How to choose parquet: what you need to know before going to the store. Choosing a parquet board Choosing a parquet board for an apartment

Parquet board is a beautiful and practical flooring that can decorate a hall, living room, bedroom or children's room. However, there is one “but” - the facing material must be chosen correctly. To do this, you need to familiarize yourself with what types of parquet boards are, with the structure and other characteristics of this floor covering, its pros and cons.

Coating structure

Parquet board is a composite material, which includes the following layers:

• Upper. This is a veneer (thin wood sheet) made from precious woods. Before choosing and buying a parquet board for an apartment or house, check out the characteristics of the different options presented in the table. The front side of the veneer is additionally treated with varnish or oil.
• Average. It is made from softwood, rarely from HDF panels (HDF, high density fibreboard). The fibers of veneer and softwood are arranged perpendicular to each other, which ensures dimensional and shape stability facing material. In the middle layer, the elements of the lock connection are made.
• Lower. This is an approximately 2 mm thick veneer made from softwood. It will protect the coating from bending.

A parquet board usually consists of 3 layers, each of which performs its own function.

Attention! The quality and durability of parquet boards are largely determined by the thickness of the top layer. The higher it is, the more times of grinding the veneer can withstand.

Table of characteristics of veneer from different breeds tree to determine which parquet board it is better to choose and buy for a house or apartment

Type of top layer wood	Characteristics	Brinell hardness (the higher the better)	Stability in conventional units (measured using a 5-point system, 5 is the maximum possible stability)
Oak	One of the most durable options, the surface is wear-resistant, there are no crumbling of wood and deformation during temperature fluctuations. When the humidity level changes, the linear dimensions do not change much. The drawing is aesthetically pleasing.	3,7	4
Ash	Durable, elastic, the surface shade is yellowish, the pattern is even and pleasant.	4,0	2
Cherry	It has a rich assortment of colors - from pinkish to dark brown.	3-3,6	4
Beech	It is characterized by a calm pattern, so this parquet is often used in children's rooms. However, beech wood does not tolerate high humidity not suitable for kitchens.	3,7	1
Maple	The veneer usually has delicate creamy shades that darken over time. It is characterized by strength and stability. Minus - low resistance to high humidity and frequent temperature fluctuations.	3 - European maple 4.8 - Canadian maple	2
Nut	It has a distinct structure, tolerates high humidity well. It is easy to care for such a floor, its strength is somewhat inferior to that of oak.	3,5	4

This multi-layer flooring is popular for installation in areas with normal humidity- halls, offices, children's. However, sometimes a parquet board is used for installation in the kitchen, and this option has its pros and cons. The positive properties include excellent aesthetic characteristics and the ability to choose suitable option to any interior style. The downside is the limited choice of material for the top veneer, since in this case only sufficiently moisture-resistant products can be purchased. It includes products made of oak, ash and some exotic tree species. It is advisable to buy a heat-treated board.

Which parquet board is better to choose, single-strip, three-strip or multi-strip?

The top layer of a parquet board consists of one or more dies:

Three-strip parquet board, the most popular type

• Single-strip - Full Plank. This is the most expensive type of facing material. The natural structure of wood is most clearly visible; outwardly, such a parquet board most of all resembles solid wood. Some products are made with chamfers at the corners.
• Two-way. It is made of two lamellas of the same size located next to each other, matched according to the pattern and color.
• Three-lane. The most common and popular option, consisting of three rows of lamellas arranged with an offset relative to each other, is herringbone, deck or braided patterns. If the free space not occupied by furniture is small, then it is advisable to choose a more economical three-strip material.
• Multiband. This is a modern version, which is a pattern of small planks. The top layer is assembled by hand. A multi-strip parquet board is usually laid in rooms with a small number of decorative elements.

What are the dimensions of the parquet board: length, width, thickness?

When choosing this flooring, the dimensions of the elements play an important role.

Thickness

As we mentioned before, the size of the top veneer plays an important role. Therefore, it is recommended to buy a parquet board with a total thickness of 13 mm or more, in which the thickness of the upper facing layer is from 3.0 mm (if it is less, then scraping is excluded). Products with a thickness of less than 13 mm, due to their low durability, are usually used for temporary laying until an early replacement with better products. For residential premises, you can purchase a parquet board with a thickness of 14 mm or more, with a decorative layer of 4 mm or more. For objects public purpose- from 20 mm.

Attention! The purchase of a thick parquet board is mandatory in cases where laying is carried out not on a solid concrete base, but on wooden floor logs.

Length

The length varies in the range of 1.0-2.5 m. The Barlinek group of companies offers many models of products with a length of 1.0 m. The availability of panels of different lengths on sale allows you to choose an option in which the amount of waste will be minimal.

Width

The choice depends on personal preference.

Types of joints for parquet boards

Installation can be carried out in a floating system using a tongue-and-groove connection without the use of adhesive. This method allows you to dismantle and re-mount the floor. Each company produces products with different types of locks. Modern options for locking connections:

• SYSTEM 5Gc. Used by many leading manufacturers. The lamella has a movable tongue, which provides a convenient connection of the elements on the long and short sides. This advanced, secure system ensures quick and easy installation. Laying can be done independently, without the involvement of professionals. A variation of SYSTEM 5G is the MEGALOCK system, patented by the German company Classen. Its feature is simple disassembly for the purpose of subsequent installation, due to the presence of an additional movable plastic lock on the end.
• BARCLICK. Durable and strong connection offered by Barlinek. Allows you to conveniently dismantle the coating with the possibility of installation in a new place.
• T-lock. The connection, patented by Tarkett, ensures a very tight and reliable contact of the lamellas. Docking is carried out along the long sides, the new assembled row is inserted at an angle into the already laid one and snaps into place until a characteristic sound. This is one of the most progressive methods, often used in cramped spaces.

