Wooden Flooring

Wooden flooring has an indefinite something that cannot be equated with carpets. The softness of footing, the occurrence of natural grains, the manner in which the light is dispersed over the surface during the day – it is not surprising that wood floors have been such a favourite among the British homeowners since time immemorial.

You can get solid oak with all its richness, or engineered boards all its practicality, or rustic reclaimed pine with as many options to fit any room or budget. And compared to other flooring options, the good quality wood does indeed add value to your property, and it may last decades with the most simple care.

Oak Flooring

Oak flooring is the most popular flooring in Europe, and especially in the UK. It is exceptionally durable, it is simply gorgeous in contemporary and traditional environment and it is patinaed beautifully with time. We have all types of solid and engineered oak in all different finishes – modern light washes to deep dark stains.

Solid oak is that solid material underfoot, substantial feel and can be sanded and refinished many times throughout the life of the product. Engineered oak, in its turn, is more stable in the room combinations that are likely to suffer due to temperature fluctuations and can be used perfectly with underfloor heating.

Engineered Wood Flooring

The art of engineered flooring has not always been this way. The current engineered boards have a plywood base bonded with a thick real wood top layer to provide you with the appearance and feel of solid wood and an added dimensional stability to the boards.

This is what makes engineered floors ideal in kitchens, hallways, and rooms with underfloor heating in which the solid wood may move excessively. The installation is also usually faster and pre-finished engineered flooring is available, thus no interruption and no loitering in waiting the drying of the treatment.

Solid Wood Flooring

Nothing can be better than solid wood flooring, when it comes to that natural ancient feel. Both boards are made out of one timber and the boards also have a great depth and character. Solid wood floors can be refinished and sanded many many times throughout their life – it can be 50 or more years under proper care.

Select oak, walnut, ash, maple and so on. Every species has its colour, pattern of grain and hardness degree. We would love to discuss the best one that would suit your specific rooms and lifestyle.

Herringbone & Parquet

Want to make a real statement? Herringbone and parquet lines are provide the immediate grace and eye appeal to any room. These vintage laying designs have experienced a massive revival over the last few years and they are very effective in both old and modern houses.

Yes, they require more time and ability to fit correctly but the final result is simply spectacular. We have solid and engineered herringbone as well as parquet designs.

The selection of the Right Wooden Flooring.
Is there a difference between Solid and Engineered?
This is the question that is most frequently asked. Solid wood is just as the name suggests, it is wood planks drilled out of a block of timber, usually 18-20mm thick. Engineered wood is a top layer of wood (usually 3-6mm) bonded on plywood layers below.

None is necessarily superior – they are appropriate in various circumstances. Solid wood provides the same real feel and can be refinished more, but moves more with changes in humidity and temperature. Engineered is a more stable product and can be used with underfloor heating and can in many cases be used in a room that solid wood would not be advisable.

What Wood Species Is the Right one?
Oak is a sure thing it is hard, durable, and its grain does not conflict with a majority of interior styles. Walnut is darker and chocolate and it is so sophisticated. Ash is also light but has a unique grain, and maple will make you look almost-white Scandinavian.

When it comes to places of heavy foot traffic such as hallways and living rooms, you would want something closer to the hard side of the spectrum. Oak, ash and maple can be used in everyday wear. Spare that gentler wood such as pine to bedrooms where they will receive gentle care.

Finishes and Colours
Today there is an immense variety of finishes of wood flooring. Natural oils allow the wood to breathe naturally and are not hard to maintain though they tend to have to be applied once a year or so. Lacquered finishes are more resistant to wear and tear and are less maintenance but it may appear slightly artificial.

In terms of colour it is better to have lighter finishes in the rooms as they give the impression that the room is larger and open whereas darker finishes provide the warmth and homey feeling. The scratches and dents are more disguised with heavy textured or distressed finishes – a consideration worth making in case you have kids or dogs.

Installation Methods
Traditionally, solid wood was nailed or glued to the undercarriage wooden. It must be allowed to get acclimatised to your home a minimum of 48 hours before it is installed and the subfloor must be adjusted and levelled.

A lot of manufactured floors are engineered in a click-lock, which is laid over a support surface. This is faster to installed and can pass over most of the pre-existing floors, but you will still need to get everything a bit level before hand. It is also possible to glue down some engineered boards so that they have a more permanent installation.

