Which direction should I lay parquet floor

8 years ago

Hi, so I've done the backbreaking job of preparing the room to lay reclaimed teak parquet.

Today I lay them and find myself doubting myself. Had thought I would lay towards the fireplace as its a focal point, but now question whether I should lay towards the window (opp door) and flow into the room. This has to be laid today as not sure how much more my body can take

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Sophia
Original Author

8 years ago

It's been backbreaking work and almost finished. Not perfect but I've laid and know the effort it's taken. Learnt loads also. Including how to use a circular saw (Worx mini ) as let down by carpenter. I wasn't confident in doing the border, so when he cancelled yesterday, thought sod this and just got on.
This week decorating and then sanding at the weekend. Found a Trio sander to hire which is perfect for parquet.

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Comments (34)

Victoria
8 years ago
Normally the parquet, like floorboards, would run the length of the room. Which is the longest direction?
Victoria
8 years ago
https://www.houzz.co.uk/discussions/857793/parquet-floor-disaster-help

For info :-)
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Jonathan
8 years ago
If you are that tired it might be worth taking a break today and laying them when there is less potential for mistakes.
For what it is worth I think both work but I favour flowing towards the window.
Perhaps there are people on here who have parquet themselves- perhaps there is a right way
Sophia
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi, the longest direction is towards the fireplace.

Have to do it today really. Furniture in storage and expect to paint the room before sanding at the weekend. The prep has taken weeks, what with hand cleaning the parquet, acclimation of the wood, then the room prep which involved taking up the laminate, and switching around the soundproof and plywood. Around 700 screws removed and then replaced. I'm hoping this is nothing compared to all that. Even sanding etc I'm looking forward to as found a trio sander to hire which helps with the multi direction of the wood. I know I'm able to do it justice, but
just had doubts when I should go with how I had envisioned it and also my gut.
PRO
Oasys Property Solutions
8 years ago
Another vote fro in the direction of the window. If it's any conciliation, I'd rather be laying parquet flooring than my job for the day - emptying the garage which has been the dumping ground for 2 years!
Mulchie
8 years ago
I don't think you'll notice once it's laid because it's going to look beautiful either way. My vote is for towards the fireplace along the longest length. Good luck!
Lauren
8 years ago
Definitely should be pointing in the direction of the longest length. That's how the original parquet in my house goes and looks gorgeous.

Well done on all the hard work - it'll be worth it I promise!
Lauren
8 years ago
Pics of ours for reference - taken after we'd had them repaired, sanded and varnished.
Sophia
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for the pictures Whirlligig. I'm now well under way .
June Hulton
8 years ago
I think my dad said length of the room... Looks fabulous up to now by the way .
Lauren
8 years ago
Looks fab - hope you're having an easier time of laying it than all the prep work!
Sophia
Original Author
8 years ago
Day 1 over. No central lighting in the room so stopping.. I started too late in the day to complete even half of the room, I'm trying to get as perfect as possible, but I think I'm getting a system going. But being reclaimed it's hard going, and that's with the sorting out.
Amy Brook
8 years ago
Beautiful, keep it up!
Victoria
8 years ago
Looking great! Well done you!!
Laura Thomas
8 years ago
Well done! It looks great and it must feel great (especially once you have finished) to know you did this yourself.
Rebecca Wilson
8 years ago
Looks beautiful! Please post pics of finished result?!
J C
8 years ago
That's a job very well done..... Looks beautiful! Worth all the effort. Congratulations!
Kurtis Rogers
8 years ago
Very motivational. Good example of what can be achieved if you set your mind to it
June Hulton
8 years ago
Wow... Awesome fabulous achievement... Hard work pays off...
Lauren
8 years ago
Looks absolutely fantastic - well done!
Sophia
Original Author
8 years ago
One more day before I'm done. Pursuers are in the middle of sanding. I'll post once waxed and room fully complete. Thanks all for the encouragement.. So needed
dassie4
8 years ago
Looks fab! You should be proud of your hard work!!
Sophia
Original Author
8 years ago
I'm. DONE!!! On the floor at least.

1st and 2nd pics just after the last sanding (trio sander fantastic). The other after the wax. As teak went for a satin wax specially for 'exotic' woods.

