Parquet Know-how

Flooring types compared: Laminate, linoleum, vinyl or parquet 

Authentic-wood parquet floors create a natural, warm atmosphere in any room, and are highly sustainable. 

Authentic-wood parquet floors create a natural, warm atmosphere in any room, and are highly sustainable. 

The floors in our homes set the stage for our lives: we work, play, celebrate, live through unique experiences every day on our floors. Like few other design elements, a floor defines our living space and is an expression of our own, very personal style. However, appearance is not the only thing that counts: what’s inside the floor has a long-term effect on the room atmosphere, our health and well-being

When looking at different types of floors, such as laminate, vinyl, linoleum or parquet, there is a particular focus on the materials used: they give the floor its characteristic look, its unique feel, and determine its environmental balance. Real-wood parquet floors have remarkable properties compared to other materials.

Laminate or parquet?

Laminate floors appear so similar to parquet that they often look almost identical. And they are also often largely made out of wood. The difference is that with laminate, the base material is a wooden composite (e.g. particle board), while the visible surface is made using printed decor paper. Synthetic resin coating can make laminate quite durable. However, it is not possible to grinding out deeper traces of wear. Despite its often striking similarity to authentic wood parquet, the differences in quality are obvious, not only in terms of the feel and radiance of the material but also in terms of the acoustics: Laminate makes significantly more noise when walked on.

Linoleum made out of natural raw materials

Natural materials are also used in the case of linoleum: this uses a base of cork/wood dust and linseed oil. Because of its special composition, at first, linoleum fills the room with its strong characteristic smell. It also requires a special protective layer for preserving it against pressure and moisture. With incorrect care and the effects of sunlight, linoleum can become discoloured. It creates a neutral, sterile effect in the room, which is why it is a common sight in office spaces and public buildings, such as hospitals.

Raumbild zu Bauwerk Parkett Landhausdiele Unicopark in Eiche Gold rustikal.

Vinyl versus parquet

Another option is luxury vinyl tiling, known as PVC or LVT, made out of plastic rather than natural raw materials. This type of flooring is resistant to wear and can be used to imitate any other kind utilizing a special printed-on layer. Polymer flooring often consists of 10 % to 20 % plasticisers, which can emit toxic substances that are harmful to health. Disposing of these is also bad for the environment: Burning vinyl releases pollutants.

MMF floors (modular multilayer flooring)

This type of flooring is gaining popularity and consists of a combination of wood/cork and plastics in different proportions. Even if a wooden substrate is used, these floors contain a high degree of plastic. They all imitate authentic wood or cork but only succeed in terms of how they look. There are still no reliable empirical data on these floors when it comes to service life and safety in living environments.

Parquet brings an eco-friendly, healthy atmosphere that promotes well-being

Parquet has a good ecological balance sheet: it takes relatively little energy to make, has an enormous service life, and its raw material is renewable. Wooden floors can also create a pleasant, natural atmosphere in any room. Their unique, comfortable feel is particularly noticeable when barefoot. These floors can be sanded and lacquered. Parquet is also very durable and easy to care for. Another advantage: if desired, you can give your wooden floor a completely new look, even long after it is installed (using coloured oil, etc.). In addition to wood, which is a natural, renewable material, parquet production involves other materials, such as adhesives, lacquers and oils. To avoid harmful substances and to determine health-related characteristics, Bauwerk’s parquets are regularly inspected and certified by independent institutions. This results in the exclusive use of substances and materials that are particularly healthy for living, throughout the entire parquet production process.



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