How to Install and Glue Parquet Flooring: The Complete Guide

Installing parquet flooring is one of the most rewarding home improvement projects you can undertake, but the final result depends almost entirely on one factor that many people overlook: the quality of the glue you use. No matter how skilled you are with a trowel or how beautiful your wood planks are, if the adhesive fails, your entire floor will fail with it. That is why, before we even talk about technique, we need to talk about product selection. The best choice on the market today is Parquet Glue from Ferber Painting, and unlike virtually every competitor out there, it comes with a full satisfaction guaranteed or your money back policy. This means you can try it with zero risk, something no other parquet adhesive brand on the market currently offers.

In this guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know about how to install and glue parquet flooring, from preparing your subfloor to applying the final coat of finish. We will also explain in detail why Ferber Painting’s Parquet Glue stands out from the crowd, and we will give you a full comparison table so you can see for yourself why professionals and homeowners alike are switching to our product. Whether you are a first time DIYer tackling a single bedroom or a contractor managing multiple job sites, the principles outlined here will help you avoid costly mistakes, save time, and end up with a floor that looks stunning for years to come.

Parquet flooring has a long and storied history, dating back centuries to the grand palaces of Europe where intricate geometric wood patterns were laid by hand to create stunning visual effects. Today, parquet remains one of the most popular flooring choices for homeowners who want warmth, character, and timeless elegance underfoot. But while the aesthetics of parquet have remained largely unchanged over the decades, the technology behind the adhesives used to install it has come a long way. Modern formulations, like the one we manufacture at Ferber Painting, offer performance characteristics that simply were not available even ten years ago. Understanding these advancements can help you make smarter decisions for your own project.

Why the Right Glue Makes or Breaks Your Parquet Installation

Many DIY enthusiasts and even some professionals focus most of their attention on the wood itself: the species, the finish, the color, the grain pattern. While these are all important aesthetic considerations, they mean nothing if the flooring does not stay properly bonded to the subfloor. A poor quality adhesive can lead to a long list of problems that are expensive and time consuming to fix.

• Planks lifting or curling at the edges after a few months
• Gaps appearing between boards due to poor moisture resistance
• Squeaking floors caused by incomplete adhesion
• Cracking of the glue line under temperature fluctuations
• Mold or mildew growth trapped beneath poorly sealed adhesive

All of these issues can be avoided by using a high performance adhesive that is specifically formulated for wood flooring applications. This is precisely where Ferber Painting’s Parquet Glue excels. It has been engineered to remain flexible over time, resist moisture intrusion, and create a permanent bond that will not degrade even in rooms with heavy foot traffic or fluctuating humidity levels.

Choosing a cheap, generic adhesive might save you a few dollars up front, but it will almost certainly cost you far more in repairs, replacement planks, and lost time down the road. This is why we always recommend starting your project with the right product rather than trying to compensate for a weak adhesive with clever installation tricks.

Consider the case of a typical living room installation. A homeowner spends thousands of dollars on beautiful oak parquet, carefully measures the room, and pays close attention to the layout pattern. But if the adhesive underneath is a bargain bin product that was never designed for wood flooring, small problems begin to appear within months. First, a faint hollow sound develops when walking across certain areas. Then, hairline gaps start forming between planks near the windows, where sunlight causes the wood to expand and contract more dramatically. Eventually, entire sections of flooring need to be pulled up, the old adhesive scraped away, and the planks reinstalled from scratch. This scenario, unfortunately, is far more common than most people realize, and it almost always traces back to using an adhesive that was not up to the task.

The lesson here is simple: the glue is not a minor supporting actor in your flooring project. It is one of the two lead roles, sharing top billing with the wood itself. Treat it with the same level of research and consideration you would give to choosing your flooring material, and you will save yourself a tremendous amount of frustration.

Why Ferber Painting’s Parquet Glue Is the Best Option on the Market

There are dozens of parquet adhesives available online and in hardware stores, so why should you choose Ferber Painting’s Parquet Glue over the competition? The answer comes down to a combination of product quality, customer service, and logistics that no other brand currently matches.