Barlinek parquet lock

The traditional option - gluing the coating elements to the base - guarantees the stability of their position even in large-sized rooms. All gluing work is carried out in accordance with the recommendations given by the product manufacturer. The accompanying instructions list the types of substrates on which parquet panels can be glued. The disadvantage of this method is the impossibility reuse coatings.

Cutting methods

For the manufacture of veneer parquet planks are used various options cut:

• Radial. Saw along the longitudinal axis of the trunk. Pros: pattern and color uniformity, good performance. The downside is a large amount of waste, and, consequently, the high cost of coating based on such veneer.
• Tangential. The tree is sawn parallel to the tangent to the trunk. The products are cheaper. The decorative features appeal to many buyers even more than radial sawn veneer. However specifications a little lower.
• Rustic. The cut is carried out in arbitrary directions. Such veneer is usually distinguished by variegated colors, therefore it is in demand when decorating a room in a country style.

Types of protective layer of parquet board

To improve the properties of parquet boards, manufacturers cover it with varnish or oil. Consider the features of each of these coatings.

• Lacquer. It is characterized by a higher wear resistance compared to the oil layer. The inter-restoration period is 6-10 years. The varnish can be removed and oil applied to the surface. However, the reverse operation is not possible. You can choose matte or glossy finish. The most impractical option is a glossy varnish layer on a dark surface.
• Oil. It costs more than lacquer, the period between restoration work is 4-5 years. It has a natural appearance, pleasant to the touch, suitable for underfloor heating systems, breathable. Restoring the oil coating is easy.

Attention! Often, for light-colored parquet boards, a varnish coating is used, for dark ones - oil.

Which parquet board manufacturer is better to choose?

Parquet board is a beautiful and durable coating, provided that you purchase products from a reliable manufacturer. Consider the most popular product.

• Parquet board by Tarkett (Serbia). This is an environmentally friendly, high-quality product with a long service life. For a covering wear-resistant varnish on a water basis Proteco Strong is used. A wide range of collections allows you to choose the right option for the living room, hall, office, rooms with increased level humidity.
• Barlinek group of companies. One of the largest manufacturers of wood-based multilayer flooring. On sale is a brushed and unbrushed board with veneer of oak, ash, exotic tree red-brown sapelle.
• Upofloor (Finland). The board is made from oak, ash, merbau. Types of additional processing: heat treatment, brushing, staining, coloring. Varieties protective coatings: varnish, white or colored oil.
• Polarwood (Russia). These products are manufactured at the Russian plant of the Finnish concern Upofloor. The top veneer is made from oak, ash, exotic woods. Execution - one- or three-lane. The use of colored oil allows you to create a coating in unusual colors.

It is better to buy this flooring in a store with good lighting in order to choose the most suitable shade.

Advice! When buying, make sure that light spots do not appear on the dark parquet, indicating a violation of the varnish application technology (there is no primer layer).

Quality products pass heat treatment at +195°C. As a result, the material becomes stable, moisture resistant, resistant to drying out. The heat-treated coating has a slight smell of burnt wood, foreign odors should be absent. A foreign smell indicates the replacement of high-quality glue, varnish, oil with cheaper compounds that are toxic to humans and the environment.

The surface can be brushed - specially aged. In the process of brushing, the soft upper woody layers are removed, the surface becomes embossed. Such material has good performance characteristics, since cracks, scratches, dents are poorly visible on it.

Features of installation and maintenance

The durability and preservation of the aesthetics of parquet boards depend not only on the level of its quality, but also on compliance with the conditions of installation and maintenance. Let's consider the main points.

After purchasing the goods, they leave it in the room in which the work will be carried out for several days. The temperature in the room should be within + 18 ... + 24 ° C, and humidity - 40-60%. It is desirable to maintain such conditions during the operation of the coating. When installing products on a “warm floor”, the heating system should be adjusted so that the temperature on the surface of the coating does not exceed +27°C.

When installing a parquet board, it is necessary to take into account the microclimate of the room

Floor care is to protect the decorative coating from mechanical influences. To do this, furniture legs are equipped with felt pads, and they walk around the room only in slippers. Cleaning is carried out with a conventional vacuum cleaner and a damp (but not wet) cloth.

Advice! Heavily soiled areas should only be cleaned using special products designed for multilayer wood flooring. It is forbidden to use cleaning and washing compositions for dishes, solvents for paints, alcohol.

As can be seen from the article, it is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of which parquet board is the best and most wear-resistant. When buying, take into account a whole range of characteristics, which we described in this material.

A practical democratic parquet board was invented and introduced into production in the 40s of the last century. She appeared as a worthy alternative to expensive piece parquet floor. Popular flooring is now produced by hundreds of companies that are constantly improving their product. Every year, many collections are brought to the market with amazing design and improved features. An extensive range of modernized products is able to puzzle even a buyer tempted by abundance. Recommendations and information about what properties to pay attention to and how to choose a parquet board will help experienced and inexperienced future owners decide on a future purchase.

