Choosing the right flooring - If you want the look and feel of hardwood flooring without the cost and maintenance associated, engineered wood is a smart choice. However, as with all wood floors, there are practical aspects to consider before starting. Here, four experts answer some basic questions.
Professional advice from Amanda Couzens-Davies Ted Todd hardwood I Charlie Mil-Homens of 123floor I Harvey Booth Kährs I Peter Keane of The Natural Wood Floor Company
Professional advice from Amanda Couzens-Davies Ted Todd hardwood I Charlie Mil-Homens of 123floor I Harvey Booth Kährs I Peter Keane of The Natural Wood Floor Company
the Reclaimed Flooring Company
What is the difference between solid wood and engineered wood?
There are two types of wooden flooring on the market: solid wood (on average between 18mm and 22mm thick) and engineered wood, which is a thin section of compressed hardwood or soft wood on two plywood.
"The most sold thicknesses of engineered wood are 15mm, 18mm or 21mm," said Charlie Mil-Homens of 123floor. "You can expect about 3 mm to 3.5 mm solid wood flooring engineered wood 15mm, around 5 mm on a 18mm floor and about 6 mm on a 21mm floor."
Knowing the thickness of the solid portion of the wood is important because it concerns the number of times the floor can be sanded and refinished. "You can probably sand a floor 15mm engineered wood once," said Mil-Homens. "A 18mm flooring can be sanded two to three times, while a 21mm flooring can be sanded three to four times. - As much as all solid wood on the market"
There are two types of wooden flooring on the market: solid wood (on average between 18mm and 22mm thick) and engineered wood, which is a thin section of compressed hardwood or soft wood on two plywood.
"The most sold thicknesses of engineered wood are 15mm, 18mm or 21mm," said Charlie Mil-Homens of 123floor. "You can expect about 3 mm to 3.5 mm solid wood flooring engineered wood 15mm, around 5 mm on a 18mm floor and about 6 mm on a 21mm floor."
Knowing the thickness of the solid portion of the wood is important because it concerns the number of times the floor can be sanded and refinished. "You can probably sand a floor 15mm engineered wood once," said Mil-Homens. "A 18mm flooring can be sanded two to three times, while a 21mm flooring can be sanded three to four times. - As much as all solid wood on the market"
Ankle Parquet
How much wood cost engineering ?
Prices are driven by a number of factors. wide boards usually cost more narrow planks; Thicker panels are typically more expensive than thinner.
"The price is also influenced by the wood process going on," said Mil-Homens. "Wood can now be sanded to make it look worn smoke to give it a much deeper color, tastier, or distressed by getting a bicycle chain and literally beat him."
Where to buy your engineered wood flooring also affects its price. Ethically from established brands of wood will cost you more. In return you can expect a higher quality product with better finishing, plus a generous warranty of 20 years.
Prices are driven by a number of factors. wide boards usually cost more narrow planks; Thicker panels are typically more expensive than thinner.
"The price is also influenced by the wood process going on," said Mil-Homens. "Wood can now be sanded to make it look worn smoke to give it a much deeper color, tastier, or distressed by getting a bicycle chain and literally beat him."
Where to buy your engineered wood flooring also affects its price. Ethically from established brands of wood will cost you more. In return you can expect a higher quality product with better finishing, plus a generous warranty of 20 years.
123 Floor
What is covered?
Wood is a natural product, so you have to come to terms with the fact that he will score (even if you can protect it by putting felt pads under furniture and trying not to drag around heavy elements).
"Know that the warranty does not cover everyday wear and tear, such as scratches. However, if the elements of solid wood is detached from the carrier, for example, it is covered" advises Mil-Homens.
Wood is a natural product, so you have to come to terms with the fact that he will score (even if you can protect it by putting felt pads under furniture and trying not to drag around heavy elements).
"Know that the warranty does not cover everyday wear and tear, such as scratches. However, if the elements of solid wood is detached from the carrier, for example, it is covered" advises Mil-Homens.
Kahrs
what should I know about the finishes?
floors engineered wood are generally available either oiled or lacquered. There are advantages and disadvantages to both.
