Parquet Flooring

Solid parquet is real wood all the way through, not a veneer over a core, which is why floors laid a century ago are still being restored and resanded today. This range is oak and merbau, in herringbone blocks and mosaic finger panels, in prime or rustic grade, with thicknesses of 8mm, 18mm and 22mm.

Herringbone blocks vs mosaic finger panels

• Herringbone blocks — individual solid wood blocks laid in the classic zigzag, giving you full control over the exact layout as it's fitted
• Mosaic finger panels — pre-assembled square panels made up of smaller wood "fingers," which speeds up installation since each panel covers more ground in one placement

Grade

Prime grade has a cleaner, more uniform look with minimal knots, suited to a formal or contemporary room. Rustic grade shows more natural character, including knots, colour variation and some sapwood, which reads as warmer and less uniform.

Finish

Most of this range comes unfinished, which means it's sanded and sealed on site after fitting rather than pre-finished at the factory. That's more work upfront, but it gives a completely seamless, flat surface across the whole floor with no bevelled edges between blocks. Lacquered and oiled options are also available for a factory-finished floor that's ready to walk on as soon as it's laid.

Fitting and refinishing

Solid parquet is fitted by gluing or nailing directly to a suitable subfloor, not floated, since the blocks need to be fully bonded down to stay stable in a geometric pattern. Because there's no veneer to sand through, a solid parquet floor can be resanded and refinished many times over its life, which is part of why original parquet floors from the early 1900s are still being restored rather than replaced.

Samples and ordering

Free samples are available by post, or come and see the blocks and finishes 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 solid parquet and engineered parquet?
Solid parquet blocks are real wood all the way through and can be resanded many times over decades. Engineered parquet has a real wood surface over a multi-layer core, which is more stable but has less scope for refinishing.

Can solid parquet be laid over underfloor heating?
Generally not recommended. Solid wood moves more with temperature changes than engineered wood, making it a less reliable choice over UFH.

Why is most solid parquet sold unfinished?
Unfinished blocks are sanded and sealed as one continuous surface after fitting, giving a completely flat, seamless floor without the slight bevel you get between pre-finished boards.

How long does a solid parquet floor last?
With proper care, decades. Many original parquet floors laid in the early 20th century are still in use today after being resanded and refinished.