Herringbone and Chevron Flooring: Is the Extra Cost Worth It?

Herringbone and chevron floors have come back in a big way, and it is easy to see why. A well-laid parquet pattern gives a room a sense of craft that straight boards rarely match. The catch is cost: both the timber and the fitting are dearer than a standard plank floor. Before you commit, it helps to understand where that extra money actually goes and whether the pattern suits your home.

Herringbone vs chevron: what is the difference?

Both patterns use short blocks laid in a zigzag, but the ends are cut differently. In herringbone, each block is a rectangle and the end of one block butts against the side of the next, giving a stepped, interlocking look. In chevron, the ends of the blocks are cut at an angle (usually 45 or 30 degrees) so they meet in a clean point, creating a continuous V running down the room.

Herringbone tends to feel traditional and busy in a pleasing way, which is why it sits so naturally in Victorian and Edwardian houses across Southampton, Winchester and Portsmouth. Chevron reads as slightly more formal and modern, and it draws the eye along the length of a room. Neither is right or wrong; it comes down to the space and your taste.

Why patterned floors cost more

The higher price is not just a premium for fashion. There are real reasons a patterned floor takes more material and more labour than a plank floor of the same area. If you are weighing up options, our flooring service page covers the full range of floors we fit.

• More waste: every block at the edge of the room has to be cut to fit the pattern, so you typically order 10-15% extra rather than the 5-10% for planks.
• Dearer material: parquet blocks are usually priced higher per square metre than equivalent planks, and chevron blocks with factory-cut angles cost more again.
• Slower fitting: a fitter places many more individual pieces, and each one has to stay perfectly in line with the centre line of the room.
• Setting out: the pattern has to be planned from a datum line so it runs square to the main wall or doorway, which takes time before a single block goes down.
• Borders and edges: many patterned floors look best with a perimeter border, which adds more cutting and more hours.

As a very rough guide, fitting alone for herringbone or chevron can run to roughly one and a half to two times the labour of a straight plank floor. Every job differs, so treat that as a starting point rather than a figure to budget to the penny.

Solid or engineered blocks?

Parquet blocks come in solid wood and engineered versions. Solid blocks are traditional and can be sanded many times over their life, but they are more sensitive to moisture and need a very stable, dry subfloor. Engineered blocks have a real wood wear layer bonded to a stable core, which makes them better suited to concrete subfloors, extensions and rooms with underfloor heating.

For most modern Hampshire homes we find engineered blocks the sensible choice, while solid blocks still have a place in period properties where they suit the house and the subfloor allows it. We explain the trade-offs in more detail in our guide to engineered oak vs solid wood flooring.

When the extra cost is worth it

A patterned floor earns its keep in rooms where people actually notice the floor: hallways, open-plan kitchen-diners, living rooms and dining rooms. A herringbone hallway in a period terrace makes a strong first impression and suits the original character of the house. In a long, narrow room, a chevron laid lengthways can make the space feel more generous.

It is also worth considering if you plan to stay for a good while. A quality wood floor lasts decades, so the extra cost spread over that time is modest compared with replacing a cheaper floor sooner.

When to save your money

There are situations where a plank floor is simply the better buy. Small rooms that will be mostly covered by furniture or rugs, such as bedrooms or a box room, rarely show off a pattern. Very irregular rooms with lots of angles, alcoves and doorways push the waste and labour up sharply. And if the budget is tight, a good plank floor fitted properly will always look better than a patterned floor laid in a hurry.

A middle route many homeowners take is to put herringbone or chevron in the hallway and main living space, then run matching planks in the bedrooms. You get the impact where it counts without paying the premium throughout the house.

Get a patterned floor fitted properly

Herringbone and chevron floors are only as good as the setting out and the subfloor beneath them. A floor laid slightly off square, or over an uneven base, will show its faults for years. That is why preparation, levelling and careful planning matter as much as the blocks you choose.

If you are considering a patterned wood floor anywhere in Hampshire, have a look at our flooring service and then get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote. We will look at the room, check the subfloor and give you honest advice on whether herringbone, chevron or plank is the best fit for your home and budget.