Reclaimed parquet - Part 2

Reclaimed Parquet - Part 2

We continue to delve into additional aspects of using reclaimed parquet, including another laying pattern that you may want to consider.

Level Variations

Depending on where the parquet tiles have been salvaged from, it is common to get a few millimetres of level variations when it comes to reinstalling them. As long as there are no trip hazards, I actually quite like this, as it adds to the character. When reclaimed floors are sanded back too much and become completely flat, I often feel like they have lost their charm.

Pine Parquet

A less common choice is pine parquet. There have been moments in history when it was popular and there was a plentiful supply, so it's not impossible to source. Pine is a softwood, and typical variations will be Douglas fir, pitch pine or Yellow pine.

Basketweave Laying Pattern

Another laying pattern I like to use to minimise cuts and reduce waste is a basketweave design. The configuration will depend on the size of your blocks, and you can play around with what looks best.

Being Flexible with Lengths

The ladder laying pattern allows you to use different lengths of parquet tiles on the same floor, as you can have a row of verticals at one length and another row of verticals at a different length with a horizontal in between to break them up.

Staining and Tinting

To maintain the beautifully pale look of pine parquet, you need to add a little whitener into the sealant to prevent any yellowing. In Scandinavia they use a 'Soap & Lye' system, which is an ongoing process to clean and maintain the pale look of floors.