FAQ - Wood Flooring Advice / Help / Assistance

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What is solid wood Flooring?

Solid wood flooring is exactly as it sounds, the individual boards of the floor are made from one continuous plank of wood as apposed to engineered woods which are solid wood veneer on top of a ply base.

Do Solid wood floors increase the value of your home?

Solid wood floors, just like ceramics are recognised as a high quality building material. They are long lasting and completely renewable with very little effort. Aside from these benefits solid wood floors are fashionable, minimalist and above all, desirable which means that they increase the value of your home.

Are solid wood floors expensive?

An increase in demand for hard wood floors has seen prices slowly fall as more and more companies are realising their benefits. When looking at the lifespan of solid wood floors they are excellent value for money as they never have to be replaced and are easily re-finished to suit décor changes. Solid wood floors truly are "beauty that lasts a lifetime".

What is the difference between solid wood and laminate?

Solid wood flooring is made from one solid plank and so is solid the whole way through; it has not been engineered or glued. Laminate flooring is a photograph of wood printed onto a high-density base and then finished with an acrylic lacquer. There is no solid wood in a laminate.

What is Engineered flooring?

Engineered flooring is a manufactured wooden plank, which consist of a sturdy ply base with a solid hardwood veneer on top. The ply base is cross-stacked to provide extra support for the veneered layer so that it resists cupping and warping. Engineered floors provide more flexibility than solid hardwood flooring as they can be used in areas with a higher moisture content such as basements.

Is Solid wood Flooring suitable for use with Radiant heat underfloor heating systems?

So long as the tubes do not touch the wood this should be okay. A laminated underlay vapour barrier should be used between the concrete and the floor.

Can Solid wood be installed over linoleum?

Yes - providing the linoleum remains tightly glued to the original sub floor.

Can Solid wood be installed on stairs?

Yes, although it can be slippery, so think about your own environment before deciding (ie. Young children, pets)

Is there a type of hardwood that is more durable than others?

There is very little difference in durability and the choice really comes down to aesthetics and your own personal choice.

Which solid wood should I choose?

Other than the walls, the floor represents the largest expanse of colour or pattern in a room. It should complement the surroundings already present in the room.

Which rooms can I install solid wood flooring?

Solid wood is suitable for any room except the bathroom. You must also consider whether the floor will be on, above or below-grade (in general terms this is the floor level. Above grade is above ground, below grade is below ground - ie. In a basement). Due to potential moisture problems, solid hardwood is not suitable in basements but are fine for on or above grade rooms.

Which installation method is best?

The method used for your hardwood installation will depend upon the type of product you have chosen, where the flooring will be installed and the type of subfloor. Nail down, glue down & floating are the three type of installation. For instance, if you are remodeling your kitchen, some products can be "floated" over most subfloors, including vinyl or ceramic tile, eliminating the mess and cost of tearing up the existing floor and installing a subfloor.

What is Floating Flooring?

Floating flooring is where the flooring is laid down over a layer of underlay. The individual planks are glued together, and they are not glued or nailed in to the permanent floor. By doing this the floor is "floating" above the underlay - this is the standard installation method for laminate flooring and is not recommended as the best method for solid wood floors

Are Solid wood floors difficult to maintain and clean?

No - the prefinished floor contains multiple layers of a UV-cured polyurethane. This gives the floor a tough, durable and smooth finish which is very easy to maintain. However you must never damp mop a solid wood floor - water and wood do not mix. There are a number of products now available which are specifically for wood floors.

Care and maintenance of your floor.

Solid hardwood floors are the easiest of all floor surfaces to keep clean and looking new. Solid hardwood is truly the floor for a lifetime.

Skirtings and Architraves

Real wood skirtings and architraves are a perfect complement to your floor. The skirtings come in sizes from 95mm upwards however the architrave can also be used as skirting when a small skirting is required. Likewise the skirting can be used when you need a larger architrave than the standard size supplied. You would need to check that the skirting is not reversible if using it for architrave otherwise the reverse side will be visible.

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