FAQ

5 things that determine the price of a wooden floor:

• grade of selection, with first-grade boards being the most expensive; the lower the grade, the lower the price per square meter;
• pattern of installation (parquet, plank, classic herringbone, Hungarian herringbone, French herringbone);
• width of elements; the wider the plank, the higher the price;
• wood species (softwood is the cheapest, followed by ash and oak, with exotic species being the most expensive);
• thickness of the noble usable layer and the entire plank; the thicker the elements, the higher the price.

As you can see, the cost of a wooden floor depends on many factors. Only after determining them can you estimate the specific price per square meter.

There have always been products on the market that tempt with exceptionally low prices. Wood is a noble, high-quality, and durable material, which is why it is not cheap. The exceptionally low cost of wooden planks is usually a result of several factors affecting their resistance and durability. This typically includes less seasoned raw material, weaker glue, plywood, varnish or oil, and consequently a higher probability that the floor will be damaged due to factors such as moisture or underfloor heating. Ultimately, this also entails the risk of a quick and costly renovation, which over time will convince you to opt for more reliable and high-quality solutions.

Engineered wood boards have many advantages:

• they are more stable than solid wood boards, so the likelihood of any distortions is much lower;
• they are usually delivered to the investment site already in the form of finished - varnished or oiled - elements, which speeds up the installation process;
• unlike most solid wood boards, engineered wood boards can be installed on underfloor heating;
• engineered wood boards with a base made of slow-growing wood species (oak, ash, etc.) are more durable;
• their selection allows for laying much wider and longer boards.

The oil penetrates deep into the wood and brings out the true beauty of both the color and the grains, while also providing protection to the floor. In addition to guaranteeing its natural appearance, it also allows for spot repairs when the external surface of the parquet is damaged.

Most oiled floors require an additional impregnation once a year. This makes the parquet surface more resistant to dirt, wear, and stains.

Wood floor lacquer is typically a polyurethane coating applied to the surface of a wooden floor. Polyurethane fills the wood pores and forms a hard, resilient coating that protects the wood from dirt and moisture penetration. High-quality lacquer can protect a wooden floor for a period of 10 to 15 years, depending on the level of wear and tear. A floor finished in this way is very easy to maintain.

Finish is typically a polyurethane coating that is applied to the surface of a wooden floor. Polyurethane covers the pores of the wood and creates a hard, resilient coating that protects the wood from dirt and moisture penetration. High-quality finish can protect a wooden floor for a period of 10 to 15 years, depending on the level of use. A hardwood floor finished in this manner is very easy to maintain.

The choice of flooring depends primarily on the characteristics of the room in which it will be placed. When making a decision, you must take into account not only the interior style but also the requirements that the floor should meet. Of course, the color and size of the floorboards are important, but also the mechanical properties of the floor. Proper selection of the material will create a space where aesthetics complement functionality. So what should you pay attention to?

• It is important how intensively the room will be used. A high traffic volume definitely leans towards choosing a harder, more durable wood.
• The issue of humidity is also crucial. Installing a wooden floor in a kitchen or bathroom is possible, but you should choose coatings with appropriate protective properties.
• The dimensions of the room also influence the choice of parquet. Color, width, or arrangement of the boards can visually enlarge or reduce the space.
• The type of floor determines, among other things, the scope of household installations. Combining wood with underfloor heating requires choosing boards adapted to temperature changes, and it must be a material with an appropriate construction.
• Price is a combination of many elements indicating the quality of the floor. Considering its long lifespan, one should not only look at it from the perspective of savings. Purchasing high-quality boards is a form of a great investment. Our range of manufacturers allows you to choose solid floors at very competitive prices.

Surfaces covered with UV oil and natural oil look similar. Without professional knowledge, it is difficult to guess which agent was used to finish them. The level of hardness they provide is also similar. UV oil is cured by ultraviolet light and resembles varnish in its properties. Oxidative oil oxidizes with oxygen from the air.

In practice, UV agents penetrate the wood, close the pores, and create a hard outer layer on the surface of parquet or boards, similar to varnish. On the other hand, natural oil penetrates deeper into the wood, protecting the floor from the inside. While the durability of both finishing methods is similar, there are significant differences in how they should be maintained.

