The appearance of the floorboard in the interior, we owe a certain Gustav Cher. Even his grandfather, who lived in the Swedish forests, had a weakness for this material and made doors out of it. The family business was inherited by Gustav, who at the beginning of the last century developed a unique technology for gluing three layers of wooden lamellas. This method made it possible to obtain heavy-duty doors that were not afraid of any temperature changes or sharp jumps in humidity. By the beginning of World War II, Gustav Cher had patented this technology and expanded its production, starting to produce “prefabricated” flooring. After a couple of decades, his company finalized the technique by adding a top coat of varnish to it. Nowadays, this material (in addition to parquet itself) has a new competitor - laminate. However, the board still maintains its leading position in strength.In budget options, the floors are covered with carpet, linoleum, and luxury apartments began to be decorated with bulk “layers”, which are not inferior to concrete in terms of durability.
All of the above materials can only imitate a natural wood pattern that traditionally adorns the surface of a parquet board. Given the modern fashion for everything natural and environmentally friendly, this coating fits perfectly into the interior composition. Consider the diversity of flooring and evaluate its advantages and disadvantages.
Do not confuse a parquet board with an array of wood. In the latter case, whole pieces of wood are used. The board is a “flaky” construction, consisting of three components, where the lower one is most often made from inexpensive needles, and the upper one is from veneer of valuable species. Between them they are securely fastened with polyurethane glue, which is non-toxic and does not respond to temperature changes. Wood fibers of two inner layers, as a rule, are perpendicular to each other. That is, on the lower segment they are placed longitudinally, and on the middle - transversely. Thus, they achieve good material strength and aesthetic beauty from the “front” side. The thickness of each layer does not exceed 3.5-4 mm, and the length and width of one fragment can reach 250 cm and 25 cm, respectively.
Fragments are interconnected according to the key principle.The board is classified into three types depending on the number of woody “strips” in one segment:
Single lane
Perfectly imitates an array of wood. Visually expands the room.
Two-way
In this embodiment, the illusion of an array of wood is lost.
Three-way
Imitates parquet.
Parquet board has several advantages:
Beauty and environmental friendliness. The material is completely natural, does not emit toxic substances.
Relatively low cost when compared with parquet. When, for example, owners want to decorate the floor with expensive wood, buying an array of wood will be a real test for the wallet. Parquet board allows you to restrict only the top layer of veneer, and inside you can use the budget needles.
Resistance to temperature extremes and jumps in the level of humidity. In fact, a parquet board can even be used to decorate a bathroom or kitchen, but frequent cleaning is able to quickly “remove” the gloss of the top coat and give the material an unsightly appearance.
The board perfectly absorbs sounds, providing high-quality floor insulation.
The material does not deform, which often happens with solid wood when humidity changes.
The board is easier to lay than parquet, so installation does not take much time.
Unfortunately, the material is not without its certain drawbacks:
The surface is quite sensitive to mechanical stress. Although the parquet board is covered with a special protective layer, it is easier to scratch it than a solid wood and it is absolutely stupid to compare the material according to this criterion with a bulk floor or ceramic tile.
The board is very sensitive to aggressive household chemicals, so when cleaning floors, the compositions need to be selected carefully.
If any area is damaged, the entire fragment will have to be replaced. Unlike parquet, the board cannot be cycled, in which another layer of wood is exposed. She just remove the layer of scratched varnish, which requires replacement.
Another advantage will be a fairly rich color scheme, which boasts a parquet board. The material is presented in various shade variations: from gray to rich chocolate.
The protective layer of the floorboard is made of varnish or oil. The first gives the material a glossy sheen, and the second makes the surface matte.
Variety of wood
The top layer of veneer is made of walnut, apple, cherry, merbau, ash, beech, dark and light oak, kempas, larch, maple and mountain pine, which is valued higher than its usual coniferous relative. The choice of the finishing layer of wood determines the cost of the material. Modern markets offer more exotic options: acacia, bamboo, dussia, zebrano, hevea, elm, olive, moabi, wenge, eucalyptus, rosewood, teak, hickory, sucupira, yarra, imbuia or ebony. The two lower layers are traditionally made from inexpensive needles (usually pine). This method of combining lumber can significantly reduce the cost of flooring, the surface of which adorns a tree of valuable species.
