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Archive for the ‘Hardwood Flooring’ Category
Why Engineered Wood Flooring is a Great Option for Humid Environments
When looking to invest in a long-lasting and attractive flooring solution for areas where humidity is a problem, you need a flooring material that is able to respond to environmental changes without losing any of its structural integrity or aesthetic appeal. One such solution that offers a great deal in the way of attractiveness and structural stability is engineered hardwood flooring.
Wood flooring of any kind has long been discouraged for use in areas where humidity is an issue. This is because heat can severely dry out hardwood floors and cause the boards to warp and cup, just as they would if they were exposed to excessive moisture.
Fortunately, engineered hardwood has been designed to counteract such effects, just as it has in the case of dampness in a below-grade or non-environmentally controlled interior. Indeed, the criss-cross type construction of the high-density fibreboard or plywood underneath the wood veneer enables engineered wooden floors to expand and contract with the heat without compromising the structural stability or attractiveness of the top layer.
As well as their functional benefits regarding humidity and dampness, engineered hardwood floors can also work out to be less expensive than their solid hardwood counterparts. This means that you can enjoy plenty of unique benefits and save yourself some money in the process!
Explore our pages further to find out more about the relative benefits of hardwood flooring and view our various wood flooring products in greater detail.
Bamboo Flooring Solutions
The incredibly durable, versatile and sustainable properties of bamboo have seen it become the hardwood flooring material of choice for environmentally aware residents who are keen for their homes to have an eco-friendly edge.
In addition to their green qualities, bamboo floors are also very popular because they can be adapted to suit any decorating style. This is because bamboo can be dyed into many different colours or kept completely natural. Similarly, it can be finished or remain unfinished. Quite simply, the choices are as many and varied as the options in your imagination.
Bamboo is available as either a solid wood or engineered wood flooring solution. Whilst these two options may look very similar when they are installed, there are some differences regarding their strength.
Solid bamboo flooring consists exclusively of bamboo strips that are pressed together to create the floorboards. Whilst this undoubtedly helps to create a more ‘pure’ floor, it can only really be nailed or glued onto a subfloor. Engineered bamboo flooring on the other hand consists of bamboo strips on top of other types of wood underneath. This option often works out to be stronger than solid bamboo as the blending of woods provides greater integral strength. In addition, engineered bamboo flooring can be floated onto subfloors as well as be nailed or glued.
When it comes to solid and engineered wood flooring solutions, nobody offers more than us here at Source Woodfloors. Browse our pages further to find out more.
The Unique Qualities of Hardwood Floors
If you want to improve the look and durability of your home then hardwood floors are definitely a great option. This is because hardwood floors have many unique qualities.
Aesthetically versatile
Hardwood floors offer an incredible array of aesthetic options. Indeed, the choice available regarding the kind of wood, the type of finish and the design of the floor pattern is comprehensive, therefore hardwood floors can be used to successfully compliment all tastes and environments.
Environmentally friendly
In addition to being beautiful and hard-wearing, solid wood floors are also environmentally friendly as well. Indeed, there are few natural resources that are as effectively renewable and recyclable as wood.
Easy installation
Modern hardwood floors are very easy to install. Indeed, you can order wood floors that are pre-finished, therefore you do not need to finish or seal the floor before or after installation. In fact, factory-finished floors can be installed as soon as you get them home. Certainly it has never been easier to install a hardwood floor yourself.
In addition, you only have to pay for the cost of the materials and any relevant tools when you install a solid wood floor yourself. This means that you can save yourself a lot of money by not paying for the services and craftsmanship of a professional installer.
Explore our pages further to learn more about the unique qualities of hardwood and engineered wood floors and browse through our comprehensive catalogue of solid wood and engineered wood flooring products.
Aged Flooring
Aged oak flooring is a wood floor option which is currently extremely popular. Gone are the days when clean, crisp and new-looking are the desired options. Today, anything which looks like it may have a history, have a story to tell or may have survived a long and hectic life is best. Because of this demand, some very sophisticated and convincing methods of ageing or distressing as it’s sometimes called all types of clothing, furnishings and flooring have been developed. Generally speaking, the more convincing the ageing process, the more desirable the product.