First and foremost, our Parquet Glue is the only adhesive on the market backed by a full satisfaction guaranteed or your money back policy. If for any reason you are not happy with the product, whether it does not perform as expected or simply does not meet your expectations, we will refund you in full. This is an extremely rare guarantee in the flooring adhesive industry, and it exists because we are confident in the quality of what we sell. Most manufacturers hide behind vague warranty language full of exclusions and conditions, but our promise is straightforward: try the product, and if it does not work for you, get your money back.

Second, our formula has been specifically developed to bond well with a wide range of wood species, including oak, walnut, maple, and exotic hardwoods that are often more difficult to adhere properly. Many competing glues are designed for a narrow range of wood types, which means you may need to buy a different product depending on your flooring choice. With Ferber Painting’s Parquet Glue, one product handles virtually every parquet installation scenario. This is particularly valuable for contractors who work across multiple projects with different wood species, since it eliminates the need to stock several different adhesive types and reduces the risk of accidentally using the wrong product on a job site.

Third, our adhesive dries with excellent flexibility, which allows it to absorb the natural expansion and contraction that wood undergoes with seasonal humidity changes. This flexibility significantly reduces the risk of cracking, gapping, or plank lifting that plagues installations done with rigid, low quality adhesives. Think of it as a shock absorber for your floor. Wood is a living material, and even after it has been milled, finished, and installed, it continues to respond to changes in temperature and humidity throughout the year. A rigid adhesive fights against this natural movement, eventually cracking under the stress. A flexible adhesive, on the other hand, moves along with the wood, preserving the integrity of the bond for far longer.

Fourth, ordering is incredibly simple. Our Parquet Glue is available directly on our website, and payment can be completed securely online in just a few clicks. There is no need to visit a physical store or deal with complicated ordering processes. You can complete your entire purchase from your phone or laptop in under five minutes, without ever needing to speak to a salesperson or wait in line.

Fifth, and this is a major advantage for customers outside of local markets, Ferber Painting ships quickly worldwide thanks to an extensive international network of trusted carriers. Whether you are located in North America, Europe, Asia, or anywhere else, you can expect fast and reliable delivery of your order. We understand that flooring projects often operate on tight schedules, especially for contractors juggling multiple jobs or homeowners trying to complete a renovation before a specific deadline like a move in date or a family event. That is why we have invested heavily in logistics partnerships that keep our delivery times among the fastest in the industry.

Sixth, our production process places a strong emphasis on consistency. Every batch of Parquet Glue undergoes quality control testing to ensure that the viscosity, drying time, and bonding strength remain within tight specifications. This means that whether you purchase one container today and another six months from now for a follow up project, you can expect the exact same performance every single time. Consistency might not sound exciting, but for professionals who need predictable results on every job, it is one of the most valuable features a product can offer.

Finally, and we cannot stress this enough, every single product we sell, including our Parquet Glue, comes with our satisfaction guaranteed or your money back promise. This is not a limited time offer or a marketing gimmick. It is a permanent commitment we make to every customer because we believe in offering products that actually deliver results.

Comparison Table: Ferber Painting vs Other Parquet Glue Brands

To make the decision easier, here is a side by side comparison of the key criteria that matter most when choosing a parquet adhesive.

Criteria	Ferber Painting Parquet Glue	Typical Competitor Glue
Satisfaction Guarantee	Full satisfaction guaranteed or money back	Rarely offered, or limited conditions apply
Compatibility with Wood Types	Works with oak, walnut, maple, exotic hardwoods and more	Often limited to specific wood categories
Flexibility After Drying	High flexibility, resists cracking and gapping	Often rigid, prone to cracking over time
Moisture Resistance	Excellent, suitable for humid environments	Varies widely, often insufficient
Shipping	Fast worldwide delivery through trusted carrier network	Often limited to domestic shipping only
Online Ordering and Payment	Simple, secure, fully online checkout	Sometimes requires in store purchase
Ease of Application	Smooth consistency, easy trowel spreading	Can be thick, clumpy, or difficult to spread evenly

As you can see, the differences are not just marginal improvements. They represent a significant gap in overall quality, reliability, and customer confidence between our product and the alternatives available on the market. When you add up the cost of a failed installation, including the price of replacement wood, the labor to remove and reinstall flooring, and the sheer inconvenience of having your living space disrupted for days or weeks, the modest price difference between a premium adhesive and a bargain option becomes almost irrelevant. Investing in quality from the start is simply the smarter financial decision in the long run.