Sizes of parquet boards
There are simply no standards for parquet board sizes. You can only highlight the restrictions on the lower and upper bar, which necessarily "fit" a piece of material from a bona fide manufacturer:
The thickness of the board can be from 7 to 22 mm. The thicker the material, the higher its strength.
The length of the board usually varies between 100-250 cm.
Width is 13-25 cm. Narrow boards are usually single-lane.
The larger the fragments in terms of dimensions, the easier it is to mount them, but it is more difficult to lay them in the original pattern.
Texture and color scheme
Before working with the material, the planks of the future board must undergo careful selection (selection). It is carried out according to the following criteria: texture, color, the presence of knots, cracks or sapwood (top layer of wood located directly under the bark).Depending on the selection of the board, it is classified into three types:
Rustic. Trims may vary in color. On the surface there are “cracks”, sapwood or traces of knots. Such a coating organically fits into the interior of a country house or cottage. Suitable for a line of rustic and ethnic styles.
Natur. Trims have slight color differences. Defects in the form of knots are present, but in small quantities.
Select. The surface of such a parquet board can be called almost perfect. On saw cuts, only a woody drawing without defects flaunts. Perfectly similar coverage for classic interiors.
As for color, there are a lot of variations. Most of them are a gradation of brown - a natural shade of wood. For example, merbau has a saturated almost red color. Walnut is only a couple of tones lighter. The shade of wenge is deep burgundy and bordered by purple. Ebony has a nice contrasting texture that combines black and brown. Maple, ash, larch and birch have light brown shades. The surface of the zebrano is decorated with dark and light brown stripes.
Styling methods
Laying a parquet board is in many ways similar to installing parquet, only using simplified technology. Regardless of how the floor is assembled, the following conditions must be met:
The surface of the floor must be clean and free from defects.
If the floorboard was in the cold, its temperature should be equal to room temperature.
Laying can be carried out only after the completion of the draft work.
Humidity in the room should not exceed 60%.
There are only three stacking options:
Floating (dry). With this method, the fragments are interconnected using the thorn-groove technology. The installation option is considered the simplest, but it is recommended to use it only for boards whose thickness does not exceed 14 cm.
Bonding with and between floors.The boards are connected using a special composition, which provides a more reliable hitch. The surface of the floor should be perfectly flat. Of the shortcomings, only difficulties in repairing or replacing individual fragments that are difficult to tear off are noted. The method is used for boards thicker than 14 cm.
Use of mechanical fasteners. The boards are fixed with self-tapping screws, which are driven into the grooves at a certain angle. Some use nails, but such fastening will be less reliable. The technology is used for boards whose thickness exceeds 20 cm.
In the latter case, the method is relevant for wooden rough floors or when using logs, which are resorted to in the presence of severe surface defects. To trim fragments when fitting to the room area, use a jigsaw or a fine-toothed saw.
Herringbone
Herringbone styling is considered to be a classic version, which has gotten its edge in the last 50 years. However, after a period of silence, the technology has become fashionable again, gaining a second wind. She is no longer associated with typical interiors of the Soviet era. Fragments form rows in which each segment is placed relative to the adjacent one at an angle of 90 degrees. Herringbone can be double or single, straight or diagonal. In the latter case, simple laying is used, in 2 slats or 1 to 3. The straight line can also be classic, in 2 fragments or with different lengths of segments.
Due to the play of light, individual planks, even having the same hue, will be perceived as fragments with different textures.
Ladder or "French" Christmas tree
"Ladder" or French Christmas tree differs from the usual one only in joints. Conventionally, the entire room can be divided into strips of equal width. Each of them is filled with slats that are located relative to each other in parallel, and with respect to the next row - at an angle of 90 degrees.This type of laying is called a "ladder" because of the formed "steps" between the rows that pass through the entire room, if you look at the floor from above.
Deck laying
Deck installation is considered the easiest installation option. The result is a beautiful and concise drawing, with which you can even adjust the visual perception of the room and visually expand or narrow it. Each subsequent row of segments is parallel to the previous one. Hence the name of the technology, since this is exactly the option used on ship decks. Only the shift of fragments relative to adjacent rows is different. The scatter option or random stacking does not imply accurate measurements and the segments can be positioned with different offsets. Most often, styling occurs with a shift of 1/3 or 1/2. In the latter case, the effect of masonry is obtained. Deck laying can be straight or diagonal. Here, the options differ only in the angle (90 or 45 degrees) between the rows and walls.