Ageing oak flooring can be done using many different techniques, but most commonly, the aged effect on new oak is created either by hand or by machine. As you can imagine, any ageing which is carried out by hand, due to the labour intensive nature of the process, tends to raise the price of the end product. What’s more, some of the machine ageing or distressing processes are now so convincing that most people struggle to tell the difference between those and the real thing. An artificially aged floor will often have pretty much the same look as a floor which has had many years of wear and tear.
Tumbling is one of the most successful and commonly used methods of ageing oak using a machine. Tumbling involves putting the oak planks into a big drum which is kitted out with sharp objects to damage the wood as it tumbles. The tumbling treatment results in a really convincing aged effect because it damages not only the surfaces of the planks, but the edges as well, which adds to the overall effect. No matter which ageing process is chosen, the end result will be a new wooden floor which looks. That said, the real jewel in the crown of the ageing process is how the wood is coloured after it has been aged or distressed
Typically, liquid ageing agents are used to add a grey or dark brownish tone to the new floor with the aim of giving it that naturally “old” look. Fuming or smoking is also often used and has the benefit of colouring the wood through to its core. Thereafter, to create patchy or random looks, coloured stains and oils can be applied to the wood create a really convincing, aged look.
If you have any queries about your wood flkooring please feelfree to call us on 08456 021781
Wood in your kitchen:
When it comes to choosing a material for your new kitchen floor, more and more people are choosing to go this way forward. There are two types of wood flooring and one of which is very suitable for the kitchen or in general for any area that may experience damp or wet conditions.
The traditional type of wood flooring is called solid wood flooring and as the name suggests, the floor is made from complete solid wood. The alternative is a type of wood floor called engineered wood floor that looks precisely like solid wood, but uses MDF, Plywood and Softwood in addition to real wood. This alternative wood floor is suitable for the kitchen, as its construction can be made waterproof using the right coating. The floor can transform the look and feel of a room. The kitchen is a very important room in everyone’s house, and is often a key selling point. This is why it’s so important that your kitchen floor creates a good impression.
If your floor is old and worn, then it’s time to start considering renovation. Flooring is a very important aspect in a kitchen, and can be extremely costly to replace. If the existing flooring is in good repair, you might be able to restore it instead of installing new flooring. For instance, if your floor is wooden, floor sanding might be the simple and cost effective answer.
The huge number of choices and options available can be confusing and difficult to understand but our knowledge and experience can help you achieve the result you have in mind. Engineered wood flooring does not react to temperature changes or to humidity conditions as solid wood does. Each floorboard is made from three or four layers of syntactic material that are glued together and placed below a layer of real wood, commonly Oak or Walnut. The result is a wood floor that is not only attractive in its design, but also better suited for the kitchen.
Each floorboard is covered in a layer of transparent coating that acts to provide the floor with basic protection from foot traffic, wear and tear. In the kitchen area, a special layer is applied to make the floor waterproof by sealing it. This layer of coating is called lacquered and unlike other coatings such as oil that goes into the wood, lacquered will always sit on top thereby protecting the floor. From time to time you will need to top up the coating, a process that takes just a few minutes.
If you are thinking of kitchen design, wood flooring could be a flexible and stylish choice. Simply fit engineered wood flooring with the right coating and you will enjoy the new design for many many years. If you have ny quieries about your flooring for kitchens, please feel free to cinatct us on 0845 021781
Parquet Flooring
For your own home, parquet floors are hard wearing, smooth and easy to clean. Parquet floors have always been known for their longevity as they can often be found under old carpets – once re-finished the parquet floors look as good as new. Parquet floors really do last a lifetime.
Parquet flooring has come a long way in the last 5 years. Homes are once again embracing parquet floors by either ripping up the old carpets covering original parquet and restoring the floor or fitting new parquet floor in their homes.
Parquetry and Marquetry are often mistaken for each other. Parquetry is the use of flooring, possibly oak flooring which is entirely geometrical and angular such as squares, rectangles, triangles etc. Marquetry is the name referred to curved patterns ie. flower shapes and natural shapes. Marquetry is a very specialised profession which takes a great deal of time to ensure the correct precision of the finished piece.
