Engineered Parquet Flooring

Engineered parquet gives you the traditional herringbone or chevron look built on a stable multi-layer core, so the individual blocks are less prone to the movement solid parquet can show as temperature and humidity change through the year. The range covers oak, walnut, maple and other species, mostly in block widths from 70mm to 150mm and thicknesses from 9mm to 20mm.

Patterns

• Herringbone — the classic zigzag layout, at home in both period and contemporary rooms
• Chevron — angled block ends form a continuous "V" line, giving a more graphic, formal look
• Versailles panels — larger pre-assembled square panels for a more ornate, traditional finish

Grade and finish

Prime grade boards have a cleaner, more uniform look with fewer knots, while rustic grades show more natural character, including knots and colour variation, which suits a less formal room.

On finish: lacquered parquet is easier to keep clean day to day, while oiled parquet shows off the wood's natural tone more and is easier to spot-repair, though it needs occasional reoiling to stay protected.

Fitting

• Click-lock — quicker to fit, realistic for a confident DIY installation
• Glue-down — gives a fully rigid floor, generally the better choice for an intricate herringbone or chevron layout where you want zero movement between blocks while the pattern beds in

Where it works

The multi-layer core makes engineered parquet more dimensionally stable than solid parquet blocks, so it holds up better to the humidity changes in a typical London home. It suits living rooms, hallways and dining rooms particularly well, where the pattern has room to read properly, though very small or heavily broken-up rooms can make an intricate pattern like herringbone harder to appreciate.

Samples and ordering

Free samples are available by post, or come and see the patterns laid out in person at our NW2 North London showroom, open Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm. We've supplied London homes with real wood flooring for over 20 years and offer trade accounts alongside standard online ordering.

FAQ

What's the difference between herringbone and chevron parquet?
Herringbone blocks are laid with square-cut ends, creating a zigzag pattern. Chevron blocks have angled ends that meet in a continuous point, forming a straighter "V" line.

Is engineered parquet more stable than solid parquet?
Yes. The multi-layer core resists warping and gapping better than solid wood blocks, particularly as humidity and temperature shift through the year.

Can engineered parquet be glued down instead of floated?
Yes, most ranges support glue-down fitting, which is often preferred for herringbone and chevron layouts since it keeps the pattern from shifting.

Can engineered parquet be refinished?
It depends on the wear layer thickness. Boards with a thicker top layer can be sanded and refinished; thinner wear layers offer less scope for this.