Flooring - Parquet Vs. Granite Vs. Marble?

[ChiangMaiFun]

I have seen some stunning Parquete 'honey coloured' floors - any views? this is a top end condo and it must look 'right'

I know it would be cheaper than Marble - any views on aesthetics? costs? I'm guessing sub 1000 sq. meter? marble/granite can be 4000+

[Barack]

If a top end condo I would hire an architect and/or contractor and do it right. You need not limit yourself to just one type. Perhaps wood or parquete flooring in the bedroom, ceramic or granite in the kitchen, etc. or where practical. Looks like an opportunity to do something a little different and use your imagination.

[stgrhe]

I suppose a more realistic figure for a parquetry floor is around 2,000 baht depending on the wood type. Makha and teak are expensive but good looking.

Cheap parquetry floor are often laminate and do not provide the same quality as real parquetry floor. Make sure you use a skilled person to lay it for you as parquetry flooring is no do-it-yourself job.

[ChiangMaiFun]

I suppose a more realistic figure for a parquetry floor is around 2,000 baht depending on the wood type. Makha and teak are expensive but good looking.

Cheap parquetry floor are often laminate and do not provide the same quality as real parquetry floor. Make sure you use a skilled person to lay it for you as parquetry flooring is no do-it-yourself job.

great thanks... granite/marble seems to come in at 4000+ and I have 108 sq. meters to cover! this is the colour I was thinking of - I have tiles in another condo - look good but not the very top quality:

[steelepulse]

Why not go with granite in the living area, then some nice teak in the bedrooms? Personally I like the look of wide teak done in tongue and groove all running in the same direction, but to each his own.

[ignis]

If it is for your own living then it is up to you.........

I have a house, I got the builders to do all the bedrooms and landing in parquetry floor, the problem with it is if you move anything to clean, mine is 6 years old now and has many scratches and looks a mess in places......... The granite downstairs in all the rooms looks as new today as when laid 6 years ago.

[Samuian]

If it is for your own living then it is up to you.........

I have a house, I got the builders to do all the bedrooms and landing in parquetry floor, the problem with it is if you move anything to clean, mine is 6 years old now and has many scratches and looks a mess in places......... The granite downstairs in all the rooms looks as new today as when laid 6 years ago.

parquetry floor's are rather easy to polish, while granite and other high polished natural stone, once scratched... arerather difficult to polish!

And slippery as heck too, no good "heli-pad" for any landing attempts, if there are children, get prepared for a lot of agony... !

Edited February 12, 2010 by Samuian

[givenall]

Why not go with granite in the living area, then some nice teak in the bedrooms? Personally I like the look of wide teak done in tongue and groove all running in the same direction, but to each his own.

I personally luv granite all over, it is cool on the feet when you walk on and feels luxurious. I would use 2 separate colors with a creative design.

But if you decide to use wood, do not use laminated and make sure you consider bug problem over here. Bugs luv wood over here so use treated wood or better yet a wood the bugs don’t like, like teak

[ChiangMaiFun]

Why not go with granite in the living area, then some nice teak in the bedrooms? Personally I like the look of wide teak done in tongue and groove all running in the same direction, but to each his own.

That's a thought... but with renovations (up to now) I've tended to do the same thoughout the bedrooms and living areas because it looks kinda 'matched' but this is just my thinking... bathrooms and kitchens I differ - but I quite like the seamless look - but maybe I should challenge that thinking - in one condo I looked at (150sq. meters) they had parquet throughout and it was loved by one and all - it was everywhere apart from bathrooms (even kitchen) - bleached a sort of honey colour.

[Naam]

marble floors. experience 19 years. three homes including the last one in Thailand. never again when i build a home again (in my next life)! marble is not brittle but soft, scratches easily, porous even if coated and highly polished, any slightly acidic (e.g. orange juice) or coloured liquid (e.g. coffee, red wine) will stain it. however... it looks bloody beautiful!

if i had to do it again i'd go for granite. but a beautiful looking granite (depending of course on personal taste) is double the money.

[steelepulse]

In all the bedrooms, I have teak flooring and this is bordered with 20 X 40 cm black African granite. I saw it in a house when we were building and I liked the look as it's not just one color/look. Wish I had a decent pic to upload, but unfortunately I don't.

[ChiangMaiFun]

In all the bedrooms, I have teak flooring and this is bordered with 20 X 40 cm black African granite. I saw it in a house when we were building and I liked the look as it's not just one color/look. Wish I had a decent pic to upload, but unfortunately I don't.

Hi - could I encourage you to take one? Id love to see it

[Tony121]

Cpac do a wood tile which looks like real wood size of a tile is roughly 4x16 inches and about thb 900 a sqm, and are also not slippery.

[trogers]

In all the bedrooms, I have teak flooring and this is bordered with 20 X 40 cm black African granite. I saw it in a house when we were building and I liked the look as it's not just one color/look. Wish I had a decent pic to upload, but unfortunately I don't.

Careful. Timber fibres can thicken through absorbing moisture (and contract when dried) and if there is no provision of gaps with the granite border in the parallel direction of the fibres, the floor boards can arch up. When laid against the walls (without borders) the tradesmen will always provide a 1/2-inch gap on both sides, but concealed by skirting, to allow for such expansions.

[ChiangMaiFun]

In all the bedrooms, I have teak flooring and this is bordered with 20 X 40 cm black African granite. I saw it in a house when we were building and I liked the look as it's not just one color/look. Wish I had a decent pic to upload, but unfortunately I don't.

Careful. Timber fibres can thicken through absorbing moisture (and contract when dried) and if there is no provision of gaps with the granite border in the parallel direction of the fibres, the floor boards can arch up. When laid against the walls (without borders) the tradesmen will always provide a 1/2-inch gap on both sides, but concealed by skirting, to allow for such expansions.

good point... I guess a similar effect could be garnered by staining one section of teak board Ebony colour and have that as a border?

[steelepulse]

You have to make sure you have old dried timber. 6 years on no problems here.

[katabeachbum]

You have to make sure you have old dried timber. 6 years on no problems here.

done redwood in granit. Sika glued to concrete and Sika between granite and redwood. Still looks great

Maka even better

Op, I belive the honey color you are looking for is Maka. Expect +3000baht/sqm for first class materials and installation

[Gary A]

I'd put non slip tiles in the bathrooms. Regular textured tile in the kitchen. Parquet in the bedrooms and marble in the more heavily traveled rooms. Why marble rather than granite? For one thing it is cheaper but the main reason is that since it is porous, it gives better traction with wet feet. Granite is a better floor but is very slippery with wet feet.