Parquet has been used regularly in the past for creating patterns on furniture and for flooring. Marquetry in flooring is also used to create centre pieces and are often found in grand houses in the entrance halls. Solid parquet has long been the traditional floor.
Any queries regarding your flooring, please feel free to contact us on 08456 021781
Wood Panelling.
Although installing wood flooring on walls may seem like a crazy idea, there is no reason whatsoever that wood flooring can’t be used effectively and imaginatively to clad walls. If you’re looking for a natural and slightly unusual wood clad style for your room, wood flooring installed on your walls may well prove to be your perfect solution.
The effect of using wood flooring on walls can be really stunning and can add either a modern or traditional look to your room, depending on which species of wood you choose and how you choose to install it.
One important thing to bear in mind however, before even considering installing wood flooring on your wall, is that the base on which you’ll fit the floor is stable. The reason for this is that wood flooring must be staggered when it’s fitted, so it simply can’t be fitted over an unstable surface whereby the planks can’t be secured along the their entire length. Installing plywood on your wall before fitting the wood flooring to the wall makes an ideal, stable surface.
When it comes to installing the wood flooring on your wall, you’ll need to decide whether you want it to be installed vertically, horizontally or even diagonally.
If you need any help with your wood queries please feel free to callus on 0845 021781
Brighten up your home with a new Spring look….
Although the recent cold snap may be telling us that we’re still in winter, spring hopefully isn’t too far away now, so now is the perfect time to start to think about how you’re going to step into spring with a home which looks bright and beautiful.
If the dark and dreary winter somehow seems to have taken its toll on the look of your home, it goes without saying that you won’t take this look into spring with you. When you’re looking to brighten up the look of your home for spring, it also goes without saying that you’ll want to keep it looking this way throughout spring and beyond- so why not opt for light oak flooring?
Light oak flooring is the perfect way to perk up the look of your home in time for spring, and it’s a highly long lasting and cost-efficient choice.
Although it isn’t the hardest wood around, light oak flooring is still very durable, so it’s perfect for the average home which receives an average amount of foot traffic Light oak flooring can fit in perfectly with practically any other type of décor, due to its classic looks, so décor can be transformed for the better for spring in one quick step.
Please feel free to contract us with any queries on 08456 021781
Brighten up your home this Spring.
Although the recent cold snap may be telling us that we’re still in winter, spring hopefully isn’t too is ere now, so now is the perfect time to start to think about how you’re going to step into spring with a home which looks bright and beautiful.
If the dark and dreary winter somehow seems to have taken its toll on the look of your home, it goes without saying that you won’t take this look into spring with you. When you’re looking to brighten up the look of your home for spring, it also goes without saying that you’ll want to keep it looking this way throughout spring and beyond- so why not opt for light oak flooring?
Light oak flooring is the perfect way to perk up the look of your home in time for spring, and it’s a highly long lasting and cost-efficient choice. Although it isn’t the hardest wood around, light oak flooring is still very durable, so it’s perfect for the average home which receives an average amount of foot traffic.
Light oak flooring can fit in perfectly with practically any other type of décor, due to its classic looks, so décor can be transformed for the better for spring in one quick step.
Wooden flooring for a small apartment..
Wooden flooring is incredibly popular in every type of home nowadays, as it can look the part when coupled with classic or contemporary décor. In many years gone by, wooden flooring was only accessible to select few- so more often than not; it was only ever seen in large grand homes. Things couldn’t be more different nowadays though, and as well as being a common sight in large properties, it’s also a common sight in smaller ones.
Over the course of the past few years, wooden flooring has become a popular choice with those living in smaller apartments- and it’s really easy to see why. Within small living spaces, the look of larger areas of décor can have a huge impact on the look of the entire property, and with flooring making up the largest area, it needs to look amazing.
Choosing wooden flooring for a small apartment requires careful consideration. Those who want to make a small apartment look a little more spacious often opt for light wooden flooring, as it can create the illusion of more space. On the other hand, those looking to create a warm, cosy ambience often opt for darker flooring- it’s all up to the individual.
Please feel free to contact us on 08456 021781
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