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Parquet Flooring: Veneers, Solid Parquet And Laminate Wood Flooring
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Published: July 24, 2007
Parquet flooring is an elegant manner of adding beauty and sophistication to a room. The French-sounding pronunciation of the word "parquet" and its reputation as a fixture in stately European mansions may intimidate the layman into thinking it is something beyond his means. However parquet flooring can be a do-it-yourself project, although certain layouts can be rather complicated and require the assistance of skilled professionals.
Parquet flooring, or parquetry, is a floor with a geometric design or pattern made from multi-hued wood.
Parquet flooring, or parqueterie as it is known in France, was used at the Chateau de Versailles, in 1684, to replace the original marble floors, which needed to be washed far too often. Washing ruins the joists beneath a floor, but parquet floors do not need to be washed. The pleasing appearance of a parquet floor comes from the striking ways in which the colors and textures of the different kinds of wood complement one another. Typical parquet flooring always contains sharp, angled design schemes, cut in what is called a "tongue and groove" pattern to make the wood pieces fit securely together.
Notable exceptions in design would be in some of the Late Baroque-era palaces in Germany, Austria and Italy, in which some curvatures could be found in the parquet flooring designs. Very elaborate patterns can be integrated into parquet flooring, such as floral or "sunburst" shapes. Although the West traditionally thinks of parquetry for use in floors, in India and the Middle East it also used in decorative trinkets and furniture, as well as parquet flooring.
Wood flooring is generally preferable to carpeted floors because it lasts longer and is much easier to clean. Parquet flooring is probably the most beautiful example of this; it is typically made from richly hued woods such as mahogany or cherry. And since parquet flooring tiles are often covered in a sealant, they resist soiling far better than an ordinary wood flooring. In fact, when one laminates the tiles, all one needs to do to clean it is a slightly damp cloth or a vacuum cleaner.
There are three major types of parquet flooring material, and the necessary maintenance might depend on the type used. Laminate parquet tiles are the cheapest, but are the most easily damaged. Veneers consist of a thin layers of parquetry over a plywood layer, and solid parquetry is made of sturdy layers well over a centimeter thick. Veneers tend to be less expensive than solid parquety, as well as when one laminates the parquet tiles. Although solid parquet flooring may be more expensive, it incurs less damage over time.
Many people may simply find it more convenient to install tiles instead of layers for parquet flooring. If so, the tiles should be unpacked and allowed to sit for several weeks, unlaid, in the room in which they will be used later. This way, there is time for the wood in the tiles to accustom itself to the room's moisture and environment, ensuring no potentially damaging expansion could occur after they are already laid. Anyone who attempts to lay parquet flooring - even a professional - is advised to have about five percent more flooring material than is actually required at first. This is simply to make certain there is enough in case of miscalculations; it can be set aside in case of mistakes while laying the wood, or possible damage later.
It is also recommended one should start laying the parquet tiles in the very center of the room, and then work outward. This will reduce the risk of an asymmetrical or crooked pattern, especially if the room is not a perfect square or rectangle shape. However, a perfectly straight and long wall could also be a good place to begin the laying the tiles. When measuring out from the wall, the unit distance should be two parquet tiles plus half an inch, in case extra space is needed. How one lays the first tile determines how the entire finished floor will look; it is important to be extremely careful and absolutely certain the angles are straight and the correct measurements have been made. Laying out parquet flooring can be a long and grueling task, so anyone attempting it may want to put on a comfortable pair of kneepads.
Parquet flooring can be installed by oneself or with the help of experts, of course depending on the type of parquetry used and the patience levels of the person who wants to install it. It is moderately expensive, but the expenses would seem to be well spent when one considers how long the parquet flooring will last, the ease with which it can be cared for, and the value it can add to a home or building.
Sources:
"What is a Parquet Floor?" WiseGeek. 2007. Conjecture Corporation. 11 July 2007.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-parquet-floor. htm
"Ask DIY Home Improvement - Parquet Flooring." DIY Network. 2007. Scripps Network, Inc. 11 July 2007.
