Oak Parquet Flooring

Oak parquet patterns

• Herringbone: rectangular blocks laid at right angles in a zigzag. Lively and timeless; the most popular pattern.
• Chevron: blocks cut at an angle so the ends meet in a point, forming a continuous V. Sleek and elegant.
• Double and triple herringbone: blocks laid in pairs or threes, a bolder look for larger rooms.
• Basketweave and block: squares of parallel blocks at right angles, a traditional geometric pattern.
• Borders: a frame of blocks round the edge of a room, a traditional finishing touch.

Solid or engineered oak parquet?

Solid oak parquet: each block is solid oak through its whole thickness. It can be sanded many times over its life, but moves more with humidity, so it is usually glued to a dry, stable subfloor and is less suited to underfloor heating. Engineered oak parquet: a real oak top layer on a stable core. It moves much less, suits concrete, underfloor heating and kitchens, and is often available with click joints. Check the top layer depth: it decides how often the floor can be sanded.

How to choose oak parquet

Grade

Prime and select: few knots, even colour; calm and refined. Natural: some knots and variation; the most popular. Rustic: bold knots and colour variation; characterful and forgiving of wear.

Finish

Oiled: a natural, matt look that is easy to spot-repair. Lacquered: a tougher surface layer that needs less maintenance. Unfinished: sanded and finished on site, for a seamless, custom colour.

Tone

Natural oak is warm and classic; white-oiled and light oak are bright and Scandi; smoked and dark oak are rich and dramatic; grey oak is modern.

Block size

Larger blocks suit large rooms and modern homes; smaller, traditional blocks suit period homes and hallways.

Where oak parquet works

Living rooms, dining rooms, hallways and bedrooms are ideal. Engineered parquet can go in kitchens with a durable finish; see parquet kitchen flooring. Never lay wood parquet in a bathroom; for a wet room, choose a parquet vinyl instead.

Planning an oak parquet floor

Run the pattern along the main line of sight, such as from the front door or towards the main window, and start from a centre line so the cut blocks are even at both walls. Order 10% to 15% extra for cutting waste, more for small rooms and borders; our measuring guide explains how.

Fitting oak parquet

Parquet is usually glued down with a wood floor adhesive to a dry, flat, primed subfloor; click engineered parquet can float over an underlay. Acclimatise the blocks, keep left and right blocks separate and leave an expansion gap at the walls. Pattern floors take skill: most people use an experienced fitter. Our installation guides explain the steps.

Comparing samples at home

Order free samples of two or three options and put them on the floor of the room where they will be laid. Look at them in daylight and in the evening under your own lamps, next to the walls, skirting, units and furniture they will sit with. Colours and textures look different in every room and on every screen, so a few minutes with real samples is the best way to avoid a costly mistake. Stand back as well as looking close up: a floor is mostly seen from standing height and from the doorway.

Looking after oak parquet

Vacuum regularly, use felt pads, door mats and a pH-neutral wood floor cleaner, and refresh oiled floors with wood floor oil when they look dry.

Common mistakes

• Starting the pattern from a wall that is not square.
• Solid parquet over underfloor heating it is not approved for.
• Ordering only 5% extra for a pattern floor.