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As parquet flooring is made up of smaller flooring pieces (usually blocks, laid in a pattern) rather than longer planks, it is essential that the subfloor is perfectly levelled before installation as any unevenness can complicate the parquet flooring fitting and compromise the installation later on. Therefore, installation of parquet flooring directly onto floorboards, without any preparation of the subfloor is not advisable. Usually, 9 mm or 12 mm ply will be laid on top of the floorboards to ensure the base is adequate for parquet flooring blocks.

Hi and thank you for your question regarding installation of reclaimed parquet flooring.

While we are perfectly capable and experienced in fitting all types of parquet flooring, we always recommend the installation of new, rather than reclaimed parquet blocks. The reason behind this is that reclaimed blocks can be difficult to prepare to a state in which they have good / compatible geometry for installation - it may take significant time and effrot to select and clean blocks from any residue such as adhesives or bitumen. When this is required and time consuming, it may add to the cost of the service. The geometry of the blocks is important for patterns like herringbone, basket weaves or even for squares - even with a great effort in selection, the blocks ending up in the installation will not have ideal geometry, which can result deeper than usual sanding and excessive gap filling for a promissing finishing results.

In addition, buyers of reclaimed blocks should consider if these blocks were properly stored prior to laying. Buying and installing timber with high moisture levels, can result faults after the installation or first change of season.

Therefore, we recommend the purchase of new parquet blocks as this will speed up the process and guarantees appealing final results. Please do not hesitate to contat us should you require a free quotation for new parquet floor fitting.

Hi,

I am sorry to hear that about a newly installed wooden flooring. There may be a chance that the flooring can settle down without visible consequences if it is given enough time. We would usually advice an inspection in such cases after 4 weeks of the leak. Make sure that the flat is well ventilated and that the heating is on to speed up the drying process.

We will be happy to arrange for a visit after that time, and if the warpping has not disappeared, local or large replacement of the flooring will be required, I am afraid.

Bouncing floor is almost always an indication that the flooring was installed over uneven subfloor. Subfloor prep with the use of ply or chipboard before engineered floor fitting is important, when level is not appropriate.

Another potential reason for bouncing may be insufficient expansion gap, which must be allowed around the perimeter for the flooring to naturally contract and expand.

Although, creaking noise sometimes may be coming from the subfloor, if bouncing is present it is more likely to be the source of it.

Unless, the nature of bouncing is in exhausted expansion gap, the problem can be only resolved by replacement of the flooring. In case your floors were installed with beading around perimeter, it is possible the beading to be removed locally or replaced, so that a floor fitter can inspect the expansion around the perimeter and possibly make sure it is present all round walls.