Attractive sides of the parquet board better than any advertisements convince of the rationality of arranging commercial, administrative and residential premises with the help of this material.

• Floor installation using a parquet board takes a significantly shorter period of time than is required for scrupulous alignment of piece parquet dies.
• Cheaper installation.
• Significantly lower than the price of a floor fully prepared for work.
• The parquet board does not need to be sanded, carefully sanded and applied several layers of protective and decorative varnish.
• Thanks to its special design, this floor covering does not react as sharply as a parquet floor to fluctuations in moisture levels and temperature changes.

Oak parquet board - democratic presentable practical material

The service life guaranteed by the parquet board manufacturers is lower than that of a presentable parquet, but replacement in case of global rework interior will not be painful for family budget.

Choice: consideration of operating conditions

The technical priorities of the parquet board are due to the design specifics of the flooring elements. Their structure resembles a sandwich, made up of three or more layers of wood of different value. The fibers of the top face veneer, made from expensive wood, are perpendicular to the fibers of the underlying layer. The structural components of the lower layer are again attached "to the cross" of the previous one.

Due to the alternation of the directions of the lamellas, the layered system perfectly endures all the hardships of domestic influences. However, excess moisture can still spoil it. Therefore, most manufacturers do not recommend laying parquet boards in rooms with unfavorable conditions for wood, as described in the instructions attached to the product.

The absence of deformation changes is justified by the design features of the parquet board

The parquet board, for the manufacture of which only wood is used, belongs to the category of products with high environmental criteria. It is suitable for arranging children's and bedrooms, it is used to decorate living rooms, home offices, respectable offices. There are options designed specifically for sports complexes and dance halls. Information about the operational specifics and the ability of the flooring to resist dynamic and static loading is indicated in the product labeling.

For laying the floor in sports complexes there are specific brands of parquet boards

Examine the documents attached to the product

Anyone wishing to lay a parquet board should study the information provided by the manufacturer. Good products come with certificates and a complete package technical documentation. A reliable company that is attentive to its customers, be sure to indicate all the details that need to be taken into account by future users. A well-written recommendation must contain information about:

• is this modification compatible with the "warm floor" system;
• on what basis can the series offered for sale be put;
• Is it possible to use parquet boards in rooms that are not equipped with a climate system.

Potential buyers, puzzled by the question “which parquet board to choose”, should be interested in information about the maximum width of the floor. This characteristic reflects the strength of the interlock. A number of the latest brands from leading manufacturers can boast of the possibility of arranging a floor with a width of 16-18 m. This means that you can choose a transverse or diagonal direction for laying the floor without fear that end locks or cracks will appear in winter.

The maximum possible laying width of a parquet board is a significant characteristic that must be indicated by a responsible manufacturer

An important parameter is the permissible unevenness of the base intended for the arrangement.

This indicator, like the previous characteristic, must be indicated by a responsible supplier, in contrast to dubious firms. The most durable brands are distinguished by a tolerance of 3 mm per two meter length of the floor covering, in general a standard deviation of 2 mm per meter of board is allowed.

Information about the maximum allowable unevenness is required for the competent selection of the adhesive composition. The need to use an adhesive with enhanced strength properties can significantly increase the cost of laying the coating as a whole. The buyer is again faced with a dilemma: buy expensive material and cheap glue or prefer a different combination?

In any case, saving on glue is not worth it, even if it is used only to strengthen the interlocks in the floating floor structure.

Size of flooring elements

According to the regulations of European standards, a parquet board is produced with a length of elements of 2-2.5 meters, a width of up to 20 cm. There are much more thickness options. The power of thin material 7 cm, the size of the thickest boards is 26 cm.

Important. Due to the insignificant thickness of the veneer of the thinnest variants of the parquet board, such material cannot be scraped.

The decorative qualities can be restored by scraping planks equipped with a working layer with a thickness exceeding 4 mm. These are 13-15mm stamps used for arranging public spaces and housing.

For the device of a wear-resistant durable floor in rooms with an intensive degree of traffic, a floor covering with a board thickness of 20 mm is mainly used. The thickness of the veneer in contact with the soles of shoes and furniture in these specimens is equal to or exceeds 6 mm. A parquet board with a thickness of 22 mm or more is recommended for laying floors subjected to intense dynamic loads. It can be laid directly on the subfloor, on the logs.

One or three strip board?

One of the classification features of a parquet board is the number of rows of slabs that make up upper layer material. On the basis of which the floor covering is divided into Various types, whose characteristics are given below.

Single-strip parquet board with chamfer

Characteristics of single-strip material

Single-strip board veneered with one whole plank. Its front layer is represented by a solid layer of expensive tree species. The material is distinguished by the charm of the natural structure, the beauty of the natural pattern, depending on the sawing technology. The method of sawing wood affects the shade of the front layer, the distinctness of natural lines and the presence of defects inherent in wood. A single-strip parquet board is chosen in order to visually expand the geometric framework of the room.

Two-strip parquet board

Its working layer is made up of two perfectly fitted lamellae. The components can be solid, continuous along the entire length of the board, or divided into 2 or 3 segments. The pattern of a two-lane cover is more diverse; its specificity is also affected by the type of selection.

Three-strip parquet board

The upper layer of the three-strip is made up of three parallel rows of lamellae. The most demanded material having a classical look of a piece parquet floor. In the collections of three-strip parquet boards there are options with the location of the segments of the famous parquet herringbone, braided, with the traditional longitudinal orientation of all components.

