ᐅ Where can I find unique yet affordable hardwood flooring?

Hello everyone,

For our future living room, we are looking for a parquet floor. Unfortunately, the three parquet installers I have already contacted don’t have anything suitable to offer. However, there is also the option that we buy the material ourselves and have them install it.

Below are example photos in the order of our preferences.

Do you know of any brands or shops where I might find something? Preferably not at sky-high prices.

The last photo shows a mosaic parquet at friends’ place, which is larger than the 16cm (6 inches) size. That would also be interesting for us if we don’t find anything among the other options.

Looking forward to your tips.

What do you consider exorbitant prices? "Top" quality often costs a three-digit amount.

nordanney schrieb:

What do you consider sky-high prices? “Top” quality often costs three figures.

I am happy to pay over 100 euros per square meter (about 10.8 sq ft), but not significantly more than that (our budget simply doesn’t allow it).

We were recommended three parquet installers, all of whom offered reasonable prices. Neither bargain basement nor overpriced. However, they only offer wide plank flooring, herringbone, or 16cm (6.3 inches) mosaic parquet. As mentioned earlier, I could also buy the material myself and have it installed.

I even traveled to Cologne to visit the store where the first photo was taken (they call the installation style Vienna). In the same store, they advertise prices starting at 87 euros per square meter (about 8.1 sq ft), including material and labor. They promote this both online, in brochures, and in their main showroom. Herringbone is also affordable there. But for the Vienna installation style, they charge around 450 euros per square meter (about 41.8 sq ft)—five times the price of the cheapest wide plank. I find this hard to understand and cannot afford it. Their explanation was: “We have about 10% waste. Also, the installation is more complex than with wide planks.” They have similar waste and effort with herringbone, but their prices don’t escalate as much there.

Long story short: In the internet age with so many options, I hope it’s still possible to find something beyond herringbone and wide plank. We’re willing to pay over 100 euros per square meter (about 10.8 sq ft) including labor. I was hoping that people familiar with the offerings here could give me some advice 🙂

That won't work. Installing such patterns is far from easy and only suitable for true experts. It is costly. There is no such thing as click laminate flooring for this. There is no ready-made solution for it.

tinymaggot schrieb:

We’re happy to pay with work instead of 100€.

Well, I’ll just overlook the “happy” part here. Honestly, it sounds like you’re just complaining about wanting something special at an average price.
Take a look at the installation methods: you’re comparing the price of the pattern you want with traditional plank flooring? That alone is a bit unreasonable or shows a lack of expertise. Even a layperson can see that more careful planning and precise cutting are required for patterned installations compared to regular planks.
Partly because of attitudes like yours, well-trained craftsmen are becoming a rarity. People just don’t value their work anymore, not even those who can afford to own a house and want to install a special pattern.

My opinion on installation patterns: almost all extravagant designs look particularly odd in regular homes. I wouldn’t do it at all, personally. I even decided against herringbone. Visually, it makes the floor too busy when you have only small areas and few sightlines.

A fair hourly rate for a self-employed craftsman is probably around 60 euro net (rather more), leaving you 40 euro for the parquet itself. That’s not exactly generously budgeted on your part. The hourly rate would need to be at least 50 euro higher.

In my experience with tiles, you can only get what is currently available at a reasonable price. Everything else is either not available at all or only for a very high cost.

Hardly anyone installs mosaic parquet nowadays. Accordingly, the price reflects this. If you can even find a craftsman who knows how to do it properly, they are aware that their skills are special and charge accordingly.