We all love flooring that is super comfortable, stylish, durable and suitable for all our needs. With a variety of stylish wooden flooring these days you can always get what you want. Here at Urmston Carpets Warehouse we have something for everyone!
You can have wooden flooring without grains or texture, it can be completely plain if that is the style you are after. With timber flooring you will always have different markings, grains and knotting etc. This is what makes it so unique and brilliant quality. With fantastic new developments always being made, you will never be dissatisfied with wooden flooring! We stock a wide range at brilliant bargain flooring all of the time. You will most definitely find something to suit your home and style.
Have you thought about where you would like wooden flooring? Is it suitable in the room you want it in? Sometimes having wooden flooring might not be brilliant for rooms like the bathroom due to slippery surfaces. The last thing you would want is for somebody to slip and have a fall! Also the kitchen could be a hazard due to any spillages although it is quick to clean when you drop food on whilst you are cooking. The dark wood can make rooms look a bit small so you might want to consider space for example if you have a small hallway you could do light flooring to make it look bigger.
With different types of wooden flooring on the market you might want to read this quick article so you have a rough idea of what you want in your home but also how much you are wanting to spend. You won’t leave the shop without a deal! We will go through all of the different types of wooden flooring so you will also know what will best suit your home.
Here in this article you might have more questions that need answering:
What types of timber flooring are there?
In general, your choice of wooden flooring comes down to three options – solid, engineered or reclaimed. Each one has its own pros and cons.
What is solid wood flooring?
Solid wood flooring is very much the darling of the group. Its aesthetic beauty is second to none and it adds an air of grandeur to a home that’s very hard to match.
It is graded for quality; as a rule of thumb, you get what you pay for. ‘Premium’ grades come from heartwood and are smooth, knot-free and close to uniform in colour, while grades described as ‘natural’ and ‘rustic’ possess a higher degree of knots and colour variation.
What is engineered wood flooring?
Engineered wood boards consist of several layers of timber, pieced together to make a very robust product. The top layer is a thick veneer (up to 6mm) of the quality timber of your choice, often referred to as the ‘wear layer’.
Below this is a plywood base, built up with layers of hard or softwood boards that run in different directions, giving the products strength and stability, not to mention a rigidity that many solid timber equivalents do not possess.
In general, this type of board is more stable than solid planks – expanding and contracting less with changes in humidity and temperature – so it’s a perfect choice for flooring in a kitchen or bathroom. Engineered timber also makes a perfect marriage with UFH, as it won’t warp..
What is reclaimed flooring?
Reclaimed flooring offers all the characteristics of solid wood, but comes with character from its previous life. Since wood can be reclaimed from any number of sources, each floor is quite different.
‘Recycled’ and ‘reclaimed’ typically refer to materials sourced from dismantled buildings or other wood products that have served their original purpose and then been re-milled to make new flooring.
‘Salvaged’ flooring generally refers to existing boards that have been removed from an existing building and repurposed.
Because this type of flooring has already enjoyed a life as something else, reusing it in this way is essentially recycling it, making it a very green choice.
How to install wood flooring
The majority of problems that homeowners experience with timber flooring are due to poor fitting, unfamiliarity with the subfloor or a dearth of preparation.
Before laying your flooring, it is essential to give it time to acclimatise to the room in which it’s being installed. Allow at least three days for engineered boards and up to two weeks for solid timber.
Different types of timber flooring require different subfloors and laying techniques. Ensure that the surface is even before starting work – if it’s not, it will need levelling out with underlay or ply.
Alternatives to wood flooring
If you like timber flooring but want a lower price tag, consider the alternatives:
· Laminate boards A photographic image of wood is produced on layer of plastic, which is laminated on to a ply or similar board. There is a drastic difference in quality between products. High-end planks will have convincing textured finishes, while at the opposite end of the scale the board may look dull.
· Vinyl flooring This is widely available in timber patters and textures. Sheet vinyl is a very budget-friendly option, but plank or block flooring will give a better effect and feel harder underfoot.
Porcelain wooden-effect tiles These are fully water resistant, easy to maintain and highly durable. They are increasing in popularity for use in kitchens and other areas of high humidity.Full article – http://www.self-build.co.uk/buyer%E2%80%99s-guide-wood-floors