Category: Uncategorized

Although you might think that under-floor heating is a modern invention, it’s actually been around since the Roman times with them using it in their bath houses. It’s almost certainly something you’ve heard of even if you don’t have it in your own home. It’s been popping up more and more in the last ten years and we can certainly see it being in every home in the next twenty years! It you’re not already convinced, we’re going to go through the reasons it’s the best option in your home.

Energy Efficiency

Generally, under-floor heating requires less energy to run than bulky radiators. This is because it only needs to run on a temperature of 29 degree Celsius or less in order to warm up the room, therefore less energy used resulting in lower bills.

Ease to Run

Under-floor heating needs virtually no maintenance to keep it running smoothly and efficiently. The warmup controls ensure that your heating runs in the most profitable way possible, so you can decide when it comes on and off, meaning you can save on your heating expenses.

Compatible with Most Flooring

You might be thinking, what if my flooring or my dream flooring isn’t compatible with under-floor heating? The good news is that most flooring materials is able to work with this invention, from laminate, Luxury Vinyl Tiles to engineered wood. However, under-floor heating is not compatible with solid wood, due to it shrinking and warping under heat. With solid wood being a popular choice, it can be disappointing to hear that your favourite choice isn’t compatible with this feature! You do get wood’s realistic appearance with the other flooring materials, so you don’t have to sacrifice solid wood’s beautiful authentic looks!

Safety and Appearance

Safety is something we all need to put as a priority, especially if you come from a busy family household! Like anything, as radiators get older they wear out and sometimes fall off the wall – the last thing you want when you have kids running about the place! Sharp edges and hot, you have to be much more careful with radiators. Under-floor heating is tucked out of the way, so nothing dangerous in the way and unsightly radiators!

Of course, there’s probably many of you that want under-floor heating in your home, but the cost and disruption is too off putting. One it’s installed though, you’ll notice a big difference in bills and aesthetics, it will end up paying for itself!

Have Your Say

Do you have any experience with under-floor heating? Share with us in the comments?

Remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news and discussions. We’re always finding new ways to improve our stock, so keep up to date!

The image features our: Studley Barn Oak (EO1098).

The post The Advantages of Under-Floor Heating appeared first on Blog & Advice Centre – Luxury Flooring & Furnishings.

This post appeared first on https://www.luxuryflooringandfurnishings.co.uk

When buying new flooring, there are certain key steps to ensuring its longevity. Preparation is key. As the old saying goes: fail to prepare, prepare to fail. One key step is to acclimatise flooring. But what is it? Why is acclimating wood flooring so important, and how do you do it effectively?

To acclimatise flooring, leave the boxes in the room the floor will be fitted in. This allows it to adjust to the room’s temperature and moisture levels. Leave the flooring in its boxes, stacked on top of each other, and open them at each end to let air circulate through the packs. Different flooring types require different minimum acclimatisation periods:

• Solid wood: 72 hours
• Engineered wood: 72 hours
• Laminate flooring: 24 hours
• Luxury vinyl tiles: 24 hours
• EvoCore: No acclimatisation needed

Jump to:

• What is Acclimatisation?
• Why is it Important?
• How to Acclimatise Your Flooring
• Best Practice

What is Acclimatising Flooring?

Acclimatising flooring is the process of conditioning your wood, laminate or LVT to adjust to its new environment. This is the room it will be installed in. 

Through acclimating wood flooring, it is given time to get used to the room’s natural temperature and moisture (humidity) levels. 

Missing this crucial step can lead to serious issues with your floor down the line. 

Why is it So Important?

If you fail to acclimatise your flooring, it may warp, crack, buckle or split. You could also be left with unsightly gaps. 

This is because floors naturally expand and contract. This is even more true for real wood flooring, as they are natural products, which is why their acclimatisation times are longer. 

Every room has its own temperature and humidity levels. Because your flooring is likely to have been stored in a large warehouse, the environment is much different to the one in which it will be laid. 

If you immediately lay your flooring without letting it acclimatise, it will expand or contract due to the sudden change in environment. This is where damage most occurs.

How to Acclimatise Your Flooring

Acclimatising your new flooring is very easy to do.

Simply leave the flooring in its boxes, then open up the end and stack them on top of each other. This allows air to circulate between the boards and helps the flooring to adapt to its new environment. 

The length of time you need to acclimatise flooring depending on the flooring type. Here are our recommendations for the minimum amount of time you should leave your floor to acclimatise.

