Picking a floor isn't something you do every day. What color is pretty? What installation pattern do I want for my floor? Is it possible to combine my wood floor with underfloor heating? All questions this website gives you answers to. Do you prefer a personal consult about your wood flooring project? Please, visit the showroom or schedule an appointment. We will take all the time you need for a personal advice. Ask us all the questions you want about wood flooring and we will advise you properly.
The Timeless Herringbone Floor
The herringbone floor is an absolute classic, which you can easily give a timeless, modern twist.
Floors with the herringbone pattern are back and very popular. Although the name may not sound very appealing, herringbone floors are truly beautiful to look at. This is not only due to the chic pattern, but also to the many finishing options that this floor has, if you choose wood as the base material.
With a herringbone floor, floorboards are placed against each other at an angle of 90 degrees, creating a pattern that resembles a herringbone. The floor is laid with the point, which is created by placing the floor parts perpendicular to each other, in the longitudinal direction of a room.
It is also possible to make variations of the herringbone pattern, such as the double herringbone or triple herringbone. You can also turn the laying direction a quarter turn, so that you get the modern-looking elbow pattern.
A herringbone floor is available in different materials, such as laminate, PVC and wood. The herringbone oak floor is by far the most stylish and durable option. You can give the herringbone floor a modern twist by choosing large floor parts or opting for a classic variant with small floor parts in combination with band and trim. The possibilities are endless and the herringbone floor really fits into every room of the house.
In the Uipkes® showrooms in Alphen, Amsterdam and Naarden you can experience oak herringbone floors in various wood grades and colours. You will always receive tailor-made advice without obligation about your new herringbone floor. Schedule an appointment or request our inspiring magazine to view the possibilities. We are happy to share our knowledge and passion about wood with you!
Where does the herringbone pattern come from?
The herringbone pattern is derived from the skeleton of a herring and is timeless as it has been used for thousands of years.
- The pattern can be found in jewels of nobles and works of art in ancient Egypt, such as the death mask of Tutankhamen.
- The Romans had a practical use for the pattern, namely: decorative walls, roads, and squares, such as footpaths and marketplaces. The stones in herringbone pattern (opus spicatum) form a solid, interlocking paving system
- More than 500 years ago in the 16th century, the herringbone pattern was first used as parquet flooring, mainly in country houses and castles of noble families. In the French language, "parquetry" means "small compartment". This refers to the method of cutting small pieces of wood and applying them in geometric patterns.
- In the 1920s, herringbone parquet also became popular in England and the Netherlands among the population and in recent years there has been renewed interest in this pattern.
Wooden herringbone floor
Wooden floors can be planed, whereby a small piece of wood is cut off, so that the grain structure on the surface of the wood is clearly visible. You can then oil or varnish the floorboards in many colors and finish with a band or trim. By varying plank widths, you can give the floor a more calm or a busier look. A wooden herringbone floor is available in various types of wood and wood grades that show more or less knots. A rustic French oak herringbone floor has more knots than a French oak herringbone floor, so that the latter variant looks a bit quieter.
By varying the colour, plank width, wood sorting, wood type and installation direction, you can create a unique design for your wooden herringbone floor, which is completely tailored to your preferences and living style.
The classic herringbone floor is a stylish wooden floor that you can give a modern twist. Whether you have a 1920s house, castle or luxury apartment: the herringbone wooden floor gives every room a unique character. Browse the Uipkes® portfolio and get inspired. Our herringbone wood floors are:
- made from sustainable oak from well-managed forests,
- extremely suitable for a combination with underfloor heating,
- available in many sizes and extra wide floorboards,
- available in 90 unique colors and various finishing options
In addition, as a wooden floor specialist, we offer professional advice, our own installation service and a transparent working method to realize a dream floor together with you. Our service is aimed at unburdening you and we have a lot of experience in managing and executing projects, also for interior architects and project developers. Come by to put together your custom herringbone floor!
