What is parquet?

Parquet is a high-quality floor covering made from wood. Hardwoods are typically used for processing, frequently oak or beech. But other hardwoods too, such as maple, ash or walnut and even larch, are also possible options. Each wood species offers its own special properties.The wooden floor has developed to include two main types principally: solid parquet or multi-layer parquet.

Solid parquet is the time-honoured way of installing a wooden floor. It consists of one complete piece of wood. Once solid parquet is installed, a couple of finishing touches are still needed, as it is then sanded and sealed on site. In former times, the boards were nailed, screwed or glued down. There was usually no fixed connection between the boards, which can be seen from the gaps between the boards, for example, in old farmhouses. That’s because wood is a living material. Wooden floors react more strongly to temperature fluctuations and changes in humidity. Parquet recedes in winter and tends to swell in summer. These fluctuations are much greater in solid wood flooring.

Multi-layer parquet is the modern variant of a floorboard. This type offers many advantages since the floor works much less and the environment is protected thanks to lower resource consumption: A two- or three-layer construction is possible. The visible upper layer is called the wear and tear layer. It is made of choice, high-quality precious wood and according to its generic name must be at least 2.5 millimetres thick. The thicker the top layer, the more often you can sand it down. Beneath this layer is a middle layer and possibly also a third layer, which is generally made from softwood. This improves the stability, especially with a transverse middle layer. This more stable multi-layer construction also allows a click connection to be fitted, which distinguishes today's easy-to-install parquet floors. 

Where can parquet be used?

Parquet offers the benefit of a wide selection and therefore diverse applications: You can design your home so that every room is shown to best effect. Every step you take.Installation in living areas and bedrooms is the classic application: Click parquet in longstrip appearance radiates a natural warmth in the bedroom for example. Bright floors, in oak for example, are especially attractive. And ensure a minimalist ambience. Finished parquet made from darker wood is ideal for large spaces with white furniture. Floorboards can also be found increasingly in the kitchen. Chestnut brown beech adds an exciting contrast to modern kitchen lines.Realise your dream living space: Thanks to modern methods, you can even install parquet in the bathroom. It is oiled twice following installation and can ward off moisture optimally.Those who like especially fashionable looks can fit the oak boards to the wall using a rail system. And create wall panelling with warmth and character.

Underfloor heating is at the top of most house owners' wish lists because it provides pleasant warmth and helps to save energy. So why not mix beauty with pleasure? Topping off your new underfloor heating system with a beautiful parquet floor brings that extra feel-good factor to your home.

Parquet over underfloor heating: is that really possible?
Thanks to modern manufacturing processes, an increasing number of wood types can be used over underfloor heating without problems. The HARO brand is among the technological leaders. All the products in the HARO Parquet range are suitable for installation over underfloor heating, and offer a huge choice to suit all tastes, styles and budgets. Even wood species like beech have been tested and approved by HARO for use with underfloor heating!
Saving energy and protecting the environment
 By choosing the combination of parquet floor and underfloor heating, you save both money and natural resources. Compared to heating with conventional radiators, underfloor heating allows reducing the room temperature by about 3°C – for the same felt air temperature! This considerably reduces energy consumption. It addition, using multilayer parquet instead of solid wood floorboards protects the environment and saves natural resources. For example: from one cubic metre of oak wood you can make only about 35 square metres of solid wood parquet, but about 115 square metres of multilayer parquet using state-of-the-art manufacturing methods.

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