Parquet in Western Switzerland: laying, sanding and restoration

Parquet can be laid, repaired, sanded and refinished several times over the life of a home. The quality of the result depends as much on the base, the ambient humidity and the laying method as on the wood chosen. On SOS Travaux, you describe your project online, and craftspeople and firms in the region may contact you to prepare a free, no-obligation quote.

What a parquet fitter does in Western Switzerland

A parquet fitter works with wood as a floor covering, but the scope of the job is wider than simply laying boards. The most common jobs are:

• laying new parquet in a home under construction or renovation;
• replacing an old covering (carpet, tiles, lino) with parquet;
• sanding existing parquet, followed by a finish of varnish, oil or wax;
• local repairs: broken boards, open joints, areas marked by water or furniture;
• dealing with creaking, which often comes from a base that has shifted or a faulty fixing;
• fitting skirting boards, thresholds and transition profiles between two rooms;
• staircase parquet, which is trickier because each step needs a custom cut.

A distinction is usually made between solid parquet, engineered parquet (a layer of fine wood on a backing) and laminate, which is not wood in the strict sense. Each family has its own rules for laying, sanding and maintenance. Laminate, for example, cannot be sanded, whereas solid parquet can be sanded several times, within the limit of its thickness.

When to call a professional for your parquet

Some parquet jobs can be done by hand with a little care, others cannot. A professional is useful, even essential, in the following situations:

• The base is doubtful. A screed that is too damp, uneven or cracked puts the parquet at risk. Wood moves with humidity: a badly dried base causes warping, joints that open or boards that lift.
• The floor is heated. Laying over underfloor heating requires precautions regarding the type of parquet, the fixing method and the heating-up process.
• The area is large or irregular. Rooms in a row, rooms with several thresholds or unusual shapes call for careful layout planning.
• You want to sand. Poorly done sanding leaves marks, removes too much material or damages the edges. The finish (varnish or oil) also needs a clean, ventilated room and good drying conditions.
• The parquet is old. Old herringbone, Hungarian point or wide-board parquet deserves to be kept where possible, and restoring it takes experience.
• There has been damage. After water damage, you first need to understand the source of the moisture and let the base dry before deciding what to replace.

Conversely, if you are unsure whether to repair or replace, the most useful step is to have the condition of the parquet assessed on site: a well-executed repair often costs less than a full removal.

Training and professional framework: what is different in Switzerland

In Switzerland, the parquet fitter’s trade is learned through an apprenticeship and leads to a federal certificate of proficiency (CFC). This is a useful reference point: you can ask the firm replying to your request to describe the training and experience of the person who will work in your home. A CFC does not replace careful reading of the quote or a look at comparable completed work, but it gives the trade a common framework.

On the contractual side, parquet work falls under the contract for work and services in the Code of Obligations (CO). The parties may refer to the SIA 118 standard (from the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects), which sets general conditions for the execution of construction work. This standard applies only if the contract refers to it: check what your quote or contract says on this point.

If you are a tenant, the consent of the landlord or the property management company is required before changing the floor covering. If you are in co-ownership, the community’s rules may impose conditions, particularly on acoustic insulation between flats. Read them before choosing parquet: a hard, resonant covering can cause problems with the neighbours below.

Parquet in Geneva, Vaud, Valais, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Jura and Biel: cantonal differences

Changing parquet inside a home does not normally require a permit, but the situation changes as soon as the work affects the structure, insulation, heating or a protected building. In those cases, contact your municipality or the relevant cantonal office before starting. Here are the points specific to each canton.

• Geneva. Building permits are issued by the canton (Office des autorisations de construire). A good part of the rental stock is managed by property management companies, whose consent must be obtained before work begins. The old town and certain protected neighbourhoods may impose constraints on the renovation of older interiors. On energy, the cantonal energy law (LEn) and the cantonal energy office (OCEN) govern the subsidies of the Buildings Programme, which mainly concern the building envelope and heating, not the parquet itself.
• Vaud. The building permit is issued by the municipality, with the file going through the cantonal permit centre (CAMAC) when cantonal services need to give an opinion. The Vaud energy law and the cantonal energy directorate set the framework for subsidies. The old towns and the Lavaux vineyards, a World Heritage site, call for particular attention if your property is concerned.
• Valais. The building permit is issued by the municipality within the building zone, and by a cantonal commission outside it. Chalets, which are very common, often have woodwork and floors that people want to preserve. For second homes, the federal law on second homes applies in the municipalities concerned. The cantonal service for energy and hydropower manages the subsidy programme.
• Fribourg. Building permit applications go through the cantonal FRIAC platform, with the permit issued by the prefecture or the municipality depending on the type of work. The cantonal energy service manages the subsidies. The canton is bilingual and its old towns are protected: in an older building, find out before altering an original floor.
• Neuchâtel. The cantonal SATAC counter receives permit applications, with the decision taken by the municipality. The cantonal service for energy and the environment handles subsidies. The watchmaking heritage of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle, listed by UNESCO, makes the subject sensitive for the buildings concerned.
• Jura. The permit is issued by the municipality or by the canton depending on the scale of the project. The cantonal energy section manages the subsidy programme. The old towns of Delémont, Porrentruy and Saint-Ursanne warrant a prior check if your home is located there.
• Biel (canton of Bern). The building permit is issued by the municipality or the prefecture depending on the project. The cantonal office for the environment and energy manages the subsidies. Biel is officially bilingual: you can write your request in French or German.

