Parquet! This word immediately gives birth to images of an elegant, refined room, in which a shiny warm floor asks to walk on it.

For each of us who has ever faced the need to choose a floor covering and went through the options, it was a sinful thing to think: “Maybe it’s parquet after all?”. But then we brush aside, they say, expensive, and why, are we in a French castle? We choose a simpler material, for example, laminate, and we only remember the parquet as an unattainable dream.

To debunk vague ideas and dreams about “the very material”, let’s cool our heads and figure out why many people dream of it, what are the advantages of parquet over other options for flooring, and, really, is it worth it?

First, you need to understand what this parquet of yours is and what it is eaten with, or rather, what it is made of.

Parquet is a glued board. It consists of several layers of wood, and these layers are stacked in different fiber directions. Three layers are conventionally divided: lower, middle, and top. For the lower and middle ones, as a rule, inexpensive softwood is used, such as pine or spruce. The front layer, first of all, is responsible for the aesthetic appearance and durability, therefore, valuable species are used for these purposes: oak, birch, walnut, olive, mahogany, ash, beech, and others.

Already at this stage of the review, you can understand that since the parquet is made of wood, it automatically becomes a 100% environmentally friendly option. This is the first plus of this material.

Another positive side is noise absorption. Did you drop something on your laminate? Rumble and echo throughout the room. Did something fall on the parquet floor? There will be no such negative effect, and you will not wake up the whole family in the middle of the night.

Have you ever come across the phrase “a warm wood floor”? So, of course, this is not at all about heating, and this is not just a nice turn of speech to embellish reality. Low thermal conductivity of wood has been proven by scientists. Simply put, this means that if you open a window in winter, the parquet will not become cold, but will maintain its temperature. The same cannot be said about laminate flooring, for example, which will immediately get colder.

Parquet can be called a truly age-old option. Contrary to stereotypes, well-laid parquet does not creak, half-finger gaps do not form between the boards, it does not dry out. Yes, the parquet can and should be updated over time, that is, remove the top layer less than a millimeter wide, but at the same time, you can update the color scheme, for example, or cover it with another layer of oil. Everything can be adjusted to suit your interior, which could have changed over the years.

It is a well-known fact that wood is a dielectric, but what does this mean for us, ordinary people, who want to achieve coziness and comfort in their home? Everything is very simple – parquet does not generate static electricity, which means that after cleaning, dust and other small particles will not be attracted to it. Cleanliness will remain longer, and if you are allergic, then this property will definitely not aggravate your well-being.

Now there are two ways to install parquet flooring: fastening and gluing. Contact a specialist, because s[ecialised professionals know the intricacies of their craft and individual features of handling wood.

Now is the time to talk about the most sensitive issue concerning parquet – its cost. It can be different, depending on the size of the wood, species (these are the most significant factors), or the method of processing, as well as the type of coating – varnish or oil. But, in any case, this is not a cheap pleasure.

The answer is yes if you plan to live in this room for more than one decade, you want to choose the most environmentally friendly solution, your choice is a classic style, and, of course, you have the means.

The answer is no if you do not need a long service life, you cannot afford an expensive pleasure, your interior is far from a classic, or you plan to lay carpet in addition to the floor covering the entire room.

In addition to the legendary parquet, there are many options for the floor: laminate, linoleum, ceramic tiles, cork, self-leveling floor, and everyone can choose something more suitable for themselves in terms of price, properties, or even just appearance.