Wood flooring fundamentals

Sourcing and selecting a wooden floor can be a daunting task, but if you take the time to consider the essentials the end result can introduce an inimitable, timeless character to your home…

As beautiful as they are practical, wooden floors have long been a popular choice for bringing an elegant character to a space. An incredibly versatile finish, wood flooring is immensely adaptable to a broad range of interiors; this natural, sustainable material invites the outdoors in, introducing an inimitable warmth and texture to your home.

But where do you start on the selection process to make sure you commit to the right type, finish and style of wooden floor? We’ve brought together the fundamentals to be considered when choosing your wood flooring…

Construction

Solid wood flooring, as the name suggests, is made of solid wood throughout its thickness and is usually made of hardwood species, such as oak, maple, or walnut while engineered wood flooring combines multiple layers of timber with a solid wood veneer.

We favour engineered wood flooring due to it benefitting from all the character of solid wood whilst its improved stability makes it more suitable for the rigours of modern life.

Engineered wood flooring is no different to solid wood flooring on the surface and can be sanded back and re-finished. It was created to be more stable than solid wood, which changes shape with fluctuations in relative humidity and temperature. Designed to allow for wood expansion, engineered wood is compatible with underfloor heating systems and boasts a high moisture tolerance level, its construction adding dimensional stability and strength.

It is also a particularly tree-friendly choice because it uses less of the slow-growth hardwoods.

Finishes

Reclaimed, antiqued, crisp and lacquered, stained or oiled, the finish of the boards will help define your space, serving to anchor an interior scheme, restore the character of a property or define distinct areas. Take time to consider the amount of light within the space, the furniture to be incorporated, the relating colour scheme and how the finish of the floor might unite or counter these elements. It is also wise to give thought to the practicalities of the room and the durability of the finish you select.

Every board we supply is finished to your specification by hand by our craftsmen and then hand coated in a unique oil coating which offers unprecedented protection and durability as well as preserving the natural beauty of the wood. Its unique formula, made from modified plant-based oil, delivers an accelerated drying time and great wear resistance.

It produces a beautiful, strong, water and stain-resistant surface that is ready for light use in just eight hours. It is also the first and only oil in the world that doesn’t contain VOCs or water, and is completely environmentally friendly.

Styles

Boards can be laid in any manner of styles – straight planks, parquet (both herringbone and chevron), panels, squares – the design possibilities go on…

The timeless character of a parquet floor does, however, remain an enduringly popular choice. Herringbone parquet is now one of the most popular styles of the 21st century – planks of wood are cut in perfect rectangles and placed in a staggered zig-zag pattern, so the end of one plank meets the side of another. Whilst chevron parquet sees the wood pieces cut at an angle and fitted together to form a true point, creating the effect of a repeating ‘V’.

It is also possible able to adjust the width and structural thickness of the boards to suit your requirements and the aesthetics of your existing interior, so consider the scale of your space and whether a large format might be more suitable than standard dimensions. Our experienced team can help here – we have developed a keen eye for flooring design over the years, from diamond decking to large-scale chevron parquet and herringbone parquet alongside classic oak planks.

Fitting

The final furlong can be crucial. Any awkward nooks within a space can make fitting a wooden floor difficult so find yourself someone who knows what they’re doing.

Our dedicated team work with you throughout the entire process to make sure your new wooden floor blends seamlessly with the character of your home and is immaculately fitted around any existing, period (or just plain awkward) details in your space.

Over the years we’ve worked on a large array of flooring projects. Each one unique. By virtue of this, we understand what works well in different spaces and with careful attention to detail and exceptional workmanship, we ensure the highest quality finish and fit for your wood floor.