thin parquet tiles in the 1960s and 1970s. By creating engineered wood tiles with pieces of hardwood veneer arranged in geometric patterns, manufacturers reinvigorated the look of expensive parquet floors at a reasonable cost. Homeowners began to remove carpet to install parquet floors. But shortly thereafter laminates, vinyl planks, and porcelain tiles came into vogue as preferred flooring materials.

Parquet Flooring Cost

Real wood parquet flooring generally costs $20 to $45 per square foot. The more common type of parquet flooring comes in a premade wooden tile, which can cost $7 to $10 per square foot.

Maintenance and Repair

Caring for a wood parquet floor is similar to caring for any hardwood floor. Daily care should include sweeping and dry mopping with a microfiber mop. Wet spills and stains should be sopped up with paper towels, followed by wiping with a damp washcloth. Once a month or so, the floor should be cleaned with a product designed for wood floors. Avoid waxes, which can make floors slippery and can damage the factory finish. Never use a steam mop on parquet floors (or any wood floor), as this can drive moisture down into the wood.

Newer types of parquet flooring are often made of solid hardwood rather than veneers, and while sanding and refinishing may be possible, it is complicated by the fact that the direction of the wood grain alternates. Major refinishing of these floors should be done by experienced professionals. Light renewal can be done by homeowners, lightly abrading the finish with a sanding screen, then applying a fresh top-coat of varnish.

Design

The multi-piece construction of parquet tiles lends a deep, 3D appearance that makes for a bold design statement in the home. But be aware that not everyone likes the busy, patterned look of a parquet floor. Future owners of your home may not have the same fondness for your taste, and some prospective buyers will think of it as dated and old. If the future sale or your home is critical, this is probably not the flooring to install. Parquet floors are a good stylistic fit for midcentury modern home styles but may look out of place in other styles. If you're working on a historically accurate restoration or remodel, though, parquet floors may be the best option, depending on the era you're hoping to reflect.

Parquet Flooring Installation

Parquet flooring tiles are considerably easier to install than hardwood plank flooring, since they are simply glued down to the subfloor rather than nailed. Urethane-based adhesives have a leisurely 60-minute working time, which means you have plenty of time to install the tiles. The tiles are relatively thin—about 5/16 inch—so they are easy to cut with a jigsaw. Most parquet flooring tiles are prefinished, which means you will not need to stain or varnish the finished floor.

But the thinness of the tiles means that it is critical for the subfloor to be perfectly flat and sturdy. If there is any flex to the subfloor, the surface flooring will visibly flex underfoot. The dramatic geometry of parquet designs also means you will need to take care to get the layout correct so that the patterns are straight and symmetrical along the edges.

As a real wood flooring material, parquet generally functions best when installed at or above grade—it's not recommended for installation in basements or on slab foundations, unless an intermediate subfloor, such as DRIcore, is installed. And because parquet flooring has many cracks between pieces, it is not a good choice for installation in wet or humid locations, such as bathrooms.

Comfort and Convenience

Parquet floors perform much like hardwood floors. Any wood floor will be somewhat more soft and warm underfoot than hard flooring materials, such as ceramic or stone tile, but it will feel colder and harder than carpet, cork, or luxury vinyl. Like other wood floors, parquet floors can also be noisy. Many people will want to add area rugs to improve the comfort of parquet floors.

Parquet vs. Hardwood

Some style experts have suggested that parquet flooring is poised to make a comeback, thanks to the renewed popularity of midcentury modern styles—the homes where parquet was once so popular. And improved products are helping to renew interest in parquet. Rather than veneer construction, most of today's parquet tiles use solid wood, which means refinishing is plausible. But sources for hardwood parquet tiles are limited, and you may need to search for the style you want.

If you are considering a wood parquet floor, it's likely you are weighing its virtues against a traditional hardwood floor. Parquet's advantages over hardwood lie in its dramatic appearance, its easy installation, and its suitability for midcentury modern home designs. Hardwood planks will be a better choice if you are looking for flooring with more decor flexibility, or where the future sale of your home is important. Parquet can seem dated to some people, while hardwood flooring is more universal.

FAQ
  • What is wood parquet flooring?

    Wood parquet flooring is created from small pieces of wood, typically hardwoods such as oak, walnut, or maple, that are placed in a definite design pattern on the floor.

  • Is parquet flooring easy to maintain?

    Wood parquet flooring is cared for just like other hardwood floors. Simply sweep and dry mop at least once a week. Clean it every month or two with a wood finish product. Any spills should be wiped up as soon as possible so as not to leave a stain or mark on the floor.

  • Are wood parquet floors waterproof?

    Unfortunately, wood parquet flooring is not waterproof. You can put a sealant on it to help protect the floor, but any water or spills should be cleaned up quickly.