A new word - multiband

The multi-strip board is an innovative innovation of recent years, appreciated by designers and consumers. Its decorative layer is assembled manually from individual components of a small area. The veneer strips fit perfectly, butt welds are often difficult to visually identify. Finished products strikes with the sophistication of the range of shades, the beauty of the structure. Multi-strip parquet boards are preferred to be installed in rooms with an ascetic design. It in itself is a rich interior element that draws attention. Its advantage lies in the invisibility of minor defects that may appear during operation.

Different variants single-strip, two-, three-strip parquet boards and multi-strip copies

Type of selection and decorative indicators

In the list of questions combined in one phrase "how to choose the right parquet board", not last place occupy decorative criteria. They directly depend on the method of sawing logs for veneer harvesting. Cutting technology affects the strength characteristics of the front layer, the presence / absence and the number of defects. In the production of components for parquet boards, they use:

• Radial sawing method, performed parallel to the share guide of the trunk. As a result, the plates receive an even pattern of longitudinally arranged fibers with a uniform shade and a maximum level of stability.

• Tangential type of cut, directed tangentially to the structural rings of the trunk. Timber sawn in a tangential way is distinguished by the originality of the pattern.

• Rustic sawing, for which the angle is not regulated. Rustic cut veneer is characterized by heterogeneity of color and pattern.

According to external indicators, laid down by sawing and processing, the selection of planks is carried out to form a single batch. Selection criteria, i.e. sorting are shade, plank pattern and the presence of defects on it. Basically, a parquet board comes on sale, sorted according to the requirements of the following types of selection:

• Select is the most demanding type of sorting, which involves the formation of a batch with a perfectly even color, the highest technical performance, with a beautiful uniform pattern. Such material is sawn in a radial way.

• Natur is a type of selection that allows uneven color transitions, differences in the natural pattern, and minor small-caliber defects in a batch of goods. In a batch of products sorted according to the requirements of the selection of natures, a material is selected with a top layer made by radial and tangential sawing.

• Rustic - a type of selection without restrictions in the type of cut, but predetermining sorting by quality and color. The pattern of the parquet board rustic is the most colorful, even variegated, inclusions of sapwood and knots are possible.

Rustic parquet flooring is an impressive and colorful interior element

Famous sales and production campaigns such as Tarkett use their sorting classification. Their collections include brands selected according to the selection criteria Premium with high selection requirements, Robust, close to the Rustic variety, and other variations.

However, there are no significant deviations in the selection regulated by the EN standards. The cost of flooring material depends on the type of sorting. The more demanding the selection was, the better the quality, but also the higher the price.

Wood as one of the landmarks

Future owners of furnished housing are interested in a lot of questions. What attracts this or that parquet board: which one will fit better into a given interior composition, which brand will be ideally combined with existing furniture or with a brand new finish? A significant factor for the consumer is wear resistance. Abrasion resistance and density, which is related to strength, are also significant parameters. All these indicators are determined by the wood selected by the manufacturer supplying the products.

To carry out the bearing layer of the parquet board, most manufacturing companies use northern conifers. They are distinguished by stability and strength over the entire floor area. Sometimes the bottom layer is made from hevea, which is characterized by resinousness and moisture resistance. The rocks of the lower layer are not prone to deformation, protected from moisture due to the presence of natural components.

1. valuable wood veneer
2. middle layer made from budget grades
3. bottom layer made of coniferous northern woods
F. Lacquer applied in five layers

For veneering planks of parquet boards, both breeds growing in Europe and Asia, as well as exotic wood from other continents, are used. The most popular material, equipped with oak veneer. The beauty and strength of oak over time is not just preserved, but increased. Its wood strikes with an abundance of noble beige, yellow, cognac shades.

Soft yellow with sparkles, ash wood is popular with those who want to visually enlarge the room. In terms of strength characteristics, ash is not much inferior to oak. Designers recommend sunny beech paints for arranging children's rooms. In addition, beech is not as durable as the stone-like wood of the mighty oak, so it is used for arranging rooms with minor loads.

Many people like the creamy color of maple, which is also a fairly durable material. Adherents of interior delights often prefer the pink color of cherry, saturated with coffee and soft cream nuances. A solid brown floor with golden streaks will be obtained when laying a board from a merbau growing in Indonesia. For the device of an almost black floor, a board with veneer from an African wenge breed is used. Kempas top flooring will paint the underside of the room in amazing brick orange tones.

Wenge parquet board - an exclusive African flavor

Varnish or oil impregnation?

Manufacturers apply oil or a multi-layer varnish coating to the material during the production process. This fact- one of the priority sides of the parquet board, which does not require processing after installation. Most often, the varnish is applied in five layers, its hardening is carried out under the influence of UV irradiation. By hardening the surface in this way, manufacturers increase the stability of wood and resistance to external influences. The varnished floor is easy to clean, moisture does not get into the closed pores of natural organic matter.

Multi-component oil impregnation - a new solution in the processing of parquet boards

Multi-component parquet oil, which contains resins, wax and vegetable fats, impregnates the material without closing natural pores. The floor treated with oil "breathes", but the fatty components do not let moisture into the wood texture. Although rare light wet cleaning is allowed, the parquet board coated with oil will require a more careful and attentive attitude. An argument in favor of an oiled board is the easy restoration of worn and scratched areas.

