
 
Part VI – Parquet  
         Installation Methods 
 A. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations.
         
 1.  The styles and types of block and parquet flooring,
         as well as the recommended procedures for application, vary  somewhat among manufacturers. Detailed installation instructions
         are usually provided with the flooring or are available from  the manufacturer or distributor. 
 B. Test wood subflooring for moisture according to moisture testing procedures. (See Chapter
         3.) 
 C.  Test concrete for moisture according to moisture
         testing procedures in Chapter 3. Moisture indicators should be  within the adhesive and flooring manufacturers' specifications.
         
 D. A minimum expansion space of 1⁄2” must
         be left around the perimeter and all vertical obstructions. 
 -  Some 3⁄4” parquet is appropriate
         for nail-down installation, as long as the pattern continues to have an exposed side tongue in which to nail.  
-  Lay blocks
         and/or individual pieces of parquet in adhesive.  
G.
         Use the wood manufacturer’s approved adhesive. Follow the  spread rate, trowel size and installation procedure as recommended
         by the adhesive manufacturer. 
 Part
         VII – Parquet Layouts 
 A. Square Layout from the
         Center of the Room (See Figure 7-1) 
 NOTE:
         For instructions on using the trammel point method to square a  room and find the center point, see Appendix G, Trammel Point
         Method. 
 1.  Start by snapping a chalk line through the
         center of the room (line Y). The next line (X) must be exactly  90 degrees to line Y to form a perfect square corner. To ensure
         this angle, do the following: 
 2. From the center point
         (A) of line Y, measure 4 feet along line Y and mark that point (B). 
 3. From the same center point, measure 3 feet in the general direction of where line X will be and scribe an arc.
         
 4. Return to the original 4-foot mark on line Y and measure
         5 feet, scribing an arc that crosses (point C) the 3-foot arc you made in the previous step. 
 5. Verify all measurements before proceeding. 
 6. If correct, snap a chalk line through the conjunction of the two arcs at point C and the center point of line
         Y. This will be line X, at an exact 90-degree angle to line Y. 
 Copyright
         2007 National Wood Flooring Association 2 Revised March 2007 
              
                   B. Square Layout from the Wall (See
         Figure 7-2) 
                Square  edge          block or basket weave parquet can be laid wall to wall without  centering the
         tiles on the room. The results will not be balanced          but the tiles have no edge treatment to delineate the  difference
         in tile sizes when unbalanced. More intricate patterns  generally          require the flooring to be centered. 
         1. Wall Line Layout          
 a. If the room dimensions allow, in at least two places          from the corner, measure out
         and establish a chalk line parallel to and 241⁄2" (62cm) away from the starting          wall opposite the entrance doorway.
         The 1⁄2" (12.7 mm) is for expansion space. 
 b.
         Snap a second chalk line 90 degrees to the first chalk line using the method shown in Figure          7-2, 241⁄2"
         (62cm) away from the right angle wall. The 1⁄2” is for expansion space. 
 c. Make any necessary adjustments to allow for walls out of square before          proceeding.
         C. Installation Using Wall Layout (See Figure 7-3) 
 1.
                  Spread the Adhesive 
 a. After both chalk lines
         (at 90          degrees to each other and 241⁄2" (62cm) from the wall) have been snapped, start spreading the adhesive
         in the 241⁄2"          (62cm) wide area next to the starting wall. 
 b. Continue          spreading the adhesive along the entire length of the starting wall. Be careful not to spread
         adhesive beyond the 241⁄2"          (62cm) chalk line. 
 2. Immediately lay the floor tiles          on the newly spread adhesive 
 3. DO NOT lay the floor          tiles on dry adhesive. If the adhesive becomes too dry, scrape
         up the old adhesive and spread more. 
 4. IMPORTANT: Stand
         or kneel on the subfloor during the installation to avoid shifting the tiles.          
 5. PROPER PLACEMENT OF THE FIRST FLOOR TILE IS THE KEY          TO THE ENTIRE INSTALLATION.
         Carefully place a 12" x 12" (30 x 30 cm) parquet tile at the intersection of the two          chalk lines. (See
         Figure 7-3.) Do not use the edge of the tongue for aligning the tile on the chalk lines. 
 Copyright 2007 National Wood Flooring Association 3 Revised March 2007          
               Chapter
                  7 – Parquet Installation 
       				   |   Figure 7-2: Creating 90° working lines from the wall
                   Start by snapping a chalk line 241⁄2”
                  from the starting wall, opposite the entrance doorway (Line Y). The next line (X) must be exactly 90° to Line
         Y to form          a perfect square corner. To ensure this angle:1. Measure 241⁄2” along Line Y from the
         right-angle wall          and mark it Point A. From Point A, measure 4 feet along Line Y and mark that Point B.
 2. From
         Point A, measure 3 feet          in the general direction of where line X will be and scribe an arc.
 3. From Point B
         measure 5 feet, scribing an arc          that crosses Point C. 4. Verify all measurements before proceeding.
 5. If correct,
         snap a chalk line through Point A          and the conjunction of the two arcs at point C. This will be Line X, at an exact
         90° angle to Line Y
 |  | 
          