UV oil is less demanding in terms of maintenance, resembling varnish in its properties. Oxidative oil is more natural in its structure.

Both UV oil and oxidative oil can be locally repaired. Oxidative and UV oil will require periodic maintenance every 20-25 washes. A wax-oil maintenance product should be applied, which regenerates the top layer of the floor. Both systems are comparable, and it is impossible to determine which one is better.

Attention! Floors finished with oxidative oil wax can only be washed 10-14 days after the installation is completed. During this time, only vacuuming is allowed.

Wood is a natural material, and each piece is unique, standing out with its individual color and grain structure. The color variation of wood is determined by its age, location (where it comes from), exposure, soil pH, and many other factors that are important during the tree's growth.

There is no difference except for the aesthetic aspect. Wood classification does not affect the functional properties of the floor. It is purely a visual aspect.

All floors available at Parkiet Studio are tested for resistance to stains and spills. When the floors are installed in commercial spaces or heavily used kitchens, we recommend regular use of maintenance / impregnation products. This ensures optimal protection of the surfaces in these more demanding areas.

An important aspect of choosing the right flooring for your furniture is to use samples. The possibility to compare their color with the furniture or the overall design of the apartment is very helpful for the customer. This is an exceptionally beneficial solution - both when our dream furniture is already in our living room, and when we go to a carpenter or a store to choose furniture.

Properly combining individual interior elements with the floor requires a great sense of aesthetics. Thanks to samples, you can make such color comparisons directly in your apartment, furniture showroom, or at the carpenter's. It is worth remembering this especially since furniture is usually chosen in color contrast to the floor. And it doesn't have to be a very extreme contrast - it can be a difference of just 2-3 shades. An unwritten rule, however, is that light floors work best in the company of dark furniture, while light furniture looks best against dark floors.

Each order is unique, so always plan actions with our designated contact person. In our company, it is standard for the client to be present in the following situations:

1. Consultation

• Tastes vary, and the selection of a new floor is vast. Therefore, it is important to be present when choosing the floor and be well informed about the product and its characteristics. Seeing the product directly in the showroom on a large sample definitely shows the product better than pictures from the Internet or small samples of boards that we can send to the client for viewing.

2. Measurements

• It is very important to be present during the measurement visit. This determines where the floor will be laid and how the finishing details such as profiles, finishing frames, skirting boards, window frames, etc., will look. This is also when we will estimate the exact amount of material needed and the quality of the subfloor.

3. Delivery

• Materials are delivered in two ways - you will receive the materials for the investment by our transport or they will arrive by freight directly from the factory. Always check carefully if the correct materials have been delivered and if they are in the right quantity. If you have any doubts, please contact our advisors or logistics department.

4. Start of Work

• Please always be present at the beginning of the work. The installer will spend some time discussing the task with you before starting. The direction of the pattern layout, expansion joint width, processing method, and connections with other materials are key activities at this stage.

5. Installation Acceptance

• To ensure that you are satisfied with the floor delivered, please ask our installers to check the floor in your presence. This is the time to discuss any comments or corrections with the installer, often these can be resolved immediately on the investment site.

In general, it is not recommended to use solid wood for underfloor heating, while engineered floors are perfectly suitable for this purpose. This especially applies to oak plank flooring or hardwood. If you want to choose wooden flooring for underfloor heating, consult with the experts at Parkiet Studio. By utilizing our professional knowledge and experience, we will answer all your questions and help you make the best choice.

An often overlooked crucial aspect when purchasing flooring is the selection of appropriate chemical components. The adhesives we use are among the best and healthiest products of this kind available on the market. They are classified as adhesives with the symbol EMICODE EC1 PLUS R.

These components are produced by the company Wakol.

• EMICODE is a trademark-protected classification system for modern, solvent-free, and low-emission volatile organic compounds in materials for laying parquet and floors, as well as building products,
• EMICODE EC1 PLUS very low emission PLUS,
• EMICODE EC1 very low emission,
• EMICODE EC2 low emission.

