Special
Producers of Hungarian point and herringbone parquet (solid and multilayer)
THE TECHNICALLY ATTAINABLE PAST SPECIAL FITTING PATTERNS HAVE LONG SINCE CEASED TO BE THE PRESERVE OF THE HAPPY FEW Various rooms in the interior show that people like looking back to the past. Floors are one of the elements which clearly betray this sense of nostalgia with their rich adornment which has been in evidence for a few years now. Ten years ago, very few people fitted a floor in Hungarian point or herringbone, but the tide has now turned completely. There are several possible reasons for this shift. Obviously, you look primarily to (interior) architects, who like to explore different paths. That desire from the purchaser was rather pricy in the past (solid wood is costly), but the development of various alternative floor products has put classic fitting patterns increasingly back in vogue. Here we think not only of engineered parquet, but also of versions in PVC, vinyl, linoleum, laminate, etc. Developments in production and fitting options have put such versions increasingly within the reach of consumers with a somewhat lower budget whilst developments in fitting methods mean those versions have become increasingly authentic.
price in check, so these fitting patterns are coming within the reach of potential clients who are no longer excluded by the excessively high price of both the product and the fitting thereof. However, we do need to point out that in recent times the price of wood as a raw material has risen considerably.
Multilayer has various assets These days, multilayer, which is on offer in two or three layers, has several assets. For instance, it can now be fitted a lot faster, the parquet is often available pre-finished, it can be fitted dust-free, and lower construction heights are available, so it is often suitable for renovation projects. Obviously, the ultimate asset is still that these floors have a noble wood as a top floor, so a longer lifespan is guaranteed and, in turn, the floor can be renovated at a later date, just as with solid wood.
What’s on the market ? BJ Parket
The place of parquet floor fitters Parquet floor fitters like to be part of this story because to a greater or lesser degree there is still a need for professional expertise. Moreover, floor fitters can make good progress and ‘fit metres of flooring’ with a product which is more than just fitting one plank at a time. One thing is clear: When it comes to special fitting patterns, quite a lot of competent DIY lovers still have to give up because they don’t possess the necessary expertise. We’ve already unveiled the history of Hungarian point and herringbone in previous editions. The question now is what is available and in this edition we consider the thickness of the strips.
Thicknesses and materials It is worth knowing that strips for herringbone are generally 6.2 or 9mm thick, although much thicker herringbone parquet is available, even up to 14mm. Furthermore, it is often supplied with tongue and groove. You need two types of strips, a left one and a right one in professional jargon. And so, if the groove on one leg of the herringbone is on the left and the tongue on the right, the next one has to be the other way around because you work in a mirror image. If we consider the materials, what is noticeable is that there seems to be no end to the constantly growing popularity of multilayer, supplemented by an extremely strong rise in interest on the part of manufacturers in alternatives such as vinyl, linoleum, PVC, or laminate (as we’ve already said). The reason why fitting patterns such as Hungarian point and herringbone are increasingly penetrating the market in multilayer is simple: The development of the product keeps the
44
Floor Forum International 119
After herringbone, Hungarian point is also making strides. Whereas this fitting pattern used to be found mainly in mansions, it is now also trendy in private and commercial rooms. BJ Parket offers these floors in both multilayer and traditional 10mm solid wood. The company produces the latter itself and the dimension stability plays a crucial part. Indeed, the production is largely decisive for the quality of the end result. This fitting pattern is offered in various selections (Extra/ Premier/Bis/Rustic) and is available in an angle of 45 or 60 degrees. In addition, various other distressed alternatives are possible: smoked, brushed, and/or beaten. One of the benefits of solid Hungarian point is that the lane width can be adapted to the room and this is calculated by BJ Parket.
