FAQ - Bauwerk
- How hard are the standard wood types, and are there large differences?
- Is it true that light woods are generally softer than dark?
- What is shrinkage and swelling?
- Are there qualitative differences between the various gradings of a product of the same wood type?
- Why does wood change its colour when light falls onto it?
- Are there differences in the shrinkage/swelling behaviour of the various types of wood?
- How much and what kind of care does an oiled floor require?
- Can parquet be damp-wiped?
- What room air conditions are suitable for parquet?
- How much top layer must I have in order to be able to renovate the parquet several times?
1. How hard are the standard wood types, and are there large differences?
In normal cases, only hardwoods are used for parquet. There are, however, also differences in wood hardness within the hardwoods.
2. Is it true that light woods are generally softer than dark?
No, this generalisation cannot be made, as there are some important exceptions: Canadian maple and ash, for example, are both light woods, but both have a similar or even higher hardness than, for example, oak or beech (refer to the Wood Hardness table)
3. What is shrinkage and swelling?
This refers to the volumetric changes in the wood, and is primarily dependent on the room climate: If the climate is too warm and too dry, the wood will shrink (will become smaller), whereas if it is too damp, the wood will swell (become larger). Even multilayer parquet shrinks and swells, although to a considerably smaller extent than solid parquet.
4. Are there qualitative differences between the various gradings of a product of the same wood type?
No, the grading only relates to the optical characteristics. As a result, the appearance of the parquet floor can, for example, have a more subdued, balanced appearance, or can be more lively and varied. Wood is a natural product! Each piece is unique, and small optical differences can thereby arise between the individual parquet elements.
5. Why does wood change its colour when light falls onto it?
The change in the colour only takes place at the surface of the wood. Chemical reactions that cause a change in colour are triggered in the wood substance by daylight. Most woods become darker in the course of time, while light woods tend to become more yellow. The colour of a floor becomes more even and balanced optically as a result of the colour change.
6. Are there differences in the shrinkage/swelling behaviour of the various types of wood?
Yes, whereby beech stands out in particular here. Beech wood shrinks considerably more than most other commonly-used types of wood. This means that comparably larger gaps can appear in parquet floors in the winter if the room climate is too dry.
7. How much and what kind of care does an oiled floor require?
The required level of care depends on the level of use, but, as a general rule, it must be expected that an oiled floor will require rather more care than a lacquered parquet. On the other hand, however, an oiled floor has the advantage that local re-touching is also possible. Please refer to our technical leaflet "Car tips" for the exact procedures.
8. Can parquet be damp-wiped?
Parquet should never be wet-cleaned. It can be cleaned with a mist-damp cloth, however. Care tips
9. What room air conditions are suitable for parquet?
The same as for we humans! Parquet is at its best when the relative air humidity is between 40 and 60% and the room temperatures is at around 20°C. Excessively dry room air in winter can be counteracted using a suitable air humidifier.
10. How much top layer must I have in order to be able to renovate the parquet several times?
About 0.5 mm will be ground away at every renovation, depending on the extent of the damage. A pre-finished parquet with, for example, 4 mm top layer can therefore be renovated and be given a new surface treatment at least 3 times without any problem. In normal cases, a parquet floor will therefore last several generations in the living area. For areas that are subject to more wear, and where shorter renovation cycles are to be expected, a parquet floor with a thicker top layer (6 mm) can always be laid.