Herringbone Wood Floor Cost
If you want to buy an oak herringbone floor, keep in mind that the m2 price of the floor depends on the color finish, wood grading, plank width and thickness. In addition, there are additional costs for subfloors, glue, leveling if necessary and of course the installation service. Installing a wooden floor in the herringbone pattern requires skill and accuracy. That is why we recommend always using a good installation service.
A herringbone wooden floor costs between EUR 190.00 and EUR 215.00 per m2 including installation, materials and VAT. Uipkes is a full-service wood flooring specialist, aimed at unburdening our customers. We have our own experienced parquet installers and there is always one point of contact for questions from start to finish of the project.
Would you like to buy a wooden floor based on a sample floor below? Click on the photo and then on 'request a quote'. You will immediately receive a non-binding quote with all costs by e-mail for your living situation. For more examples of wooden floors you can view all wood flooring photos.
Would you like to know more about the possibilities, installation patterns, prices or colours? Read more information about buying a wooden floor or visit one of our showrooms in Alphen, Naarden or Amsterdam. Here you can see and experience oak floors in different installation patterns and colors!
White Oak Herringbone Floor in Living Room Utrecht - Fresh White - €209.00 per m2
Black Herringbone Parquet Flooring in Mansion - Chalkboard Black - €191.00 per m2
French Oak Herringbone Floor in Bloemendaal - Cassava - €209.00 per m2
Herringbone Wood Floor with Border in Rotterdam - Van Gogh White - €194.00 per m2
Herringbone Engineered Flooring in Amsterdam - King Black - €191.00 per m2
Light Herringbone Floor Alphen aan den Rijn - Van Gogh White - €198.00 per m2
Wide Plank Herringbone Wood Floor - Noble Grey - €198.00 per m2
Herringbone Floor with Modern Interior - Noble Grey - €206.00 per m2
Herrinbone Floor Amsterdam - Champagne - €191.00 per m2
Herringbone floor on underfloor heating
Herringbone parquet in the form of oak parquet flooring can be perfectly combined with underfloor heating, whether you want to use it as main or additional heating. The small floor parts of the herringbone floor can be glued to underfloor heating.
Herringbone Engineered Wood Floor
You can even install a herringbone engineered wood floor (also called parquet, duoplank or multiplank) over an existing floor with underfloor heating, and the room will then also be wonderfully evenly warm. We use oak because this type of wood has a low resistance (Rc=0.088). Parquet on underfloor heating has a slightly higher resistance than PVC or laminate, which means that the heating time is slightly longer. On the other hand, a wooden floor retains heat longer and the room stays warm for a longer period of time.
The top layer of the engineered floor that we use is 4 mm oak wood and has a lifespan of many decades. With the oil we use, you maintain the floor periodically, so that sanding is not necessary, as is generally usual. So you only sand the floor if you want to give it a different color. This is something that rarely happens. If you want to give the floor a different color in the distant future or if you sell your house to someone who wants a different color for the floor, you can sand and recolor the floor. You can even sand our wooden herringbone floors several times, so a wooden floor is an investment for life.
Tapis Herringbone Parquet
The most traditional form of parquet, tapis parquet, can also be combined well with underfloor heating. In this case, a subfloor is glued to the cement screed and the solid wooden top layer floor parts are glued and nailed onto it. Then the nail holes are filled, the parquet floor is sanded and finished with oil or lacquer. Because the tapis floor is glued and nailed, there is less walking noise or the action of the wood, although modern parquet flooring with birch plywood underlay does not differ much.
You can choose to fill the nail holes or leave them visible. It's a matter of taste. For example, if you have a rural interior, the visible nails can contribute to the rural appearance.
Installing tapis herringbone parquet is very labour-intensive, which means that installation costs are much higher. Herringbone floors consist of smaller floor parts than plank floors and each individual floor part must be nailed. That is why we prefer to work with oak parquet in combination with underfloor heating.
Solid wood herringbone floor
A solid wooden floor does not go together with underfloor heating and is generally a lot more expensive than parquet flooring. The thickness of a solid wooden floor results in poor heat conduction.
