re:design

For centuries we have looked for ways to give depth and character to the rooms we live in, and wood flooring has stayed close to the top of that list, because it suits almost any space and it lasts.

Parquet is wood flooring made from small pieces arranged in geometric patterns: herringbone, chevron, Versailles panels and their many variations. It began in the great houses of Europe, and it remains a sign of quality and craftsmanship in homes and commercial spaces alike. Today it comes in two constructions, solid and engineered, and the choice between them matters more than most people expect.

The short answer

• Solid parquet is wood all the way through: each block is a single piece of hardwood.
• Engineered parquet has a top layer of real hardwood bonded to a stable core, usually plywood or softwood.
• Over underfloor heating, engineered is the usual choice, because it moves less as the floor warms and cools.
• In a classic room without underfloor heating, solid parquet gives you the full depth of hardwood to sand and refinish over the decades.
• Once laid, they look the same. The surface you walk on is real hardwood either way.

What is solid parquet flooring?

Solid parquet is a natural timber floor made from solid wood blocks. Each block is cut from one piece of hardwood, most often oak, and the blocks are laid one by one into the pattern, usually bonded to a prepared subfloor.

It is the favourite of people who want the real thing all the way through. It is a traditional floor with a long life: when the surface is worn it can be sanded back and refinished, and it brings the weight of an old house into a new one.

What is engineered parquet flooring?

Engineered parquet is built in layers. A top layer of real hardwood, the part you see and walk on, is bonded to a core of plywood or softwood. The core holds the board still, and the top layer gives the floor its looks, so once it is down an engineered parquet floor reads exactly like solid wood.

Wood in its natural state swells and shrinks as moisture and temperature change. The layered core resists that movement, which is why engineered flooring is the usual choice over underfloor heating, and in rooms where humidity rises and falls through the day, such as kitchens. Many engineered parquet floors also arrive with the pattern already assembled into larger panels, so they go down faster than loose blocks.

Which one suits your room?

The decision rests on two things: the construction of the floor, and where in the house it is going.

Underfloor heating

Choose engineered. Its core moves far less as the floor heats and cools. Whichever floor you choose, keep its temperature at or below 27°C, the maximum the floor covering industry works to, and bring the heating up slowly the first time.

Kitchens and changeable rooms

Engineered again, for the same reason: a kitchen's humidity changes every day. Wipe spills up promptly whatever you choose. No wood floor, solid or engineered, should be left wet.

A classic room without underfloor heating

Solid parquet. If the room has steady conditions and you want a traditional floor with the longest working life, solid blocks give you the full depth of hardwood to sand and refinish for generations.

When solid wood moves too much

Because it is wood all the way through, solid parquet responds more to its surroundings. A little seasonal movement is normal: the blocks tighten in damp months and ease in dry ones. Trouble starts when the change is extreme, with open gaps, or blocks that cup or bow and leave the floor draughty underfoot. Letting the wood acclimatise, laying it on a dry subfloor and keeping the heating steady prevent most of it.

Looks, lifespan and fitting

If you prefer a classic, traditional floor with the longest lifespan, you can't go wrong with solid parquet. If you need stability, or a quicker installation, engineered parquet gives you the same look with less risk. A natural, rustic surface, whether aged, reclaimed or hand-finished, is available in both, in a wide range of species, colours and finishes.

Whichever you choose, the fitter matters as much as the floor. An experienced installer prepares the subfloor, lets the wood acclimatise and sets out the pattern so it stays true from one wall to the other. Do that, and either floor will give you decades of quiet pleasure.

Engineered vs Solid Parquet FAQs

Is engineered parquet real wood?

Yes. The top layer is solid hardwood, and that is the only part you see or walk on. The difference is the core beneath it, which is built in layers for stability.

Can you put solid parquet over underfloor heating?

It can be done in some cases, but engineered parquet is the safer choice because it moves less as the floor heats and cools. If you prefer solid, ask the maker to confirm in writing that the floor is approved for underfloor heating, and keep the floor at or below 27°C.

Which lasts longer, solid or engineered parquet?

Usually solid, because the whole block is hardwood and can be sanded back more times. An engineered floor with a thick hardwood top layer can still last for generations.

Can engineered parquet be sanded?

Yes, if the hardwood top layer is thick enough. The thicker that layer, the more times the floor can be sanded and refinished over its life.

Which is better for a kitchen?

Engineered, because a kitchen's humidity changes through the day and an engineered core keeps the floor stable. Wipe spills promptly either way.

Re:sources

1. Altro, Flooring and underfloor heating: technical installation guide: the industry-agreed 27°C maximum and gradual warm-up.
2. Re:claimed Journal, American Oak vs European Oak: Key Differences: how much each oak moves with humidity.