With the diagonal method, the material consumption usually increases by about 15%.
Square or flip flops
“Flip flops” or laying with squares is considered one of the easiest ways. In fact, this is a primitive “wicker”, which we will talk about a little later. Fragments are "strayed" into squares (usually 4-5 bars). In each individual module, the strips are parallel to each other. Lay the squares so that the guides of their fragments are located at right angles to the neighboring ones. They do not recommend knocking down strips into large modules if they cover the floor in a room with modest dimensions. This is equivalent to using large prints in cramped spaces: visually clutter and reduce space.
Wicker or basket
"Basket" fully lives up to its name. The strips are knocked down into modules, the guides of which are located at right angles to each other.The picture is complicated by the fact that rectangles are used. They seem to become single lines that periodically overlap. Small square “voids” are necessarily formed between the modules, which, as a rule, are filled with a material with an excellent texture to emphasize an unusual pattern.
Modular flooring
Modular parquet is a surface that is assembled in pieces, like a mosaic. Use planks from different species of wood, differing in texture and color. It is a sin to cover such a floor with a carpet, because it in itself is already a stylish decoration. Modular flooring is not suitable for small and cramped rooms.
Art
As they say, there is no limit to perfection, and instead of typical styling options, you can develop your own, which is completely subordinate to the imagination of the designer. In some cases, resort to a combination of several types. Actually a similar solution when zoning a room. In other cases, well-known options are complicated by additional details, creating an original, author's pattern. If the planks are laid too intricately, then the use of different types of wood is not recommended, since as a result the floor will turn out to be too clumsy and variegated. The emphasis should be on one thing: either a pattern or a texture.
Using parquet on the walls
Parquet board is used not only for sheathing the floor. This type of finishing material is also great for decorating walls. The design solution looks stylish, beautiful and very unusual. Sheathe parquet board, as a rule, only accent areas. Fragments are mounted either on glue or using mechanical fasteners. The second option is ideal if there are bumps or defects on the walls that are difficult to fix with putty. When mounting, first, rails are fixed on the surface, the height of which is adjusted to the desired one, and a parquet board is already attached to them.Most often resort to a deck type of installation, since it looks harmoniously on any surface.
The "parquet" wall will ideally merge into the country, Provence (if you use light shades of wood), eco-style. It can replace brickwork, which has become traditional for the loft, high-tech and the Scandinavian direction. Do not be mistaken in believing that this option will "reduce the cost" of the interior. It blends perfectly even with the expensive finishes of fashionable apartments.
Parquet in the living room
Parquet in the living room is selected to match the color of the furniture. Compatibility by this criterion is considered the main one. The combination can be carried out on the basis of contrast or analogy. The first option is chosen for spacious living rooms, where such a combination will not harm the visual perception of the interior. In classical halls, the board is laid in a herringbone (ordinary and French) or in a free, artistic way. For rustic motifs, a deck or modular version is suitable.
In the bedroom
Parquet board is used in classic, Scandinavian, rustic bedrooms. Actually a similar solution for chalets, lofts, eco-style. A pleasant to the touch material with a soft texture eliminates the need to wear slippers in the morning, because it is pleasant to walk on it barefoot. Calm shades of natural wood will delight the eye and create additional comfort in the lounge. For the bedroom, it is recommended to choose a parquet board, the top layer of which is made of bleached oak, larch, ash, maple.
In the kitchen
Parquet board for the kitchen is not considered the best option. Its use is justified if all the flooring in the apartment is already made in this material. To choose a parquet board is necessary for the texture of the headset. It is necessary to fix on a floor surface by the "dry" method. Since the most “dangerous” zones - the tops of the working triangle (near the stove, sink and refrigerator) will inevitably overwrite and lose their “salable” appearance, they will have to be replaced with new ones over time. It is easiest to make repairs with the “dry” type of fixing the strips.Choosing a parquet board for the kitchen should only be from trusted manufacturers, so that its strength indicators reach maximum values. Poor quality material will deteriorate due to chronic changes in temperature and humidity during cooking.
