Wood flooring Stockton-on-Tees local experts in wooden flooring from engineered wooden flooring to solid hardwood floor boards we have it and can lay it.
As with any wooden material you want to make sure it is sourced sustainable and responsible so studying the label and checking what the label actually says is a good habit to get into, not just for flooring. This counts even more so when it comes to hardwood as still large bits of hardwood are still unlabelled because they are not grown sustainable or even worse they just have some label stuck on it without any meaning.
Moisture movement is another thing to look at when choosing your floor. And with moisture I mean moisture in the air. Oak is a wood that increases in length a great deal when the air is more moist . and when using an oak floor it must have enough space to spread out (called an expansion gap) otherwise the wood will be deforming and creating a very ugly and uneven surface. Every wood has moisture movement you just need to know how much . and ensure that your expert know what they are doing. And if your climate has a large temperature and moisture variance you might want to pick a wood type that expands less .
Wood is separated in a couple of grades to help to distinguish the aesthetic distinction between each piece of wood. The major three grades are: Classic, Character and Rustic. Timbers with a large colour variance will have the colour added to its grade. For instance Classic White Ash .
The finest grade for wood is the classic grade it has the lightest colour variance , the straightest grains and the least number of knots. Character grade wood has more variety in texture and in colour , a wilder grain and some surface checks. Knots are up to 30mm in diameter and in hardwood. version they are typically filled . Rustic Grade wood has even more articulated . features then Character graded wood and can feature cracks and black knots. All rustic graded features are filled in prior to sealing but generally could use a bit more sanding.
When deciding upon the finish for your floor the very first thing you would have to figure out is how shining do you want it to be then you need to know the amount of traffic your floor is going to get and after that you need to pick how often you are willing to maintain the finish.
Colour and texture of the wood is not the only thing that influences the look of your floor. Patterns have a great effect on looks and can integrate the shape of the room. The three main patterns are: narrow strips, wide planks, and parquet squares. Narrow strips are the most common one to find in wood flooring and as some patterns such as a specific parquet square do not come in all wood type probably this should have been the starting point of your selection.
In surface texture you have lots of alternatives to choose from, such as: Brushed, Hand scraped Distressed, Stained, Smoked, and Carbonised. Some surface type appears to stick to a particular type of wood. For instance scraped is one of the most common types in oak flooring and everything comes down to your liking. When you would desire a wooden floor to be darker choosing a different surface method but sticking to the same type of wood might be an alternative to think about.
The basic alternatives go from Lacquer, Natural Oil to UV oil. Lacquer is the most durable of all finishes and with that also calls for the least amount of care despite the fact that scratches can still happen . Natural Oil is a bit . less tough but has the convenient option that repairs can be made quickly which can fill in most scratches. UV Oil is a bit in between both. Lacquer, even matt once, do leave a clear sign that the wood floor has received a finish. The oils are far greater in hiding their presence as they get soaked up by the wood making it the preferred option if you want it to look like it is not treated.
When arranging to set up wood flooring the first thing you want to evaluate is the shape of the under surface as a more unequal surface could persuade you to specific engineered flooring as an alternative to solid wood flooring. Or if it is truly crappy you would need to use some sort of underlay. This would also be a good thing to use if you are living in a flat and want to reduce sound disturbance to the neighbours below.