Parquet hardwood flooring has a very different look from typical hardwoods. They were originally made up of many small pieces of exotic woods arranged in intricate geometric patterns. Modern parquet hardwood flooring consists of solid tiles of wood pre-arranged in patterns, making it easy to install. Parquet hardwood flooring is generally the cheapest, however it is harder to refinish than other solid wood floors and its life span is relatively shorter.

Parquet hardwood flooring comes in many designs, ranging from the basic parquet, to basket weave and herringbone. They come in large tiles made up of geometric patterns composed of individual wood slats, held in place by a paper or plastic mesh backing. The visual effects of parquet hardwood flooring can be quite stunning, and variety can be brought to the room simply by moving a rug of piece of furniture to expose of cover different patterns.

Parquet flooring can be attached to either a wood or concrete sub-floor, however concrete sub-floors often require an underlay to help compensate for any unevenness. Because the smaller pieces arranged in different directions result in less overall cross-grain expansion, parquet is a good choice in areas where the moisture content of the flooring is expected to change significantly over time.

Parquet hardwood flooring comes in a variety of woods such as oak, cherry, mahogany, beech and walnut. It is a good idea to make a dry run of the pattern you want to lay out by laying a test arrangement before permanent installation.

The wood tiles should be stored in the room they are to be installed in for at least 24 hours so they can acclimate to the temperature and humidity. You should buy about 5% more flooring than you calculate that you will need, to compensate for any mistakes. The extra material, if not needed, could come in handy later in case of damage.

Unlike strip or plank flooring, parquet flooring is laid in two directions at once. Parquet hardwood flooring should be laid by starting in the center of the room and working outwards toward the walls. This establishes a centered and well aligned geometric pattern.

Find the center of the room by measuring from wall to wall. Snap a chalk line between the center of opposite walls, then snap another chalk line between the other two walls. The intersection between the two lines is the center point. Make sure the two intersecting lines form right angles. Lay a test run of parquet along the chalk lines starting at the center, working toward the wall. Adjust the center to keep the tiles on the edges of the room from being cut too thin.

Using a trowel, spread adhesive on a 2′ x 2′ area at the intersection of the chalk lines and let it thicken and become tacky. Pressing firmly, lay down a tile on the adhesive using the lines for placement. Ensure the placement of the first tile is accurate, as it will determine the layout of the entire floor. Tap the tile into place with a mallet, placing a piece of scrap wood on top to protect the tile. If any adhesive seeps between the tiles, clean with a cloth soaked in solvent. Working toward each wall, fill in one quadrant at a time. To avoid putting your weight on any one tile, use a piece of plywood as a kneeling board.

The last tiles against the wall will need to be cut to fit. They should be cut slightly smaller than the measured space to allow for expansion of the wood. A ¼” – ½” space is usually sufficient. Allow the new parquet hardwood floor to dry for a least a day before using.

Parquet Flooring | This how to guide is designed for the intermediate do-it-yourselfer. If you’re a beginner in this technique it’s recommended that you find another how-to guide or visit our website for a more detailed guided; which is available at the end of this article. However, if this is something you’re a bit familiar with then this guide will suit you just fine. It’s suggested you read this entire guide before you do any of the steps listed. So, if you’re ready to get started and install cork parquet tile flooring yourself then continue below.

Step One: Prepare Subfloor for Tiles

The first step is to make sure you prepare your sub floor properly. You’ll need to make sure the sub floor is clean and level. Any low spots in your sub floor can be filled with the appropriate filler. Any high spots should be sanded down with care; you don’t want to then have to fill it in because you sanded it down too much. A level will aid you in this quite well.

Step Two: Apply Primer to the Subfloor

Regardless of what type of subfloor you have you’ll need to use a primer. You’ll need a paint tray (unused) and a paint roller. You will use the paint tray to hold the primer and the paint roller to apply it. Using the manufacturers guide regarding working in proper temperature and humidity the primer should dry in about 30 to 40 minutes. Remember, your primer must be completely dry before you apply the adhesive.

Suggestion: It’s a good idea to use a primer specially designed for cork floor tiles or any primer provided with the cork floor itself.

Step Three: Apply the Adhesive to the Subfloor

The next step is to apply the adhesive to the subfloor. You’ll need a fresh and clean paint tray and paint roller. The trick is to only do about 50 square feet at a time. You’ll want to apply a (thin) coat on your 50 foot square area. A uniform glossy film will tell you you’ve used the correct amount of adhesive, using too much will result in lumps. DO NOT step onto or place anything on the adhesive until it’s dry; use the manufactures guidelines to determine the length of time needed. Once dry that 50 foot area tiles must be installed within an hour. You NEVER want to lay tiles on wet adhesive.

Step Four: Lay the Cork Parquet Tiles

IMPORTANT: It’s suggested that you leave your cork parquet tiles in the area of installation out of the box for a minimum of 72 hours. This allows the cork parquet tiles to adjust to the temperature and humidity of the area and prevent warping and cracking.

When placing your tiles you’ll want to use a standard laying pattern, if you don’t have one you can Google “standard floor laying patterns” and choose one to your liking. Make sure when laying the cork parquet tiles that you mix the tiles from different cartons. This will help maintain a natural color and keep pattern variation alive. Make sure to keep about one forth an inch expansion space between your tiles and the walls.

Step Five: Roll the Cork Parquet Tiles

As each tile is laid it should be rolled over with a mini roller usually one should be supplied with your order. After installation is complete you must then use a 100-pound 3 part floor roller and roll the entire floor several times from several directions. After sitting for about 12 hours you should then repeat this process. After completing the rolling you should avoid walking on the floor for 24 hours.