Flooring Type	Minimum Time Needed to Acclimatise
Solid Wood	72 hours
Engineered Wood	72 hours
Laminate Flooring	24 hours
Luxury Vinyl Tiles	24 hours
EvoCore	No acclimatisation needed

Flooring such as solid and engineered wood is of course made from natural materials. This therefore makes them more susceptible to damage from moisture or fluctuating temperatures. While engineered wood had multiple layers, this is made from real wood. Solid wood uses one piece of wood to create the whole plank.

While laminate does have wood in the form of a fibreboard core, there is less of it, which is why it needs less time to acclimatise. 

Luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) may be made from mostly plastic, but this can still be affected by changes in temperature. Therefore 24 hours minimum is recommended for this flooring type. 

EvoCore flooring is a brand new range, made from seven highly-durable layers. These layers mean it requires no acclimatisation.

When acclimatising your flooring, it’s important that the room’s temperature and humidity levels are as they would be normally. 

If they’re acclimatised to an environment that’s different, for example before heating or air conditioning is installed and used, this can cause damages down the line as the flooring adapts to the new temperature levels. 

If your room has heating or air conditioning, make sure they’ve been operating for at least five days before you acclimatise flooring. The same goes for underfloor heating. If you’ve had any work done to the room, such as plastering, allow this to fully dry before acclimatisation. 

In short, the room should fall within 18-24°C, with a relative humidity level of 45-65%. Your flooring should not be any larger than 8-12% humidity before it is installed. 

Best Practice

There are certain best practices you should follow when acclimatising flooring:

• Make sure the room environment is stable before you acclimatise your flooring
• If you floor was delivered on a rainy day and has absorbed moisture, allow extra time for acclimatisation
• Check your room falls within 18-24°C and 45-65% humidity
• Ensure your flooring’s humidity levels are between 8-12%
• Always follow manufacturer guidelines if you’re unsure to ensure your warranty remains intact

To Sum Up

Acclimating wood flooring, and most flooring types, is crucial in protecting its longevity. 

To prevent damages such as cracks, gaps or warping, ensure you follow the step in this guide. For further advice, contact our team today.

The post How to Acclimatise Flooring? appeared first on Direct Wood Flooring Blog.

Buying a new floor isn’t just about picking your dream flooring and away you go, you have to think about the accessories which will make your installation smoother and the finished room look the best it possibly can. We sell a range of installation and maintenance and accessories to help you along the way. Here are our best sellers…

Beading: Available in a variety colours, beading is the perfect accessory to complement your wood flooring. It will fill the gap between your planks and the wall or skirting board. Your room will suffer without it, so make sure it’s added to your basket

Underlay: Here at Luxury Flooring we sell an extensive range of underlays for all flooring types with a variety of thicknesses, materials and sound reduction properties.

If the room you are laying your flooring in is susceptible to moisture or damp rising, we strongly advise that you purchase an underlay which contains damp proof membrane. If sound reduction is a priority to you, then look at the decibel rating – the higher the number, the more effective it will be.

Glue: This one speaks for itself. It’s a vital component which seals the joints and planks of your wood flooring together. When laying the flooring, you should be able to run a bead of glue along the tongue of the next board into the groove. This provides the perfect bond creating a stronger and more durable floor that stays together better. It’s also very fast drying, within an hour!

Ramp Profile: This is designed to bridge the expansion between doorways. It should be use when one level is higher than the other, if levels are the same then you should consider using a T profile. All profiles are designed to match our flooring, from a whitewashed oak to dark walnut brown.

Skirting Board: Coming in a variety of colours, widths and heights, it’ll fit perfectly in with whatever flooring you choose. We would always recommend a skirting board to finish off a room and complete your flooring with an elegant and sophisticated touch.

Have Your Say

What accessories can you recommend? Let us know in the comments!

Remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news and discussions. We’re always finding new ways to improve our stock, so keep up to date!

The images features our: White Washed Engineered Oak Scotia Beading To Match White Washed Flooring (PRO207).

The post Top 5 Accessories to Accompany Your Flooring Purchase appeared first on Blog & Advice Centre – Luxury Flooring & Furnishings.

This post appeared first on https://www.luxuryflooringandfurnishings.co.uk

With property prices being at an all-time high, many of us have to settle for a property that’s smaller than we’d ideally like. Unfortunately, London is one of if not the most expensive places to live in the UK, so our first tip is to look elsewhere so you get more for your money. With our small country and so many people, space costs!

