Choosing a wooden floor: the difference between strong wood floors and parquet?

Do you love the charm of a wooden floor? We completely understand. The natural material looks elegant and timeless. It’s pleasant to walk on and adds character and warmth to a space. But which wooden floor should you choose: a veneer parquet like strong wood floors or parquet? We explain the difference between these floor types so you can determine what the perfect choice is for you.

High-quality oak parquet

There’s one aspect you don’t need to doubt: both the strong wood floors and the parquet floor are made from solid and durable oak wood. So, the natural look and pleasant warmth under your feet are guaranteed with both options.

The most sustainable choice?

If the ecological aspect is decisive for you, you’ll want to know which of these floors is the most sustainable. A PEFC and FSC certificate already indicates whether the wood was obtained in an ecologically responsible way. For every lifestyle, there’s something to suit your taste and environmental impact.

Consciously only oak

The reason only oak is used is precisely because of the local aspect. The oak comes from sustainably managed forests (PEFC label) in France and is locally processed into beautiful floors. The parquet floor and strong wood floors from BerryAlloc also carry the prestigious ‘Parquets de France’ label, which guarantees craftsmanship, sustainability, and traceability. The material also travels a shorter distance, which results in lower CO₂ emissions. It’s a wood species that is widely found throughout Europe and is subject to strict European regulations. 

Parquet - Les Exclusifs - Oak Naturel 01 Pampa

Less wood for more floor

If you look at the amount of wood needed to make a parquet floor or veneer parquet, the difference is striking. For strong wood floors, we use 10 times less oak wood than for the same surface area of parquet flooring. In terms of raw material use, veneer parquet is therefore a better choice.

Floor lifespan

Strong wood floors are treated through an extensive process with the Ultimtec lacquer, which keeps them in optimal condition for years because you’ll see fewer scratches, etc. This lacquer is highly wear-resistant and makes cleaning easier. The extra matte finish gives a natural look. Moreover, strong wood floors are extremely impact-resistant thanks to the high-density fiberboard core (HDF core).

Parquet from BerryAlloc is also finished with an Ultimec lacquer, but is slightly less impact- and scratch-resistant. However, you can sand it down when needed and reapply a protective lacquer or oil layer. Usually, this is necessary at least every 20 years. If you do that and generally treat your parquet well, your floor can last up to 60 years. That is, of course, assuming you keep the floor that long. It’s good to consider this already when purchasing your floor.

Ease of maintenance

An easy-to-maintain floor is of course convenient, especially if you have children or pets. Because accidents happen quickly. Now, in terms of maintenance, there’s no big difference between parquet and strong wood floors.

How to clean parquet and maintain veneer parquet?

For both, regular vacuuming and, if necessary, wiping with a wrung-out damp cloth is sufficient. If you want to use a cleaner, avoid all aggressive cleaning products.  The BerryAlloc Cleaner specifically for wooden floors is the smartest choice. And although strong wood floors are slightly more resistant to moisture than parquet, it’s still a natural material that absorbs water. So using too much water or spilling is never good.

Sanding parquet

An advantage of parquet in the long term is that you can sand the floor to refresh the top layer and remove scratches or dents. Afterwards, you can treat the floor again with oil or lacquer. And then you also have the chance to give your floor a new shade. That’s not possible with veneer parquet, of course.

Difference in installation

Both parquet and strong wood floors from BerryAlloc are installed plank by plank, using the same technique. The easy installation system Best Loc® X-Treme, a handy, glueless click system, is available for both types of floors. For the herringbone pattern in veneer parquet, there’s the Omniloc click system. Depending on your skill and the pattern, you can install it yourself or hire a professional. A parquet floor can also be glued down, of course.

Installing parquet: glued or floating?

The installation method can make a difference if you want to glue the wooden floor. That’s a good idea, for example, if you’re installing underfloor heating. The heat will then pass through your floor more quickly and warm the room. In that case, parquet is the most suitable choice. Veneer parquet, on the other hand, can only be installed floating with a handy click system. Thanks to the improved heat transmission of the HDF core, strong wood floors are also perfectly compatible with underfloor heating.

Read more about the advantages of a glued or floating floor.

An option for every budget

It goes without saying that you also consider your budget when choosing a wooden floor. The strong wood floor is available in large formats and therefore requires less wood for the same large surface area compared to parquet in the same format. If you want planks in large formats, veneer parquet is therefore up to half the price of parquet. That price difference decreases somewhat if you choose smaller formats. Both floors have herringbone patterns in certain collections, and parquet can also be laid in a Hungarian point.

However, if you keep your parquet floor for many decades, it will – even with maintenance costs – naturally cost you less in the long run than if you install a new floor every 10 or 20 years. The choice is yours!