Finishing parquet flooring. The finish you choose requires careful thought. A film-forming product like varnish works great for high-traffic areas. Polyurethane varnishes in matte, satin or gloss finishes tend to be the most common — all need around two to three coats. Penetrating oils, like a hard wax finish, enhance the look and feel of natural wood and dry to a satin matte sheen. If your parquet flooring is made of unfinished solid wood, allow a minimum of 36 hours for the adhesive to cure before applying seals or waxes.Shown: Increasingly popular, this thoroughly modern chevron (also called a point de hongrie) design is simple but highly effective.