Timber flooring can strike the ideal note in any design of house - it looks normal, warm and rustic in a country cottage and, in a modern setting, it can add texture and create a natural feel. Moreover, in both modern and period homes, the many vinyl and laminated variations can be a great and practical choice.
Wooden flooring is under constant technical development; the most recent ranges have tough, long-enduring finishes and are straightforward to set up. There's no need to get worried about gaps between boards; the click-and-lock systems imply the task could be flooring store Augusta GA handled by a skilled DIY-er, although many suppliers will also offer an installation assistance.
All sorts of wooden flooring could be laid over practically any sub-ground, including floorboards, concrete, older tiles or a boarded surface area, so long as the surface is flat, dry and sound. Reclaimed timber flooring, nevertheless, is a slightly different proposition as it won't be neatly lower to size and it's difficult to guage what it will appear to be once it has been finished. Take information from the supplier on how much to get and which complete to select, and always ensure that you've bought more than enough - it will be tiresome to locate similar boards elsewhere. It is also worth experimenting with washing and/or finishes on an extra board before installation.
As it can be an integral part of the space and colour scheme, you should choose your timber flooring at the start of the redecoration or refurbishment task. Regarding to how light or dark the ground is, it can affect how paint and paper colours appear. Even though some timber flooring, such as parquet, solid hardwood and reclaimed boards, could be darkened or lightened by sanding down and re-varnishing, it's not a job you are likely to want to do frequently.
Types of Timber Flooring
Solid Wood
Made from the named timbers, they are solid completely. Some types are ideal for set up as the structural ground without needing a sub-floor underneath.
Reclaimed Timber
This could be bought as bundles of planks, boards or panels from reclamation and salvage yards, or as whole floors from timber-flooring specialists. Prior to set up reclaimed timber flooring can look very uninspiring. Once it's laid, however, it could look incredible.
Multi-Layered or Engineered
A plywood or veneered foundation, built up with many layers of criss-crossed hard or softwood boards, and topped with a level of the named timber. The construction of the flooring gives it power and stability, so it's a good option to solid-wood flooring.
Laminate
Made by producing a graphic of real wood on a layer of plastic, which is certainly laminated to a table backing. Top-quality versions have got convincing textured finishes, and so are hardwearing and hard. Inexpensive DIY-store variations may look smooth and lifeless, and the "wood" end may flake or chip at the edges of the boards.
Vinyl
Vinyl flooring is accessible in timber patterns. High end sheet vinyl could be a great choice in the kitchen or bathroom, and is certainly considerably cheaper than solid wood. Vinyl plank or block flooring feels harder underfoot but, as each floor is separately designed, it always needs to be professionally laid.
Suitability
o Timber flooring could be noisy, especially in upstairs rooms; use rugs to deaden the sound of footsteps in occupied areas, and always use the insulation suggested by the installers.
o Reclaimed timber flooring is generally well-worn and is tough plenty of for most living areas, although you ought to avoid bathrooms and kitchens.
o Solid or engineered solid wood flooring is suitable for living bedrooms, areas, halls and dining rooms.
o Laminates are suitable for living areas and bedrooms but avoid rooms with water, as seepage between your joins can cause planks to swell or discolour.
o Vinyl look-alikes are good options for bathrooms and kitchens, conservatories and utility rooms, aswell as for main living areas.
Styles and Grades
Timber flooring comes while planks (also referred to as boards), each of which may be made up of numerous strips. A plank with a three-strip style has three narrow strips running the distance of the plank. The ground could have a random strip design when laid. Planks can vary thick, each depth being more ideal for certain bases. For example, the thickest planks, at about 22 mm, can be laid over joists as structural floorboards, while thinner planks, at about 7 mm to 15 mm thick are laid as overlay floors on to an existing smooth, dry sub-floor.
The top finish of timber flooring is also given a grading. High quality or select grades are knot, uniform and smooth-free. Moving down the scale, grades referred to as "natural" or "rustic" are much less uniform oftentimes, more reasonable and appealing. Only purchase your flooring when you have seen a sample of the exact plank - surface finish, strip, colour and quality.
Wooden Floors and the Environment
Timber flooring is generally acknowledged to be ecologically audio, providing it is produced using timber from sustainable forests. Reputable shops will only handle manufacturers who make use of wood from certified resources. In the united kingdom, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) scheme is broadly recognised and carries a certified chain that tracks timber through every stage, from forest to merchant. For further details, visit fsc-uk.info or call (01686) 413916.
Trends
There's currently a move away from narrow, towards darker wood, reclaimed flooring and pale woods. Oak is definitely a perennial favourite, possibly due to its middle-range colour choices, and the fact that it blends with virtually any colour pallette or style.
Extra-wide boards and planks (up to 76 cm wide in some cases) are becoming favourites too, many with distressed finishes such as for example "smoked" effects. For laminate flooring, choose styles with V-grooves along the lengthy and short edges of the boards, and with textured areas, which look far more realistic than completely clean surfaces.
Longevity and Upkeep
Solid-hardwood flooring is incredibly hard-wearing, and will last for many years. It could be sanded down and resurfaced every five to seven years. Designed flooring will normally withstand a couple of sandings, but only that. Real solid wood flooring will age gracefully, and the indicators of deterioration are a satisfactory feature - as timber home furniture ages and picks up the casual dent or mark, so will timber flooring. Laminate http://edition.cnn.com/search/?text=waterproof vinyl plank flooring flooring can't be sanded when chipped, broken or scratched, although the very best quality ones are extremely hardwearing and scratch resistant to begin with.
Save timber floors from getting scratched simply by grit, dust and dirt simply by regularly sweeping with a soft brush or vacuuming them. Also mop the ground once a week roughly with a well-wrung mop. A detergent could be added to the water, based on whether the flooring has a hard (varnished or lacquered) or gentle (waxed or oiled) surface finish. Hard finishes provide a defensive barrier for the hardwood, and offer a high level of security, but are more challenging to correct if damaged.
A serious scratch or dent in a lacquered finish off results in the whole floor needs to be sanded back and relacquered or revarnished. Waxed or oiled finishes are softer, and shield the top by sinking into the solid wood itself. They're most successful if you would like to nurture an aged, worn look for your wooden ground. If waxed or oiled woods obtain damaged, the complete florr will not have to be redone, as it is possible to sand back again and re-wax or re-oil an isolated region.