There was a stretch, roughly from the 1980s through to the early 2000s, when parquet floors were the first thing to go in a renovation. Ripped out, carpeted over, or covered in laminate. Now the opposite is happening. Homeowners are pulling up old carpet and finding parquet underneath, and instead of tearing it out, they’re asking how to bring it back.
It’s a fair question to ask why something so out of fashion twenty years ago is suddenly one of the most requested floors we install and restore. The answer’s fairly simple once you see a well-laid herringbone or basket-weave floor in person.
What parquet actually is, and why it’s different from a normal wood floor
Parquet block flooring is made up of small, individual blocks or strips of solid wood, usually oak, laid in a repeating geometric pattern rather than the long straight boards you’d see in standard solid or engineered flooring. Herringbone, where blocks are laid at right angles to each other in a zigzag, is the most recognisable pattern, but there’s also basket weave, chevron, and versailles panels for something more elaborate.
Because each block is small and solid rather than one long board, parquet handles changes in humidity and temperature differently to plank flooring. It’s generally more stable, which is one reason so much original parquet from Victorian and Edwardian homes has survived in reasonable condition even after being neglected for years.
Why period homes suit it so well
If your house was built before the 1930s, there’s a decent chance it had parquet somewhere originally, often in the hallway, dining room, or reception rooms where a bit of visual statement mattered. The pattern adds a level of detail that plain boards simply don’t, and it tends to sit well with the proportions and cornicing typical of older properties.
That’s not to say parquet is only for period homes. A lot of newer builds and renovated properties use parquet deliberately to bring in some warmth and texture against otherwise quite minimal, modern interiors. The contrast works well, particularly with herringbone in a mid-tone oak against white walls and simple furniture.
Restoring original parquet you’ve found under carpet
This is one of the most satisfying jobs we do. Pulling back old carpet or lino to reveal a parquet floor that’s been hidden for thirty or forty years, often in surprisingly good condition because it’s been protected from light and foot traffic the whole time.
The process usually involves:
- Lifting any adhesive residue left over from carpet gripper rods or old underlay
- Checking for loose or missing blocks, which can often be replaced using reclaimed oak cut to match
- A thorough sand to remove old finishes and even out the surface, since individual blocks can sit at very slightly different heights after decades of settling
- Sealing with a finish suited to the room, oil for a natural look, or a harder-wearing lacquer in busier areas
Missing blocks are more common than you’d think, particularly near doorways or where furniture has stood for years. Sourcing reclaimed oak that matches the grain, colour, and age of the original is a big part of getting a seamless result rather than a patchwork one.
Laying new parquet in a home that never had it
For homeowners who like the look but don’t have original parquet to restore, laying new parquet is entirely possible in most properties, provided the subfloor is suitable. Solid oak parquet blocks can be laid over a range of subfloors, though the preparation matters enormously here. An uneven subfloor will show through a laid pattern far more obviously than it would under a single running board, so getting that groundwork right is not a step to rush.
Herringbone remains the most popular choice for new installations, largely because it works at almost any scale, from a small hallway to an open-plan kitchen diner, without feeling fussy or dated.
A few practical questions we get asked often
Does parquet work with underfloor heating? Yes, in most cases, provided the installation is done correctly and the wood is allowed to acclimatise properly beforehand. Solid oak blocks tend to handle this well due to their smaller individual size compared with long boards.
Is it noisy underfoot compared with carpet? It’s harder than carpet, naturally, but a good underlay or acoustic membrane beneath the installation reduces this considerably, particularly in upper-floor rooms.
How long does a parquet floor actually last? With reasonable care, decades. Original Victorian parquet floors are still being restored and used today, well over a century after they were first laid, which says most of what you need to know about the material’s durability.
Seeing it done properly
Parquet is unforgiving of a rushed job. The pattern makes any inconsistency in the subfloor, the block sizing, or the finish immediately obvious, in a way a plain board floor would hide. It’s genuinely one of the trickier flooring jobs to get right, which is exactly why it’s worth having someone experienced handle it from start to finish.
If you’ve found original parquet under an old carpet, or you’re considering laying it new, we’d be glad to have a look and talk you through what’s realistic for your space. You can reach us on +44 (0)1428 604700, or see examples of past parquet restorations and installations at britishwoodflooring.co.uk.
