What is the difference between parquet and laminate

The most reliable and durable coating for a rough concrete screed is a thick and long board of solid wood. Its unique texture is combined with a decent service life, which is about 100 years with proper care, and price tags starting at $45 per m2. It is the latter that often becomes the reason to turn one’s attention to cheaper substitutes, which are sometimes impossible to distinguish.

Parquet

This is the same array, only in the form of small blocks. This approach made it possible to reduce the cost of flooring due to the possibility of processing gnarled trunks, unsuitable for the manufacture of long building materials. After all, creating a plank with a length from 15 to 90 cm, a width from 3 to 12 cm and a thickness of only 15-25 mm is easier than choosing a board with dimensions of 200 * 20 cm.

The appearance of parquet is influenced by the type of wood used in its manufacture. The cheapest will be knotty material of grades AB and C from local, and the most expensive will be “higher” or “extra” from imported exotic wood. The size of the bars also affects the final cost - the larger they are, the higher the prices ($20-32 per m2).

Parquet belongs to the category of expensive piece materials. Therefore, sometimes they try to replace it with a multi-layer, cheaper analogue, in which only the front decorative surface remains of natural wood. And although the price tag indicates “piece parquet,” this analogue does not have the durability and wear resistance characteristic of solid wood.

Laminate

A striking example of the progressiveness of the modern woodworking industry. Under the base panel there is a stabilization structure - melamine-impregnated paper. The “boards” are based on a thick layer of compressed fine-grained shavings bonded with synthetic resin—an HDF board. Thick paper with a pattern printed on it is responsible for the color and texture of the finished product. And the outer covering of this “pie” is a transparent protective layer. The final wear resistance of the laminate, which is indicated by two numbers, directly depends on the thickness and quality of the overlay:

• the first - purpose, is divided into household (2) and commercial (3);
• the second is strength from the lowest (1) for places with low traffic, to high resistance to abrasion under very heavy loads (4).

It should be understood that the stronger the laminate, the more expensive it is. Price tags are limited to the range from $4 to $50 per m2, while certified products cost from $8-12.

Parquet board

Another layered “pie”, different from the previous one in naturalness. The front side is made of thin (from 2 to 6 mm) solid wood coated with oil, varnish or wax. Underneath it is a supporting base made of plywood or cheap types of wood up to 9 mm thick. The reverse side is represented by a compensation layer, also made of wood. A characteristic feature of such a board is the mutually perpendicular arrangement of fibers in adjacent balls, which helps maintain geometry during operation and helps prevent deformation of individual elements of the floor covering. Price range: $20-50 per m2.

Key differences

Laminate flooring is very similar in appearance to its natural counterparts, but it cannot be cosmetically repaired: if any of the lamellas are damaged, they will have to be completely replaced. That’s why experts recommend buying it with a small reserve. Parquet and boards are more profitable in this regard - not only are they more durable, but they can also be updated as needed. This process is called scraping and involves opening deeper layers after removing 1-2 mm of the “tired” and dirty surface, which is then re-treated with protective agents.

Installing laminate flooring and planks is much easier than assembling parquet flooring that requires gluing to the subfloor. And they don’t need sanding, which is why they compare favorably with the last option. Panels assembled from lamellas or boards are visually virtually identical to each other, but have different moisture resistance and ability to absorb sound - in this regard, natural wood wins. It is imperative to lay a soundproofing underlay under the laminate.

It will not be possible to install a “warm floor” system under parquet; it is more susceptible to deformation due to temperature or humidity changes than its analogues. Another advantage is the absence of toxic substances in the composition of the bars. Thanks to this, owners can be confident that their floors are environmentally friendly - they just need to choose the right adhesives and protective compounds. But when making boards or laminates, unscrupulous manufacturers may use toxic substances. It is for this reason that before purchasing these materials it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the quality certificates.