These include adhesives, leveling compounds, joint sealing compounds, underlay tapes, adhesive tapes, and varnishes.

The environmental and hygiene certification for indoor spaces has been awarded since 1997 by GEV, the Association for Controlled Emission of Volatile Compounds from Adhesives and Other Construction Products e.V., to products manufactured by producers who adhere to strict and regular quality controls.
 
From a consumer and environmental protection perspective, EMICODE represents value in evaluating and selecting products from the construction chemical industry. The classification system is aimed at users as well as craftsmen, on a wide and competitively neutral scale.

• individually tailored to the investment, selected based on the type of cladding and the conditions prevailing at the investment site.
• durable (minimizing the degradation-oxidation process of the material over time) - based on products made from high-quality raw materials.
• stable - able to withstand stresses generated by the cladding due to changes in atmospheric conditions at different times of the year (large amplitude of moisture levels between winter and summer).
• as harmless as possible to the health of both installers and floor users, thoroughly tested and having the highest emission classification rating.
• meeting new expectations arising from the development of construction techniques. It allows for installation on foundation boards, milled heating, screeds with cooling function, etc.

When ordering a floor, it is always important to take into account the appropriate material margin. For boards, we typically recommend a 5% margin for waste, while for installing a floor in the classic herringbone or French herringbone pattern, the material margin should be 12-15%. To obtain an accurate calculation of the surplus, consult with the installer and obtain the necessary information.

This is a process in which the flooring adjusts to the new climate, i.e., the humidity and temperature of the room where it will be laid. Depending on the season, we recommend 7-10 days for solid wood flooring and 2-3 days for engineered wood flooring. This should be done prior to installation to avoid significant changes after laying. For this purpose, we recommend leaving the flooring in the room/area where it will be installed. The material can be arranged in stacks, with the normal temperature and humidity set, and the packages may be slightly slit along the packaging.

Laying parquet flooring can easily be done directly on ceramic floor. However, it is necessary to first remove any remaining wax, dirt, or grease that has accumulated over time. Their presence, even minimal, could actually prevent effective adhesion of the parquet. It is then recommended to sand the ceramic, so that the glue will have even better bonding properties.

The humidity of the flooring at the time of delivery is a very important characteristic for which standards are established. These standards predict a humidity level within the range of 7% to 11%. Our production of the top layer of the product from noble wood through drying phases leads to the production of lamellae with a humidity of 6 - 8%. On the other hand, the intermediate supporting layer has a humidity in the range of 10 - 12%. When the two layers are pressed and glued to obtain the final product, a stabilization process occurs, leading to a change in the percentage of humidity that compensates and stabilizes until reaching the threshold of 11%. This value of 11% is never exceeded.

When renovating a house or finishing a new investment, at some point we face a dilemma of what to install first: doors or floor? The order of installation is crucial in this case, as it affects the scope of expenses and the time we need to dedicate to the project. However, before resolving this issue, it should be emphasized that the installation of the aforementioned elements should be preceded by completing all wet works in the room. The humidity of the concrete and the space itself is incredibly important, so plastering walls and ceilings, floor screeding, priming, as well as initial painting, should be completed before installing doors and floors. Doors or floor, that is the answer to how the correct order of installation should look like: - Floors, - Doors (door frames and wings), - Skirting boards and expansion joints. The above order is optimal and sets the necessary direction of installation, regardless of the type of flooring (options include hardwood parquet, vinyl or laminate panels, as well as cork flooring). However, there is one specific exception – the installation of doors with a hidden, invisible door frame. If this type is chosen, it should be installed first. Installing the door frame takes place during the stage of dirty and heavy works, as after its placement it needs to undergo additional masonry-plastering processing, which could damage or dirty the floor. Importantly, when installing the door frame, the thickness of the floor to be laid on the floor later must be taken into account. At Parkiet Studio, there are numerous doors available with hidden door frame systems, and our offer includes brands such as Eclisse, Jagras, or Moric. You can find a full list of products by visiting our website.