With all this being said, it’s important to have some ideas about how you’re going to store all your stuff if you have gone for a smaller property. This is a guide to some of the storage options that are available that you might not have even thought of and how to make the most of your space.

Shelves

Shelves are the perfect solution if you struggle with floor space. You can keep pretty much anything on shelves, but perhaps save it for items that you use often so they’re accessible as it saves you having it to rummage through drawers and cupboards.  If you’re worried about the room looking cluttered, then use large mirrors and bright walls to give the illusion of more space.

Sofa Storage

Sofa storage is one of the best investments you can make, whether that’s in the form of storage within the sofa itself or in neat boxes on wheels which effortlessly slide in and out from underneath. Sofa storage is neat, tidy and easily accessible, making it an ideal solution for items you need semi-regularly such as remote controls, games control controllers and HDMI cables.

Media units with closable doors are also a good way of hiding pieces of equipment such as satellite and cable TV boxes, games consoles and Blue-Ray players, so consider investing in one of these as opposed to a unit with just shelves on it.

Make use of tables and cabinets. Instead of using a table to put your tv on, place it on a cabinet with drawers or cupboards. The good news is that these are relatively inexpensive and can be found at most suitable shops such as Argos and Ikea.

Under Bed Storage

This is probably something you’ve already heard of and something that’s very commonly used. The space under the bed is the perfect place for sealed bags, boxes on wheels and even the bed having its own storage. This is the perfect place to keep spare bedding, sleeping bags and out of season clothes.

 Hanging Wardrobe Shelves

The ideal solution to maximise space in your wardrobe. Perfect for socks, underwear and small clothing, the best thing is that they’re so cheap!

Over the Door Shelf/Hangers

Like most of us, floor space in the bathroom is limited, so hooks or shelves which hang on the back of the door could be the answer. They’re the perfect solution for hanging towels, dressing gown and shower caps!

Have Your Say

Do you have any tips to share with us? Let us know in the comments below!

Remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news and discussions. We’re always finding new ways to improve our stock, so keep up to date!

The post Great Storage Ideas For Small Houses and Flats appeared first on Blog & Advice Centre – Luxury Flooring & Furnishings.

This post appeared first on https://www.luxuryflooringandfurnishings.co.uk

Spring has arrived, finally! Which means it’s time to get your home in order and remove the dirt and deadness of winter. With everything that’s going on at the moment and it looking like we’re going to have to spend a lot of time indoors, it’s the great opportunity to get things perfect in our home. A spring clean is not only a tradition but it also promotes positivity and wellness. Tidy house, tidy mind! Of course it’s much healthier and more hygienic to keep dust and dirt away too. But, if you’re a little bit daunted by the whole task and are struggling to know where to start, we’ve come up with some tips to help you get started…

Windows: In the dark dullness of winter, it’s often hard to tell when your windows are begging for a shine. With us leaving for work in the dark and coming home in it too, we don’t always notice the grime on our windows. As soon as the days get longer and the sun comes out, you’ll soon notice those dirty marks and it can really ruin your room. Get your windows clean so they’re all ready to let in the glorious sun of summer fully.

Sand down and refinish your floors: If you’re lucky enough to have solid or engineered wood in your home, then Spring is the perfect time to give them a sand down and refinish. If you’ve had your wood floors for a while and scratches and stains are beginning to appear, then starting this process can really brighten up your room. Although this does not normally need to be done for the first 15-20 years, sometimes it needs to be done a little sooner especially if you come from a busy family household

Junk drawer: Every household has one. No matter how hard you try to prevent things getting dumped in it or try organising it, after a few weeks it gets back to how it was again. Start by clearing out stuff you’ve not used in years or even months, give it a vacuum and a wipe then put plastic tubs to get things in their own departments.

Clean the curtains: This is something that not many of us think of doing, you can put curtains in the washing machine! Be careful though, some of them will need to be taken to the dry cleaners. In a lot of rooms, the curtains are a big bold feature and the whole room will really benefit if they have a good wash.

General declutter: It’s no secret that a good declutter will always improve things. Especially if you have kids, you’ll be all too familiar with stuff being dumped and left around all the time and a good declutter will improve your mood significantly.

Outside: With the warmer weather just around the corner, it’s time to get things in tip top shape outside. Do some weeding, plant new flowers and clean your outdoor furniture. Wipe the furniture down with warm water and detergent then give it a good squirt with the hose.

