FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy parquet from Bembé?
Bembé Parkett has established a nationwide network of 45 exhibitions throughout Germany. You can find us in almost all major cities such as Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Berlin, Hamburg, etc. Here you can get advice at your leisure and gain an insight into the beautiful world of parquet floors.
How much do floors from Bembé Parkett cost?
We have floors in all price ranges! You can get solid parquet from Bembé ready laid from as little as €60. The exact cost of your desired floor should be clarified during a consultation at your Bembé parquet laying company. In our product finder you can get a first guide to our prices. In general, large-format Planks as well as bespoke inlays and Boarded Parquet are among the more expensive floors. Our floor coverings such as Mosaic Parquet, Meisterparkett, Stabilo or Stabilette combine a long service life with an affordable price. Our wood and stone decors such as laminate and design flooring are even more affordable.
Which floor is sustainable?
At Bembé Parkett, we attach great importance to sustainability and environmental protection in all our products. The sustainability of a floor depends on various factors, including the materials used, the manufacturing processes and the product’s service life.
Solid parquet is made from a single, continuous piece of wood and is considered particularly sustainable because it is made from natural, renewable material. Our solid parquet comes from our own production, which enables us to monitor and control the entire manufacturing process precisely – from the careful selection of raw materials through to final finishing. This control not only ensures exceptional quality and durability of our products, but also helps to minimise environmental impact by using modern production methods, relying on local wood species and thus ensuring short transport routes. In addition, solid parquet can be sanded down several times, which significantly extends its service life.
You can’t go far wrong with multilayer parquet either, as long as you pay attention to the relevant certification seals. Today’s modern production processes used by our carefully selected partners minimise CO2 emissions. For a longer service life and multiple sanding cycles, you should place value on a suitably thick top layer.
design flooring offers practical advantages thanks to its robustness and ease of care. However, its sustainability is limited by the use of non-renewable raw materials in production and limited recycling options. Modern approaches to manufacturing vinyl floors already include the use of recycled materials and the minimisation of harmful chemicals, which improves their environmental compatibility.
Laminate consists mainly of wood fibres and is finished with a decorative layer that enables various looks. Although laminate can be considered a more sustainable floor due to its composition of renewable raw materials, it is less durable than parquet and cannot be repaired. For environmentally conscious consumers, it is important to choose laminate products that use environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and materials in order to improve the ecological footprint.
Can parquet also be laid on underfloor heating?
Very briefly: In principle, almost all types of parquet can be laid on underfloor heating. However, you should take the following key values into account:
- If possible, the heating system should be operated with a heat output of no more than 70 W/m². If in doubt, ask your heating engineer.
- The parquet to be laid should be as thin as possible. From our range, our multilayer parquet Tabis (10mm) or all our solid Mosaic Parquet or Meisterparkett (8mm) are particularly suitable. For all others, we need to know the general conditions in detail so that we can make a reliable statement.
- The requirements for the screed are quickly explained. It must be manufactured in accordance with the standards. All cement or calcium sulphate screeds with the minimum strength classes ZE20 or AE20 are sufficient. Of course, a screed must be dry before laying the parquet – targeted dry heating helps here. We support you here with a detailed information sheet and a coordinated heating protocol.
- With dry screeds (also chipboards), a general statement is not possible. Here we would have to know the system and the structure.
- Furthermore, you should pay attention to a healthy room climate during the heating operation. The guideline values are 20°C – 22°C and a relative humidity of 50% to 55%.
Hopefully we could already help a little bit. And otherwise, all that remains is to wish you – have fun choosing your new parquet.
I’m renovating. Who will rip out my old carpet?
We can easily remove your old carpet! Old carpets are removed properly by us and disposed of in an environmentally friendly way. The subfloor is then professionally prepared for parquet installation.
I have pets. Can parquet be laid in that case?
Yes, you can. Here are a few tips.
