Strip,Plank and Parquet Flooring

Plank Flooring

Plank wood floor products are 3″ and wider, usually in random lengths, manufactured solid or engineered, and may be unfinished or factory finished

This product has many species and colors. Originating from European roots, plank floors were made from large cuts of native trees. This also became the staple floor for homes in American Colonial times to those who could afford such luxury. Plank is sometimes associated with country decor, yet a contemporary, formal, or traditional look can also be achieved.

Plank wood flooring in the early days was milled at make shift saw mills at the residence from timbers that were cleared to build the home. Many times they were very rough cut with saw marks left in the planks because sanding was not done; rather hand scraping has become a very popular trend in todays wood floor market.

Parquet Flooring

Traditional Parquet Flooring

Historically, parquet flooring, installed in royal palaces, opulent churches, and the like, occupied the top rung in the flooring styles hierarchy.

Today, many museums and other large scale public buildings feature parquet floors similar to those found in the European castles.

This type of parquet flooring is typically comprised of 24″ or larger squares. There are many parquet designs, handed down through the ages of evolving European craftsmanship. This type of parquet, when applied to residential dwellings, would be appropriate to consider for large living/entertaining areas.

A well designed and space appropriate parquet floor can turn a living area’s flooring surface into a stunning evocation of old world elegance and charm.

A more modern version of parquet flooring which is similar in its design to its grand predecessor can be found in many residential homes. In contrast, this variety is typically made of smaller 12″ X 12″ tiles that are 5/16″ thick, usually prefinished, and installed in a glue down fashion. This flooring type is relatively inexpensive, and is therefore frequently used as a low cost solution for wood flooring.

Herringbone Flooring

Herringbone flooring is a pattern produced by alternating rows of strip flooring.

It is laid in mastic and is one of the most difficult patterns to lay out and install. This pattern is best left to a skilled craftsman.

Herringbone is generally manufactured from 3/4” x 2 ¼” or ¾” x 1-1/2” standard tongue & groove strip flooring. Usually, individual slats are cut to length in multiples of the face width of the strip flooring. However, slats can be cut to length, or from any width flooring. All slats are cut the same length and width.

Herringbone flooring is an elegant, upscale flooring style, most often found in museums and high end homes. This effect is generated by installing flooring pieces of equal length, usually between 9 to 24 inches, at a 90 degree angle respectively, with the ends cut at 90 degrees.

A chevron pattern is basically the same but with a 45 degree cut corner where the boards meet at a square angle.

Strip Flooring

Most wood floors in the Rochester area are strip flooring

Most of this strip flooring is either 5/16″ thick by 2″ wide, face nailed material, or 3/4″ thick by 2 1/4″ wide, tongue and groove material.

Strip flooring allows more design possibilities than other wood flooring styles such as plank and parquet. Strip flooring in most cases will appear more elegant and formal.