Choosing an oiled finish gives your floor a beautiful natural look but it can be stained by spills. a gloss finish is less susceptible to stains and preserve the color of the soil for longer. "the disadvantage of the lacquer is that if you scratch, the entire floor must be sanded and re- lacquered, "said Mil-Homens.
Most Mil-Homens customers choose a natural color of wood to their floor with oiled or UV oiled. "If you buy a stained floor, unless the manufacturer is willing to give you a small pot of stain, it is more difficult for you to make repairs, regardless of whether it is oiled or lacquered," he noted .
"Fortunately, if you scratch a natural soil oiled color, more often than not, you have not damaged the floor, you just take the oil on top. This means all you have to do is to buy a small pot of natural oil, put it on a cloth and go over the scratch until it disappears, "he said.
"Or, if your floor is oiled to search a little dry within five years, you can give it a new lease of life with a new layer of oil. Use a roll and go with the grain of the board. You do not have to sand the ground first. "
floors engineered wood are generally available either oiled or lacquered. There are advantages and disadvantages to both.
Choosing an oiled finish gives your floor a beautiful natural look but it can be stained by spills. a gloss finish is less susceptible to stains and preserve the color of the soil for longer. "the disadvantage of the lacquer is that if you scratch, the entire floor must be sanded and re- lacquered, "said Mil-Homens.
Most Mil-Homens customers choose a natural color of wood to their floor with oiled or UV oiled. "If you buy a stained floor, unless the manufacturer is willing to give you a small pot of stain, it is more difficult for you to make repairs, regardless of whether it is oiled or lacquered," he noted .
"Fortunately, if you scratch a natural soil oiled color, more often than not, you have not damaged the floor, you just take the oil on top. This means all you have to do is to buy a small pot of natural oil, put it on a cloth and go over the scratch until it disappears, "he said.
"Or, if your floor is oiled to search a little dry within five years, you can give it a new lease of life with a new layer of oil. Use a roll and go with the grain of the board. You do not have to sand the ground first. "
creative CATO Ltd
is it possible to have an unfinished floor?
Although most people prefer to buy wood floors pre-finished engineering, you can have your finished floor at home with your installer or do it yourself While it is labor -.. "drying times between 10 and 12 hours per layer, "said Mil-Homens - there is a wide range of oils and lacquers to choose from, so you'll be able to get the exact look and feel you want you.
Discover all the main options for kitchen floors
Although most people prefer to buy wood floors pre-finished engineering, you can have your finished floor at home with your installer or do it yourself While it is labor -.. "drying times between 10 and 12 hours per layer, "said Mil-Homens - there is a wide range of oils and lacquers to choose from, so you'll be able to get the exact look and feel you want you.
Discover all the main options for kitchen floors
123 Floor
Can I use engineered wood flooring in my bathroom?
There are two schools of thought regarding the engineered wood put in the bathroom. Amanda Couzens-Davies Ted Todd Hardwood Floors said it is a myth that can not be used. "A good quality flooring engineering must not only be able to cope with a lot of foot traffic, but as long as you clean up spills immediately, he must remain looking good, provided that you use cleaning products and maintained correctly, "she said.
However, in baths, you must ensure that you have plenty of ventilation and good carpet bath, so that water does not stay on the floor.
the ground finish is also important. "You must choose a seal card rather than one that is natural or oiled has a hard wax finish, "says Couzens-Davies.
has asked the same question, Mil-Homens said the wood - be a solid or engineered - not sitting well in environments where there is excess moisture, heat and condensation. "If your bathroom has a bath or shower, wood expands and chain," he said. "You should ideally be looking for tiles or other solutions such as vinyl."
Discover 10 ways vinyl flooring can look fantastic
There are two schools of thought regarding the engineered wood put in the bathroom. Amanda Couzens-Davies Ted Todd Hardwood Floors said it is a myth that can not be used. "A good quality flooring engineering must not only be able to cope with a lot of foot traffic, but as long as you clean up spills immediately, he must remain looking good, provided that you use cleaning products and maintained correctly, "she said.