               Chapter 7 - Parquet Installation 
              
          6. Lay          the second floor tile ahead
         of the first tile to fit 1⁄2" (12.7 mm) from the starting wall. Gently lock in the tongue and groove          between
         the first and second floor tiles. 
 7. Re-check       
           to be sure both floor tiles are properly lined up with the chalk line. This is to assure a square starting area. 
                  8.  Continue laying the balance of the 12" x 12"
         (30.48          cm) floor tiles along the starting wall area. Put each floor  tile in place and gently push the floor tiles
         together to interlock          the tongue and groove. Align each floor tile squarely. 
 9.           Do not push the floor tiles too strenuously as this could cause  the first and
         second floor tiles to move. Simply realign them          and proceed with the installation. Avoid hammering or forcing  the
         floor tiles together as this may destroy the squareness          of the floor tile. 
 10. After laying the floor tiles across          the first 241⁄2"(30.48 cm) starting
         area, trim the last floor tiles as needed to obtain the proper 1⁄2"          (12.7 mm) expansion space next to the walls. Use a small band
          or saber saw for final trimming. Firmly secure each floor tile          when cutting with a saber saw.. 
 11. Complete the installation          
 a. When the starting area has been completed, including          cutting to the wall, proceed
         to the second laying area. (See Figures 7-3.) 
 b. Cut
         the last floor tiles to allow a 1⁄2" (12.7 mm) expansion space from the end wall. c. Proceed by laying areas          3, 4,
         5, etc., repeating the installation procedure of the 
 starting
                  area. Trim out each laying area before proceeding to the next area. 
 d. Maintain the 1⁄2" (12.7 mm) expansion space around the perimeter of the room and around
         all fixed objects.          
 e. Allow a minimum of 24
         hours drying time before moving          furniture or walking on the newly laid parquet floor. 
 Copyright          2007 National Wood Flooring Association 4 Revised March 2007 
                        Figure 7-3 
 When the starting area
         has been completed, including cutting to the wall, proceed to the          second laying area, then to laying areas 3, 4,
         5, etc., repeating the installation procedure of the starting area. 
                
           D. Diagonal Layout
         (See Figure 7-4) 
    Chapter
         7 – Parquet Installation 
 1.          Establish
         a 45-degree working line: 
 2.  From the center       
           point, measure 4 feet down in each direction on lines X and Y,  which you have already determined by the method described
         above.          
 3. From each of these points, measure
         4 feet and scribe          an arc. The conjunction of these arcs creates points D and E. 
 4.          Snap a chalk line between points D and E, and the center point. This line represents
         a 45- degree angle. 
 1. Use reference lines throughout
         the area that is being installed. 
          2. The multiple
         of the width should equal the exact length of the          piece. If the width of the product varies, this will cause separations
         at the end of the herringbone pieces. 
 3.  Herringbone
         parquet can be laid out parallel or at a 45-degree angle to          the room. Regardless of direction, Herringbone parquet
         will  require a centerline and two working lines (See Figure 7- 5).          
                  4. Begin by laying out a few alternating slats.          5. Snap lines A &
         B through the corners of the alternating slats (See Figure 7-5) 
 6. Measure the distance from Line A to Line B. Line C should be 1⁄2 that distance and          run parallel
         to Lines A & B. The centerline of the room and the center of the pattern is represented by Line C. 
       
                
                   Copyright 2007 National Wood Flooring
         Association          
    E. Herringbone
         Installation          
 1.  To begin installation on working
         Line B (See Figure          7-6), cut a square piece of plywood the size of the herringbone  pattern. For example, if the
         herringbone pattern is 3 inches          by 12 inches, cut a 12” x 12” square of plywood. 
 2.           Fasten the piece of plywood at your starting point on Line B,
          with one corner of the square pointing in the direction of the          pattern. 
 5 Revised March 2007