Clean your cleaners: Brooms and vacuums need love and attention too. Swish the broom head in warm soapy water or vacuum the end. Replace the bag in the vacuum and wash the attachments.

Mattress: You’d be surprised by how many germs your beloved mattress can harbour. Press your vacuum firmly against it, making sure you get underneath and the sides.

Have Your Say

Do you have any tips on a Spring clean? Share with us down below!

Remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news and discussions. We’re always finding new ways to improve our stock, so keep up to date!

The image features our: Studley Chocolate Oak (EO4003).

The post Spring Clean and Decluttering Tips appeared first on Blog & Advice Centre – Luxury Flooring & Furnishings.

This post appeared first on https://www.luxuryflooringandfurnishings.co.uk

As with any new season, we see the fashion trends change and it makes updating our homes with the new styles even more tempting. This doesn’t mean you have to revamp your entire home and spend a fortune – little touches can work just as well. Now we don’t want to do up our home to then find the trends have moved on quickly, so here’s some spring interior trends that are here to stay…

Abstract

A fun yet sophisticated theme that takes inspiration from expressional artwork. With bold patterns, bright colours and playful blocks dotted around, evoking relaxing sensations, the best thing about this trend is that it suits nearly every room so you’re not restricted to the living or bedroom for example. You can incorporate it into your kitchen with fancy light fixtures, jazz up your living room with abstract bright cushions, herringbone wood flooring and feature walls. Of course, there’s always abstract art work for your walls if you really want to go to town.

When it comes to the colour palette, we would certainly go down the route of bright colours as previously mentioned, and you can even get away with colours that you might have first thought clashed but be careful not to overdo it! Don’t be afraid, try mixing mustard tones with berry, your room will pop.

Subtle glamour

This is a bold and sassy take on the glamour style is really set to take hold of spring interior trends. This boasts a sophisticated elegance with a little hint of the 1960s. Here we see shapely furniture with rounded curves take centre stage. You can also throw in a bit of 1920s style too – art déco is and continues to be very fashionable with interiors. Rich soft tones such as ruby or royal blue are perfect, mixed with warmer tones of bronze and rose. Anything metallic works well too, with it bringing a slight modern touch.

If you’re looking to make a real statement, then this sort of style is highly recommended, but it’s not for the faint hearted! Show off your taste with a statement wall, interesting coffee tables and a characterful armchair. You can’t go wrong with velvet either, especially when it comes to furnishings, and why not glam it up with tassels and fringing?

Simplicity

It’s well known that a contemporary interior is all about simple clean spaces. It’s all about a calm, comfortable and a chilled-out space to relax in, but it’s at the height of fashion too! Neutral colours are where it’s at and grey always comes out on top, with it being a calming retreat from the outside world. This doesn’t mean you have to have dull and boring interior with no character though as you can experiment with different textures such as wool, wicker and light cotton to liven the room up a little. The best thing about this is that because it is so easy going and versatile, it will work well in any setting, from a rustic living room to a modern kitchen. Also, try pairing it with a dark accent colour you’re good to go!

Have Your Say

Do you have any spring interior trends to share with us? Let us know in the comments below!

Remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news and discussions. We’re always finding new ways to improve our stock, so keep up to date!

The images features our: Kettlewell Milky Oak (HD2100).

The post Spring 2020: Interior Trends That Are Here to Stay appeared first on Blog & Advice Centre – Luxury Flooring & Furnishings.

This post appeared first on https://www.luxuryflooringandfurnishings.co.uk

Luxury Flooring and Furnishings are delighted to reveal that their Directors and Founders Cameron & Declan Christie are regional Finalists for the Yorkshire area in the Young Entrepreneur of the Year category at the FSB Awards.

The entrepreneurial duo of cousins, aged 26 and 27, launched Luxury Flooring in 2013, and have built several brands across multiple territories, with an online presence in the UK, Ireland, France and Germany.

On being shortlisted, Managing Director, Cameron Christie, said:

“We’re both delighted to be nominated for this award. We’ve invested heavily into the business over the last year or so, making some major changes along the way, and have seen significant business growth as a result of that.

“Our main priority is always the ongoing success of the business, but it’s always positive to be recognised on a personal level.”

The pair have a history of success in the FSB Awards, having been named as Young Entrepreneur(s) of the Year for the Yorkshire region back in 2018.

