Parquet Floor Tiles

Hardwood flooring is undoubtedly the most elegant and chic type of flooring. However, if you want to know what the epitome of elegance means, you should see parquet flooring. It is the most intricately crafted form of hardwood flooring. It was not called the favorite of kings and wealthy for nothing! Parquet floor tiles are a piece of art hence, were outrageously expensive earlier. However, in the second half of twentieth century they came within the reach of commoners and could be extensively seen in homes built in 50's and 60's.

Patterns

They are made from different pieces of wood with varied grains and patterns. These different patterned tiles are laid side by side to create a very dramatic effect. For making parquet floor tiles, wood from any tree can be used. However, oak tiles look particularly enticing. There are various patterns in which wood tiles can be arranged. Herringbone, basket, chevron and brick are some commonly preferred patterns in parquet flooring. In addition, geometric patterns and large ornate or floral patterns also look equally charming. Sometimes, parquet tiles can be selected such that they only vary slightly in grain pattern or color. This gives a very subtle yet eye-catching appearance to your flooring.

Installation

Parquet tiles are very lightweight and easy to install. Cheaper parquet tiles are called veneer parquet tiles as they have a strip of high quality wood affixed to a particleboard. Parquet tiles also come in laminate material. Typically, parquet tiles come in the form of tongue and groove attachment which simplifies the task of laying tiles. However, one needs to take care of the desired pattern and grains while laying tiles. Wood grain naturally shows a lot of variation, hence it is recommended that you combine tiles from several boxes and then lay them randomly. This offers a more natural look to your flooring in terms of color and grain. Before laying the tiles, find out the center of the room. Make a square marking at this point. This enables you to lay the tiles at exact right angles. The tongue-groove attachment may take some time getting used to, but with practice you can do better. If you have irregularly shaped room or arched walls or any other focal point which you wish to bring to notice, then follow a distinct pattern for this area, so that it stands out from the rest of the room.

Maintenance

Parquet floor tiles are generally resistant to rough usage and staining. A daily routine of sweeping or vacuuming along with wet mopping is sufficient to keep your parquet floors sparkling clean. However, avoid soaking your wood flooring with water, as it may adversely affect the parquet tiles. Place area rugs or door mats at entry points to prevent your flooring from getting dirty due to heavy foot traffic. If your tiles start showing signs of wearing you can consider refinishing your flooring. Most quality parquet floor tiles will allow you to refinish them a number of times before actually replacing them. Veneer tiles can be refinished only once or twice while laminate parquet tiles cannot be refinished at all. Before refinishing hardwood floors do take into account the type of finish on your tiles. Old flooring will typically have lacquer, varnish or shellac finish while recent ones will have polyurethane coating. Accordingly, choose your refinishing material.

Thus, parquet flooring is an elegant, convenient and easy to maintain flooring option. So, if you wish to add to the value of your home, this flooring is definitely the way to go.