People have loved parquet flooring for a long time because of its classic beauty and complex designs. This standard type of flooring can make any home feel cosier, more unique, and more valuable. If you want to put parquet flooring in your room, you need to know how the process works and what to expect. This complete guide will give you all the information you need at every step of the installation process, from getting ready to taking care of things afterward.
Things to think about before installation
There are a few important things to think about before the real installation of parquet flooring starts. Prior to anything else, you need to pick the kind of parquet flooring that fits your wants and tastes the best. Take your time looking at the different types of wood, designs, and finishes that come in parquet flooring.
Once you’ve chosen the parquet flooring you want, it’s important to let the wood get used to the conditions in your home. The parquet flooring is stored in the room where it will be placed. This process usually takes 48 to 72 hours. Acclimatisation helps keep problems like bending or gaps from happening after installation.
You should also get the subfloor ready at this point. The ground has to be clean, dry, and level before the parquet flooring is put down. Taking up any old flooring and fixing any problems with the basement are the first things that should be done. To make the surface smooth, this could mean filling in cracks, sanding down high spots, or using a self-leveling product.
It’s important to remember that installing parquet flooring needs certain temperatures and levels of humidity. That’s right, the room should be 18°C to 24°C and the relative humidity should be between 45% and 65%. For the best results, these conditions should be kept up not only during installation but also for a few days before and after.
How the installation works
You can expect a lot of action in your home on the day of the installation. The installation team will come with all the tools and materials they need, such as the parquet flooring pieces, glue, and products for finishing.
The first thing that needs to be done to place parquet flooring is to put down a moisture barrier. This is very important if you’re putting the wood down over a concrete base because it keeps water from getting in and damaging the wood. The moisture barrier will be put in place first, and then the parquet flooring pieces will be laid out.
A certain pattern, like herringbone, basket weave, or chevron, is often used to put parquet flooring. The workers will begin in the middle of the room and work their way out, making sure the pattern stays the same the whole time. Each piece of parquet flooring is put down carefully and held in place with a strong glue.
You’ll be able to see the beautiful pattern of your parquet flooring come to life as the work goes on. The installers will take their time and cut the pieces to fit around things like doors, built-in furniture, and rooms with odd shapes. This careful work is necessary to get a perfect finish that shows off the beauty of the parquet flooring.
The glue needs time to dry after all the parquet flooring pieces are in place. This could take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours, so don’t walk on the brand-new floor during that time. During this curing time, it’s important to keep the temperature and humidity at the right levels to make sure the bond is strong.
The next step in installing parquet flooring is cleaning, which needs to be done after the glue has fully dried. This step is very important for making sure that the whole floor has a smooth, even surface. Professional-grade sanders will be used by the workers to carefully smooth out any small differences in height between the different pieces of parquet flooring.
After being sanded, the parquet flooring will be cleaned very well to get rid of all the dust and dirt. This gets the area ready for the last step, which is to put on the finish. Depending on your tastes and the type of wood used, this could mean staining the parquet flooring to get a certain colour or just sealing it with a clear protective coating.
Usually, there are several coats of finish, and there is time for each one to dry between applications. This step not only makes your parquet flooring look better, but it also protects it from damage from spills, wear and tear, and UV light.
Care and maintenance after installation
Once you’re done installing your parquet flooring, you should give the finish enough time to fully cure before you start using the floor normally. Based on the type of finish used, this drying time can be anywhere from 24 hours to a few days.
You can start loving your beautiful new parquet flooring after the curing time is over. But it’s important to know how to take care of and manage your investment so that it lasts as long as possible and keeps its good looks.
To keep parquet flooring in good shape, you should sweep or hoover it to get rid of dust and dirt and wet mop it every once in a while with a cleaner that is safe for wood. When cleaning parquet flooring, it’s important not to use too much water because water can damage the wood.
If you don’t want to scratch or dent your parquet flooring, put felt pads under the legs of your furniture and don’t walk on it in high heels or shoes with hard soles. Area mats can be used to protect floors that get a lot of foot traffic.
Your parquet flooring may get small scratches or lose some of its shine over time. Most of the time, these problems can be fixed by cleaning. The top layer of the parquet flooring is sanded down and a new finish is applied. This brings the floor back to its original beauty.
Possible Problems and Ways to Fix Them
Even though parquet flooring installation by professionals usually goes well, it’s good to be aware of problems that could happen. One problem that often comes up is that problems with the subfloor are found during the planning phase. This could include problems like too much water, unevenness, or weak spots in the structure. Fixing these issues may add time and money to the project, but it’s necessary to make sure your parquet flooring lasts and works well.
The chosen parquet flooring design is also likely to be hard to install because it is complicated. It might take longer to finish a project if the designs are complicated and need more time and skill to install properly. Talking to the installation team ahead of time about how complicated the pattern you want is a good way to set realistic goals for the time it will take.
Problems can also arise when installing parquet flooring because of things in the environment. Extreme temps or humidity levels can change the wood and the glue, which could cause problems like gaps or buckles. This is why it’s important to keep the surroundings stable before, during, and after installation.
Finally, it’s important to know that putting down parquet flooring can be noisy and messy. Professional installers will do their best to cause as little trouble as possible and clean up completely after themselves, but you should still expect some problems during the installation time.
In conclusion
The installation of parquet flooring is a big home improvement job that can make your space look and feel much better. If you know what to expect during the installation process, you can go into the job with confidence and make sure the best result.
Choosing the right parquet flooring and taking care of it after installation are all very important steps that must be taken to get a beautiful result. There may be problems along the way, but the beautiful, long-lasting, and classic parquet floor that you get at the end is well worth the time and work.
Remember that the best way to get the most out of your parquet flooring is to have it installed by a professional. Professional workers have the skills, tools, and knowledge to handle the tricky process of putting down parquet flooring. This will make sure that your new floor is something you’ll be proud of and enjoy for years to come.