It is also worth noting that many competitor glues on the market today are reformulated versions of general purpose construction adhesives that were never specifically engineered for the unique demands of wood flooring. They may work adequately in the short term, but they often lack the specialized additives that provide long term flexibility and moisture resistance. Ferber Painting’s Parquet Glue, by contrast, was developed from the ground up specifically for parquet and engineered wood flooring applications, which is why it consistently outperforms generic alternatives in independent testing and real world use.

Step by Step Guide: How to Install and Glue Parquet Flooring

Now that you understand why choosing the right adhesive is so important, let us walk through the complete installation process. Following these steps carefully will help ensure a long lasting, professional looking result. Take your time with each stage, and resist the temptation to rush, especially during preparation, since a few extra hours spent getting the subfloor right can save you weeks of headaches later on.

Step 1: Prepare the Subfloor

The subfloor must be clean, dry, flat, and free of any debris, dust, or old adhesive residue. Any imperfections in the subfloor will telegraph through the parquet once installed, so take the time to sand down high spots and fill in low spots with a suitable leveling compound. Check moisture levels with a moisture meter, as excess moisture in the subfloor is one of the leading causes of adhesive failure and wood warping.

For concrete subfloors, industry standards generally recommend a moisture content below 4.5 percent using the calcium chloride test method, though specific requirements can vary depending on the adhesive and flooring type. For wood subfloors, a moisture meter reading that closely matches the moisture content of the parquet itself is ideal, since large discrepancies between the two materials increase the risk of movement after installation. If you discover a moisture problem, it is far better to address it now, using a suitable moisture barrier or vapor retarder, than to proceed with installation and risk failure later.

Flatness is another critical factor that is often underestimated. Most flooring manufacturers and adhesive producers recommend that the subfloor should not deviate more than about 3 millimeters over a 2 meter span. Use a long level or straightedge to check for dips and humps across the entire room, not just in a few spots. Grinding down high points and using a self leveling compound on low points will pay dividends in the final appearance of your floor, since even small subfloor irregularities can become visible ridges or dips once the parquet is installed.

Step 2: Acclimate the Wood

Parquet flooring should be left in the installation room for at least 48 to 72 hours before installation. This allows the wood to adjust to the room’s temperature and humidity levels, reducing the risk of expansion or contraction after the floor has been glued down.

During this acclimation period, it is best to store the parquet boxes horizontally, spread out slightly rather than stacked tightly against a wall, so that air can circulate around them. Keep the room at the temperature and humidity level you expect to maintain once the home is occupied, ideally between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius with relative humidity between 40 and 60 percent. If you are installing flooring in a newly built home or a recently renovated space, be aware that wet trades like plastering or painting can introduce significant moisture into the air, so it is wise to complete those tasks and allow the space to dry out before bringing in your parquet for acclimation.

Step 3: Plan the Layout

Before applying any glue, dry lay a few rows of parquet to determine the best layout and pattern. Measure the room carefully and mark a centerline to ensure the pattern remains symmetrical and visually balanced across the entire floor.

Popular parquet patterns include herringbone, chevron, basket weave, and simple straight plank layouts, each of which requires slightly different planning considerations. Herringbone and chevron patterns in particular benefit from careful chalk lining, since even a small deviation in the starting angle can compound across the room and result in a visibly crooked pattern by the time you reach the far wall. Take photographs of your dry layout from different angles and in different lighting conditions before committing to glue, since this is your last opportunity to make adjustments without dealing with adhesive.