Herringbone parquet consists of several layers and a top layer of solid wood. This makes oak herringbone parquet excellently suited for underfloor heating due to the better heat conduction and can be installed in every house and every room.
Wood Flooring Specialist
Do you want to have herringbone parquet installed on underfloor heating? Uipkes has been a specialist in this warm combination for over 25 years. In addition to installing wooden floors, we can also mill in underfloor heating for you, so that you can have all work related to underfloor heating and wooden floors done by one party. If you have any questions about combining a herringbone floor with your underfloor heating, visit one of our showrooms. Our employees have a lot of knowledge and are happy to talk to you during a personal conversation.
Which type of wood and color to choose?
We mainly supply the herringbone floor in oak because of the favorable properties of this type of wood and relatively lower costs compared to other (tropical) wood types. Oak is easy to work with and can be supplied in many different fresh to warm colours. We can also supply other types of wood, for example tropical woods, but take longer delivery times and higher costs into account. This is partly due to supply chain problems and increasing transportation costs in recent years. This is different for our oak because our wood products come from well-managed European forests.
Do you have a specific color in mind for your oak herringbone floor? Uipkes has developed 90 colors, so you can choose from light or white floors as well as dark brown or black floors and of course all shades in between.
Wood is alive and is a natural product. Natural ingredients are also used when coloring floors. Wood and colors are affected by sunlight and in the first 6 months after installation the color of the floor may become slightly lighter or more dark. Dark floors get a little lighter and light floors get a little darker.
Finally, we can make custom colors and herringbone planks. This way you always get a handmade floor at Uipkes according to your personal wishes.
Plank sizes and finish
Our herringbone floorboards, called Vincent, are available in narrow sizes from 120/600 mm to extra wide herringbone floorboards from 260/1300 mm. A herringbone floor with extra wide floorboards looks calmer and more modern. Small floorboards give the appearance of traditional herringbone parquet. Below is an overview of Vincent floorboards.
Vincent herringbone floorboards dimensions
120/600 mm
140/700 mm
160/800 mm
180/900 mm
200/1000 mm
220/1100 mm
240/1200 mm
260/1300 mm
Double Herringbone Pattern
A double herringbone arises when two equal parts are placed against each other, on which two equal parts are placed against in an angle of ninety degrees. As is usual with a traditional herringbone floor.
The herringbone floor becomes a bit more static in this way because the surfaces lie against each other in pairs and thus form the pattern of the herringbone. The double herringbone floor gives the room a bit more serenity through this method of application.
Triple Herringbone Pattern
The triple herringbone consists of equal wooden floor parts installed against each other. After this we install three equal parts perpendicular to the parts in the laying direction.
By placing three parts next to each other, larger wholes are created, giving the concept "herringbone floor" a different meaning. You will discover new forms from different points of view.
One recognizes the herringbone pattern, weave and block shape. In short, the triple herringbone is a peace in space and a feast for the eyes
Elbow Pattern
The wooden floorboards with the same length and width are placed at right angles to each other, so that it lies in an elbow shape and the Elbow pattern is created. You install the planks as an extension of the space with the planks alternately on them in width. An elbow pattern lends peace to the appearance of the floor due to its parallel parts in the room. By applying an Elbow pattern floor, a modern look is created.
Double Elbow Pattern
By placing two planks of the Elbow pattern next to each other, the double elbow pattern is created. The lanes of the Elbow floor are larger and provide an experience on the floor. The double elbow pattern is a bit different from the popular herringbone or Hungarian point floor.
Triple Elbow Pattern
The Triple elbow pattern is an artistic variant of the herringbone floor. Three equal parts in the elbow pattern are placed next to each other. This creates a kind of "blocks" that provide a true experience on the floor.
Herringbone Floor Outside
In addition to a wooden herringbone floor for indoor use, it is also possible to install a herringbone floor outside. With herringbone outdoor parquet you can make beautiful transitions from your wooden herringbone indoor floor to your outdoor terrace or balcony. Keep in mind that in most cases, the herringbone wooden floor inside is made of a different type of wood than the herringbone wooden floor outside. A hardwood floor for outside is made of Ipé, Teak or Padouk and a wooden floor for inside in (mainly) oak parquet. This entails differences in color and wood drawings, also because outdoor wood flooring quickly discolours (grey). The herringbone shape brings the unity in design between the indoor and outdoor floor.