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/hm_hi_flooring/art icle/0,2085,DIY_16826_3582743,00.html
"Parquetry." Answers.com. 2007. Answers Corporation. 11 July 2007. http://www.answers.com/topic/parquetry
"Installing Wood Flooring." Lowes.com. 2007. Lowe's. 11 July 2007.
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo& p=Improve/instwoodflooring.html#7
"How-To: Floors and Stairs - Wood Block/Parquet Floors." DIYnot.com. 2000-2007. DIYnot Limited. 12 July 2007. http://www.diynot.com/pages/fs/fs016.php
Parquet flooring, or parquetry, is a floor with a geometric design or pattern made from multi-hued wood.
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Notable exceptions in design would be in some of the Late Baroque-era palaces in Germany, Austria and Italy, in which some curvatures could be found in the parquet flooring designs. Very elaborate patterns can be integrated into parquet flooring, such as floral or "sunburst" shapes. Although the West traditionally thinks of parquetry for use in floors, in India and the Middle East it also used in decorative trinkets and furniture, as well as parquet flooring.
Wood flooring is generally preferable to carpeted floors because it lasts longer and is much easier to clean. Parquet flooring is probably the most beautiful example of this; it is typically made from richly hued woods such as mahogany or cherry. And since parquet flooring tiles are often covered in a sealant, they resist soiling far better than an ordinary wood flooring. In fact, when one laminates the tiles, all one needs to do to clean it is a slightly damp cloth or a vacuum cleaner.
There are three major types of parquet flooring material, and the necessary maintenance might depend on the type used. Laminate parquet tiles are the cheapest, but are the most easily damaged. Veneers consist of a thin layers of parquetry over a plywood layer, and solid parquetry is made of sturdy layers well over a centimeter thick. Veneers tend to be less expensive than solid parquety, as well as when one laminates the parquet tiles. Although solid parquet flooring may be more expensive, it incurs less damage over time.
Many people may simply find it more convenient to install tiles instead of layers for parquet flooring. If so, the tiles should be unpacked and allowed to sit for several weeks, unlaid, in the room in which they will be used later. This way, there is time for the wood in the tiles to accustom itself to the room's moisture and environment, ensuring no potentially damaging expansion could occur after they are already laid. Anyone who attempts to lay parquet flooring - even a professional - is advised to have about five percent more flooring material than is actually required at first. This is simply to make certain there is enough in case of miscalculations; it can be set aside in case of mistakes while laying the wood, or possible damage later.
It is also recommended one should start laying the parquet tiles in the very center of the room, and then work outward. This will reduce the risk of an asymmetrical or crooked pattern, especially if the room is not a perfect square or rectangle shape. However, a perfectly straight and long wall could also be a good place to begin the laying the tiles. When measuring out from the wall, the unit distance should be two parquet tiles plus half an inch, in case extra space is needed. How one lays the first tile determines how the entire finished floor will look; it is important to be extremely careful and absolutely certain the angles are straight and the correct measurements have been made. Laying out parquet flooring can be a long and grueling task, so anyone attempting it may want to put on a comfortable pair of kneepads.
Parquet flooring can be installed by oneself or with the help of experts, of course depending on the type of parquetry used and the patience levels of the person who wants to install it. It is moderately expensive, but the expenses would seem to be well spent when one considers how long the parquet flooring will last, the ease with which it can be cared for, and the value it can add to a home or building.
Sources:
"What is a Parquet Floor?" WiseGeek. 2007. Conjecture Corporation. 11 July 2007.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-parquet-floor. htm
"Ask DIY Home Improvement - Parquet Flooring." DIY Network. 2007. Scripps Network, Inc. 11 July 2007.
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/hm_hi_flooring/art icle/0,2085,DIY_16826_3582743,00.html
"Parquetry." Answers.com. 2007. Answers Corporation. 11 July 2007. http://www.answers.com/topic/parquetry
"Installing Wood Flooring." Lowes.com. 2007. Lowe's. 11 July 2007.
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo& p=Improve/instwoodflooring.html#7
"How-To: Floors and Stairs - Wood Block/Parquet Floors." DIYnot.com. 2000-2007. DIYnot Limited. 12 July 2007. http://www.diynot.com/pages/fs/fs016.php
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