Floor Vs Floor: Tiles Vs Parquet Flooring
If you’re in the market for a floor remodel, you may have come across parquet flooring as a possible choice. What is parquet flooring exactly and how does it compare to tile flooring? This article sets out to answer your questions and more; but first, a definition:
What is parquet flooring?
Parquet (pronounced “par-kay”) flooring is a type of wood flooring that is made by slotting small slats of wood together in geometric patterns to cover the whole floor. While quite similar to hardwood flooring, parquet flooring is defined by its small and thin wood pieces, typically measured in inches rather than feet.
So what are the pros and cons between parquet flooring and tile flooring? Let’s have a look at some of the most common points of consideration when it comes to selecting the right flooring for your space:
Looking for wood design flooring? Check out our Wood Catalogue!
1. Overall Cost of Tiles vs Parquet Flooring
Traditionally, parquet flooring is made from high-quality hardwood, which can be expensive to source. Today, you can get parquet flooring made from a wide range of wood species, along with their varying qualities and prices. While tiles also cover a range of prices, depending on their design and properties, you can expect parquet flooring to cost on average 20% to 30% less than tiles, making parquet flooring the cheaper option in terms of materials. However, when considering the extra time and labour costs involved with laying parquet flooring, especially with more complex and intricate designs, you might find that the costs aren’t so different after all.
Learn more about how to select the right flooring contractor.
2. Durability of Tiles vs Parquet Flooring
Parquet flooring that is made from solid hardwood tends to be as tough and durable as the material they are made from – with proper maintenance, it could even last for decades! Obviously, this quality falls away with parquet that is made with other types of materials, and you should also know that scratches and dents can still happen, which could very well be permanent and only fixable by replacing them. On the other hand, ceramic tiles and especially porcelain tiles – are highly durable and resistant to wear and tear, making them especially good for high– traffic areas and often lasting 50 years or more.
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3. Tile Maintenance vs Parquet Flooring Maintenance
While pleasant to look at, parquet floors do require regular maintenance to preserve their beauty. Wood tends to be a sensitive material, which means cleaning should be done with specialised wood floor cleaners, and the occasional refinishing might be necessary to restore scratched or dull parquet floor surfaces. Tiles, however, are known for their easy maintenance, requiring only regular sweeping or vacuuming and mopping to keep them clean. The ease of maintenance is simply one of the best parts of tile flooring!
4. Health & Safety of Tiles vs Parquet Flooring
For those concerned about indoor air quality, there’s good news: both parquet flooring and tiles are great choices that do not trap allergens or harbour dust mites. Regular cleaning is required to prevent the build-up of dust and debris, which brings this back to which of the two you might find easier to clean. On the safety front, what you see is often what you get with parquet flooring – but with tiles, you can also enjoy innovative features such as the anti-slip effect of our Slip-Stop tiles, which boosts safety indoors.
5. Physical Comfort of Tiles vs Parquet Flooring
Thanks to the natural properties of wood, parquet flooring provides a warm and comfortable underfoot feel, compared to the hard and cold feeling of most tiles which some do not prefer. Parquet flooring also absorbs sound and reduces noise transmission for those who may be sensitive to such things, but this can also be achieved with the addition of rugs or fabrics to tiled surfaces.
6. Surfaces & Design of Tiles vs Parquet Flooring
There’s no denying the natural charm of wood as a flooring choice. However, beyond the shellacked grains on various shades of brown, your design choices would be limited to your creativity in laying the parquets: herringbone and brick patterns are two such examples. With tiles, the designs available are virtually endless, made possible by digital printing, which has the ability to recreate marble, stone, and even wood surfaces and textures! What’s more, wood design tiles such as Softwood Eco-foresta or Albar also come in plank dimensions, allowing you to lay them in your desired patterns.
7. Eco-friendliness of Tiles vs Parquet Flooring
While parquet made from natural wood can be a way of practicing eco-friendliness by using renewable materials, the onus is on the buyer to do their research and ensure that the wood has been sustainably sourced and not contributing to deforestation in sensitive areas. Tiles, on the other hand, are made from abundantly available clay and do not require constant replacement, which contributes to their eco-friendliness. When it comes to assessing the eco-friendliness of these products, it is a good practice to keep an eye out for third-party sourcing certifications such as Forest Stewardship Council labels for hardwood, or Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for tiles.
Niro Granite and Portino Tiles are now EPD verified.
In summary, here are the pros and cons of parquet flooring versus tile flooring:
| Parquet Flooring | Tile Flooring | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Low, but costs more to install | Low to medium, but costs less to install |
| Durability | Medium | High |
| Maintenance | Requires special wood cleaners | Easy to clean and maintain |
| Health & Safety | Mostly safe with no additional features | Mostly safe and can come with additional safety features |
| Comfort | Warm and comfortable | Can be cold and unyielding, due to its durability |
| Design & Surface | Limited to wood look and laying patterns | Many possible designs, surfaces, and laying patterns |
| Eco-friendliness | Made from renewable materials | Made from abundantly available clay |
