How modern parquet installation is carried out

Parquet is one of the most reliable, time-tested, environmentally friendly types of flooring. The secret of popularity is high strength, good sound insulation, and durability. No other material looks as aristocratic and stylish as polished parquet.

Modern styling methods

Centuries change, materials change, time makes adjustments to the methods of laying and installing parquet. Currently there are three of them:

1. Glue. Used if the substrate is plywood. The adhesive composition is selected for each type of wood. Apply the thick solution with a notched trowel. Prevents carrying out any work until the glue dries. But the main advantage is the reliable fastening of the planks to the base.
2. Floating. The planks are attached to each other using locking fasteners located on each of them. Does not require the use of glue or additional attachment to the substrate. It’s easy to learn, you can always take apart the part you don’t like. But if one plank pops out, then in order to avoid complete destruction of the masonry, it must be urgently restored.
3. Fastening with nails. The boards are attached to the substrate (plywood) using mechanical fasteners. Rarely used by masters; preference is given to the first two.

How to lay parquet correctly

Laying parquet, like most serious processes, has nuances that must be observed:

• the room temperature should be maintained at 18–23˚С, with an air humidity of 55–60%;
• do not rush to start work, the material needs to rest for at least a week;
• no work should be carried out in the room, it should be empty;
• the base where the board will be placed must be carefully prepared and cleaned - if you put it on an old, swollen base, you can deliberately shorten the service life of the parquet.

If you comply with the installation and installation requirements for parquet, and if you properly care for it in a timely manner, then the coating will last for 70 years or more.

Choosing a base for parquet

The basis for laying parquet can be a new or previously used surface. If the surface is new, then all stages should be carried out taking into account the final laying of the boards. When renewing old flooring, it must be thoroughly inspected. In order for the parquet to be pleasing for a long time, it is necessary to perfectly level it, smooth out irregularities and bumps, and clean off dust and dirt.

Small irregularities are simply smoothed off, large ones are leveled with special leveling compounds. If the humidity is exceeded, use a vapor barrier film, which is overlapped to cover the floor. The joints are taped with tape. It is possible to create this effect using a special primer.

Next, you should inspect for the presence of rot and destruction of old joists and subfloors. If necessary, replace with new ones. As a result, the floor will be a multi-layer cake made of concrete coating, logs, moisture-resistant plywood, a layer of glue and the parquet itself.

IMPORTANT! It is advisable to use plywood with a thickness of 10–15 mm for the subfloor. Install the sheets so that there are small gaps between them.Compensation gaps are also left along the walls.

Laying parquet: instructions

The eyes are afraid, the hands are busy - this is what you can say about the process of laying parquet. If the stages are carried out carefully, observing the rules and regulations, and you work carefully and carefully, then the parquet will delight you with its aristocratic pattern for a long time. The technology is as follows:

1. Preparing the rough foundation. Level the surface using any screed method - wet, dry. This will not affect the final result. The surface must be smooth and clean. It is convenient to use a grinding machine; dust and dirt can be removed with a vacuum cleaner. Pay special attention to areas near walls and corners.
2. Creation of a waterproofing layer. This can be done using polyethylene film, 200 microns thick, or a special primer.
3. Laying foamed polyethylene. It creates a thermal insulation layer and performs sound insulation functions. The sheets are glued - they need to be laid close to each other, and, for better gluing to the substrate, rolled with a heavy roller.

The foundation has been laid, let's move on to installation. It is necessary to lay parquet following the step-by-step instructions:

1. You need to start with the longest wall; parquet flooring is laid along it. We leave a small distance from the board to the wall (about 8 mm), which will then be covered with a plinth. Use wedges. The boards are placed on the adhesive solution.
2. Follow the previously chosen pattern, cut off everything that gets in the way. When connecting boards, you need to press forward and slightly downward. When connecting, a soft click of the lock is heard. We continue to assemble the parquet.
3. After installation is complete, remove the wedges and cut off excess heat-insulating material.
4. When the glue has dried, the blocks are sanded with a machine and puttyed with a special compound. When the layer dries, the surface is sanded again. Next, the floor is covered with parquet varnish and finally polished.

IMPORTANT! Remember: the material is capricious and requires proper care. He doesn't like water, so you can't wash him with a wet cloth or spill any liquid. From time to time it is necessary to rub with special compounds, promptly rub and repair.

This is how the parquet floor is installed, step by step. If you comply with all the requirements and standards, then the task will not be difficult to cope with. But don’t forget - styling is half the battle, the main thing is not to forget to regularly and properly care for it.