What is the difference between parquet and parquet boards

When choosing a floor covering, buyers often pay attention to such qualities as environmental friendliness and durability. Both are inherent to varying degrees in parquet boards and parquet. To decide on the choice of coating for your home, you need to know their technical characteristics, differences and operating features. After all, these two materials, seemingly so similar in name and appearance, differ radically not only in price, but also in the complexity of installation and service life.

Characteristics of parquet, its advantages

Parquet is a durable material that, if properly used, will last for decades. This is due to the simplicity of its design. Each covering element is a solid wooden block of small dimensions (on average 7 x 60 x 300 mm). This ensures its reliability and ease of replacement of damaged areas. Among the main advantages of this coating are:

1. Long service life. This is due to the hard wood species that are used in the production of parquet (maple, beech, oak, wenge, ash, teak).
2. Good heat and sound insulation. The installation features and the thickness of the planks make the floor quite warm.
3. Strength. High resistance to mechanical damage is achieved by the simplicity of the design. If necessary, damaged strips can be easily replaced.
4. Possibility of creating any composition and pattern. A custom-made parquet floor will highlight the status of your home.

This coating also has some disadvantages, including high cost, installation complexity, and demanding operating conditions.

IMPORTANT! The parquet flooring is thick enough to be renewed many times by scraping. After varnishing it will be like new.

Features of parquet boards

Unlike parquet, this material does not consist of a single piece of wood, which affects its characteristics. This board is made of three layers - the top is decorative, the middle is stabilizing, and the bottom is load-bearing. This design makes it possible to reduce the use of expensive cladding material, significantly reducing production costs. In addition to cost, this coating has the following advantages:

• large dimensions compared to parquet (up to 15 by 250 cm), which significantly speeds up installation;
• environmental friendliness - the board is made of natural wood;
• the presence of a tongue-and-groove locking system, which makes installation much easier;
• no need for additional processing - such floors do not require sanding or varnishing, they are ready for use immediately after installation;
• greater resistance to temperature changes in the room.

The disadvantages include the fact that the presence of adhesives reduces resistance to moisture. Also, this coating is much less durable than parquet and is poorly resistant to mechanical loads.

Comparison of parquet and parquet boards: what is the difference

When choosing flooring for your home, you should understand that the simplicity of parquet design ensures a significantly longer service life. The thickness of the planks allows them to withstand significant loads. This also makes restoration possible - up to several times, unlike boards, where the thickness of the top layer is about 4 mm. Among the main differences between these materials:

1. Environmental friendliness. This figure for parquet boards is slightly lower due to the presence of glue.
2. Difficult to install. Large boards have a locking system and are much easier to install.
3. Surface requirements. Parquet is very demanding on the surface on which it will be installed. For it you need to make a screed and lay plywood. Small irregularities will reduce the life and quality of service of this coating.
4. Variability of laying schemes and patterns. Large boards do not allow you to create any complex patterns. With parquet, things are different. The ability to lay out different patterns in combination with a large selection of wood types allows you to turn your floor into a real work of art.
5. Need for additional processing. The board arrives from the factory ready-made, which not only speeds up the installation process, but also allows you to accurately evaluate and imagine the appearance of the future floor.

Both coatings require special attention in terms of operation and maintenance. They are temperature sensitive. Cleaning should not be very wet and should be carried out with special detergents.

REFERENCE! Parquet is a coating that is much more expensive than parquet boards. If the floor is made by a good designer, the pattern and types of wood used are chosen correctly, it will certainly emphasize the elite status of the home.

What to choose

When choosing a floor covering, you need to take into account several factors, including price, expected service life, interior style and others. Choose parquet if you want:

• make a floor that will last for decades;
• so that the house has an environmentally friendly coating made of 100% natural material, durable and resistant to mechanical damage;
• be able to create a unique pattern that will decorate the interior;
• emphasize the elite status of your home;
• restore the floor as much as necessary, while changing its shade using other varnishes, oils and stains.

Parquet boards will be a good choice if:

• the need to reduce costs for the material itself and its installation;
• the ability or need to replace the coating in a few years;
• if you need to install it yourself;
• if you want to make a floor with the texture of rare wood species.

Whatever option you choose, in any case you will receive an environmentally friendly, high-quality, stylish and elegant-looking coating. This floor will delight you with its appearance and complement the atmosphere of your home with warmth and comfort.