Co-Founder and CEO, Declan Christie, added:

“Having won the award a couple of years ago, we’re hopeful that we can once again come away as a regional winner, but this time go one better and secure the national trophy.”

The FSB Awards celebrates small businesses all over the country, with entrants initially entering various categories on a regional level, before finding out whether they have been successful at a ceremony in April, and moving on to the National final, which takes place in May.  You can find out more about the awards and nominees here.

The post Luxury Flooring’s Founders up for Another Award! appeared first on Blog & Advice Centre – Luxury Flooring & Furnishings.

This post appeared first on https://www.luxuryflooringandfurnishings.co.uk

This post appeared first on http://www.woodworkingnetwork.com

Every interior theme has its own unique charm and it goes without saying that a contemporary style interior is at the height of fashion at the moment, with the style changing all the time to keep up with the demands of the modern age. At the moment, it’s all about the clean spaces and minimalist décor, so let’s have a look at some of the ways you can achieve this look in your own home.

Flooring

Of course, we’re always going to start with flooring. It can make or break a room and is usually the first thing that you notice when you walk into a room as well as being disruptive and expensive to change, so if you’re having a complete renovation then it’s a good place to start! We’d stay away from too much pattern, such as patterned carpets – remember you’re trying to make a clean fresh-looking space. Instead go for wood, laminate or Luxury Vinyl Tiles which are more associated with modern homes due to their smooth clean finishes. Although wood flooring is often thought of as old fashioned, its popularity has come back and many homeowners are opting for it. It has a timeless elegance that goes with pretty much all interior themes. Coming in many finishes, wood types and colours – with a contemporary look in mind, we’d go for one that has calmed knots and grains to really enhance a clean-cut and neutral look.

If you’re on a stricter budget however, laminate and LVT come in very convincing imitations of natural products that often it’s hard to tell them apart from the real thing!

Colour Theme

Neutrals such as whites, magnolias and creams are always a good bet, but can be considered as a bit of a ‘cop out’! so don’t feel like you’re restricted to something simple, you can certainly make a statement with a feature wall or bold colours – just don’t overdo it, it’s all about balance!

Lighting

Metallic light fixtures fit in perfectly with a contemporary interior – you’re almost trying to get an industrial feel. Remember as well, lighting isn’t just about white light, experiment with different colours such as blues and greens – it doesn’t need to be the same colour throughout either, with many homeowners opting for something different in each of their rooms. Spotlights are cropping up more and more – particularly lighting up a feature like a painting or ornament.

If you’re really wanting to embrace this theme, then matte black or shiny silver lamps boast a modern slick look.

Other Ideas

The most important thing to remember when trying to get a modern interior is that less is more, avoid clutter where possible in favour of clear surfaces and walls! Open space is just as important as the objects you might put in them. If you are a fan of pictures and ornaments then that’s fine – just avoid lots of little pieces, fewer larger objects work much better.

Don’t think that your interior needs to look uninviting and cold to really get this look – we all need our interior comforts! Place a fluffy or wool rug over your wood floors, throws over your sofas, install a wood burner. Plants never go amiss either, adding a touch of the natural world into your home.

We hope some of these ideas have gotten your contemporary ideas going. The best way to get a real feel is look at pictures, ask your friends how they got their interior beautifully modern, there’s a whole world of ideas out there!

The post Contemporary Interior Ideas appeared first on Blog & Advice Centre – Luxury Flooring & Furnishings.

This post appeared first on https://www.luxuryflooringandfurnishings.co.uk

There’s a lot of factors to consider when buying engineered wood. Engineered wood flooring combines multiple layers of timber with a solid wood veneer. Designed to allow for wood expansion, engineered wood is compatible with underfloor heating systems and boasts a high moisture tolerance level. Thanks to the solid wood veneer, engineered wood flooring displays all the stunning looks of solid wood at a fraction of the cost. Available in an array of wood species, colours and finishes – there’s a range to compliment every home and budget!

Together with our wood flooring experts, we’ve created this handy guide to buying engineered wood flooring to make sure you’re well equipped when it comes to choosing the right flooring for your home.

Room Suitability 

In order to protect the longevity of your flooring you must first ensure it’s suitable for the room where you intend on installing. Solid wood for example, is not compatible with areas prone to moisture or underfloor heating systems. If you’re at all unsure, check with the manufacturer before laying. 

