Each type of parquet wood has its own distinctive traits, as the properties of the material it is made from are also unique.

When choosing and installing a wooden floor, you must consider the characteristics of the wood and the possible changes it will undergo over time. There are certainly some general criteria to consider when purchasing: for example, its resistance to impacts and wear, humidity, pests, and mold; not to mention the color variations the parquet boards will undergo due to sun exposure.

Having reviewed these points, it all comes down to your taste and the style you want to give your spaces, opting depending on circumstances and preferences for a light, brown, or dark wood.

Timeless oak

Among the light woods, oak, whether French or Slavonian, has always been one of the most appreciated for its resistance and versatility, and in Woodco’s range of products, Slavonian oak is the undisputed protagonist.

The original color of its boards tends towards yellowish-brown, but over the years and with the action of sunlight, it ends up approaching a more bright straw. In terms of solidity and durability, it has few equals: it reacts excellently to both thermal fluctuations and compression and bending; to fungi, mold, and humidity.

Parquet treatments such as planing and brushing further enrich it, as they highlight its fascinating grain in all its vibrancy.

Oak adapts well to the production of rustic or antique parquet, it pairs well with Hungarian or Italian herringbone patterns and also fits perfectly in modern and contemporary environments.

The sustainable delicacy of walnut

If, on the other hand, you are perhaps looking for a contrast effect against the light color of your walls and furnishings, and are inclined towards a darker floor, walnut is the wood that might suit your needs.

It has brown shades and veins that approach black. It is also a great classic – and Woodco presents it in the Signature and Dream collections – appreciated for its malleability and resistance, and is considered a precious wood especially suitable for elegant and refined environments.

However, it can also be successfully installed in bathrooms or kitchens, but you need to take care of it by paying attention to heavy loads that could damage it, causing surface scratches and cracks.

On the market, it is found in the two major families of national or American walnut, marked by a more uniform tint.

Indoor, outdoor, and all the charm of teak

If we have already mentioned another brown wood like Asian teak when talking about outdoor wooden flooring, it is because this type of precious wood, also used in nautical applications, is known for its excellent resistance to wear and weather conditions.

However, it also defends itself against pests and stands out for its pronounced grain and color: it ranges from chestnut to chocolate-brown, but lightens to a golden hue under the influence of sunlight.

Not less important, for those who host four-legged friends at home, is that teak, offered by Woodco in the Dream collection, tolerates their paw prints excellently.

Iroko, ash, beech, and larch: the other great classics

If you are looking for a darker parquet that is always indisputable for elegance, hardness, and longevity, iroko, an exotic and African wood, is a dense wood and therefore highly resistant to temperature variations and humidity, not surprisingly used, like teak, also for outdoor flooring. It is easy to work with and originally light brown in color, it darkens due to natural oxidation.

Returning to the light qualities, ash boasts such solidity that it is also used in the production of windows and frames: in the world of parquet, its palette – from pink to ochre to golden-brown with greenish veins – makes it a staple in contemporary style spaces. It reacts well to impacts, given its elasticity, but tends to suffer from insect and pest attacks. It does not agree with radiant panels, and this disadvantage is also typical of beech, another very light wood that reacts to the effects of underfloor heating with a tendency to darken. It is of medium hardness and does not suffer from foot traffic, but it is advisable to keep it away from humidity.

Last but certainly not least, larch is an ideal wood for a solid and durable parquet without giving up the warmth of a mountain home, where it is often used. Along with oak, larch is one of the most appreciated and used woods in flooring because the presence of knots and its flamed grain give aesthetic vibrancy to the surfaces and it can adapt to any surface treatment.