Choosing parquet flooring for the climate in Spain: Humidity, heat, and the right materials.
The climate of the Spanish Costa del Sol places specific requirements on flooring materials, primarily due to significant variations in humidity and temperature across different seasons.
Many home buyers or those renovating their homes consider warm wood flooring as an alternative to cool stone flooring, but often encounter the common belief that wood is unsuitable for southern conditions. This belief is partially true – but only when the wrong materials are chosen for the parquet.
Properly selected parquet flooring withstands the Mediterranean climate exceptionally well.
The challenge is large variations in air humidity.
The main strain on wooden floors in the Costa del Sol is not just moisture, but its strong variation. During the summer months, humidity rises high, causing the wood to absorb moisture and expand. In winter, effective heating systems and air-source heat pumps dry the indoor air, which causes the wood to contract.
Traditional wooden floors respond strongly to this movement. As a result, the floor often cracks, splits, or warps. Therefore, choosing a wooden floor in this part of Europe requires exceptional care.
Solar heat load and UV radiation
In addition to humidity, direct sunlight also stresses the floor. In coastal homes, large window surfaces are typical, allowing light to flood in and raise the floor surface temperature quite high. This thermal load quickly evaporates moisture from the wood, which can make low-quality material brittle.
Furthermore, strong UV radiation aims to alter the color tone of the wood. In high-quality parquet floors, the surface treatment includes UV protection, and the technical structure of the floor is designed to withstand temperature variations without damage.
Why Timberwise parquet flooring is perfectly suited to the Spanish climate
To ensure that a wooden floor withstands conditions like the previous ones, its structure must be of top quality. The Finnish Timberwise parquet that we represent is based on a so-called engineered wood construction. It features a unique, thick birch plywood core that is cross-bonded.
This technical structure is one of the most stable on the market. It minimizes the natural movement of the wood, allowing the floor to maintain its shape during humid summers and dry winters. Unlike many cheaper alternatives, which use softer softwood for the core, birch plywood offers superior dimensional stability.
Timberwise parquet is indeed a safe, stylish, and durable choice for homes by the sea, in the bustling city, or in the mountains.
Fine sand can wear down parquet flooring
In coastal areas, fine sand and stone dust make their way into homes. This places high demands on the floor finishing. The UV-cured oils and varnishes we use create the surface that the floor needs to repel dirt and withstand wear, while still maintaining the authentic feel of the wood.
So when choosing a floor for your home, the overall quality matters. A high-quality finish protects against wear, but the stable structural framework underneath ensures that the floor remains straight and valuable year after year.
Would you like expert guidance in choosing the perfect flooring for your space?
Bespoke Nordic serves clients throughout the entire Costa del Sol. Visit our Marbella showroom to explore the Timberwise collection, or invite us to your home for a personal consultation.
