What percentage of fall should be taken when laying parquet?
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Rudolphe ABEN
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Laying parquet flooring can be a difficult task for the novice or even the experienced DIYer. One of the most common questions people ask when laying parquet is "What percentage of waste should I expect to see when laying parquet? In this blog we will explore this question in detail and give you some tips on how to minimise waste when laying parquet.
Let's start by defining what we mean by 'drop'. In simple terms, waste refers to planks that you have to cut or that are damaged during installation. If you buy enough planks, you can usually compensate for these losses by using extra planks. That's why it's important to plan for enough waste to ensure you have enough boards to complete your project.
Back to the basic question: "What percentage of drop do I need to allow for in order to successfully install the floor?" The answer to this question depends on several factors, including the size and shape of the room, the method of installation and the quality of the floor itself. In general, most experts recommend that you allow for a 10-15% slope when laying parquet.
This means that if you need 100 square metres of parquet, you should buy about 110 to 115 square metres. This will give you enough planks to cover losses due to cutting and waste.
It is important to note that the percentage of waste can vary depending on a number of factors. If you have a room with a lot of doors and windows, you may need to allow for more waste as more cuts will be needed to fit the room configuration. On the other hand, if you are installing a smaller floor, you may need less waste.
When buying flooring, it is important to consider the quality of the wood. If you buy a lower quality floor, you may lose more planks due to defects such as knots or cracks. On the other hand, if you buy a higher quality floor, you can expect fewer falls because the wood is of better quality and easier to work with.
Finally, it is important to note that the method of installation you use can also affect the percentage of fall. If you use a floating installation method, you may need more boards as there will be more waste. On the other hand, if you use a nail-down installation method, you may need fewer boards as there will be less waste.
In summary, it is recommended to allow for a drop of approximately 10-15% when installing the floor. However, this percentage can vary depending on various factors such as the size of the room, the quality of the floor and the installation method.