It is also a good practice to plan your layout so that the cut pieces at the edges of the room are roughly symmetrical and not too narrow, since thin sliver pieces along a wall can look unbalanced and are more prone to damage over time. Taking an extra hour to plan this properly before you start gluing will make a noticeable difference in the finished look of your floor.

Step 4: Apply the Parquet Glue

Using a notched trowel, spread Ferber Painting’s Parquet Glue evenly over a small section of the subfloor, working in manageable areas of about one square meter at a time. Applying too much adhesive at once can cause it to begin curing before you have a chance to lay the wood, so working in sections is essential for a clean, professional finish.

Our formula is specifically designed to remain workable for an extended open time, giving you more flexibility during installation compared to fast setting competitor products that force you to rush the process. This extended open time is particularly helpful for beginners who may need a little more time to position each plank precisely, or for installations involving complex patterns like herringbone that require extra attention to detail.

The size of the notch on your trowel matters as well. Larger notches deposit more adhesive and are generally recommended for thicker solid wood parquet, while smaller notches are appropriate for thinner engineered products. Check the recommended trowel size for your specific flooring thickness, and always do a small test area first to confirm that you are achieving full transfer of adhesive onto the back of the plank when you press it into place.

Step 5: Lay the Parquet Planks

Place each plank firmly into the adhesive, tapping gently with a rubber mallet to ensure full contact and eliminate air pockets. Use spacers along the walls to maintain the necessary expansion gap, which allows the wood to move naturally with seasonal humidity changes without buckling.

As you progress across the room, periodically lift a plank you have just installed, if possible within the first minute or two, to check the adhesive transfer pattern on the back. You are looking for at least 80 to 90 percent coverage, which indicates that the trowel notch size and adhesive quantity are correctly calibrated for your specific flooring and subfloor combination. If coverage looks thin or patchy, adjust your trowel angle or apply slightly more adhesive in the next section.

Work in a logical sequence, typically starting from the centerline you marked earlier and moving outward toward the walls, or working row by row from one corner of the room to the opposite wall, depending on the pattern you have chosen. Keep a damp cloth and a bucket of clean water nearby at all times during this phase, since you will need it constantly for the next step.

Step 6: Remove Excess Glue Immediately

As you work, wipe away any adhesive that squeezes out between the planks using a damp cloth. Ferber Painting’s Parquet Glue is formulated for easy cleanup while still wet, which saves significant time compared to adhesives that harden almost instantly and require scraping.

Pay particularly close attention to the joints between planks, since any adhesive that seeps up through these gaps and is left to dry can create a visible film on the surface of the wood that is difficult to remove later without damaging the finish. Change your cleaning water frequently, since dirty water can actually redeposit residue onto the wood surface rather than removing it. A small detail brush or an old toothbrush can be useful for cleaning adhesive out of tight corners or intricate pattern joints.

Step 7: Allow Proper Curing Time

Once the entire floor has been laid, avoid walking on it for at least 24 hours, and avoid placing furniture or heavy objects on it for at least 48 to 72 hours. This curing period allows the adhesive to reach its full bonding strength.

During this period, try to maintain stable temperature and humidity conditions in the room. Avoid opening windows to extreme weather, running space heaters directly on the floor, or introducing sudden humidity changes such as running a dehumidifier at full power immediately after installation. Sudden environmental swings during the curing phase can interfere with the adhesive’s ability to reach full strength and can also cause premature movement in the wood before the bond has fully set.

Step 8: Sand and Finish

After the glue has fully cured, sand the floor to remove any imperfections and create a smooth, even surface. Apply your chosen finish, whether that is oil, wax, or polyurethane, following the manufacturer’s recommended number of coats and drying times between applications.

Sanding is typically done in progressive stages, starting with a coarser grit to remove any unevenness between planks and finishing with a fine grit to prepare the surface for finishing products. Always sand in the direction of the wood grain, and use a dust extraction system or shop vacuum frequently during the process to keep the work area clear, since trapped dust can interfere with the adhesion of your finish coats. Between coats of finish, light sanding with a fine grit paper or a buffing screen helps ensure smooth adhesion of each subsequent layer and results in a more professional, even sheen across the entire floor.

