Reclaimed parquet - Part 1

Reclaimed Parquet - Part 1

In this lesson, I'm going to take you through a few different approaches to reclaimed block parquet flooring. We salvage parquet as individual tiles and then reuse them in different laying patterns to create distinct effects.

Sample Boards

When working with clients, we will make up a large sample board using the reclaimed parquet tiles in different laying patterns to demonstrate what the final look will be.

We will also take this opportunity to test different levels of sanding and finishes to achieve the look the client wants.

Working with Parquet Tiles

Ideally it can be useful to work with a floor fitter who has experience fitting reclaimed flooring - but this isn't essential.

The most important thing is to build a good relationship with honest lines of communication. You should have mutual respect for each other and maintain an open dialogue as to what is achievable and any potential issues.

Herringbone Laying Pattern

A herringbone floor can be visually stunning, but it's definitely worth bearing in mind how labour-intensive it is to lay. There are a lot of cuts that need to be made to achieve the effect, which limits further reuse potential and generates a lot of wastage.

Ladder Laying Pattern

This was a design that my team and I came up with to minimise the number of cuts, as the parquet tiles can sit side by side all the way up to the wall.

Imperfections

By nature, reclaimed parquet tiles are full of imperfections, be this discolouration, holes or remaining metal tacks.

Some people want to keep the floor as raw as possible and like to maintain the character of wear and patina.

Others may wish to completely sand the tiles back and clean them up as much as possible. This is a completely personal choice and one to work out with your client.

A Final Note on Cleaning Up Parquet

If the parquet tiles were previously adhered to the floor using Bitumen you can either cut the entire layer of Bitumen away, or sand it back to remove the tackiness.

Watch Out for Left Over Metal

It is ultimately the responsibility of the seller to remove any small nails, tacks or staples from the parquet tiles before selling them to you. However, they will never be able to guarantee that every single one has been removed. Be mindful to examine the stock yourself, and be prepared for an additional cost from your flooring installer if a lot of leftover metal remains.

Sealing the Flooring

Even within the same species of wood, there are huge variations in tonality, grain and movement patterns depending on how they've been cut and then treated in their previous application.

When it comes to sealing the flooring, this will also have an impact on the colour and appearance of the timber. I would recommend making up large sample boards to test out a few different sealants to see which one you like best.

You can also choose not to seal your floors, and this will lead to the floor building up a greater patina over time, which is a look some clients love.

If oak is left unsealed, it can tend to patinate towards silvered grey tones over time. If it is sealed, the colour often veers towards warmer hues of gold and yellow.