Have to say I did like the lighter colour, but knew it would be darker in any case. I have oak parquet awaiting to be laid so that'll be nice to see.

Hard work but so worth it for the experience and knowledge alone.
June Hulton
8 years ago
Springes WOW... you should be so proud of yourself... Awesomely beautiful.... Perfection
Lauren
8 years ago
Wow you must be so chuffed with how it turned out! What a labour of love but so worth it. That floor will likely be around a 100 years into the future and still getting admiring comments.

Seriously impressed.
Mulchie
8 years ago
Oh, it is so beautiful. You must be so pleased. Congratulations - hard work but what an achievement
Lauren
8 years ago
Also out of interest are there any tips or tricks you picked up along the way? I'm sure it would be helpful for any others that decide to take on this sort of project to hear your experiences.
Sophia
Original Author
8 years ago
Whirligig there are. And that's a good idea. I'll post something in the next day or so.
Sophia
Original Author
7 years ago
Taken me sometime as just wanted to exhale and enjoy the moment. Very long post sorry.

Preparation

Research the job - there are loads of videos on You Tube of what to do and how best to do it; I somewhat took the best from all.
Buy more than needed as it's easier to take excess back rather than fall short.

Blocks

1. Blocks no longer need to have all the bitumen taken off. There are now adhesives that can do the job without all the scraping. I found companies that could take all the bitumen off but it would have cost a tidy sum. I used Lecol 5500. But the sides and tongues still needed to be cleaned in order to get a good fit.

2. If the tongues are damaged the blocks can still be used. You could actually take them all off and still have a good finish. I wasn't going to do that to close to 3000 blocks. Again, I found companies that would do this.

3. Spend some time grading the blocks - size, height, wear, complete (tongue). It really does help when laying, and therefore sanding and the finish, as you then don't have huge amounts to level out.

Surface

1. Ensure you have a sound subfloor. Luckily I already had one but had to still take it up as I put some sound proofing down under.

2. Make sure level with no screw heads locking out and no squeaks as the last thing you want is to lay it and the floor squeaks all about.

Laying

1. Measure, check and double check. Including borders and expansion gap.

2. As shown in the videos lay a crown line: The centre of the room is the backbone of the whole floor, it ensure rows are straight going forward.

3. Start early, especially if you think you can do it in one day. I took a week, doing some everyday after work. But this helped as the previous rows were then hard and didn't move. The adhesive will be a bit slippy and moveable until it's dry so don't walk on it.

4. Lay each row 'dry' to ensure that they will sit together before applying the adhesive. It takes longer and maybe a little messy ( adhesive overlay ) but worth it.

5. For the border, overlay where you've measured where the border should be (making sure not to add adhesive over your marking ) and then use the saw to take off the excess. As it wouldn't have had the adhesive on it'll come up super easy and leave with a clean finish.

Sanding, Filling and finishing.

1. If sanding yourself find a firm that has a Trio and belt sander. Absolutely brilliant machines. As they have three rotational disks perfect for parquet as difficult to sand along the grain with belt sander. I used the belt first until the 60 paper grade and then switched to the Trio.

2. Use 60 or 80 dust mixed with resin for filling. Again loads of videos on the Tube. I used Lecol 7500 resin. I filled it twice sanding in between.

3. Research the finish you want and if not sure take an example to a wood flooring specialist to get their advice.
Sophia
Original Author
7 years ago
My formatting has gone out when pasting... Sorry
Lauren
7 years ago
That's fantastic. Thanks for taking the time to write it all out. I know from experience that sometimes you can watch all the videos you want but it doesn't always translate to understanding the best tricks that can only be learned on the job or from someone who's recently found out the hard way!

The 'glue to the line then cut the excess' makes so much sense but I'm sure many wouldn't think of it till it was too late and chiselling bits left right and center.

I'm glad to hear you're throughly enjoying the fruit of your labours :).
ryan and Katie mays
2 years ago
hi Sophie, i realise this was 5 years ago so hoping you maybe still use HOUZZ, i'm about to take on the same preoject, just wondered how the floor has worn given that you butted up to the skirting rather than removed them? it would save me a huge amount of time and money to not remove the skirtings, however i keep reading about expansion gaps?

fingers crossed you get this!

thanks

K
PRO
Carla Mackay Interiors
2 years ago
I think you made the right decision! It looks super!