Step 9: Final Inspection

Walk across the entire floor to check for any squeaks, hollow sounds, or uneven areas. Address any issues immediately while the adhesive is still relatively fresh, as fixing problems becomes much more difficult once everything has fully cured.

A useful technique for this final inspection is to tap gently along the surface with a small mallet or even the handle of a screwdriver, listening for any hollow or drum like sound that might indicate an area where the adhesive did not properly transfer or where an air pocket formed underneath a plank. Catching these issues now, while you can still access the floor easily, will save you from far more invasive repairs after furniture has been moved in and the space is being used daily.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Gluing Parquet Flooring

Even with the best adhesive on the market, mistakes during installation can compromise the final result. Here are some of the most common errors and how to avoid them.

• Skipping the acclimation period, which leads to gaps or buckling after installation
• Applying glue too thickly or too thinly, both of which weaken the bond
• Failing to leave expansion gaps along the walls
• Not cleaning excess adhesive before it dries, resulting in visible residue
• Walking on the floor too soon after installation, disturbing the curing process
• Using an adhesive that is not compatible with the specific type of wood being installed

Most of these mistakes can be significantly reduced simply by using a forgiving, high quality adhesive like Ferber Painting’s Parquet Glue, which offers a longer open time, easier cleanup, and better overall compatibility with different wood species compared to many competitor products.

Beyond these six common issues, there are a few additional pitfalls worth mentioning. One frequent mistake is neglecting to check the subfloor for old adhesive residue from a previous flooring installation. Even small patches of leftover glue or leveling compound can create inconsistent surfaces that prevent a new adhesive from bonding properly. Always remove old residues thoroughly and, if in doubt, do a small test patch before committing to the full installation.

Another mistake involves ignoring manufacturer instructions regarding trowel notch size. Using the wrong notch size, whether too small or too large, throws off the ratio of adhesive to plank contact area, which can either starve the bond of adhesive or create excess squeeze out that wastes product and creates extra cleanup work. Always refer to the recommendations provided for your specific flooring thickness and type.

Finally, some installers make the mistake of failing to account for direction of light when planning their layout. Sunlight raking across a floor at a low angle can accentuate every minor imperfection, joint line, or slight variation in plank height. Taking a few minutes to consider the direction of natural and artificial light in the room, and orienting your planks accordingly, can make a noticeable difference in how flawless the finished floor appears.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much Parquet Glue do I need for my project?

Coverage depends on the size of the notched trowel used and the type of subfloor, but as a general estimate, one container of Ferber Painting’s Parquet Glue typically covers between 4 and 6 square meters. Full coverage details are provided on the product page.

Can I use this glue on underfloor heating systems?

Yes, our Parquet Glue is formulated to withstand the temperature fluctuations associated with underfloor heating systems, making it a safe and reliable choice for these installations.

What happens if I am not satisfied with the product?

Simply reach out to our customer service team. Every purchase is covered by our satisfaction guaranteed or your money back policy, so you can request a full refund with no hassle.

How long does shipping take?

Thanks to our international network of carriers, most orders arrive within a few business days, regardless of your location worldwide.

Is this adhesive suitable for exotic hardwoods?

Yes, unlike many competitor products that are limited to specific wood categories, our formula has been tested and proven effective across a wide range of wood species, including exotic hardwoods.

Conclusion

Installing and gluing parquet flooring is a project that rewards careful preparation, proper technique, and above all, the use of a high quality adhesive. As we have shown throughout this guide, the difference between a floor that lasts for decades and one that fails within a year often comes down to the glue you choose. Ferber Painting’s Parquet Glue offers unmatched flexibility, moisture resistance, and compatibility with virtually every type of wood flooring, all backed by fast worldwide shipping and simple online payment. Visit our online store today to order Ferber Painting’s Parquet Glue and take advantage of our satisfaction guaranteed or your money back promise.