Oak parquet: how to choose the grade, finish and shade
Oak is the most popular choice for wooden parquet: hard, durable and easy to tint. Once you have decided on oak, three things are left to choose: the grade, the finish and the shade.
Grade: how many knots and how much colour variation
The grade shows how uniform the wood surface is. The Põrandakeskus range includes, for example, these grades:
- Premium: pin knots up to 2 mm allowed.
- Select: knots up to 25 mm, filled knots up to 10 mm.
- Living: knots up to 25 mm, filled knots up to 10 mm, sapwood up to 10% of the top layer.
- Classic: knot diameter not limited, filled knots up to 25 mm, knots may be replaced with inlaid wood patches.
- Rustic: knot diameter not limited, filled knots up to 75 mm, knots may be replaced with inlaid wood patches, sapwood allowed.
The general rule: the calmer the grade, the fewer knots and colour differences. A livelier grade brings more knots and character and suits a rustic or Scandinavian style well.
Finish: lacquer or oil
Factory-finished oak parquet usually has lacquer or oil. The range includes, for example, matt lacquer, extra matt lacquer, natural oil, white oil and unfinished parquet.
- Lacquered parquet is easy to look after day to day. The lacquer layer protects the wood surface from dirt and wear.
- Oiled parquet gives a more natural look. An oiled surface is maintained with hardwax oil; Põrandakeskus stocks Glimtrex hardwax oils.
- Unfinished parquet leaves you free to choose the shade yourself with your own oils or stains.
Shade
- White oil gives a lighter shade.
- Natural oil keeps the wood's natural shade.
- Thermo wood is heat treated, darker and more stable against moisture. If you want a dark shade, also look at walnut, which is dark and warm.
Plank, herringbone or strip parquet?
You will find oak in these ranges, for example: plank parquet (1-, 2- and 3-strip, the most popular choice for homes), herringbone parquet, strip parquet and floorboards.
The shade and grade are best chosen from real samples rather than on a screen. Come and see oak parquet at our Tallinn (Järve 2) or Tartu (Tehnika 3) showroom.
