Long-lasting pleasure in parquet floors

You made your bed, now sleep in it. In keeping with this proverb, Germans are now becoming increasingly aware of how important a healthy living environment is for their own well-being. The latest Baumit-Sentinel-Heinze study showed that around 90 percent of all Germans regard the emissions from building products as harmful to health and do not want them to enter their homes in the first place. With respect to emissions, large surface areas like walls and floors play a crucial role. These days, parquet is a very popular floor covering. It’s a pleasure to let your eyes “wander” over the unique, naturally grown structure of the wood. When walking barefoot, wood feels pleasantly warm and soft. But how can parquet be installed and its surface treated without materials that contain harmful substances? And how does parquet stay beautiful for a long time?

Thanks to its many advantages, parquet has conquered the hearts and households of many people. Its natural beauty radiates a feeling of warmth and safety but also elegance. If the parquet elements have been bonded to the subfloor, the heat of the underfloor heating can reach the surface with hardly any loss and walking noise has no chance. Numerous patterns, intarsia (inlay work using different species of wood) and friezes (decorative border elements) as well as material combinations are possible. With bonded installation, the parquet can even be installed through several rooms without profile rails. Sanding and re-sealing is easy and produces smooth surfaces. However, only low-emission products should be used for installation. The EMICODE^® seal provides useful guidance.

Water-based varnishes– virtually solvent-free

Once the wooden floor has been laid, the question arises: Which surface treatment offers long-lasting protection and healthy living at the same time? Parquet varnishes are a good choice if the floor is subject to heavy-duty use. They are available with different gloss grades to suit all tastes. Water-based varnishes are particularly popular, because they contain hardly any solvents. The very small quantity of solvent serves as an auxiliary agent which, just like water, evaporates after application. Afterwards, only the desired sealing coat remains. This can be easily vacuumed and wiped with a damp cloth. Renovation is only necessary every 10 to 15 years, depending on the quality of care and sealing. The service life of parquet floors can span several generations. It strongly depends on the thickness of the wear layer, which can be sanded down several times.