Herringbone parquet is a classic floor pattern made from rectangular timber blocks laid in a staggered zig-zag, where each block is rotated 90° to its neighbours. The result is a continuous V-shaped weave across the floor. Vienna Woods supplies engineered European oak herringbone in a range of plank sizes, finishes, and colour archetypes — the same wear layer and core construction as straight-plank flooring, simply pre-cut to herringbone-format blocks.

In herringbone, each block is laid square-edged at 90° to its neighbour, creating an interlocking V at the join. In chevron, each block is mitre-cut at a 45° angle so the V points cleanly along a single straight line — a more formal, directional pattern. Chevron typically costs around 25% more than herringbone in supply because of the extra cutting waste, plus the installation premium for the precise angle work.

Herringbone supply typically runs $160–$250/m²; our straight-plank range extends to about $320/m². Prices indicative, ex-GST, current as at July 2026 — confirm on quote. Installation is the additional cost: installers typically charge in the order of $120–$150/m² +GST for herringbone versus about $85/m² for straight-lay glue-down — get a firm quote from your installer. Allow around 10–15% wastage for the cuts. As a guide, allow roughly $300–$450/m² installed, depending on site, subfloor and installer. See our timber flooring cost guide for full pricing across formats.

Most of our engineered ranges are suitable over underfloor heating — confirm the specific product before you specify. Engineered herringbone is dimensionally stable and is glued directly to the screed. Follow the manufacturer’s underfloor-heating commissioning guidance: keep the ramp-up gradual and keep the surface temperature within the limit stated in that product’s specification. Acclimatise the timber on site per the product’s installation guide (typically 48 hours to 7 days) before installation. Glue-down installation gives better thermal contact than floating, which is why it’s the standard for any UFH project.

Herringbone reads as a more formal, design-led pattern than straight-lay. It suits entry halls, formal living rooms, dining rooms, and feature spaces where the floor is part of the design statement. It also works well in smaller rooms where the diagonal lines visually expand the space. For open-plan kitchen-living areas, wide-plank straight-lay is often a better choice — but herringbone in a defined kitchen alcove can work beautifully.

Yes. Our engineered European oak comes with a 4mm wear layer as standard, which supports at least one full sand-and-refinish over the floor’s life. The herringbone pattern can be sanded just like straight-plank — though the sander operator needs more skill to avoid cross-grain marks where the block directions change. Lacquered finishes can be re-coated via screen-and-coat every 7–15 years; oiled finishes can be spot-repaired without sanding.

Herringbone takes roughly 50% longer to install than straight-plank because each block is hand-laid and aligned individually. A typical 30m² living room takes 3–4 days for an experienced installer, vs 1.5–2 days for the same area in straight-lay. Subfloor preparation and acclimatisation timeframes are the same. Plan the project programme accordingly — the install premium reflects this slower work rate.

Larger, in most cases. The diagonal lines of the herringbone pattern draw the eye outward to the corners of the room, expanding the perceived space — which is why it’s often specified in smaller formal rooms (entries, dining rooms) where space visual cues matter. The pattern also works in larger rooms but loses some of its visual-expansion effect; in those settings the choice is more about style than spatial trick.