Hello,
I've trawled through many of the previous postings on parquet flooring looking for answer, but it would be good to get fresh opinion on my particular situation.
Basic query:
Does anyone know where I can buy new parquet flooring, in pre-made baskets, as opposed to reclaimed single blocks that I have to scrape? Preferably in Surrey or thereabouts?
Background Info:
We've moved into a 1960s ground-floor flat that has parquet floors composed from teak/mahogany blocks measuring 7/8 inch (2.3mm) wide, 7.5 inches (11.5 cm) long and approx 5/15 (8mm) thick. They were laid in square baskets of 5 strips, onto a combed layer of bitumen over a concrete scree floor.
Extensive water penetration next to the kitchen and patio door and caused the bitumen adhesion to fail, meaning I can lift handfuls of blocks without effort. I have roughly 6 quare metres that needs relaying, and plenty of old blocks, thanks to a neighbour throwing out a load of identical ones. (Some top Womble-in-skip action that).
However, an experimental block cleaning session (getting most of the bitumen off with a paint scraper, then knocking crusty varnish/glue off the all four sides), has shown it takes roughly 1 minute a block, and there are approx 360 in a square metre.
At the risk of sounding like a fair-weather DIYer, that sounds like a slow form of hardwood-based masochism. Then there's the small matter of laying these tiny blocks, one at a time, making sure they fit level, and gluing all the sides to bond them together...
So, unless someone has a great 3-blocks-a-minute method of stripping that very, very sticky bitumen off (leaving fetching almost-flush zebra stripes - not completely bare timber), then I'm really keen on the 'buying in new' option.
If it exists that is.
All suggestions welcome. (Short of using child labour).
I've trawled through many of the previous postings on parquet flooring looking for answer, but it would be good to get fresh opinion on my particular situation.
Basic query:
Does anyone know where I can buy new parquet flooring, in pre-made baskets, as opposed to reclaimed single blocks that I have to scrape? Preferably in Surrey or thereabouts?
Background Info:
We've moved into a 1960s ground-floor flat that has parquet floors composed from teak/mahogany blocks measuring 7/8 inch (2.3mm) wide, 7.5 inches (11.5 cm) long and approx 5/15 (8mm) thick. They were laid in square baskets of 5 strips, onto a combed layer of bitumen over a concrete scree floor.
Extensive water penetration next to the kitchen and patio door and caused the bitumen adhesion to fail, meaning I can lift handfuls of blocks without effort. I have roughly 6 quare metres that needs relaying, and plenty of old blocks, thanks to a neighbour throwing out a load of identical ones. (Some top Womble-in-skip action that).
However, an experimental block cleaning session (getting most of the bitumen off with a paint scraper, then knocking crusty varnish/glue off the all four sides), has shown it takes roughly 1 minute a block, and there are approx 360 in a square metre.
At the risk of sounding like a fair-weather DIYer, that sounds like a slow form of hardwood-based masochism. Then there's the small matter of laying these tiny blocks, one at a time, making sure they fit level, and gluing all the sides to bond them together...
So, unless someone has a great 3-blocks-a-minute method of stripping that very, very sticky bitumen off (leaving fetching almost-flush zebra stripes - not completely bare timber), then I'm really keen on the 'buying in new' option.
If it exists that is.
All suggestions welcome. (Short of using child labour).
