Parquetry Flooring

It depends on what it's made of. Ours costs $39.95/m² for vinyl herringbone, $54.98/m² for hybrid herringbone, $103.99/m² for engineered oak herringbone and from $113.99/m² for engineered oak chevron.

For cuts, order about 15% extra (15 to 20% for chevron). Found the same floor cheaper? We'll beat the price. Laying costs extra: our instant quote starts at $42/m² for hybrid herringbone and $60/m² for oak herringbone.

Yes, a little. The same build costs more per m² as herringbone:

• Hybrid: $54.98/m² for herringbone, $49.99/m² for planks (both 9.5mm)
• Engineered oak: $103.99/m² for herringbone, $92.99/m² for planks (both 15mm)
• Vinyl: $39.95/m² for herringbone, $35/m² for planks (both 4.5mm)

You also order more: about 15% extra for cuts, against 10% for planks.

Laying costs more too: our instant quote charges $42/m² for hybrid herringbone against $35/m² for hybrid planks, and $60/m² for oak herringbone against $52/m² for oak planks.

Ours is. Our engineered oak chevron costs from $113.99/m², against $103.99/m² for the same 15mm oak in herringbone. Chevron also needs more spare boards: order 15 to 20% extra for cuts, against about 15% for herringbone.

It comes down to the look you want. Then check the practical side:

• Look: herringbone makes a broken zigzag. Chevron makes a clean V down the room.
• Choice: our herringbone comes in hybrid, vinyl and engineered oak (24 colours). Our chevron is engineered oak only (7 colours).
• Laying: only our hybrid herringbone clicks together and floats. The vinyl and oak are glued down.
• Cost: chevron costs a little more per m² and needs more spare boards.

See both drawn side by side under herringbone or chevron.

Not much. Both words mean wood laid in a pattern on a floor, such as herringbone or chevron. Parquet often means the floor itself, and parquetry the patterned work. In everyday talk they mean the same thing.

Only our hybrid herringbone. Here's how each one is laid:

• Hybrid herringbone clicks together and floats on the floor below. It comes as A and B boards that lock into each other. Leave an 8 to 10mm gap at the walls.
• Vinyl herringbone is glued down, tight against the walls with no gap.
• Engineered oak herringbone and chevron must be glued down. Riverhill, who makes it, says glue is the only way to lay these patterns.

Whichever you pick, the floor underneath must be flat, clean and dry. Hybrid can't go over any floor heating. Engineered oak can go over hydronic (hot water) heating when it's glued down, but never electric heating.

Ours come in four sizes:

• Vinyl herringbone: 914.4 x 152.4mm, 4.5mm thick
• Hybrid herringbone: 630 x 126mm, 9.5mm thick
• Oak herringbone: 600 x 125mm, 15mm thick
• Oak chevron: 680 x 125mm, 15mm thick

Short boards are what make the pattern. Each product page shows how many m² come in a box, and the flooring calculator works out the boxes for your room.

Yes, with some care. Our hybrid and vinyl herringbone are 100% water resistant. With any of our floors, put a mat in front of the sink and wipe up spills straight away.

Fit the floor around a kitchen island, not under it. Riverhill says an island shouldn't sit on a floating floor like our hybrid, and Artifloor's warranty doesn't cover stone benches placed on its vinyl.

It's a board with a top layer of real oak. Ours is 15mm thick with 3mm of oak on top: the part you see and walk on. The herringbone boards are 600 x 125mm and chevron boards are 680 x 125mm.

It's glued down, and Riverhill's warranty covers homes for 25 years, plus a lifetime structural warranty. More in our guides to oak herringbone and chevron.

Mostly the work to lay it and, with real oak, more care:

• Glue-down floors need a well-prepared base. For engineered oak, it must be flat to within 3mm over 3m² and sealed against moisture first, and furniture waits 24 hours. Vinyl herringbone needs 72 hours with no walking or furniture on it.
• Real oak can mark, stain and fade in strong sun, and it moves a little as the weather changes.
• Our hybrid and oak warranties don't cover bathrooms, rooms with a floor drain, or floors left wet for a long time.

Want fewer of these? Hybrid herringbone clicks together and is 100% water resistant.

Sweep, or vacuum with a soft brush head. Then mop with a damp (not wet) mop and a pH-neutral floor cleaner. Wipe up spills straight away.

On our oak and hybrid floors, never use a steam mop (the warranties don't cover it), bleach, vinegar, wax or polish. More tips for oak, hybrid and vinyl.

The warranties are the best guide. Riverhill covers our hybrid and engineered oak for 25 years in homes, plus a lifetime structural warranty. Artifloor gives its vinyl herringbone a lifetime limited warranty in homes and 15 years in commercial spaces.

Care helps it last: felt pads under furniture, mats at the doors, and no steam mops.