Artisanal floor craftsmanship at The Ostendian

2,000 square metres of luxury vinyl tiles in two months

Ostend recently opened The Ostendian, the first newly built hotel in the city in 25 years. This prestigious project faced the challenge of combining a luxurious look with practical and sustainable materials. A key link in this process was Parket Seye, the artisan parquet company based in Oudenburg. With their expertise in wooden floors, vinyl and related finishes, they made an essential contribution to the warm and stylish interior of the hotel.

Franky De Smet, manager of Parquet Seye, stresses the importance of craftsmanship and flexibility in a project like The Ostendian. "We are a small, dynamic company that always does what we promise. This project was no different. The time pressure was huge, and because contractors had to follow one after another, the pace was tremendous. But we made sure the process was never disrupted."

With their years of experience in laying and renovating parquet, semi-solid floors and vinyl, Parket Seye knew how to provide a tailor-made solution. "Our biggest asset is that we don't just install, we also solve problems. If the surface is not level, we level it immediately. Where many colleagues drop out and say 'we don't do that', we make sure the problem is fixed. That saves the builder time and delays."

One of Parket Seye's specialisations is re-sanding and restoring existing parquet floors. "Many floors have suffered damage over the years, think water damage or wear and tear in high-pressure areas. Instead of replacing completely, we can refurbish these floors by sanding them and re-finishing them in the desired colour. This way, we preserve the authentic look and extend the life of the floor considerably."

Durable and low-maintenance LVT flooring

For The Ostendian, high-quality LVT vinyl flooring (luxury vinyl tiles) was chosen in the hotel rooms, meeting rooms and breakfast lounge. "In the past, vinyl was often associated with cheap broadloom plastic flooring," explains De Smet. "Today, the possibilities have evolved enormously. We have delivered a product that is barely distinguishable from real parquet in terms of look and feel, but is much more maintenance-friendly and hard-wearing. Especially for high-traffic areas, this is an undeniable advantage."

With about 2,000 square metres of floor space installed in a span of barely two months, it was an intensive project. "Our speed and efficiency are crucial in such projects. Hotels have strict deadlines: as soon as the opening is scheduled, everything has to be finished."

Capacity for large-scale projects

Parquet Seye came into contact with the project through Realty Group Degroote. "We have been working for them for years and know their high standards. That trust allowed us to realise this beautiful assignment."

Although Parquet Seye is a relatively small company, it is proving with this project that it is capable of taking on large-scale challenges. "We deliberately don't want to get bigger, but we do want to further professionalise and remain committed to quality. Our flat business model and short lines of communication mean we remain flexible and can move quickly. That is our strength."