Video: information for buyers

Having studied the properties and characteristics, it is easy to make a choice in favor of a priority floor covering that meets individual requirements. Knowing the basic guidelines, it's easier to do quality assessment goods from the point of view of the future owner and taking into account individual requirements.

One of the features of this type of flooring is that significant (from the point of view of operation) defects of the board are hidden, and it is not only difficult to detect them visually, but sometimes it is not possible. It is hardly worth hoping only for the “sincere recognition” of manufacturers and specialists at points of sale. Moreover, there are only a few among the latest professionals in this field. The author invites the reader to familiarize himself with the most important points, which will allow him to avoid typical mistakes and make optimal choice good parquet board.

Without knowledge of the structure of this product, its manufacturing technology right choice quite difficult to do. Yes, and individual recommendations will be obscure. Before dealing with the details of the acquisition, you need to understand what it is, a parquet multilayer board, and how it differs from other varieties.

This product is composite, that is, composite. It is on the parameters and structure of each of its "floor" that the operational characteristics of the product depend.

The top layer (up to 6 mm) is quite thin, it is a plate of wood veneer. To protect it from abrasion, surface treatment is carried out. In relation to the parquet board, these are special oils or varnishes.

The inner layer (12 - 18 mm) - it is made either from wooden lamellas (thin boards), or from HDF (the most budget option, but the quality is appropriate).

The bottom (back) layer (2 - 10 mm) - as a rule, is a plywood sheet, the veneer of which is made of cheap wood. Most of the time they ate.

Based on this, we can draw the main conclusions.

Advantages of a parquet board

• Such a parquet board is fully prepared for laying, as there are already docking grooves on its sidewalls.
• Installation of this type of product does not require professional experience, it is available with your own hands, as well as repairs associated with the replacement of the "floorboard" will not be difficult.

Minuses

Hygroscopicity, especially of the middle layer if it is made of HDF. Therefore, such design of floors is not possible in all rooms.

Criteria for choosing a parquet board

If you carefully read the materials on various thematic sites devoted to this issue, then the main emphasis is on the linear parameters of samples and wood species. In principle, these basics for choosing a parquet board for any room, depending on its specifics, can be explained even by a manager starting his career. But what about the practice, experience of operating such a coating?

In principle, you can push through the top layer of any board, regardless of its thickness. There is no difference in how many times it is produced. Three times "driving" with a high-quality composition gives a much better effect than 10 layers of a low-grade preparation. The same applies to the type of connection lock - it does not play a special role. For the owner there is no difference on which of them he will save half an hour of his time. If the work is being done for the first time, and we are not talking about "in-line production", this is hardly relevant for the domestic use of parquet boards.

The buyer, first of all, is interested in such points as practicality, durability, ease of maintenance of the coating and repair (if necessary). That is, issues that periodically appear on the agenda for any property owner. Therefore, the author invites the reader to analyze the nuances that may not be explained in the store.

Number of lanes

From a practical point of view, it is more expedient to purchase a parquet board with a solid top layer. If you want to diversify the floor, then you can lay products that are less wide, thereby creating the desired pattern. But in any case, samples with one stripe are better than those with two or three, since when external factors (load, microclimate) change, they practically do not deform. With a composite upper layer, one lamella often exceeds the other, and gaps appear between them. Practice shows that during the operation of a parquet board, the least problems arise with the single-lane option.

Surface treatment type

The front part of the parquet board can be polished or brushed. How this or that option looks is at the discretion of the consumer.

From the point of view of practicality, a brushed board is preferable. Why?

• The meaning of this surface treatment is in the partial selection of wood. All the “pulp” is cleaned with brushes, therefore, the hygroscopicity of the parquet board is somewhat reduced.
• A floor with such a topcoat acquires the natural look of natural wood.
• On a brushed board, scratches are hardly noticeable, while on sanded samples they immediately stand out sharply, contrasting with the rest of the smooth and shiny surface.
• The perception of gender is also different. Brushed parquet feels warm, which is why these boards are recommended for laying in children's bedrooms.

Type of outer coating

Color design

The combination of a dark (moreover, uniform) shade and a varnish coating is the most impractical. Such a floor looks, and this is undeniable, very impressive, but if the slightest scratch appears (and this will definitely happen, especially if there are small children in the house), the entire “oil painting” will immediately deteriorate.

Another detail to be taken into account is lighting fixtures in a room where parquet boards are to be laid. Not everyone pays attention to the fact that in stores the light is mostly fluorescent, and also cold. And in residential buildings, there are either “light bulbs” of Ilyich, or LED products, or fluorescent lamps, but “warm”. In addition, you should not be limited to simply inspecting the products in the window. You need to ask the seller to remove the board you like and lay it on the floor. Then it will become more clear what effect it will create in a particular room.

• It is more expedient to purchase a parquet board either with differences in shades, or treated with a matte (not glossy!) composition. It is better if it is not a varnish coating, but an oil one.
• If the living space has not yet been inhabited, or if it is planned to replace furniture, doors, then you should stop the choice on the board without tinting. This will greatly simplify the question. design decoration rooms.
• You should not waste time trying to achieve a complete match of parquet boards in shade. In principle, this will not work, since even sections (lamellas) from one trunk will have some differences.

Parquet board manufacturer

Unfortunately, everything is so confused in this segment of the market that it is extremely difficult to find a true manufacturer. Therefore, the author is limited to listing some of the shortcomings of some parquet boards.

