The floor is one of those interior design elements that has the power to transform an apartment from meh to wow ! The choice of flooring is a very important decision on which the style and decor of your home depend. If you want to give a touch of warmth and style to your spaces, indoor parquet is always a great choice.

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There are hundreds of varieties of parquet on the market that are distinguished by quality, styles, colors and prices. But how do you choose the best parquet flooring in the midst of such a vast offer?

In this article we offer you 5 tips to help you choose the right parquet for your floors.

The first question to ask: parquet or laminate?

The first question many people ask themselves when choosing a floor is: is parquet or laminate better? To understand which one is right for you, it’s important to understand the difference.

What is parquet?

The parquet floor is made up of assembled wooden boards whose surface is painted. The parquet is composed of several layers of wood, with a thickness that can vary from 11 to 15 cm depending on the manufacturer. The last layer of a parquet floor is a hardwood layer, usually between 3.5 and 4 mm thick, but can be up to 9 mm. Quality parquet, which has a thicker “noble” layer, is naturally more expensive but will last for many years. The parquet can be of different types of wood, which differ in strength and color. The most popular are pine, oak, beech, ipe, teak, cherry and maple parquet.

What is laminate?

Laminate floors are not made of solid wood and are therefore cheaper. In addition to the price, they have two attractive points: they are resistant and easy to maintain. They are composed of several layers of melamine and pressed HDF , while the top layer is a high resolution image of real wood. Another advantage of the laminate is the ease of installation. The most used laying system is the click one: the parquet boards are joined together without the need to glue the joints. Furthermore, it can be laid on any floor if it is well leveled and it is possible to walk on it during installation.

5 tips for choosing the best parquet flooring

Flooring plays an essential role in defining the design and style of your home, and in this sense natural wood parquet is an excellent choice. The wooden parquet is bright and gives every room an elegant and welcoming aspect . Don’t overlook factors like design, texture, color and quality if you want the end result to be noteworthy. How to do? Here are 5 tips to get you started:

1. The color of the parquet must be suitable for your rooms

In general, wooden floors are divided into light, medium and dark . Before deciding on the sidelines, there are a few things you should think about. Consider the size of your home, the amount of natural light entering through the windows, and your personal style. If you have a large and bright apartment, almost any parquet color will be suitable. If, on the other hand, yours is a small and not too bright space, it is better to choose a light parquet.

Don’t forget to consider the style and color of your furniture: a good combination of parquet and furniture colors is crucial for the harmony of the space.

2. The parquet design must fit your style

Parquet floors are made up of pieces of wood arranged in a mosaic. The composition of the parquet dowels can be the classic one (irregular formwork and regular formwork) or more creative and give life to interesting geometries : from herringbone to Hungarian spine, from strip and rib to check installation up to the most complicated artistic poses. If you prefer complex and creative decorative motifs, you will need to plan your parquet design very well and in advance.

3. Not all parquet floors are the same

Another factor to consider when choosing parquet for your floors is the type of installation. Depending on the type of parquet and the material, you will be offered three types of laying:

  1. Floating installation.

It is the most popular, simple and economical type of parquet installation. A layer of sound insulation (cork or wood fiber panel) and a polyethylene sheet are placed on the existing floor. The pieces of parquet are mounted above.

  1. Glued installation.

The parquet dowels are glued directly to the substrate of the floor. Guarantees excellent results and longer life.

  1. Pose nailed.

This is the most complicated and expensive installation. It consists in laying a base of wooden elements on a concrete screed; the pieces of parquet are then nailed to this.

4. Be careful not to go over your budget

When choosing the best parquet for your floor you should always keep your budget in mind. It seems obvious, but remember that there are many factors that influence the price of parquet and the material is only the first.

Once you have made the calculations on the material, take into account the price of the installation, which also depends on the quality, the degree of finish, the type of surface, the preparation and the hourly price of labor.

To give you a general idea, parquet can cost between 40 and 90 euros per square meter depending on the type of wood you choose.

The laying of the floating parquet is the cheapest, it is around 10 euros per square meter of installation, while the price of the glued installation is about double.

To these prices you must add, if necessary, other extras: the removal of the previous floor, the removal or addition of skirting boards, the leveling of the floor …

5. Rely on an expert in parquet installation

Yes, on the web you will find dozens of video tutorials for DIY parquet installation.
But is it really a good idea? Laying a parquet, designing it to your taste, taking care of extras such as removing previous floors or skirting boards are all tasks that will take a lot of time and energy. When choosing the best parquet for your floors, also include the work of a parquet installer or installer: you will not regret it and you can enjoy your new parquet floor without stress.

Check out the PRO profiles on Jopla if you are looking for an experienced parqueter in your area : you can immediately evaluate the hourly rate, level of experience and proximity and have your parquet ready in no time!