There are parquet varnishes that are less susceptible to scratches. These are so-called 2-component dispersion varnishes. We also offer a varnish from this group. The varnishes are very abrasion-resistant, but also more expensive than “normal” surface treatments. Of course, these varnishes can still get scratched. That’s why another key factor is the regular use of coordinated care products. You are welcome to obtain suitable care instructions from us.
Animal excretions are always problematic with any surface quality available today. If something goes wrong, wipe it up quickly and the problem is solved.
However, there is one thing varnishes cannot improve: wood has only limited elasticity. If this limit is exceeded, the wood fibre gets crushed. That means if a heavy object falls on the parquet floor, or if a dog’s claws press into the wood when “accelerating”, this can lead to dents. We already have experience in this regard. Especially with larger dogs.
Can I lay the parquet myself?
In principle, yes. However, installation always requires craftsmanship and a good deal of experience. There’s a reason parquet layer is an apprenticeship with 3 years of training in our master craftsman companies.
But have you ever thought about saving yourself the work and, above all, further investments? For DIY installation, you don’t just need installation tools, but also a good table saw, a mitre saw for the skirting boards, adhesive or glue …
We take care of everything. Ask our sales offices!
Can I lay the parquet as a floating floor?
From our range, only our 3-Strip Plank Calais and our Cottage Plank Corniche are suitable for floating installation.
However, we recommend gluing the parquet. This has many advantages. Here are a few examples:
- Better room acoustics (it doesn’t sound hollow when you walk on it)
- No wide transition strips in doorways or to other floor coverings.
- As a rule, the parquet does not need to be separated by joints and strips at door passages or wall projections.
- No restriction of room size
Also: Impact sound insulation must be provided over the screed in accordance with the standards. If this is properly executed, glued parquet behaves neutrally. There is no impairment of impact sound (with a standards-compliant screed).
Never lay your parquet on carpets without asking a professional.
Can I place my aquarium or another heavy object on the parquet floor?
This question is always very difficult to answer. Nevertheless, we would like to try. Screeds in residential areas are generally designed for a live load of 1.5 kN/m². With an aquarium or another heavy object exerting a pressure of around 153 kg/m², this value would already be exceeded. So you should first clarify whether the screed construction can withstand the load.
Now, on to the parquet.
Our answer refers exclusively to parquet that is firmly glued to the screed. The decisive value for parquet is resistance to transverse compressive forces. In principle, the value indicates from what force permanent crushing of the wood occurs. But: The values are determined with absolutely flat test bodies, so an even distribution of force is given.
This is certainly not the case with your aquarium. If your aquarium stands on 4 feet, for example, the parquet will definitely get deep impressions. If it stands on a base, this probably won’t sit flush on the parquet either, but only with the frame. So here too, the distribution of the weight over the contact surface must be assessed. If this weight distribution is then significantly below the average transverse compressive strength, there is no risk of impressions with absolutely flat surfaces. However, absolutely flat surfaces are to be expected neither from the parquet nor from the aquarium base. So the risk of crushing the wood fibre remains high.
An example: The base of an aquarium has the following dimensions: 180 cm x 60 cm, the frame has a thickness of 1.5 cm and rests fully on the parquet. This results in a contact area of 720 cm². With a weight of aquarium and base of 1,000 kg, this would result in a pressure per cm² of 1.39 kg/cm². This would not lead to crushing of the wood.
But: As already mentioned, this only applies to absolutely flat surfaces. If the base or wood is slightly uneven and the base, for example, only rests on three points with perhaps 10 cm², the pressure at that point increases to 70 kg/cm². This exceeds the compressive strength of wood many times over.
So the wood will be crushed until all surfaces bear evenly. The crushing is not reversible.
This is certainly an unsatisfactory answer for you.
The answer is still simple: You must achieve the greatest possible distribution of force and the parquet will not be damaged.
The above example refers to the use of solid oak parquet. However, the example can also be applied to other woods. The softer the wood, the greater the risk of damage.
You should not use floating-laid multilayer parquet (prefinished parquet). Here, additional risks arise solely due to the installation method.
And remember to have the load-bearing capacity of the screed confirmed.
