Suggested Tools

Fine bristle broom to sweep the subflooring prior to installing the parquet. 

Tape or ruler 

Chalk line 

A square for making your layout. 

A notched trowel, specifically one with 1/8" deep, 1/8" base opening, and 1/8" center-to-center notches. 

Adhesive, preferably one that does not dry “Hard”

A small bandsaw or another cutting tool for cutting the parquet. If you are making diagonal cuts or using a tool other than a bandsaw, it is helpful to affix strips of narrow masking tape just outside the saw kerf zone for the intended cut.

General Installation Instructions

First, thoroughly clean the subfloor by removing paint, wax, oil, plaster, sheetrock mud, foreign materials, and surface irregularities before sweeping. Concrete surfaces should be disked with a sander before sweeping for the best results. You must remove any chemical curing agents, sealants, or dustproofing compounds from concrete surfaces prior to installation. Do not sand or remove any products that might contain asbestos. Ensure the building's interior and subfloor are dry, the walls are dry enough to be painted, and the room is brought to at least 60 degrees F beforehand so the subfloor reaches a minimum of 59 degrees F when installation is begun.

For concrete subfloors, perform and document specific moisture tests prior to installation. Do not install the flooring if moisture levels exceed the guidelines for your chosen test. Concrete moisture test limits include a maximum of 3.0 pounds for the Calcium Chloride Test or a maximum reading of 4.5 for the Tramex Moisture Meter. Alternatively, the Delmhorst BD 2100 test should read green/dry. Check wooden subfloors with a reputable moisture meter designed for wood flooring. Wood or plywood subflooring should not exceed 14% moisture content, and the maximum moisture variance must not exceed a 4% difference between the flooring and the subfloor. Provide cross ventilation in the building during the installation and for a period of 24 hours after completion as an important drying aid.

You do not need to center areas for standard parquet patterns and it is permissible to start along any straight wall. Snap a chalk line for laying your first row, and snap a perpendicular chalk line as a guide aid for laying subsequent rows. Trowel the correct quantity of Adhesive along your starting line. For standard parquet patterns, trowel enough adhesive to permit laying about 5 parquet panels at a time, which should average 75 sq. ft. per gallon. (please refer to your adhesive for averages)

Lay the panels into the adhesive immediately after spreading it. Ensure the web-backing on the underside of the panel is placed directly into the flooring adhesive. Pick up each panel from its carton using one hand at one corner and your other hand at the opposite diagonal corner. The thumb of each hand should be supporting the web-backed side of the panel to impart rigidity during handling. Leave hairline cracks between the panels as they are positioned in the adhesive so the floor will be loosely installed throughout the job. Seat the panels thoroughly in the adhesive with your hands before proceeding to the next course.

Trimming-in

Trimming-in should be done as the installation progresses. The recommended expansion space for the parquet is 5/16" around the entire perimeter of the room, including permanent fixtures, columns, cabinets, etc., which should be covered with your choice of molding. Repeat the adhesive and laying steps, making sure it is desirable to work away from newly laid flooring in order to avoid shifting the panels out of position.

Critical Points & Installation Checks

Always ensure proper and uniform adhesive coverage. Position your panels in the adhesive immediately after spreading it. Position each panel no tighter than it is held together by its web-backing. Effectively seat both the panels and the slats in the adhesive.

Remove a few slats at random immediately after laying them to check contact with the adhesive. A thin coating of adhesive should be seen on the subfloor as well as over the entire underside surface of the slats. Check the room perimeter as well. If the panels slide around freely or adhesive comes up between the slats during installation, possibly too much adhesive is being used. Check your adhesive coverage after using the first pail.

Sanding, Finishing, and Maintenance

Allow a minimum of 24 hours between installation and sanding, and sand the floor per normal parquet sanding procedures. All acceptable hardwood flooring finishes are suitable for the parquet, provided you follow the finish manufacturer's guidelines. The panels normally require fill at some point after the first sanding, so use a filler compatible with your finish of choice. Sweep and dry mop the floor frequently to eliminate the possibility of dirt and sand from being ground into the finish.

Suitable Surfaces & Color Uniformity

Final determination of the suitability of the products for any specific application is the sole responsibility of the user. Parquet can be installed on tongue and groove hardwood or softwood subflooring. Be certain to sand old tongue and groove flooring to remove the finish prior to installation. Install the parquet on a diagonal. It can also be installed on plywood nailed directly to joists, or plywood and OSB used as an overlay over conventional sub or finish flooring. It is suitable for suspended concrete slabs and on-ground concrete slabs that have been constructed so as to remain dry with good elevation, proper drainage, and effective under slab membraning. Below-grade installations are not suggested, nor are installations over resilient tile floors or asphaltic based underlayments.

Color uniformity of all grades will be governed by the inherent variations characteristic of the wood species. Grades are not selected or toned for color, so for best results, always install out of several boxes and mix or shuffle material during installation.

Warranty and Disclaimer

• Parquet Chalet warranties our product prior to installation if manufacturing defects exist.

• The homeowner or installer is responsible for inspecting the flooring prior to installation.

• The parquet can be sanded and finished up to 3 times, which includes the initial sanding.

• The manufacturer assumes no responsibility for inaccuracies in the instructions since they cannot control installation and job site conditions.