Why Timber Flooring?

The design of solid floors are not simply functional, they are beautiful masterpieces. Each one handmade piece by piece by dedicated and time served craftsman to ensure your unique floor is a source of pride to you and your family.

The warmth and character of a wooden floor are synonymous with class and style. The true beauty of wood develops over time and each piece gives a history of its life in the grain. Its gift to you is a rich yet subtle plethora of individual boards with their own personalities and individuality.

When it comes to selecting the right flooring, whether it may be for building or a renovation, a timber floor is often recommended as the best choice for many reasons. Not only does a wood style flooring provide a classically warm, or perhaps rustic, look and feel, there are also a number of more practical reasons why timber can work well.

Traditional installation methods along with revolutionary ideas in aesthetic and functional demands allow companies to not only create high quality, elegant flooring in all patterns imaginable, but also produce a large variety of staining and finishing selections to carefully compliment items and structures in the home.

With so many options available for timber flooring installations, it’s hard to pass on such an impression!

So, what are the benefits?

Cleaning

Following a cleaning regime outlined by your installer is generally extremely simple as hardwood floors don’t accumulate a lot of dust, debris or dirt due to the board seals and finishes. Using material pads to cover legs of furniture, and a light antistatic mop from time to time is all it requires.

Durability

It’s not only durable and more resilient than most other flooring products, but a quality timber floor can last a lifetime even in heavy traffic areas. Not only known to last 100+ years but it gets better with age; from small blemishes helping to bring out the character of the timber.

Air Quality

As timber flooring has no grout lines, fibres or embossing, there is nothing to attract and hold allergens, particles, pollen and dust the way carpets do. Therefore, as questionable as it may sound, it can improve the air quality in your home.

Sustainability

As timber is the only honest renewable construction material around, solid timber flooring is the most ecologically friendly option.  Hardwoods, like timber, are also more energy efficient than other flooring options available and is the only flooring source that has the ability to biodegrade. Timber is grown over time through generations and it is therefore of the utmost importance to source timbers from well managed and sustainable forests.

Climate Change

Sustainably sourced, certified timber also contributes towards combatting climate change, in that approximately 50 per cent of wood’s dry weight is carbon which is then stored for the life of the product; wood also has low embodied energy compared to other building materials, as reported by Planet Ark.

Health Benefits

Research suggests that due to the moderating humidity levels offering assistance in air quality, this, in turn, enhanced a person’s emotional state and believe it or not, lowered stress levels, blood pressure and heart rate.

A timber floor is an investment for a lifetime and with so many different possibilities to select from, take your time and enjoy your journey to the flooring you’ve always dreamed of!

Some quick FAQ’s to consider before selecting your wood…

What is select and feature grade?

This describes the grading of the timber. Select grade has limited variations and natural characteristics. Approximately 5-10%. Standard grade has more gum vein, spirals and natural characteristics. Approximately 10-20%. Standard and better grade generally consists of 85% select and 15% standard grade.

What is Janka scale?

The Janka timber hardness scale is a universally recognised measurement system for the relative hardness of timber. The higher the Janka measure, the harder the timber (Janka is 8.5).

What are the different fixing methods?

Plank on Ply: glued and nailed to the pre-prepared concrete surface then the strip flooring glued and nailed to the plywood.

Direct Stick: Strip flooring glued and nailed (randomly) to the pre-prepared concrete surface. This would normally be onto a moisture barrier.

Parquetry Floors: glued directly onto the pre-prepared concrete surface. This would normally be over a moisture barrier.

Batten Floors: 30mm battens glued and fixed to a recessed (50mm) slab. Then 19mm flooring is nailed to the battens. Generally done to replicate the joist subfloor.

What sort of coatings are there?

There are three types of coating: solvent based, water based and oil based. These are applied to achieve gloss levels from matt to satin, semi-gloss to high gloss.

What is the hardest wearing coat?

The hardest wearing coat is the solvent based gloss. The higher the gloss level, the more solids there are in the coating, thus making it harder wearing. However, marks are more evident on a gloss floor. It is generally recommended to use a solvent based semi-gloss finish for the best all-around performance.

Does the floor colour change?

Over the first 6 to 12 months, the varnish will darken as it reacts to light. This is noticeable when furniture or mats are moved. Likewise, if you re-sand your timber floor, it will return to its original grain colour, but then darken over time. You can generally consider a re-sand from 10+ years depending on the trafficking on your flooring.

Alright, it’s an easy choice!

Ensure that when choosing to install your timber flooring, you use a qualified and reputable company to provide you with sufficient knowledge on the best options suited to your requirements. Timber flooring requires some care to ensure its longevity, which an experienced installer will provide you with all the information needed to guarantee this.

A timber floor is an investment for a lifetime and with so many different possibilities to select from, take your time and enjoy your journey to the flooring you’ve always dreamed of!

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