However, in baths, you must ensure that you have plenty of ventilation and good carpet bath, so that water does not stay on the floor.
the ground finish is also important. "You must choose a seal card rather than one that is natural or oiled has a hard wax finish, "says Couzens-Davies.
has asked the same question, Mil-Homens said the wood - be a solid or engineered - not sitting well in environments where there is excess moisture, heat and condensation. "If your bathroom has a bath or shower, wood expands and chain," he said. "You should ideally be looking for tiles or other solutions such as vinyl."
Discover 10 ways vinyl flooring can look fantastic
Cue & Co London
Should I install my genius coverings with wooden flooring underlayment?
You do not always need to install underlay for engineered flooring. If you choose not to, you will have what is known as a "fully connected" flooring: engineered wood will be glued directly on the surface below. 'Floating floors have undercoat beneath.
"The thickness of the underlayer not only determines the noise reduction qualities, but also whether it can be used with underfloor heating," says Couzens-Davies . "Underlay is available in 2mm, 3mm and a thickness of 5 mm. The underlayer 2 mm is not suitable for use with underfloor heating and has no noise reduction properties. Both the 3 mm and 5 mm can be used with floor heating; each has slightly different qualities of noise reduction. "
You do not always need to install underlay for engineered flooring. If you choose not to, you will have what is known as a "fully connected" flooring: engineered wood will be glued directly on the surface below. 'Floating floors have undercoat beneath.
"The thickness of the underlayer not only determines the noise reduction qualities, but also whether it can be used with underfloor heating," says Couzens-Davies . "Underlay is available in 2mm, 3mm and a thickness of 5 mm. The underlayer 2 mm is not suitable for use with underfloor heating and has no noise reduction properties. Both the 3 mm and 5 mm can be used with floor heating; each has slightly different qualities of noise reduction. "
123 Floor
Should I use a professional installer
In a word -. yes Laying a floor wood may seem simple, but there are many factors you have to think, some of you may not even be aware of. "technical issues, such as the moisture content of the subfloor, the relative humidity of the room, and expansion joints must all be taken into account before you even start to consider the aesthetics, "says Couzens-Davies.
"Floors need to establish sympathy with to ensure that the natural variations of color, the texture of the grain and knots take into account the visual impact of soil in his together and provide an elegant finish that displays the wood to its best advantage, "she adds.
rafter rafters and floors remain popular and the skills of a professional installer become even more important during the assembly of these designs, even small mistakes can be obvious.
hardwood floors are an investment, so that the cost of an installer professional is a small price to pay to ensure you get decades of use and enjoyment of your floor.
In a word -. yes Laying a floor wood may seem simple, but there are many factors you have to think, some of you may not even be aware of. "technical issues, such as the moisture content of the subfloor, the relative humidity of the room, and expansion joints must all be taken into account before you even start to consider the aesthetics, "says Couzens-Davies.
"Floors need to establish sympathy with to ensure that the natural variations of color, the texture of the grain and knots take into account the visual impact of soil in his together and provide an elegant finish that displays the wood to its best advantage, "she adds.
rafter rafters and floors remain popular and the skills of a professional installer become even more important during the assembly of these designs, even small mistakes can be obvious.
hardwood floors are an investment, so that the cost of an installer professional is a small price to pay to ensure you get decades of use and enjoyment of your floor.
Ted Todd Hardwood Floors
Does the size of the board affects how my room looks like?
The size of the board and the direction of the floor is installed can dramatically change the mood of a room. wide boards with very little grain details create the sought-after and sophisticated Scandi watch, especially when very pale tips are used. Conversely, lean tips can create an original style, more individualistic.
Equally important to the piece feel is the direction in which the planks are laid. "Laying planks across the room as you watch the space will appear smaller, while the boards set the room will lengthen. Another alternative is to ask diagonal boards. It is definitely worth looking if a number of running parts out of the other, because it can create a natural flow, "advises Couzens-Davies.