It is possible to have herringbone parquet installed both indoors and outdoors by the experienced parquet installers of Uipkes. In addition, we can also install underfloor heating under your herringbone floor or renovate your stairs with wood in a herringbone pattern. We can also provide woodworking on doors or frames to bring unity in design throughout your home. In short, all activities under one roof with a single point of contact, so that you don't have to worry about the custom work in your home that you want to outsource. Finally, we also offer service to properly maintain your herringbone floors, such as a maintenance set and re-sanding and finishing of your herringbone outdoor parquet, stairs and/or wooden interior floor. Make a showroom appointment to get a good idea of our services and to discuss your ideas and wishes.
Learn more about herringbone floors
Our herringbone floors are avaialble in all sorts of sizes, colors and wood types. Read our FAQ below for more information.
Make use of our many years of passion, knowledge and experience. We are happy to assist you during an appointment and take extensive time to answer your questions and make an inventory of your wishes. Are you interested? Contact us now and join us in our showrooms in Alphen aan den Rijn, Naarden, Amsterdam or by Videocall!
FAQ
Is a herringbone floor a trend-sensitive product?
The herringbone wood floor is an absolute classic. The pattern is thousands of years old and deeply ingrained in the human subconsciousness, so it’s less prone to trends. Besides, you can easily give the herringbone wood floor a modern twist. These floors really give every room a unique character and make your living space a personal, warm and atmospheric place.
Can you combine underfloor heating and herringbone wood flooring?
The herringbone wooden floor with underfloor heating is a perfect combination. Whether the underfloor heating serves as main or additional heating, the herringbone floor can be installed over it in the form of engineered wood flooring.
In fact, the engineered wood floor can even be installed over an existing tiled floor with underfloor heating. Also in this case the floor and the room heat up wonderfully quickly. The resistance of the wood we use is low (Rc=0.088), which means that the heating time is shorter and the room stays warm for a long time.
How do I choose the right size herringbone floor?
Choosing the right size for your herringbone floor depends on the space and the atmosphere you want to create. A large room with small herringbone planks will demand a lot of attention because there are many parts on the floor, each of which has its own color and structure. If you have a large 'boring' space, which you would like to have more detail, you can choose a smaller plank size and watch your room come alive.
If you have a house from, for example, 1850 and you want to retain the feeling of the past, then choose smaller floorboards with a border, feature strips and high skirting boards, similar to the style from that time. You can also make a selection of these choices to give the floor a slightly more calm look.
Do you have a new-build home or penthouse and do you like a minimalist style? In that case, go for large herringbone planks of 22 to 24 cm wide. You can place these herringbone floors tightly sawn against the wall without a border. In this case you do not need skirting boards and the design becomes even more minimalist. After all, you have a large-sized floorboard and not the border, a feature strip or skirting board that all demand attention.
You always use the rule of thumb that the living room is leading when determining the size. After all, this is the primary residence and you spend most of your time here. The corridor is a space in which you move from one room to another: so-called traffic areas. You do not adjust the format to this. You can probably start in the middle here, so that the pattern is evenly distributed from left to right. Get personal advice to help you determine the right size for your herringbone wood floor.
How much does herringbone flooring cost?
The price of a herringbone floor depends on a number of different factors such as the type of wood, wide or narrow floorboards, solid wood or engineered wood and the type of finish, such as the color, skirting boards, borders and wood floor accent strips. Installing a floor in a herringbone pattern is labour-intensive and precision work. It is therefore advisable to have the herringbone floor installed by a professional, instead of installing it yourself. Having your floor installed also entails installation costs. These decisions make it difficult to directly attach a price tag per m2.
However, we want to make it as easy for you as possible and we have designed a special module you can use. After selecting your wishes, the tool will immediately send you a wood floor price indication by email. All mentioned herringbone floor prices include service, finishing, glue, installation, subfloor and VAT. Final prices depend on the pre-inspection and your additional wishes.
