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You have questions, we have answers. Explore the most frequently asked questions about patterned wood flooring below. Need assistance or want to know more? Contact Carlisle or call 800-595-9663 today to get all your inquiries answered.
Patterned floors, known as parquet flooring, have been a popular residential design feature since the 17th century. While there are many different types of parquet floors, the most common patterns are Herringbone, Chevron and Versailles. None of these patterns is naturally better than another – the best choice for a residential installation depends on the preference of the homeowner and the needs of an interior design.
Parquet flooring was quite popular for much of the 19th and 20th century, but it fell out of favor in the 1970s. In the past few decades, however, many homeowners have rediscovered the beauty of parquet flooring. It’s safe to say that parquet floors will always have a timeless appeal for homeowners who want to add a sense of luxury and sophistication to a room, and for interior designers who want to make a strong visual statement with the flooring surface.
Explore and select from our gallery of our most popular finishes, specially categorized by the personalities and traits of the floor designs.
ExploreHerringbone and Chevron patterns are similar in that they both feature a zigzag shape created by installing each floorboard at an angle to adjacent boards. In a Herringbone pattern, rectangular boards are laid out with the end of one board abutting the end of another at a right angle. The resulting pattern has a pleasing geometry and an overlapping quality that creates visual interest and a sense of movement. In a Chevron pattern, the ends of each board are cut at an angle so that two boards form a V shape. The appearance is of columns of arrows that feature a cleaner and more orderly geometry than a Herringbone floor.
Versailles hardwood flooring is inspired by the floors in the Versailles Palace outside of Paris. A Versailles pattern features small blocks of wood and floorboards cut in rectangles, squares and triangles which are fit together like a puzzle to create a three-dimensional, interweaving pattern that is captured within squares bordered by longer floorboards.
A patterned floor makes a strong visual statement in a room and lends an air of elegance, luxury and sophistication. Parquet floors are more expensive to install, since they involve more cutting and more intricate arrangements of floorboards.
Patterned wood floors can be stained to a wide range of hues, depending on the type of wood used in the installation.
Hardwood parquet floors can be refinished just like other hardwood floors, but the process may be more complicated and time-consuming. Because floorboards should be sanded along the grain rather than across it, sanding a parquet floor requires more time since individual planks are often installed at sharp angles to adjoining floorboards. If individual boards are stained different colors to accentuate the pattern, re-staining these boards may be more complex as well.
Parquet floors can easily be prefinished, which means they are sanded, stained and sealed in the pristine conditions of the manufacturer’s woodworking facility. Prefinishing a parquet floor will enable it to be installed much more quickly. Prefinished floors also allow homeowners to avoid the smell of sealants, the mess of sanding,and the inconvenience of having a floor finished on site.
Yes. Parquet floors made of engineered wood are ideal for installation over radiant heating, concrete slab or below grade, as in basements. Engineered wood floors are made by gluing multiple layers of backing material to a hardwood veneer, creating a floorboard that is less likely to crack, warp or cup from large changes in moisture and humidity. Engineered parquet floors should not be used in environments where the relative humidity gets below 30% for an extended period of time.
Sweeping and vacuuming a parquet floor will remove dust and loose debris. To clean more stubborn dirt and grime, use a solution of a little vinegar in a couple gallons of water. This mixture is both safe for the floors and for the environment and will help to loosen anything that a vacuum or broom have left behind.
Because Herringbone floors require a more precise installation, they may be slightly more expensive than a standard hardwood floor.
Chevron floors involve more cutting and more intricate arrangement of floorboards. Because of this, they may be somewhat more expensive than installing a Herringbone floor.
Floorboards installed at an angle can help create an illusion of more space in a room. As a result, a Chevron pattern installed diagonally may help a room seem larger.
Carlisle Wide Plank Floors offers an extensive variety of options in wood parquet flooring. Whether it’s a custom wide plank surface or a floor chosen from one of our extensive, curated collections, a parquet floor from Carlisle will be a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that’s a true expression of the homeowner’s sense of style and beauty. Our design consultants work with each customer to explore choices of patterns, wood, color, grade and texture to create a floor that will astonish and delight everyone who enters the room.