" There also a number of practical considerations to take into account, as the direction of the joists. Make sure you speak to your flooring business for all these are carefully considered before putting your floor. "
The size of the board and the direction of the floor is installed can dramatically change the mood of a room. wide boards with very little grain details create the sought-after and sophisticated Scandi watch, especially when very pale tips are used. Conversely, lean tips can create an original style, more individualistic.
Equally important to the piece feel is the direction in which the planks are laid. "Laying planks across the room as you watch the space will appear smaller, while the boards set the room will lengthen. Another alternative is to ask diagonal boards. It is definitely worth looking if a number of running parts out of the other, because it can create a natural flow, "advises Couzens-Davies.
" There also a number of practical considerations to take into account, as the direction of the joists. Make sure you speak to your flooring business for all these are carefully considered before putting your floor. "
The Natural Wood Floor Company Limited
How do I take care of my engineered wood floors?
Use the right products for the finish of your floor, advises Couzens-Davies. "most of the floors are varnished, oiled or UV oiled natural, and all require very different types of cleaning products."
Sweep often to ensure dirt does not become entrenched, then use the cleaning products when required. "the key is not to use too much moisture or let the water stand on the surface of the floor," Couzens-Davies said.
There are also intensive cleaning products to rejuvenate floors, but make sure you get the right to the finish. Ted Todd has set up two cleaning and maintenance videos, which you can find on its website.
Use the right products for the finish of your floor, advises Couzens-Davies. "most of the floors are varnished, oiled or UV oiled natural, and all require very different types of cleaning products."
Sweep often to ensure dirt does not become entrenched, then use the cleaning products when required. "the key is not to use too much moisture or let the water stand on the surface of the floor," Couzens-Davies said.
There are also intensive cleaning products to rejuvenate floors, but make sure you get the right to the finish. Ted Todd has set up two cleaning and maintenance videos, which you can find on its website.
Element 7
What are the main trends in the engineered wood flooring?
"soft silver, gray and white are always the must-have color, any large-scale floors patterned using parquet blocks migrated and rafters panels are also a blow hot eye, "said Peter Keane of the Natural Wood Floor Company.
"In general, we are seeing a drop of perfection, smooth finishes and a penchant for very brushed surfaces with coarse textures. The rough surface is uneven upward trend because it has such a natural and authentic look and feel. It is something that the products of fake wood just can not replicate. "
Harvey Booth Kährs notes that parquet wood floors were given a new spin." in the classical interiors, they reinforce a traditional style, but they are also great in modern rooms, too, where they give a historical character and can create an individual, eclectic look. "
Unlike bars parquet, which are glued to the floor piece by piece, the new generation of patterned floors are laid as planks, which is much faster and easier. "many also benefit from durable pre-finished and surface treatments, which add more interest, "says Booth.
According to Mil-Homens , the next big thing is to dress up your wooden walls. "People want to do something different, so instead of opting for paint or wallpaper run-of-the-mill, they are inspired by what is happening in the upscale shops and bistros London."
What is your experience of engineered wood flooring? Share your tips in the comments below.
"soft silver, gray and white are always the must-have color, any large-scale floors patterned using parquet blocks migrated and rafters panels are also a blow hot eye, "said Peter Keane of the Natural Wood Floor Company.
"In general, we are seeing a drop of perfection, smooth finishes and a penchant for very brushed surfaces with coarse textures. The rough surface is uneven upward trend because it has such a natural and authentic look and feel. It is something that the products of fake wood just can not replicate. "
Harvey Booth Kährs notes that parquet wood floors were given a new spin." in the classical interiors, they reinforce a traditional style, but they are also great in modern rooms, too, where they give a historical character and can create an individual, eclectic look. "
Unlike bars parquet, which are glued to the floor piece by piece, the new generation of patterned floors are laid as planks, which is much faster and easier. "many also benefit from durable pre-finished and surface treatments, which add more interest, "says Booth.
According to Mil-Homens , the next big thing is to dress up your wooden walls. "People want to do something different, so instead of opting for paint or wallpaper run-of-the-mill, they are inspired by what is happening in the upscale shops and bistros London."
What is your experience of engineered wood flooring? Share your tips in the comments below.