Parquet or Laminate: Durability, Sound and Care

Parquet and laminate compared by construction, resistance to scratches and moisture, footstep noise, repairability and everyday care.

When choosing a floor for a bedroom or living room, the decision often comes down to parquet or laminate. Some laminates look remarkably like real wood from a distance, and some parquet looks as plain as laminate. Yet these two materials are built differently and behave differently over the years. The right choice depends less on appearance than on how the room will actually be used.

How they are made

Parquet is real wood. Solid parquet is made entirely from one species of timber. Engineered or multi-layer parquet has a top layer of hardwood over stable base layers. Either way, the surface underfoot is genuine wood.

Laminate is built on a high-density fibreboard core. On top sits a decorative paper printed with a photograph of wood or stone, covered by a clear, hard protective overlay. In other words, laminate looks like wood, but there is no wood at its surface.

This difference drives every advantage and drawback that follows.

Wear and scratches

The protective overlay on laminate is highly resistant to scratching and abrasion. The European standard EN 13329 grades laminate into AC classes by abrasion resistance, with higher numbers meaning greater durability. For living spaces, the class should match the room's traffic; intensive areas such as hallways need a higher class.

Parquet is softer. Depending on the species and on whether it is lacquered or oiled, marks from chairs, toys and pet claws may show. But this is where parquet's main advantage appears: its surface can be sanded and refinished. Solid parquet can be renewed several times; engineered parquet a limited number of times, depending on the thickness of the wear layer. The decorative layer of laminate cannot be sanded. If the surface is damaged, the board is replaced.

Moisture and temperature

Both materials dislike moisture, but in different ways. Parquet expands and contracts as humidity changes. In dry seasons thin gaps may open between boards; in humid periods the boards press against each other. Keeping indoor humidity stable extends the life of parquet.

The weak point of laminate is its edges. Water that gets into the joints swells the core board, and that damage does not reverse. Water-resistant laminate types reduce this risk but do not eliminate it. In places where spills are likely, such as kitchens and hallways, the product's properties should be checked in the manufacturer's documentation.

Both can be used with underfloor heating, provided the product is declared suitable by its manufacturer and the surface temperature stays within the recommended limit.

Footstep noise and feel underfoot

This difference is often noticed only after the floor is down. Floating laminate can give off a hollow, clicking sound with each step, heard both in the room itself and on the floor below. A good underlay and acoustic layer reduce the effect.

Glued parquet sounds quieter and fuller and feels warmer underfoot. In spaces where calm matters, such as bedrooms and children's rooms, this can be a serious factor in the decision.

Installation and base requirements

Laminate is usually laid as a floating floor with click joints over an underlay and goes down relatively quickly. Parquet is glued down, or with some engineered types, floated. Gluing takes longer and requires a more carefully prepared base and the correct residual moisture in the screed.

In both cases the base must be flat. Laminate on an uneven base opens at the joints, while parquet creaks and develops voids in the adhesive. Acclimatising the material, that is, leaving it in the room in its packaging for a while before laying, is recommended for both.

Everyday care

• Laminate: a dry or well wrung-out damp cloth; water must not get into the joints. No wax or oil needed.
• Lacquered parquet: a damp cloth and a cleaner made for parquet; the lacquer is renewed over time.
• Oiled parquet: dedicated maintenance products and periodic re-oiling; local damage is easy to repair in place.
• Both: felt pads under furniture legs, a mat at the entrance, and attention to pet claws.

Answering these questions before deciding makes the choice much easier:

• How many years do you expect the floor to last?
• Does sound insulation matter in this room?
• Are there children, pets or castor chairs?
• Is the ability to refinish important to you?
• Is there a risk of water spills in the room?

Zaferoğlu İnşaat selects floor coverings on apartment and villa renovations together with the room's purpose, underfloor heating and the interior design. Tell us whether there are neighbours below and whether underfloor heating is planned; the parquet-or-laminate choice leans heavily on both.