COMPARISON GUIDE · LONDON
Parquet flooring pros and cons
Parquet — herringbone, chevron or block — adds craft and character that straight planks can't match, but it costs more to supply and fit and demands a flawless subfloor. This UK guide weighs the real pros and cons based on hundreds of supply-and-fit jobs across London and the South East.
What matters for engineered wood flooring in London
- Pro: timeless pattern that visually enlarges narrow Victorian and Edwardian rooms.
- Pro: engineered parquet works beautifully over underfloor heating when glued down.
- Con: supply cost is 20–40% higher per m² than equivalent straight planks.
- Con: glue-down fitting is roughly 2–3× the labour of click-fit planks (£45–£70/m² supply & fit in London vs £18–£30/m² for planks).
- Con: subfloor must be dead flat (<3mm over 2m) — latex screeding is almost always required.
- Pro: easy to repair — individual blocks can be lifted and replaced without redoing the whole floor.
Typical London use cases
Victorian terrace hallway
Narrow oak herringbone elongates the corridor and hides the slight wall taper period homes are known for.
Open-plan kitchen extension
Engineered chevron glued over UFH — stable, warm underfoot, and unifies cooking and living zones.
Period reception room
Smoked block parquet over original joists with acoustic underlay — restoration-grade look, modern performance.
Nearby areas we cover
We fit engineered wood flooring across London and the surrounding area, including:
London is part of our wider London coverage — see all services and areas there.
London FAQs
- Is parquet more expensive than plank flooring?
- Yes — typically 20–40% more for supply, and around double for fitting because every block is glued and pattern-aligned by hand. Budget £45–£70/m² supply & fit in London for engineered herringbone.
- Can parquet go over underfloor heating?
- Engineered parquet glued down with a UFH-rated adhesive is one of the best-performing UFH floors. Solid block parquet is not recommended over UFH.
- Herringbone vs chevron — what's the difference?
- Herringbone blocks meet at 90°, leaving a stepped zigzag. Chevron blocks are cut at 45° so they meet point-to-point, forming a continuous V. Chevron costs more — both supply and fit.
- Can parquet be sanded and refinished?
- Yes, like any wood floor — solid block parquet can be sanded many times; engineered parquet depends on the wear-layer thickness (2mm = one sand, 6mm+ = three or more).
Summary
Parquet wins on character, longevity and UFH performance but costs more in both materials and labour — choose it when the look and the lifetime value justify the premium.
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