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Flooring Design Dilemma

Solid timber parquet advice

5 years ago

Has anyone installed solid timber parquet (not engineered) onto concrete and/or pine floorboards? Half the room is new concrete which will have a screed after 100 days drying. The other half is original pine floorboards. We have been told by the parquet retailer that we don't need plywood underneath but can lay the parquet straight down with a 2mm sheet of underlay an a secret nail. Advice please?

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Comments (6)

Sonia
5 years ago
I’m not sure about parquet, but we had laminate flooring laid over the original floorboards with a membrane and 15 years down the line it is still okay, nothing has dipped or cracked. Feels very sturdy too.
Rowland
5 years ago
hi Frankie,

I am not sure why you need to wait 100 days to have the slab dry. I take it the slab is a ground bearing slab. under building regulations it was probably insulated with a membrane below. it is possible to lay a membrane and scres with a rapid set screed to finish level.

as for laying the floor- both the floors can have a glued install with a good wood floor adhesive. solid floor has the disadvantage of shrinking over time due to adjusting for moisture, with oak being particularly prone to movement. a solid floor without an UFH is not a problem, but shrinkage on solid is higher with UFH, so most people avoid and opt for engineered floor.

I have laid solid oak parquet throughout my home with a glued system. I used a crumb base on the timber floors, but straight on the screeded floor.

if you buy the floor now and leave it to acclimatise in the room for as long as possible to reduce the drying out.

I would be interested to understand the build of your floor that needs 100 days drying.

best

Rowland
Frankie Hayes thanked Rowland
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Frankie Hayes
Original Author
5 years ago
We were told 1 day per mm - It is 100mm thick. We have conflicting advice re. parquet - some say it definitely needs plywood first but the retialer says that the thin sponge underlay is sufficient. what is a crumb base please?
Frankie Hayes
Original Author
5 years ago
Why is the sponge underlay only for timber subfloor and not the concrete as well?
Rowland
5 years ago
the base I referred to is a rubber crumb that is glued to form a roll. sorry to confuse you with my terminology. it is a product the same as the sponge underlay.

there are a number of laying methods to suit different situations. if you are in a flat with other flats below, then noise transfer is important and the various products and methods offer some sound reduction.

I take it you are in a ground floor situation, so you only have to deal with the two differing substrates. there are dpc products that can be applied to allow you to lay the wood before, but waiting 100 days is the correct method if you can wait this time. I wanted to know what the floor was to understand whether it was laid correctly with insulation in the build, which is important. if you have to lay a screed then you can place a layer over the concrete and then apply your screed or lay lay insulation plus a membrane followed by the screed.
if you check the product wakol they have a glue that will work in all situations. the also have various layers to go beneath the floor.

I have specified parquet on floors in numerous places and have never had to place plywood first. if you floor is not level then plywood will provide a level base, but it is not essential.

what type of wood are you looking at using for the parquet??

if you can advise I may be able to you some more specific advice.

photos of the floor will also help..

best

Rowland
Frankie Hayes
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Thank you - that's really helpful. Yes the concrete slab has a damp proof membrane underneath - it has been done correctly. It is about 5mm lower than the pine floorboards on the other side of the room. I want to avoid a thick floor but we didn't want engineered parquet as it can look like vinyl.

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