DIY Herringbone Parquet Floor

Herringbone is a complex geometrical floor design using small pieces of parquet and positioning the pieces like a puzzle. While the pieces must be custom cut for standard hardwood, parquet companies manufacture custom-cut herringbone floors with all the pieces necessary to form the design. Even with a pre-cut kit, herringbone patterns are difficult and require impeccable alignment. For a beginner, start with a small square for practice. Most parquet flooring, including herringbone is free floating and uses grooves to fit together.

Broom
Waterproof barrier
Chalk

Instructions

- 1
  Clean off the subfloor, sweeping away all dirt and debris. If recommended by the manufacturer, lay down a waterproof barrier along the subfloor to prevent moisture seepage.
- 2
  Measure out your first square or rectangle of herringbone patterning, and mark off the parameters with a chalk line.
- 3
  Lay the first corner triangle along a bottom corner of the rectangle or square. This will guide the first row of flooring.
- 4
  Lay out each piece of flooring, forming a “V” pattern and moving up the row. Make sure that each piece’s edge touches the chalk line to keep the flooring straight. The individual pieces should each have a tongue and groove that fit together to hold the pieces in place.
- 5
  Set the top edge triangle into position once the first row reaches the chalk line.
- 6
  Go back down to the bottom and set the next bottom triangle. Build the next row upward, locking it into the previous row. Repeat this step until the entire rectangle is filled in with pieces.
- 7
  Add the side triangles around the rectangle and finish the rectangle with the border pieces.

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