Engineered wood flooring is a very versatile range; the composition of the wood means it copes well in high risk areas such as kitchens, as well as high traffic areas such as hallways. Our handy room suitability chart above gives you a quick glance at where we recommend fitting, where to take caution and where to avoid.

Living Area – Living Room

As a high-end flooring range, engineered wood flooring instantly sets the ambiance of a room. Displaying all the character and charm of solid wood through its authentic wood knots and grains, the solid veneer makes it extremely difficult to tell apart – even for the expert eye!

Guaranteed to leave a lasting impression, buying engineered wood flooring is perfect for transforming living room/lounge areas where you are most likely to entertain your guests and where comfort and style are key. 

Living Area – Dining Room

Add a touch of class to your dining room without the stress of spillages. As a low maintenance flooring range, it copes extremely well with minor food spills. Simply wipe the surface clean with a damp cloth. 

Please note – be sure to thoroughly ring out the damp cloth before use. 

Living Area – Bedroom 

As one of the most private rooms in your home, it’s also one where you can be most expressive with your choice of styling. When buying engineered wood flooring, there’s a huge range of plank widths and designs to compliment your chosen look.

Darker flooring designs are great for contrasting with light décor and creating a real statement piece. Whereas authentic flooring ranges are perfect for reflecting light and brightening darker colour schemes. Personal preference will help you decide which range is best for you. 

Hallway, Landing & Stairs

Robust to high traffic, engineered wood flooring is perfect for halls, landings and stairs. The solid veneer can be sanded and re-finished to restore any signs of wear – protecting the longevity of your flooring. 

Engineered Oak is particularly popular in these areas due to the quality and hardness of the timber. 

Conservatory 

The multiple layers which form engineered wood provide extra resilience to varying temperature, humidity and moisture. Conservatories vary greatly in terms of temperature, so ensure you’ve left a wide enough expansion gap and acclimatise the wood floor as long as possible before fitting.

Kitchen 

We advise you to take caution when installing engineered wood in a kitchen due to the risk of high moisture content. Whilst engineered wood will outperform any other wood flooring range thanks its ability to expand and contract, all spillages must be tended to as quickly as possible.

Bathroom 

Due to excessive moisture content, we advise against installing or buying engineered wood for a bathroom. Instead we’d advise to go for a Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) range. As a non-porous flooring solution, it is ideal for areas that are susceptible to high levels of moisture. 

Underfloor Heating

Providing the ultimate comfort underfoot, engineered wood is compatible with underfloor heating systems. When installing, we suggest to increase the temperature in 1°C increments. This allows the flooring to adjust slowly to the excess heat. It should also never exceed 27°C.

It is advised that the solid wood veneer should be no thicker than 5mm and the entire board is less than 18mm. This is to let the heat pass through effectively and enable the heat to rise. 

Composition of Engineered Wood 

The construction of engineered wood is what sets it apart from other flooring types. It consists of either HDF or plywood core layers, bound together with extreme pressure and specialist adhesive. This is what creates the advanced stability levels engineered wood flooring is renowned for. Enabling the flooring to expand generates an impressive tolerance to moisture, humidity and temperature fluctuation. 

A solid wood veneer then covers the base, giving engineered wood the truly authentic look and feel of real wood whilst also enhancing its durability. This top layer can vary in thickness – typically anywhere between two and six millimetres. The ability to sand and refinish this layer means your engineered wood flooring will stay looking perfect for years to come. 

Environmentally Friendly

All of our engineered wood flooring ranges are sustainably sourced from carefully selected forests. This helps preserve delicate ecosystems and ensures that native cultures and economies are respected.

Affordability

As a cheaper alternative to solid wood and carrying a higher price tag than its laminate counterpart, the quality of engineered wood along with the impressive lifespan justifies its worth. Known to add value to your property, buying engineered wood is more of an investment for your home than an impulse purchase. 

Engineered Wood Flooring Species

Oak Wood Flooring

Highly sought after, oak wood flooring not only looks amazing but boasts impressive durability levels too. As one of the most expensive wood species on the market, engineered wood flooring offers an affordable alternative. The ability to stain oak makes this wood species very versatile, ranging from light to dark colour hues. Enjoy all the beautiful aesthetics solid oak offers with a huge range of shades and styles to suit your home.

Walnut Wood Flooring

Walnut wood flooring is instantly recognisable thanks to its beautiful, authentic, brown tones. Derived from its natural colouring, the wood is unstained and ranges from stunning light brown to striking dark chocolate tones. The grain is also unique thanks to its prominent wave or curled design. 

