Parquet Floor Fitting

[Growler1]

I'm thinking of laying a parquet floor (Herringbone layout with a border) - 3 small rooms - max length 4 meters. Do I need to leave an expansion gap round the edge as with laminates?

 

[WoodYouLike]

Yes, always, not matter what wooden (or semi-wooden) floor type you go for.
because you'll be using many blocks a 10mm gap here is sufficient, with solid boards you should aim for 3 to 4mm per meter width of the room as expansion gap, with a minimum of 10mm

 

[Growler1]

Thanks very much! This now brings up some more questions
I take it the best way of getting a professional finish means removing skirting? or is there an easier option?

I take it I'll also have to cut into the door frames to allow for expansion into the doorways? Also, what do I do next to my front door where I don't want a gap next to the entrance itself - there is a stone door jam.

I'll be laying on concrete on a ground floor, do I have to seal this first to prevent moisture seeping into the wood? (I haven't got any problems with damp that I know of) if so, can you recommend a product?

Thanks

 

[WoodYouLike]

Thanks very much! This now brings up some more questions
I take it the best way of getting a professional finish means removing skirting? or is there an easier option?

What we normally do is leave the skirting in place, keep the expansion gap in front of the skirting and cover it with a pinned down to the block-border.
And yes you'll have to cut in to the doorposts.

As for your front-door - but hard to advice without a picture - a flat beading would do the trick there too?

If you don't have moist problems now and you don't change any thing else in the room or surrounding rooms that could cause moist problems you can glue directly onto the concrete - as long that is level and of good quality i.e. not crumbling.

 

[Growler1]

Thanks very much again
I haven't got the flooring yet, but when I do I'm sure I'll have more questions when I get round to fitting it

You are a credit to the site

 

[Growler1]

Hi again, I get my reclaimed flooring tomorrow, it will have bitumen on it.
Can you let me know a suitable adhesive please? Do you stock any?
I'll be fixing to a concrete floor - would you advise I seal with something to prevent damp? If so, do you stock that too?
Thanks

 

[WoodYouLike]

How old is your concrete floor?

Remove as much bitumen as possible, then use a modern adhesive like F.Ball or MAPEI P990 with a notched trowel. The more bitumen there is, the longer it will take for the adhesive to bond.

 

[Growler1]

Thanks again

I'm not sure how old it is to be honest - only moved here a couple of years ago. It looks to be in good condition, it's level and it seems to have had a black layer of paint or possibly sealant applied. The layer of paint is sound, not flaking or anything.

Thanks, Brett