• Russian. The main disadvantage is the attempt of manufacturers to save on high-quality adhesives, replacing them with cheaper ones. In addition, insufficient exposure of wood at the drying stage and the use of low-grade varnishes.
• Chinese. The main claims of experts - to the level of toxicity of parquet boards. Again, unjustified savings on components.
• European. The quality is much better, but the price is not affordable for every consumer.

Price

On a parquet board, unlike other types of products, you should not save. The fact is that when purchasing material that is too cheap, you need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to pay an additional amount for repairs, the need for which will arise quite quickly. So, from the perspective of the future, the total costs will be approximately the same.

What else to see and check:

• On multi-strip boards - the quality of the lamella joints.
• On dark samples, there are no light bands. If they are visible, it means that the production technology does not provide for the preliminary application of a primer to the wood. Or the manufacturer saved on it at the expense of quality. In the minus, since with changes in the microclimate in the room by varnish coating a network of cracks will quickly appear.
• The location of the lamellas in the middle layer. If there are no gaps between them to compensate for temperature deformations, then the product quality is not up to par. It is better to choose another parquet board.
• The location of the joints of the lamellas in the 1st and 2nd layers. They should not coincide, forming a continuous, vertical seam on the end of the parquet board.
• Wrong side. Knots are allowed. But the bottom layer should be monolithic, without cracks.
• Smell. Do not be shy to smell the board right in the store. Quality products "exude" the aroma of fresh wood, and nothing more. Any foreign smell is chemistry, and the sharper it is, the more toxic the material. Laying such a parquet board in living quarters, especially in the bedroom and nursery, is hardly justified and expedient.

The choice of that very "golden mean" is up to you, dear reader. The author hopes that these recommendations will help to buy best option parquet board.

And with proper care, it will last for decades. The growth in demand for this finishing material caused an ever-increasing supply. Choose parquet board with a modern assortment - a task, if not of increased complexity, then certainly requiring careful preparation. We will tell you by what properties different types of material can differ, and what type of parquet board is suitable in a particular case.

No. 1. What is the parquet board made of?

To better understand the basic properties of the material and make a competent choice, you need to know the structure of the material . The parquet board consists of three layers:

• upper layer- This is a veneer of valuable wood species. Oak, walnut, cherry, teak, as well as exotic species such as merbau, wenge and others can be used. The front layer is optional or;
• middle layer- lamellas made of coniferous wood, less often HDF-plates. The wood fibers of this layer are perpendicular to the wood fibers of the front layer, providing stability to the board. Here the lock connection is cut out;
• bottom layer- spruce wood with a thickness of about 2 mm, serves to stiffen the entire structure and to resist buckling of the board.

The total thickness depends on the thickness of all layers, but quality directly depends on the thickness of the outer layer. The thicker it is, the more grinding the board can withstand, which means that its durability is higher.

No. 2. Which board is better: single-strip or multi-strip?

By number of plates used to create the top layer, the parquet board is divided into the following types:

No. 3. What size parquet board is needed?

One of the most important parameters, of course, is thickness. She can fluctuate from 7 to 26 mm. It is not recommended to choose a parquet board thinner than 13 mm, because the decorative layer in such material is not more than 2.5 mm, so scraping is excluded. In addition, such a board is not rigid enough, which ultimately leads to low durability. Roughly speaking, such a board can be called disposable, and it is intended for cheap temporary repairs until it is replaced by a better and more durable option.

A good choice for residential areas - parquet board with a thickness of 14 mm or more. In this case, the thickness of the decorative layer is approximately 4 mm, which means that the material can be cycled several times, returning it to its ideal appearance. For public spaces, a board with a thickness of 20 mm is excellent and more: it will normally endure increased stress and mechanical damage. By the way, a thick parquet board is often laid not on a concrete base, but on floor logs, which is important for houses. old building. Remember that the thicker the board, the warmer and quieter the room will be, not to mention practicality and durability.

The length of the parquet board, as a rule, is 2-2.5 meters. The longer the material, the better the step energy is damped, and the less likely it is that the board will start to squeak over time.
It is not recommended to choose a parquet board with a length of less than 1.8 m, especially if it is three-way. It will not look very good, since it will not be possible to completely imitate piece parquet, and over time the seams may separate. Large manufacturers do not sell such material, but some domestic companies offer such a board. You can even meet a board about 1 m long, these are rather sawn off and rejected parts, but they are also used on budget construction projects. Width from 10 to 20 cm, the choice depends on your own preferences.

No. 4. What is plank selection and which one is better to choose?

Even wood of the same species can vary significantly in appearance, so to achieve the best appearance carry out plank selection. The selection is based on parameters such as:

• cutting method;
• fiber inclination;
• Colour;
• the presence, size of knots and other defects.

Allocate such basic ways to cut wood:

Taking into account the type of cut, the uniformity of the shade and pattern, the parquet board is selected. The main types of selection:

No. 5. What kind of wood to choose

Although in a parquet board only the top layer is natural wood, the performance of the material largely depends on it. On sale you can find a parquet board using wood from both local and exotic species. The most popular options are:

Barlinek parquet board: oak, ash, spruce. You can buy branded salons of the Barlinek company, as well as from partners in most regions of the Russian Federation. The Barlinek Group is a major manufacturer of multi-layer wood flooring. The volume of production is more than 11 million m² per year.

