Choosing Flooring and Parquet in Lebanon: Wood, Engineered, Vinyl, and Tile

Flooring is one of the most visible — and most expensive — decisions in any Lebanese home. The right choice depends on your floor (slab vs. raised), the room's humidity, and how much wear it will see.

Main options

• Solid hardwood: beautiful and long-lived but sensitive to humidity. Coastal apartments need extra care.
• Engineered parquet: a real-wood veneer over plywood; far more stable in Beirut humidity than solid wood.
• Laminate: budget-friendly but less forgiving with water spills.
• Luxury vinyl (SPC / LVT): increasingly popular for kitchens and bathrooms; waterproof and warm underfoot.
• Porcelain and ceramic tile: the safest choice for wet areas and traditional Lebanese living rooms.
• Marble and natural stone: traditional in older buildings — still available from local suppliers.

Installation and prep

• Sub-floor levelling is critical — a poor screed will telegraph through any finish.
• For coastal areas, ask about moisture barriers before laying wood or parquet.
• Floor heating? Confirm compatibility with the manufacturer (most engineered parquets and SPC vinyls support it; many solid woods do not).

Buying tips

• Ask for samples large enough to see the full grain or pattern repeat.
• Order 10% extra for cuts, future repairs, and dye-lot matching.
• Get installation cost and warranty written separately from material cost.