What are the benefits of having a herringbone floor installed?
At Uipkes Wood Flooring you will not only get a beautiful herringbone floor, but also all services related to installing the floor. Before installing, we will visit you to measure everything and, where necessary, we will advise you immediately on the best approach. We check whether the subfloor has the right composition and whether it contains the correct moisture percentage. We also check whether the surface is flat enough.
In short, during this pre-inspection, we discuss all the details surrounding the implementation with you well in advance, so that you know what to expect. There is also plenty of time to achieve the most beautiful end result together. This takes away your worries about the right purchase, multiple contractors and whether the end result will be as you expected. So you always get a unique herringbone floor completely custom made and installed, whether you live in The Netherlands or abroad.
What is a herringbone floor with border and feature strips?
The border is placed between the wall and the installation pattern and encapsulates a herringbone floor. The feature strip or wood floor accent strip is a narrow (wooden) strip between the border and the herringbone floor and is mainly used to create a contrast, accentuating the herringbone pattern. Contrast can be applied by combining a light floor with a dark feature strip or vice versa.
The herringbone floor with border, accent strips and skirting board is the classic variant. Modern-looking herringbone floors often have no border or accent strips. In this case, the herringbone pattern is extended to the wall. Another option is to make a border and accent strip in the same color as the floor, so that the contrast is less sharp.
What is beveled edge flooring?
The bevel on the long side of the plank, at an angle of 45°, is called a V-seam. Due to the V-seam that occurs when you put the planks against each other, the planks are nicely accentuated. This creates the effect of all lines around each plank. The organic shapes and color differences in the planks give the room a natural character with the appearance of an authentic and sturdy wooden floor. A herringbone floor with a bevelled edge has a lot more detail and demands more attention in a room. The bevelled edges are often used in herringbone floors to mask differences in height.
Creating floors without seams, allows the natural height differences to be present in the floor, so you don’t get a floor that is too smooth, almost unnatural. The herringbone floorboards are usually supplied without a bevel, so that the herringbone floor is smooth over the entire surface and so that the entire floor looks sleek and modern.
In which direction can you install a herringbone floor?
The direction of installation of the herringbone floor depends on the shape of the room, the incidence of (sun)light and your personal preference. The rule of thumb is that you install wooden floors in the direction of the incoming sunlight, but in practice the (sun)light can come from several sides or the shape of the room doesn’t make this desirable. When light comes in from several sides, you can install the herringbone floor in the living direction.
In narrow spaces, such as a hall or kitchen, the herringbone floor is usually installed lengthwise. In wide or square spaces you can see where the light comes from to determine the installation direction. Finally, you can also turn the herringbone floor a quarter turn. In this way you get the so-called 'elbow pattern'.
Is herringbone flooring suitable for both small and large spaces?
You can install a wooden floor in a herringbone pattern in small or large rooms. By varying the plank size, color and installation direction, you can find a herringbone floor size that is suitable for every room in your home.
A herringbone floor is not only spectacular in the living room, but also in the kitchen, bathroom or office space. Solid hardwood herringbone floors and engineered herringbone floors are suitable for every room in the house.
We can make floorboards for you from 9 to 24 cm wide and all intermediate sizes. Many suppliers only have 2 or 3 width sizes, which means that they do not always match your personal wishes.
How should I maintain a herringbone wood floor?
For finishing herringbone wood floors, we use an oil with a completely natural composition, which we produce in a sustainable way according to traditional recipes. Treated with this oil, the floors are protected against common external influences, such as water, coffee, cola, wine or beer. You can basically mop the floors every day if you want to.
We supply the herringbone floors with our own soap that easily makes the floor tidy again and protects your floor. It is also always good to regularly dust, vacuum and/or mop the floor. In the supplied maintenance set you will find means to keep your floor in top condition. The regularity of floor maintenance depends on the frequency of use of the floor.
Is a herringbone wood floor more beautiful than a chevron wood floor?