Today, the demand for parquet boards with a top layer is also growing. from exotic tree species:

The two lower layers are made from cheaper wood species. Often used for this purpose conifers, incl. pine and spruce. Sometimes you can find a parquet board where the bearing layers are made of wood. Hevea. This tree is characterized by the presence of a large number of resins, due to which it has excellent moisture resistance and resistance to deformation.

No. 6. Is special processing required?

Wood can be exposed to high temperatures (up to 195 0 C) so that it acquires new valuable performance qualities. Heat treated wood becomes more stable, less prone to swelling and drying out, and scratches on it remain almost invisible. Some types of wood (beech, ash, birch) due to such temperature exposure can become sensitive to sunlight and gradually fade under their influence.

Oak wood is often succumbed brushing. Tree rings formed in spring are less durable than those formed in winter or autumn. Brushing involves removing softer wood fibers with hard brushes. The result is a stronger and more voluminous surface.

brushed oak wood

No. 7. What coverage to choose?

The great advantage of a parquet board is that it is covered protective layer still at the manufacturer, and it is unnecessary to spend time and money on self-processing. The material can be coated varnish or oil. Often light boards are varnished, and dark boards are oiled, but there may be exceptions. Each of the options has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Benefits of varnishing:

Benefits of oil coating:

No. 8. Which castle is better?

Today, many large manufacturers produce products with locks of their own design, which have unique properties. In fact, each of them is an improved version of one of the two main types of locks -Lock andClick. In any case, the connection occurs due to the presence of a spike and groove on the boards, but their shape and presence additional elements and becomes different.

In locks likelock, or straight locks, the spike and groove are parallel to the board itself. The groove has a special comb, when hit in which the spike is tightly fixed. The installation of such parquet boards is like putting together a puzzle. An element with a spike is pressed tightly against the board with a groove and hammered with a mallet. There is a high risk of damaging lock system Therefore, it is better to entrust the laying of such a parquet board to experienced professionals. However, even high-quality installation will not insure you that the comb will begin to wear out over time, weakening the connection and causing cracks to appear. Sometimes glue is used when mounting such a board, but you need to work with it carefully.

Type locksClick, or twist locks, more modern and practical. Due to the features of the lock, the laying process is simplified, and the strength of the connection is increased. During installation, a board with a ledge is applied to an already installed board with a groove at an angle of 45 0, and then lowered to a characteristic click. It is difficult to spoil such a lock, and in the future you can disassemble and reassemble the floor several times.

Click-based locks, major manufacturers offer their own developments, the most interesting, convenient and practical are the following:

No. 9. What else to consider when choosing?

Here are a few more useful tips, which will help you choose a high-quality parquet board:

To protect yourself, . They have worked hard to make their brand recognizable and inspire confidence in it, so they will not spoil their reputation with low quality.

Parquet is a beautiful but expensive floor covering. It is demanding for styling and demanding for care. On the market - big choice decors, types of wood and board designs. How to choose exactly the parquet that you need, and not spend extra money at the same time?

Ten important questions that every newcomer to a wood flooring store asks. We answer them here.

1. Which parquet is better: solid board, parquet board or engineering?

Indeed, there are several parquet options in the wood flooring market. But when laid, they will all be indistinguishable from each other, since their outer layer is the same - a valuable type of wood that has one or another factory decor. Therefore, from an aesthetic point of view, there is no difference between them.

The difference is in the price, durability and partly in the laying methods for which this or that parquet is intended.

In other words, when choosing a floor, your task is to decide for yourself: for how long do you really need parquet in your house - for 20 years until the next repair or for the rest of your life. All other nuances when choosing a parquet one way or another will come from this.

Massive board: expensive, prestigious

Massive board is the most durable and expensive type of wood flooring. Each board is a solid piece of wood. Service life - 50 years and longer, or in other words - forever, if you do not want to change earlier. In addition, a massive board can be sanded and restored - if dents or scratches suddenly appear on it from careless handling.

Parquet board: cheaper, but also natural

This is an option for those who:

• a) it is important that there is natural wood underfoot, not laminate,
• b) but at the same time there is an understanding that parquet is purchased not for decades, but for 15-20 years - until the next repair.

The essence of the parquet board: under the top layer valuable breed wood - conifers, and therefore this board is cheaper than an array.

Parquet board construction: the top layer is the same as that of a massive board, and under it is coniferous wood, which makes the parquet more accessible.

Another design feature: the castle connection between the boards. There are pluses in this (it is easier to lay and shift the floor - the boards are not attached to the floor, but to each other), and minuses: such parquet cannot be sanded, because the boards will move apart.

But on the other hand, if you buy parquet for 15 years, then, after all, polishing will not be critically necessary for you, will it?

Engineering board: the advantages of massive and parquet boards together

This is also a multilayer board, but under the outer “expensive” layer there are not needles, but birch plywood. Therefore, the "engineer" not only looks like a massive board, but also fits like it is - on glue - hence the possibility of restoring.

In terms of service life: for an engineering board, it is less than a massive one, but a little more than a parquet one.

Engineered board: under the outer layer - birch plywood. And the thorn-groove connection allows you to lay parquet in the most reliable way - on glue.

2. What kind of wood is best for me?

The type of wood is another factor that can be a "trump card" when choosing a floor. There are three indicators by which wood is evaluated in parquet: decor, hardness and moisture resistance.

