Once the type of wood and the sizes and dimensions to be used in your parquet floor have been chosen, it is time to lay it. The method to be used must be decided before the parquet is ordered, since this also affects the quantity required.
The laying of parquet is a delicate, complicated operation: specialists should always be called in. Otherwise there is the risk that the carefully chosen material, amongst the finest on the market and at the state of the art, may be ruined by unprofessional installation.
This aside, there are two factors involved in laying: the pattern and the method. While the former is a matter of appearance, the laying method depends on the existing substrate and technical constraints.
THE LAYING GEOMETRY
The laying geometry is the pattern created by the combination of the single elements which will make up your parquet floor. The variety of laying geometries is vast; in theory, the only limiting factor is your own imagination. Your parquet’s final appearance depends on a large number of factors: the size of the wooden blocks or strips, the use of a geometrical or non-geometrical layout, and the inventiveness brought to bear when choosing the combinations. In general, laying geometries running parallel to the walls generate less waste (about 4/5%); for diagonal patterns, about an extra 10% should be ordered to allow for waste.
When ordering your parquet it is important not to forget the skirting-board: these finishing pieces are not only installed for reasons of appearance; above all, they cover the gap which will be left during laying to allow for expansion of the parquet, and any expansion joints.
Laying geometries depend on the shape of the wooden pieces: strips and boards in general, which are longer in shape, are best used for fairly uniform layouts, such as regular bridge deck laying, where the boards are arranged to form horizontal or diagonal strips, or irregular bridge deck patterns, where the arrangement is more varied. One of the most uniform laying geometries is herringbone: the pieces are smaller in size and this allows the creation of more complex shapes, also combining woods of different types, shades and colours if wished.
LAYING METHODS
The choice of laying method depends on the type of location in which the new parquet floor is to be laid. The choice is wider if there are no constraints with regard to thickness, with a choice of floating or adhesive installation. There are two main methods for laying pre-finished parquet: floating laying or installation with adhesive.
The most popular choice is normally laying with adhesive, which gives greater stability since the parquet boards are fixed and glued to the underlying floor or screed. This is the most advisable laying method when an underfloor heating system is installed, because no air gap is left between the screed and the parquet boards, meaning that no heat is lost.
There is also the option of the floating laying method, which allows the underlying floor to be left intact. In this laying method, the parquet boards are just rested on the substrate and secured firmly in place by a thin coat of adhesive applied to the joints. In this case, a padding layer should be included between the existing floor and the parquet; this may provide soundproofing or thermal insulation, or act as a barrier against damp.
Regardless of the laying method chosen, the substrate is a fundamental factor: it must be in excellent condition and thus firm, crack-free, cured and dry, smooth and clean. The room temperature must not be below 18°/22° and the humidity must be between 45% and 65%.
We have provided a brief overview of the laying alternatives, and touched on vast, complex technical topics. For all further information, please visit the Berti FAQ for answers to all the most frequent questions about parquet. And, naturally, to the upcoming episodes of Berti tips, in which we will be discussing some of the subjects mentioned in greater detail.
Print