Solid timber and parquet in a Singapore home

Water

Never leave wood wet. Solid wood is more at risk in a bathroom than engineered.

• NWFA says never to leave wood floors wet, because excess water can seep into the seams and damage the wood.8
• Hartco says standard engineered wood is generally water-resistant, not waterproof, and a bathroom install stays somewhat risky, though less so than solid wood.9
• PropertyGuru says parquet is not particularly resistant to moisture and humidity.4

Sun

Teak turns rich brown in sunlight, and wide parquet can warp in harsh western sun.

• NWFA says teak turns rich brown under exposure to sunlight.10
• Home & Decor advises against wide parquet in rooms facing the western sun, because harsh sunlight can make it warp.1

Scratches

Teak dents more easily than white oak; deep scratches call for a full sand and refinish.

• Bruce lists Janka hardness as 1,360 for white oak and 1,000 for teak; the higher the number, the more the wood resists denting.11
• NWFA recommends a complete sand and refinish when the floor has damage like deep scratches or dents.12

Quiet

A hard floor, glued down. We found no sound figures for it.

• Quick-Step says engineered wood can be floated or glued down, while solid wood can only be glued down.2

Easy care

No wet or steam mops; a pH-balanced cleaner; a refinish when it's worn.

• NWFA says not to use wet mops or steam mops, which damage the finish and the wood over long periods of time.13
• NWFA recommends a pH-balanced cleaner and warns that vinegar's acidity can damage the floor and its finish over time.8
• NWFA recommends a complete sand and refinish when the floor has damage like deep scratches or dents.12

• Teak-tone parquet herringbone
• Oak parquet chevron

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  3D render

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  3D render

A typical teak-tone herringbone parquet, not a specific product