In the nursery
In the children's room, it is necessary to use only environmentally friendly materials for decoration. Parquet board in this respect is ideal. However, in this room it should also be laid with the "dry" method. A restless child will always find a way to stain / wet the coating, which as a result can be hopelessly spoiled. Parquet board has a low coefficient of "slippery", which will significantly reduce the risk of falls and bruises.
Care Tips
Parquet board is considered very capricious in the care of the material. At first, after laying on the floor, it is not recommended to jump, run and expose it to other serious loads. If there is a rearrangement with the movement of furniture, then the parquet board is covered with thick cardboard. The floor should be cleaned regularly with a vacuum cleaner using special soft nozzles. If the house has “clawed” pets, then their “nails” will have to be trimmed systematically to exclude the possibility of scratching the top layer. Wet cleaning should only be done with a soft, slightly dampened cloth or sponge. In no case should you use abrasive compounds in which there are small solid particles. Such substances will inevitably scratch the top layer of the floorboard. You can’t walk on the floor with heels and carry sand on it. The effect of the latter is akin to abrasive compounds. For washing floors, it is recommended to use special products that are designed specifically for caring for a parquet board. Mobile furniture should be purchased on special rubberized wheels. As an option, you can buy special felt pads that are attached from the bottom.
Conclusion
Parquet board will be a worthy decoration, as expensive apartments, and budget interiors. The coating ideally combines the optimal price, aesthetic beauty and durability. The technology, patented by Gustav Cher, remains relevant even after half a century. It is safe to say that she passed the test of time. Is this not the main quality indicator for the finishing material?
The appearance of the floorboard in the interior, we owe a certain Gustav Cher. Even his grandfather, who lived in the Swedish forests, had a weakness for this material and made doors out of it. The family business was inherited by Gustav, who at the beginning of the last century developed a unique technology for gluing three layers of wooden lamellas. This method made it possible to obtain heavy-duty doors that were not afraid of any temperature changes or sharp jumps in humidity. By the beginning of World War II, Gustav Cher had patented this technology and expanded its production, starting to produce “prefabricated” flooring. After a couple of decades, his company finalized the technique by adding a top coat of varnish to it. Nowadays, this material (in addition to parquet itself) has a new competitor - laminate. However, the board still maintains its leading position in strength.In budget options, the floors are covered with carpet, linoleum, and luxury apartments began to be decorated with bulk “layers”, which are not inferior to concrete in terms of durability.
All of the above materials can only imitate a natural wood pattern that traditionally adorns the surface of a parquet board. Given the modern fashion for everything natural and environmentally friendly, this coating fits perfectly into the interior composition. Consider the diversity of flooring and evaluate its advantages and disadvantages.
Content
Pros and cons of parquet flooring
Do not confuse a parquet board with an array of wood. In the latter case, whole pieces of wood are used. The board is a “flaky” construction, consisting of three components, where the lower one is most often made from inexpensive needles, and the upper one is from veneer of valuable species. Between them they are securely fastened with polyurethane glue, which is non-toxic and does not respond to temperature changes. Wood fibers of two inner layers, as a rule, are perpendicular to each other. That is, on the lower segment they are placed longitudinally, and on the middle - transversely. Thus, they achieve good material strength and aesthetic beauty from the “front” side. The thickness of each layer does not exceed 3.5-4 mm, and the length and width of one fragment can reach 250 cm and 25 cm, respectively.
Fragments are interconnected according to the key principle.The board is classified into three types depending on the number of woody “strips” in one segment:
Parquet board has several advantages:
Unfortunately, the material is not without its certain drawbacks:
Another advantage will be a fairly rich color scheme, which boasts a parquet board. The material is presented in various shade variations: from gray to rich chocolate.
Variety of wood
The top layer of veneer is made of walnut, apple, cherry, merbau, ash, beech, dark and light oak, kempas, larch, maple and mountain pine, which is valued higher than its usual coniferous relative. The choice of the finishing layer of wood determines the cost of the material. Modern markets offer more exotic options: acacia, bamboo, dussia, zebrano, hevea, elm, olive, moabi, wenge, eucalyptus, rosewood, teak, hickory, sucupira, yarra, imbuia or ebony. The two lower layers are traditionally made from inexpensive needles (usually pine). This method of combining lumber can significantly reduce the cost of flooring, the surface of which adorns a tree of valuable species.