Underfloor Heating
Engineered flooring is your friend, should you have underfloor heating or intend to add it. This is because of its multi-layered structure that provides greater dimensional stability during weather changes. Solid wood may be used with UFH, though finer boards (approximately 14mm) require and the heating system must also be carefully controlled.

Always examine the specifications of the manufacturer – the vast majority will explicitly tell whether their product is compatible with the use of underfloor heating.

Why Choose Wooden Flooring?
Decades of Durability
|human|>Durability 10 Years and Beyond.
Wooden flooring is not a temporary solution. There are 25-50 years minimum with basic care and solid wood can be refinished many times to appear to be a new one. That is compared to carpet required to be changed every 10-15 years.

Adds Value to Your Home
The real estate agents always tell that wooden floors make property attractive and valuable. It is a feature that tells the potential buyers of a high quality item that implies the home has been well maintained.

Better for Allergies
Wood does not harbour dust mites, pollen or pet dander, like carpet does. All that it takes is a swift sweep or a vacuum to ensure that the allergens are kept away and life becomes a lot easier to any respiratory sensitive person.

Easy to Maintain
Spills wipe up in seconds. Wood floors should always be swept and mopped regularly to ensure they are spectacular. No necessity of costly carpet cleaning machines and deep clean.

Timeless Style
Wood flooring can be used with any interior and it is not time-bound like patterned carpets or stylish tiles. You can change your furniture and decor as frequently as you wish – and still the floor will not be wrong.

Eco-Friendly Choice
Wood is a natural renewable substance. Cheque to see that your timber has been certified as FSC or PEFC certified to be sure that your flooring is produced by timber obtained in well-managed forests. It is biodegradable at the final stage of life instead of going to a landfill.

Caring for Your Floors (Wooden).
Wooden flooring is not very difficult to maintain as some individuals believe. Here’s what you need to know:

Cleaning: Sweep or vacuum frequently to take away grit which may scratch the surface. Apply soft brush attachment on your vacuum instead of beater bar.
Mopping: Wipe floor with a damp mop using a wood floor cleaner – do not flood floor with water. Wood enemies include excess moisture.
Spills: Dry them up immediately. Standing water may leave a stain or mark particularly on oiled floors.
Protection: Pad legs of the furniture with felt pads and high-traffic rugs. leave your shoes off at the door – out of doors mud is the greatest cause of wear.
Maintenance: Oiled floors can be adopted by added oil after every 12-18 months. The refinishing of lacquered floors may require professional refurbishment every 7-10 years by wear.
Sunlight: Direct sunlight would fade the wood with time. Cover the brightest windows with blinds or curtains, and move the rugs after a certain time in different ways so that the floor does not wear out in some areas.

FAQS

Is it possible to instal wooden floor in kitchen and bathroom?
Enhanced flooring may also be suitable in the kitchens – but not where there is water frequently splashing under sinks. For bathrooms, it’s trickier. It is dangerous due to the humidity and water exposure, unless you are extremely meticulous in ventilation and wiping up the spills as they happen. Majority of the manufacturers will not guarantee their products when used in the bathroom.

What about noise?
Carpet is quieter than wood floors and especially in the upstairs rooms. Sound absorbing underlay is of good quality. In a flat building or bedrooms directly over a living space, find high acoustic rating underlays.

Is it possible to lay wooden flooring myself?
Click-lock flooring is engineered and quite DIY affordable provided one is fairly handy. All you need is some simple tools and time, and it will be possible. Solid wood flooring would demand more expert equipment and expertise – and you would be better to hire a professional to do it.

What is its installation time?
In a typical room that is average in size (approximately 20 square metres), it would take 1-2 days to instal professionally including preparation. The DIY may require sometime particularly when it is your first attempt. Remember to include acclimatisation time before you begin – wood must get acclimatised to the conditions of your home.

Ready to Find Your Perfect Floor?
It is us who are here so that you can select the best wooden flooring to fit in your house. You have questions on the best species to use, advice on installations or you would like to discuss particular needs, then simply do so.

Our ranges are shown above or you can get samples and personalised recommendations by calling us.