In all cases, subsidy programmes cover energy (insulation, heating) and not floor coverings. If your parquet job comes with work of this kind, check the conditions with the cantonal energy service before signing anything.

Preparing your parquet quote request

The more precise your description, the more comparable the replies will be. Gather these details before filling in the form:

• the type of home (house, flat, chalet, older building) and the floor;
• the rooms concerned and their approximate area;
• the current state of the floor: covering in place, condition of the base, signs of damp, creaking;
• the type of parquet you want if you know it (solid, engineered), the wood species and the look you are after, or alternatively your request for advice;
• the presence of underfloor heating, a staircase, thresholds or doors that need planing;
• whether you will move the furniture yourself or whether its removal needs to be planned;
• if you are a tenant or in co-ownership, the consent of the landlord or the co-ownership rules;
• photos of the floor and the base, which avoid many misunderstandings.

Also say whether the home will be occupied during the work. Laying and especially finishing give off dust or odours, and freshly finished parquet cannot be walked on straight away.

Once your description is ready, you can request a quote: the request is passed on to craftspeople and firms in the region, who will contact you.

What a reliable parquet quote should detail

A quote that is limited to a single-line total allows neither comparison nor checking. A useful quote specifies:

1. The scope: rooms concerned, surface area used, removal of the old covering.
2. Preparation of the base: moisture check, levelling compound, smoothing, damp barrier if needed.
3. The product: type of parquet, wood species, grade, format, underlay or glue.
4. The laying method: glued, floating or nailed, with the expansion joints planned.
5. The finish: sanding, varnish or oil, number of coats stated by the firm.
6. The accessories: skirting boards, thresholds, profiles, transitions to other floors.
7. The exclusions: what is not included (moving furniture, replacing doors, painting work).
8. The conditions: payment terms, expected duration of the job, access conditions, standard or general conditions to which the contract refers.

A quote that stays vague about the base or the finish deserves a question: these are the two items where unpleasant surprises most often arise.

What makes the cost of parquet vary

No serious figure can be given without seeing the premises. Here is what makes the price of a project vary:

• the surface area and shape of the rooms, which affect the number of cuts and the offcuts;
• the type of parquet and the wood species: wide solid boards and standard engineered parquet do not have the same material cost;
• the condition of the base and the preparation work needed;
• the laying method, in particular over underfloor heating;
• the laying pattern, more or less complex depending on whether it is straight boards or a design;
• the chosen finish and the number of passes;
• access to the site: a floor without a lift, moving furniture, removing old materials;
• the fitting of skirting boards, thresholds and staircase elements;
• the time of year and the firm’s workload.

The quote is the only document that brings these parameters together for your case. Compare several, checking that they describe the same work, rather than relying on the total alone.

Legal warranties after a parquet job

The contract for work and services in the Code of Obligations provides a warranty for defects in the work. For work on immovable property, that is, fixed to the building, the period is 5 years under art. 371 CO; for work on movable property, it is 2 years. Parquet that is glued, nailed or integrated into a building generally falls under the first category. If your contract refers to the SIA 118 standard, its rules supplement or clarify the provisions of the Code of Obligations.

A few simple habits protect your rights:

• carry out an acceptance inspection with the firm, in raking light, room by room;
• note in writing any defects found at handover, with photos;
• report any defect discovered later as soon as you see it, in writing, keeping proof that it was sent;
• keep the quote, the invoice, the product data sheet and the maintenance instructions.

These periods do not cover normal wear or unsuitable maintenance. Follow the firm’s instructions after the finish, in particular the time to wait before putting furniture back and the cleaning products to avoid.

Parquet near you: the cantons of Western Switzerland

The rules on municipalities, property management companies and heritage vary from one place to another. Find the points for your canton before starting your project:

• canton of Geneva
• canton of Vaud
• canton of Valais
• canton of Fribourg
• canton of Neuchâtel
• canton of Jura
• canton of Bern

Is your project ready to be described? Request a quote for your parquet: the request is free and without obligation.