Sizes of parquet boards
There are simply no standards for parquet board sizes. You can only highlight the restrictions on the lower and upper bar, which necessarily "fit" a piece of material from a bona fide manufacturer:
Texture and color scheme
Before working with the material, the planks of the future board must undergo careful selection (selection). It is carried out according to the following criteria: texture, color, the presence of knots, cracks or sapwood (top layer of wood located directly under the bark).Depending on the selection of the board, it is classified into three types:
As for color, there are a lot of variations. Most of them are a gradation of brown - a natural shade of wood. For example, merbau has a saturated almost red color. Walnut is only a couple of tones lighter. The shade of wenge is deep burgundy and bordered by purple. Ebony has a nice contrasting texture that combines black and brown. Maple, ash, larch and birch have light brown shades. The surface of the zebrano is decorated with dark and light brown stripes.
Styling methods
Laying a parquet board is in many ways similar to installing parquet, only using simplified technology. Regardless of how the floor is assembled, the following conditions must be met:
There are only three stacking options:
In the latter case, the method is relevant for wooden rough floors or when using logs, which are resorted to in the presence of severe surface defects. To trim fragments when fitting to the room area, use a jigsaw or a fine-toothed saw.
Herringbone
Herringbone styling is considered to be a classic version, which has gotten its edge in the last 50 years. However, after a period of silence, the technology has become fashionable again, gaining a second wind. She is no longer associated with typical interiors of the Soviet era. Fragments form rows in which each segment is placed relative to the adjacent one at an angle of 90 degrees. Herringbone can be double or single, straight or diagonal. In the latter case, simple laying is used, in 2 slats or 1 to 3. The straight line can also be classic, in 2 fragments or with different lengths of segments.
Ladder or "French" Christmas tree
"Ladder" or French Christmas tree differs from the usual one only in joints. Conventionally, the entire room can be divided into strips of equal width. Each of them is filled with slats that are located relative to each other in parallel, and with respect to the next row - at an angle of 90 degrees.This type of laying is called a "ladder" because of the formed "steps" between the rows that pass through the entire room, if you look at the floor from above.
Deck laying
Deck installation is considered the easiest installation option. The result is a beautiful and concise drawing, with which you can even adjust the visual perception of the room and visually expand or narrow it. Each subsequent row of segments is parallel to the previous one. Hence the name of the technology, since this is exactly the option used on ship decks. Only the shift of fragments relative to adjacent rows is different. The scatter option or random stacking does not imply accurate measurements and the segments can be positioned with different offsets. Most often, styling occurs with a shift of 1/3 or 1/2. In the latter case, the effect of masonry is obtained. Deck laying can be straight or diagonal. Here, the options differ only in the angle (90 or 45 degrees) between the rows and walls.
Square or flip flops
“Flip flops” or laying with squares is considered one of the easiest ways. In fact, this is a primitive “wicker”, which we will talk about a little later. Fragments are "strayed" into squares (usually 4-5 bars). In each individual module, the strips are parallel to each other. Lay the squares so that the guides of their fragments are located at right angles to the neighboring ones. They do not recommend knocking down strips into large modules if they cover the floor in a room with modest dimensions. This is equivalent to using large prints in cramped spaces: visually clutter and reduce space.
Wicker or basket
"Basket" fully lives up to its name. The strips are knocked down into modules, the guides of which are located at right angles to each other.The picture is complicated by the fact that rectangles are used. They seem to become single lines that periodically overlap. Small square “voids” are necessarily formed between the modules, which, as a rule, are filled with a material with an excellent texture to emphasize an unusual pattern.
Modular flooring
Modular parquet is a surface that is assembled in pieces, like a mosaic. Use planks from different species of wood, differing in texture and color. It is a sin to cover such a floor with a carpet, because it in itself is already a stylish decoration. Modular flooring is not suitable for small and cramped rooms.
