ᐅ Remove strip parquet flooring – install laminate flooring

Hello everyone,

In our used property (a 25-year-old single-family house), the children's rooms and the study have strip parquet flooring. The flooring shows typical wear and tear. The original plan was/is to sand and seal the floor before moving in sometime in the spring.

Now we noticed a laminate floor (wild oak design) at some friends' place that we really like. So, we considered removing the strip parquet and laying laminate instead. The laminate is less expensive than sanding and sealing the parquet. We would install the laminate ourselves.

Is there any reason not to do this? How difficult would it be to remove the strip parquet including the adhesive?

Oh, by the way—the house has underfloor heating. The laminate would be suitable for this (without glue-down installation).

What are the advantages and disadvantages? What should we consider in our decision?

Thanks in advance.

The strip parquet should be more durable, meaning it will still be there even after you have replaced the laminate twice. Based on my experience with laminate and underfloor heating, I wouldn’t want it again; it tends to feel quite cold underfoot.

If the parquet looks good overall, I would have it refinished instead of switching to laminate. It’s natural material versus synthetic.

I definitely agree that the hardwood floor should be kept! It will feel much more comfortable underfoot than the laminate. The best option is to have it sanded and then just oiled, without applying any more varnish.

Removing parquet to install laminate?! That really makes my skin crawl at first. But if it’s cheaper and you prefer it… what more can be said?

Compare the thickness of the floor coverings including underlays for impact sound insulation, and consider what that means for door frames and so on. Are you sure that parquet can be removed that easily and that you won’t encounter any surprises underneath?

Alex85 schrieb:
Are you sure that parquet flooring is that easy to remove and that you won’t run into any surprises underneath?

I suspect that because it is fully glued down, any savings will quickly disappear. Preparing the subfloor is likely not a cost-free process either.

It’s no coincidence that many flooring installers say, "You won’t be able to remove it in a way that preserves it; fortunately, the subfloor will outlast it."

Low-quality products are rarely more expensive than high-quality ones.
But if you definitely prefer to go against preserving value and would rather have plastic stuff in your home: go ahead, but who can understand the world?!
I just can’t understand it: laminate flooring is an affordable alternative for those who cannot afford hardwood. That’s what it was made for.