Veneer parquet, solid parquet or composite parquet? This is how to make the perfect choice.
Are you looking for a high-quality floor that is also warm and adds atmosphere to your home? Then the natural charm of a wooden floor is perfect for you. There is such a wide variety of wooden flooring available nowadays that it is not always easy to make a choice. Solid parquet, multi-layer parquet and veneer parquet are all a little different and they each have their own particular qualities. The key question is the following: how exactly are they different? We will give you a helping hand here to choose the best floor for your house.
What is solid parquet?
Solid parquet consists of planks that are made from a single solid layer. The wood may be an inland or tropical variety, and the thickness of the planks varies from 6 to 22 millimetres. This kind of wooden floor is best installed on an underlay such as a sheet of chipboard or plywood.
What is composite parquet?
The name says it all. Composite parquet (also known as multi-layer parquet) is made up of various layers. It usually has three layers: a bottom layer, which is often made from pine or plywood, a middle layer made from firwood or MDF, and a top layer made from solid wood.
What is veneer parquet?
Veneer parquet is a variety of composite parquet. It is also made from various layers, but it has a thinner top layer that is made from natural wood. A nice consequence of this is that veneer parquet is kinder to your budget than composite or solid parquet.
Another advantage of veneer parquet is the extremely strong compressed HDF that is in the bottom layer. It means that veneer parquet has perfect reinforcement against any potential damage. The finish of the top wooden layer makes also makes veneer wood very easy to look after.
Solid parquet or veneer parquet: which one should I choose?
A good thing to know about solid parquet is that it is not straightforward to lay. Firstly, you need a stable underlay to nail or glue the planks onto, and then you have to sand and treat the planks. Socrates once said that ‘self-knowledge is the beginning of all wisdom’. If you are not a DIY ace, it may be best to leave the installation of solid parquet to a professional.
How about the installation of veneer parquet? Compared to solid parquet, it is child’s play. You can install it yourself, even if you are not a seasoned DIY expert. This is because of the tongue and groove on each plank and the simple click system for veneer parquet. Parky veneer parquet is ready to lay and clicks together easily. This is why most people choose a floating installation which does not require adhesive. Handy, don’t you think?
Furthermore, Parky’s veneer parquet is made from 100% genuine wood from sustainable forests. We only use what we really need. We do not use solid planks but rather fine layers of wood that are reinforced with a core of compressed HDF. For instance, veneer parquet has the natural look of solid parquet but uses 25 times less wood and is much stronger than traditional parquet. So with veneer parquet, you are also helping the environment!
The difference between multi-layer parquet and veneer parquet
Both veneer parquet and compressed or multi-layer parquet are made up of multiple layers, but they are far from identical. Veneer parquet is slightly cheaper because it has a thinner top layer of natural wood. However, anyone who thinks that veneer parquet is less strong as a result is wrong. In fact, it is quite the opposite! Veneer parquet gets its strength from the bottom layer that is made from high density fibreboard (HDF). This makes veneer parquet more stable and stronger than multi-layer or solid parquet.
How about laminate and ceramic parquet?
Solid parquet and multi-layer parquet are naturally vulnerable to scratches, indentations and marks. That is why some people choose laminate parquet or ceramic parquet which offer greater protection. This is because they are made from totally different materials. Laminate parquet uses laminated prints on paper and ceramic parquet is actually a ceramic floor tile which also has a print applied to it. So although they look like wood, they are not wood.
What is the solution? Veneer parquet, with a top layer of real wood! It gives you the best of both worlds – the warmth and authenticity of natural wood, but also a floor with excellent strength and ease of maintenance. Parky veneer parquet stays almost scratch-free thanks to its incredibly strong top layer. It is a natural, breathing alternative to laminate or ceramic parquet. Furthermore, no two planks have the same grains or structure. This gives veneer parquet a unique character that is projected into the entire room.