It can be said figuratively that this is the first piece of furniture in the house, so all dirty work must be completed, meaning actions related to grout, tiles, plaster, smoothing, and initial painting should already be done.

We assemble on the floor:

• furniture structures standing on a wooden floor,
• doors (except doors with hidden frames),
• skirting boards (at the very end).

Wood is a natural material that changes its moisture content depending on the conditions in the room (hygroscopicity). During seasons with higher humidity, wooden floors absorb moisture from the air, causing them to expand. Conversely, when humidity levels drop, the floor shrinks slightly. An expansion joint at the wall helps prevent stress on the wood pressing against walls, door frames, radiant heating systems, etc.

• hard and stable wood species used;
• appropriate seasoning process in production;
• thickness of the wear layer of noble wood plank;
• quality of birch plywood or other bottom layer;
• compatibility with underfloor heating;
• quality of varnishes and oil waxes used to protect the surface of the parquet;
• quality of how individual elements fit together, related to their factory formatting;
• quality of filling knots and potential voids (applies to the rustic class).

The belief that wooden floors are not durable and are quickly prone to damage is definitely misleading. Such opinions are not confirmed by reality, as evidenced by the fact that wood is one of the most popular and longest-used materials in global construction. An example is oak wood, known for its longevity in enclosed spaces lasting hundreds of years. The key question in this context seems to be what contributes to such impressive durability of wood? In addition to the excellent properties of oak itself, the key lies in the protective coatings and maintenance products used for the floor. The use of high-quality oils or lacquers guarantees that the parquet will look great even after several decades, with optimal usability in even the most demanding spaces. In contrast to wood-like products that cannot be renewed, this is a choice that pays off and provides an excellent solution for generations!

A properly installed and maintained wooden floor will last for many decades.

Oiled wooden floors are very easy to maintain. For daily cleaning to remove dust or loose dirt, a brush, vacuum cleaner, or dry mop is sufficient. For more thorough cleaning, the surface should be treated with maintenance wax. It can be applied to the most heavily used areas or to the entire floor. Wooden parquet in homes or apartments wears out much more slowly, so impregnation with oil-wax is recommended on average once a year.

Wooden floors create a healthy living environment for the whole family, including pets. It is important for your pets' claws to be trimmed to minimize the risk of potential scratches. The visibility of scratches can be reduced by using professional maintenance products. Brushed floors show signs of wear and tear less visibly.

Using alcohol to clean a hardwood floor is rather risky. It is very important to pay special attention to the concentration of alcohol, as rubbing a wooden floor with alcohol can alter the structure of the finish, permanently damaging it. We recommend using alcohol in the lowest concentration possible to degrease the floor surface, in order to avoid causing damage. Additionally, it is worth purchasing specialized stain removers or contacting a flooring professional.

Wherever we deal with four-sided beveled flooring, there is no major problem with replacing individual elements. This type of flooring accounts for 95% of our sales offer.

In the case of a floor that has been hand varnished or oiled and does not have bevels on the edges, replacing a single board will not bring the desired effect. Removing a board from such a floor causes noticeable traces of replacement on the surface of the finish.

In the case of layered flooring finished in the factory (which are usually beveled on all four sides), there is a possibility of replacing or repairing a damaged board. This requires the knowledge and experience of a flooring installer.

Regularly removing sand and dirt from the floor, as well as washing it with appropriate care products, is the best way to maintain the floor in good condition. During the autumn-winter season, it is also important to remember to use air humidifiers.

With time, dents and scratches may appear, which can be repaired using maintenance products or easy-to-use repair kits.

The vast majority of floors available at Parkiet Studio can be repeatedly renovated throughout their entire period of use. Each time the floor is sanded, its appearance can be adjusted to a new design by choosing a different color of lacquer or oil-wax.

We usually sand the floor for the first time after 10-15 years. As a result, the lifespan of a wooden floor with a top layer thickness of 3 mm is about 30-40 years. If the top layer thickness is 6 mm, the floor can serve us for a minimum of 60-70 years. You can find such top layer thicknesses from manufacturers whose wood we offer at Parkiet Studio.

The added value of sanding a wooden floor? We can give it a completely different color!