Both installation patterns are beautiful and the choice between one pattern or the other is a matter of personal taste. The chevron floor has a symmetrical elegance that makes a room look calmer and more spacious. The herringbone floor has a somewhat more whimsical, but tough pattern that demands more attention. You can make both types of wooden floors more calm or more busy looking by adjusting the plank widths. Large, wide planks make the floor more quiet and more modern because there are fewer lines. You can also opt for planks without a bevel or a floor without skirting boards, which fits very well with a modern, minimalist interior. If you have dark classic furniture with a lot of detail and ornaments, the chevron pattern can provide a nice contrast. If your interior is sleek and minimalist, a herringbone floor can add a playful note to the room.
Which material to choose for herringbone floorboards?
The choice of material mainly depends on budget, personal taste, wood look quality and durability.
Herringbone Wood Floor
It will not surprise you that we, as a wooden floor specialist, naturally find a real wooden floor more beautiful than a wood-look floor. Other materials do not come close to the total experience of the wood grain, the smell, the feel and the durability of wood.
Wooden herringbone floors are extremely strong, last a lifetime, are made from a renewable raw material and ensure that a home has a stylish and authentic look.
Herringbone Laminate Floor
Herringbone laminate with wood look print comes, in terms of first impression in a room, close to a wooden floor. In addition, herringbone laminate is a lot cheaper than wood or PVC and installation is simpler, although the herringbone pattern is still a challenge to lay tight yourself and it is wise to also have herringbone laminate installed by an experienced floor installer.
The wood drawing that you see with laminate is made of paper with a wear-resistant layer of plastic on top. The printed wood drawing explains that when you look at a laminate herringbone floor, you often see the same, repeating wood drawings (wood prints).
The plastic finish on laminate floors also feels different from a planed wooden floor. You often feel ridges or relief on the surface of laminate, which does not occur with real planed wood.
Depending on the intensity of use, you have to buy a new laminate floor every 10 years because of damage and discoloration.
The resistance of herringbone laminate is low enough for a combination with underfloor heating, comparable to PVC and oak wood.
Compared to a real wood herringbone floor, a herringbone laminate floor is cheaper in the short term, but more expensive in the long term, less durable and less environmentally friendly due to the plastic top layer. An oak herringbone floor lasts more than 20 years and can be sanded and oiled several times, so that a wooden floor will last a lifetime.
Herringbone PVC Floor
Herringbone PVC floors are popular because it is cheaper than wood and a PVC floor is available for every desired appearance. Wood look, stone look or prints with other motifs: it is all possible with PVC and laminate. PVC floors are also easy to maintain.
Yet herringbone PVC floors do not come close to the experience of a herringbone wooden floor.
PVC (PolyVinylChloride) is made of plastic just like other vinyl floors, which makes the floor feel and sound very different than when you walk on wood. And just like with laminate floors, you cannot easily repair damage to PVC. PVC floors have a comparable lifespan to laminate.
An important consideration for whether or not to choose herringbone PVC is the possible adverse effects of PVC on health and the environment. PVC is 100% plastic and in every life phase of this product (production, use and waste cycle) it is definitely one of the least sustainable choices you can make, as can be read in the recent publication 'The polyvinyl chloride debate: why PVC remains a problematic material', prepared by researchers from HCWH Europe, with the input and support of 18 leading health and environmental organisations. In addition, harmful substances can be released more easily if underfloor heating under a PVC floor is used incorrectly, which can negatively affect health and can easily damage the floor.
Although herringbone PVC is a cheaper material, you often have to level the subfloor first. Here too, the following applies: leave the leveling and laying of herringbone PVC to a professional. Having the total costs of a high quality (= less toxic) PVC floor installed is already very close to the total costs of a cheaper wooden floor.
As you can see, every material has its advantages and disadvantages and you have at least enough options to make a choice that suits you.
In addition to wood, herringbone floorboards can also be made of laminate or PVC, often with a wood-look to mimic the experience of a real wooden floor. The choice of material mainly depends on budget, personal taste, wood-look quality and durability.