Art
As they say, there is no limit to perfection, and instead of typical styling options, you can develop your own, which is completely subordinate to the imagination of the designer. In some cases, resort to a combination of several types. Actually a similar solution when zoning a room. In other cases, well-known options are complicated by additional details, creating an original, author's pattern. If the planks are laid too intricately, then the use of different types of wood is not recommended, since as a result the floor will turn out to be too clumsy and variegated. The emphasis should be on one thing: either a pattern or a texture.
Using parquet on the walls
Parquet board is used not only for sheathing the floor. This type of finishing material is also great for decorating walls. The design solution looks stylish, beautiful and very unusual. Sheathe parquet board, as a rule, only accent areas.
Fragments are mounted either on glue or using mechanical fasteners. The second option is ideal if there are bumps or defects on the walls that are difficult to fix with putty. When mounting, first, rails are fixed on the surface, the height of which is adjusted to the desired one, and a parquet board is already attached to them.Most often resort to a deck type of installation, since it looks harmoniously on any surface.
The "parquet" wall will ideally merge into the country, Provence (if you use light shades of wood), eco-style. It can replace brickwork, which has become traditional for the loft, high-tech and the Scandinavian direction. Do not be mistaken in believing that this option will "reduce the cost" of the interior. It blends perfectly even with the expensive finishes of fashionable apartments.
Parquet in the living room
Parquet in the living room is selected to match the color of the furniture. Compatibility by this criterion is considered the main one. The combination can be carried out on the basis of contrast or analogy. The first option is chosen for spacious living rooms, where such a combination will not harm the visual perception of the interior. In classical halls, the board is laid in a herringbone (ordinary and French) or in a free, artistic way. For rustic motifs, a deck or modular version is suitable.
In the bedroom
Parquet board is used in classic, Scandinavian, rustic bedrooms. Actually a similar solution for chalets, lofts, eco-style. A pleasant to the touch material with a soft texture eliminates the need to wear slippers in the morning, because it is pleasant to walk on it barefoot. Calm shades of natural wood will delight the eye and create additional comfort in the lounge. For the bedroom, it is recommended to choose a parquet board, the top layer of which is made of bleached oak, larch, ash, maple.
In the kitchen
Parquet board for the kitchen is not considered the best option. Its use is justified if all the flooring in the apartment is already made in this material. To choose a parquet board is necessary for the texture of the headset. It is necessary to fix on a floor surface by the "dry" method. Since the most “dangerous” zones - the tops of the working triangle (near the stove, sink and refrigerator) will inevitably overwrite and lose their “salable” appearance, they will have to be replaced with new ones over time. It is easiest to make repairs with the “dry” type of fixing the strips.Choosing a parquet board for the kitchen should only be from trusted manufacturers, so that its strength indicators reach maximum values. Poor quality material will deteriorate due to chronic changes in temperature and humidity during cooking.
In the nursery
In the children's room, it is necessary to use only environmentally friendly materials for decoration. Parquet board in this respect is ideal. However, in this room it should also be laid with the "dry" method. A restless child will always find a way to stain / wet the coating, which as a result can be hopelessly spoiled. Parquet board has a low coefficient of "slippery", which will significantly reduce the risk of falls and bruises.
Care Tips
Parquet board is considered very capricious in the care of the material. At first, after laying on the floor, it is not recommended to jump, run and expose it to other serious loads.
If there is a rearrangement with the movement of furniture, then the parquet board is covered with thick cardboard. The floor should be cleaned regularly with a vacuum cleaner using special soft nozzles. If the house has “clawed” pets, then their “nails” will have to be trimmed systematically to exclude the possibility of scratching the top layer. Wet cleaning should only be done with a soft, slightly dampened cloth or sponge. In no case should you use abrasive compounds in which there are small solid particles. Such substances will inevitably scratch the top layer of the floorboard. You can’t walk on the floor with heels and carry sand on it. The effect of the latter is akin to abrasive compounds. For washing floors, it is recommended to use special products that are designed specifically for caring for a parquet board. Mobile furniture should be purchased on special rubberized wheels. As an option, you can buy special felt pads that are attached from the bottom.
Conclusion
Parquet board will be a worthy decoration, as expensive apartments, and budget interiors. The coating ideally combines the optimal price, aesthetic beauty and durability. The technology, patented by Gustav Cher, remains relevant even after half a century. It is safe to say that she passed the test of time. Is this not the main quality indicator for the finishing material?