Of course, wood species also differ in other indicators (strength, weight, etc.), but specifically in the case of parquet, they are either secondary or do not play any role. Do you, for example, care how much the floor you walk on weighs?

Board decor

On the one hand, almost any parquet that you buy in a store will have a factory finish - that is, the board will be painted in one color or another, will have a varnish or oil coating, which in turn will either veil natural decor wood, or vice versa, emphasize it. But all this does not negate the fact that each tree has its own type of drawing. Or rather, not a separate breed, but a group of breeds.

We are more accustomed to classic patterns - this is oak, ash - when annual rings in the section form woody patterns so familiar to us. Exotic species - trees from other continents and other latitudes - either do not have a pattern in the usual sense for us at all (for example, Kaslin), or they have it, but it is completely original - for example, Walnut.

In general, it's a matter of design taste.

The decoration of the exotic tree Kaslin: the almost complete absence of a pattern in the usual sense for us. In the photo: Parketoff Kaslin solid board in Walnut color.

Board hardness

But this is already practical question: how actively the parquet will be used in the room - there will be a constant flow of people there or it will be mostly empty or people will walk on it only in slippers.

4. My room is 35 m2 and I was told to buy 37 m2 of parquet. Why?

This is not a deception of sellers, but a feature of the laying process itself, which has nothing to do with either the type of flooring or the room.

When laying parquet against a wall, around pipes or protruding thresholds, part of the boards is cut off. In addition, the width of the room, as a rule, is not a multiple of the width of the boards. And finally, parquet is sold in packs - they are small, but the difference arises here too.

In general, these are those “extra” meters of parquet that you pay for when buying.

How much parquet do you need to buy? With direct laying - as a rule, 5% more than the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room. With a diagonal - 7%.

If the area of ​​​​the room is complex, the percentage becomes larger.

5. I have seen different types of parquet finishes: glossy and matte. Which one suits me best?

Conventional wisdom: if the board is impregnated with oil, then it is matte, and if it is varnished, it is glossy. This is not true. Modern technologies drawing finish coat allow both lacquered parquet to be matt and oil-soaked floor to be glossy.

So which floor is right for you - glossy or lacquered? From a practical point of view, dirt and damage are much more visible on a glossy surface.

6. I am worried that my expensive parquet will be scratched. How to avoid it?

Do not scratch it :-) But seriously, there are a few rules to remember: they will allow you to avoid unnecessary damage to the floor.

And, of course, do not drop irons on your parquet and do not walk on it in heels :-)

7. How to keep parquet new?

If it's an oiled board, recoat (or sand if it's too run down). If the board is varnished, sand it (but this is rarely necessary).

We wrote in detail about all the nuances that relate to parquet polishing. . After this procedure, your parquet - no matter how damaged or dull it was before - will regain the appearance of a brand new floor.

You can only grind solid and engineered boards that are laid on glue. If you sand a floor from a parquet board, when the boards are simply connected to each other, then the locks can be damaged, and the floor will be damaged.

8. How long does it take between purchase and installation of parquet?

Essentially, not at all. Buy today, start laying today. But in reality, as a rule, much more time passes, and this is not connected with the parquet or the work of the store, but with the organization of repairs.

Parquet should be laid only when the concrete base - screed - is ready for laying: that is, completely dry. This means that if you buy a floor covering before the screed work has begun, you will have to wait at least a month - this is how much a 5 mm thick base usually dries. If the base is thicker, then the terms will increase.

How long can parquet be stored at home? If the package is not opened and the tightness is not broken, then you can store it safely for several months. Just not near the included batteries :-)

9. I have seen cases where parquet has changed color over time. How to foresee it?

Generally speaking, it is a natural property of a tree to change its color over time. Moisture leaves, fibers age, a natural process of decay takes place. However, if the board has a high-quality factory coating (lacquer, oil), then it does not rot. At the same time, - for the sake of design, - maybe imitate aging. For example, the now so fashionable light, almost whitish, color of the parquet is actually the natural color of the old, shabby, faded parquet.

Another thing is that some types of wood - mostly exotic - can change color. very strongly - literally from one to another (eg Amaranth). And others (for example, Merbau) become redder, richer over the years.

So to the question, "how to provide for this?", we will answer this way - just provide for it.

10. Laying parquet is very expensive. Why can't I do it myself?

At one time, we released several texts in which they said: there are so many nuances in laying parquet that even of those who call themselves professional parquet fitters, 75% actually do not know how to do it.

If you briefly summarize all the arguments “against” laying parquet on your own, then they are:

• With a 99.9% probability, you will not be able to comply with all the necessary standards for humidity and gaps that are prescribed by the manufacturer.
• And if you don’t follow them, you, firstly, will get parquet, which will begin to warp or deteriorate ahead of time, and secondly, you won’t be able to get a factory guarantee for this - because the parquet was not assembled according to construction and factory standards.
• In some cases, you may simply not have enough skill: for example, good parquet glue dries very quickly, and you may not have time to glue the entire parquet :-)

At the time we published detailed instructions for laying massive boards. Read it, but don't try it yourself.

That's why professional parquet floorers take more money because they work with a guarantee and know all the nuances.

How to distinguish a truly professional parquet floor from a charlatan? Most the right way- contact the manufacturer's team. They know their boards best, and boards in general. And they really value their reputation.

This is what it is - the art of choosing parquet and living with it :)

If you have any questions or new ones, write to us: [email protected]

We will help and advise you!