Parquet flooring is wood flooring developed during early phase of renaissance dates back to the mid to late 16th century. It is typically designed with small strips or blocks of wood. These wooden pieces are laid in a rhythmic manner to create a regular geometric pattern. The traditional patterns are based on the variation of V shape. The wonder with this unique flooring idea and technique using diverse species of wood is equally popular flooring choice even today. Among the woods widely used, following are common and most favored.

chevron parquetry

  • Oak
  • Walnut
  • Cherry
  • Lime
  • Pine
  • Maple

Types of Parquetry Flooring

There are 3 basic types of parquet flooring. The flame stitch, herringbone, and chevron parquetry. The basic designs of all these 3 types are zigzag. However, there are distinct differences between each design. Once you go through the following points carefully, you can easily understand types and differences.

chevron-parquetry

The Flame Stitch Flooring

This pattern has tale-tale specification with sharp peaks. They are usually multicolored with numerous shades of different hue. The pattern resembles flames, from where the name Flame stitch is derived. Other patterns have similar expression but without this typical sharp peaks.

The Herringbone Flooring

It is believed that this is the oldest parquet pattern, first developed by hired Italian craftsmen in the year 1539 for the king of France, Francois the 1st. This classic European pattern is designed with blocks those arranged and assembled in right angles to create typical V shapes. The design is chiefly created by placing rectangular blocks of wood or tiles in an intersected zigzag manner. This pattern is very popular with parquet flooring and tile works. The herringbone parquetry pattern is highly confusing with chevron parquetry pattern. The blocks placed in this flooring pattern never come to a sharp point like in flame stitch and in chevron patterns.

parquetry flooring

The Chevron Flooring

In the chevron flooring, the pattern is also created in a zigzag manner, but unlike herringbone pattern, they come to a sharp point while creating V shape. This traditional pattern you can very commonly find printed on fabric, in knit work, and as painted on the surface. At the initial stages of its use in flooring, small pieces of solid wooden blocks were used to be pushed and fixed onto soft bitumen surface of the unfinished and rough floors by hand. Such practices were due to non-availability of machines those you find today. Presently, you can see both pre-finished and unfinished chevron boards for chevron parquetry. These boards are larger and more solid than their earlier counterparts were.

Differences between Chevron and Herringbone Flooring Patterns

Are you confused with chevron and herringbone flooring patterns? What is what? Not unusual! This is one of the most common confusion while you are looking for parquetry materials. First, some people refer the chevron, as the French herringbone, creating lots of misinterpretations. Secondly, the patterns appear so similar that makes it difficult to differentiate between with untrained eyes. Well, for you, followings are the basic differences between these two popular parquet flooring patterns.

  • Herringbone parquetry pattern has broken zigzag designs. Whereas, chevron parquetry pattern has continuous zigzag designs.
  • In chevron pattern, the wood planks are cut at an angle. These are fitted in a way to create a point while giving V shape. Whereas, in herringbone pattern, the wooden planks are not cut but the square end of one plank is fixed with the adjoining plank end.
  • In chevron pattern, the blocks are placed and fixed in a manner. So that, the ends touch each other to form miter joints, whereas, in herringbone pattern, the ends are butted.

This might help you to figure out difference and you will be able to distinguish between both.