Parquet or laminate: which is better?

FAQ Current

What are the advantages of parquet flooring? What are the advantages of laminate flooring? Which floor covering should I choose?

When trying to compare parquet and laminate, one fact can be stated up front: these are two completely different products. Although they are visually similar, a closer look reveals a difference. The main point of difference is as follows: while parquet flooring is made entirely of real wood, laminate is made from a combination of wood and plastic.

Floor structure

Multi-layer parquet consists of a top layer and a middle layer. Different types of hardwood can be used for the top layer. Depending on the desired look, there are several options to choose from. Read more about this here. The middle layer consists of a spruce or pine core material or, in the case of a three-layer structure, an additional backing veneer is used. This structure ensures maximum dimensional stability. The structure of laminate, on the other hand, consists of several layers, usually up to 6 layers, in which a mixture of HDF and MDF is used. The top layer consists of a sealant in the form of a melamine resin overlay. This means that laminate is not a purely natural product!

Installation

Both floors can be laid floating or glued down over the entire surface. Both flooring variants have a click system, which makes installation much easier. If floating installation is used, parquet floors must also be fitted with impact sound insulation. With laminate flooring, the impact sound insulation is already integrated. Read more about laying multi-layer parquet here.

Cleaning and care

Both floor variants must be cleaned and maintained regularly to remain beautiful in the long term. The most important point here is to clean with little moisture. Due to its hygienic properties, wiping parquet floors once a month with a damp cloth is completely sufficient. If you want to vacuum the parquet floor, it is important to ensure that no scratches occur. It is therefore advisable to sweep regularly.

Depending on the surface finish, parquet flooring may need to be treated from time to time to protect it from external influences. Laminate, on the other hand, is less sensitive, but should be vacuumed and mopped regularly. Here you will find instructions for cleaning and caring for your parquet floor!

Downloads

Care instructions oiled parquet flooring

Care instructions laquered parquet flooring

Consultation about various wooden floors in a showroom

Price differences

When considering the cost of parquet, it mainly depends on which plank is chosen. A classic 3-STRIP parquet is extremely cost-effective. The more rustic the parquet grade, the lower the cost. With laminate, the cost factor depends very much on the quality.
The lower the quality, the cheaper the flooring. High-quality and durable laminate flooring costs a lot of money, whereas inferior laminate flooring is always cheaper than parquet. We generally advise against buying cheap laminate!

If the focus is on durability and high quality, parquet is always the more cost-effective choice, especially as the wooden floor can be sanded down up to 3 times and is then as good as new!

Advantages of parquet

Parquet is made of 100% real wood - this promotes sustainability and also has many other advantages: the wooden floor is robust, durable, resistant, has noise-insulating and sound-absorbing properties, is easy to maintain, hygienic, easy to clean and always ensures the ideal room climate. Probably the most important advantage, however, is that parquet flooring is better suited to underfloor heating! Although both parquet and laminate can be used for rooms with underfloor heating, the prerequisite for this is that the floor can withstand temperature fluctuations and allows heat to pass through easily. Parquet has particularly good thermal conductivity, while laminate has weaker thermal conductivity.