Does parquet only have advantages compared to design flooring?

It should be sturdy. If you are only allowed to wipe parquet with a barely damp cloth, what about the spilled glass of red wine? I assume that vinyl can handle that. A friend even has it in the kitchen. We also have it in the washroom at the office.

Depending on the thickness of the wooden top layer

The problem in new buildings is unfortunately that thick parquet and underfloor heating do not go together. The parquet that is laid on underfloor heating is usually so thin that it can be sanded down at most once.

It should be quite robust. If parquet can only be wiped with a damp cloth, what about a spilled glass of red wine? I assume vinyl doesn't mind that. A friend of mine even has it in her kitchen. We also have it in the washroom at the office.

This argument surprises me as a reason against parquet. Do you just leave the red wine stain on the design floor so you can vacuum it after it dries?

I hope that parquet is at least somewhat comparable to my oak table. I have it nicely oiled, and if something spills on it, I just wipe it away after eating and that's it. Nothing soaks in because the surface is oiled. I either ignored small scratches or sanded them down. Then oiled again and it's like new.

The table has been here for almost 7 years now and still looks really great. I hope parquet is at least somewhat comparable. For the parquet, we would also choose the plank look and have it somewhat roughly planed/brushed. So not mirror-smooth and clearly rougher than our table.

The problem with new buildings is unfortunately that thick parquet and underfloor heating don’t go together. The parquet you install on underfloor heating is usually so thin that it can only be sanded once at most.

The timber merchant told us it can be sanded at most once. No one would do it a second time because it's not clear how much was sanded off everywhere the first time.

The biggest disadvantage really seems to be the U-value and that we have to run the supply temperature 10% higher (33 instead of 30).

- Natural product
- Price of parquet is hardly higher than that of design flooring
- if there is a damaged spot, parquet can be repaired; design flooring cannot
- maintenance effort is supposedly not higher

Now we are a bit confused. What is the opinion here?

I would agree with all points.
1. Wood instead of "plastic"
2. High-quality parquet (3-layer engineered parquet from brand manufacturers with at least 2.5mm wear layer) from 30€ per sqm / no-name providers from 20€/sqm (but they are also good)
3. Parquet is natural. A dent or scratch is not repaired. It just stays
4. Vacuuming is the method of choice. Damp mopping only when it really gets dirty

Of course, there are differences in sensitivity depending on the wood species. I once installed wenge glued down – the floor still looked like new after years. Also, the color of the wood will change under exposure to light. Light wood gets darker, dark wood gets lighter. But that is nature and ultimately a matter of taste.

I have had parquet for many, many years now (wenge glued down, maple floating, various oak variants glued down, one time lacquered, otherwise only oiled) and will have parquet again in the next house. Also in the kitchen. Also with three kids. Also with a Bernese Mountain Dog. It works without problems; so far there are no stains or special damage. But I also don’t leave water/fat/red wine standing on the parquet for hours.

Plastic does not go on the floor (especially if it is as expensive as "design flooring").

Problem in new buildings is unfortunately that thick parquet and underfloor heating do not go together. The parquet laid on underfloor heating is usually so thin that it can only be sanded once at most.

13-15mm total thickness with about 3mm wear layer is an absolutely compatible and common size (it is actually mostly approved for underfloor heating). Frequent sanding is by the way just a rumor. That might happen once after 25 years. And with a 3mm wear layer, it is possible more than once.

We have parquet, 8 mm solid wood. Recently, the kids spilled juice or water. No idea. They cleaned it up themselves. After a few days, a discoloration appeared under the table leg. Water had survived there and the parquet enjoyed the bath for days. Moved the table aside, cleaned, ironed, and you can hardly see anything anymore. Scratches belong to parquet; with other floors, it just looks like a dent. My parents had their parquet sanded for the first time after 35 years. What do you want, the rest doesn't matter.