What types of flooring are there and what are the differences?

Which floor is right for your project? Parquet, laminate or SPC?

When choosing flooring, there is more to consider than just appearance. Think about durability, maintenance, application and the environment in which the flooring will be laid. Whether you are building, renovating or designing, good flooring makes all the difference. We will take you through three common types of flooring: wooden floors, laminate and parquet. What are their characteristics, advantages and points to consider? You can read all about it here.

1. Parquet – natural class in two variants

Application: homes, representative spaces
Material: solid or composite with wood top layers

Parquet flooring is available in two forms: solid and engineered. Solid parquet consists of 100% wood, while engineered parquet is made up of layers, often with plywood as the base layer and a high-quality wood top layer. Both types offer a warm and natural look, but have different technical properties.

Advantages:

  • Chic, timeless appearance

  • Good insulating properties

  • Renovation possible in case of wear or damage

Points to note:

  • Solid parquet reacts to changes in temperature or humidity

  • Usually more expensive than laminate flooring

  • Not all parquet floors are suitable for underfloor heating.

2. Laminate – practical and stylish

Application: homes, starter homes, temporary applications
Material: plastic with wood look or other decor

Laminate flooring is a smart flooring solution for those looking for an affordable and low-maintenance option. Thanks to advanced printing techniques, laminate flooring is almost indistinguishable from real wood. A click system also makes it easy to install and replace.

Advantages:

  • Attractively priced and available for quick delivery

  • Resistant to scratches and wear

  • Easy to maintain and ideal for allergies

  • Suitable for underfloor heating

Points to note:

  • Difficult or impossible to repair locally in case of damage

  • Less sound-absorbing than wood or parquet

  • Shorter lifespan than solid flooring

3. SPC – practical and stylish

Application: residential, commercial spaces, project construction
Material: Stone polymer composite (SPC) with a rigid stone mineral core and a natural look and feel top layer.

SPC flooring is durable, water-resistant and stronger than traditional PVC flooring. Easy to install using a click connection and resistant to scratches (e.g. from pets). SPC flooring is a new type of environmentally friendly flooring material. The flooring does not contain any plasticisers (which are mainly found in PVC) and no formaldehyde is used during the production process.

Advantages:

  • Water-resistant: suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, and toilets

  • High dimensional stability, even with temperature differences

  • Wear-resistant top layer and often equipped with integrated underlayer

  • Easy to install thanks to click system

  • Easy to maintain and keep clean

  • Suitable for underfloor heating

Points to note:

  • SPC is water-resistant, not waterproof! Large puddles of water should be removed as quickly as possible.

  • Cannot be repaired locally in case of deep damage

Al ruim 90 jaar uw groothandel in o.a. hout, plaatmateriaal en parket- en laminaatvloeren. 

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