As one of the finest woods in the world, the density along with preserving the natural colouring is what sets walnut apart from the rest. As a cost effective range to solid walnut, engineered walnut wood flooring is much easier to install and offers greater stability. 

Beech or Maple Wood Flooring

Organically formed in light colour tones, both beech and maple wood with suit any colour scheme whilst reflecting natural light around your home. Featuring all the authentic wood knots and grains you expect from solid wood, the engineered versions not only look amazing but are built to last. 

Ash Wood Flooring

Ash wood flooring is the perfect blank canvas to do with as you please. Ideal for use with finishing oils and stains; the authentic features of this quality range will shine through whilst also adding your own unique stamp. Particularly popular in the parquet design, grab yourself a bargain with ash engineered wood alternatives. 

Acacia Wood Flooring

Renowned for natural red colour tones, acacia is great for adding warmth and comfort to your home. As a truly authentic flooring range, the natural shades vary from deep orange tones to dark red hues. Available in solid and engineered wood, again the engineered version is your cost effective alternative. 

Engineered Wood Flooring Finishes

Lacquered 

Lacquer provides a subtle glossy finish, giving an element of luxury to your engineered wood flooring. Our lacquered woods are coated with several layers of industry leading, Treffert lacquer to provide a subtle sheen which offers additional protection from everyday wear and tear. It also performs well against the effects of moisture, with the lacquer acting as shield to seal your wood. 

Whilst this does not make your wood waterproof, it is great for high risk areas such as kitchens where those little spillages may occur. For extra peace of mind, our super matt lacquered finish not only protects but the additional layers harden your wood too. 

Oiled 

Oiled engineered wood flooring portrays a classic natural matt finish. Our oiled ranges are primarily treated with specialist Osmo Oil. The wood is coated in the oil which soaks through, nourishing it and adding an extra layer of protection. Oil will need to be reapplied more often than lacquer, to maintain its beautiful matt look. 

Unfinished 

Unfinished engineered wood is exactly that – unfinished. The wood has been treated and is ready for you to add your own finish and personalise as you wish. 

Oil tints are great to get creative and enhance the natural grains in the wood with decorative colour tones. If you’re looking for more of a natural finish, then clear satin or clear gloss is also available. 

In addition to the standard finishes, we also offer an additional combination of the below:

Brushed and Lacquered

Brushed and lacquered finish consists of removing the softer grains of the wood using a wire brush but this time coating the wood with lacquer. With only the toughest grains and knots visible, this finish is full of character with a slightly smooth but textured surface which can be felt underfoot. 

Brushed and Oiled

Alike to brushed and lacquered, brushed and oiled wood flooring consists of removing the softer grains of the wood using a wire brush and then coating the wood with oil leaving a beautiful highly textured surface with a rustic look. By removing the softer grains it also makes the wood stronger and more hardwearing.

Smoked/ Fumed

To achieve the smoked/fumed look, the wood is placed in an industrial kiln and exposed to fumes over a period of around 20 days. During this process, the wood endures heavy shrinkage making it denser and much more hard wearing. As the wood reacts to the ammonia in the fumes, it develops darker tannins through the wood and lifts them to the surface to create more prominent features. 

Whitewashed

These woods have been coated with a semi opaque white stain. This stylish finish adds a lightness to the wood and accentuates the natural grain. 

Hand Carved

Hand carved wood has a slightly bumpy, distressed texture to it. Achieved manually by running a curved tool down the plank, making each plank individual and unique.  This finish is particularly popular among those who are looking for an aged/worn looking floor.

Engineered Wood Flooring Fitting Methods

Glue down

To fit both solid and engineered wood using this method, glue the base of the board to the floor boards or a concrete floor (coated in a damp proof membrane), and between each of the boards.

Floating Installation 

Lay engineered wood as a floating floor on top of underlay, gluing only between the joints. For a concrete subfloor your underlay will need to have an inbuilt damp proof membrane.

Secret Nailing

Inserting nails at a 45° angle into the tongue of the engineered wood boards. Also inserted into the floorboards beneath, the nails firmly secure the floor in place.

If you need any further help or assistance in buying engineered wood, please do not hesitate to contact one of our engineered wood flooring experts on: 03301 028 444.

The post Buying Engineered Wood – The Complete Guide appeared first on Direct Wood Flooring Blog.