What is Reclaimed wood flooring?

by Wood Flooring

Reclaimed wood flooring is simply any wood that is not new and has been recycled from a building or structure. Reclaimed wood flooring will almost always have a much nicer look and feel about it than virgin wood and will use about 13 times less energy to salvage. We generally only deal with reclaimed wood that has come from old houses and factories and the most common species is reclaimed pine from around 1860 -1970.

Types of reclaimed flooring
Over the years we have dealt with all kinds of different types of reclaimed flooring including but limited to Oak, Pine, Chestnut, Maple, Beech, Mahogany and derivatives of Merbau and Walnut. Pine is without doubt the most common type of reclaimed flooring we use. Sometimes you can be lucky enough in an older home to find old oak floorboards and you cannot beat the feeling of finding that hidden treasure that has been hiding under a carpet for years. Oak is without doubt the most expensive if replacement boards are required. Chestnut is very rare and when old it has a similar colour to oak. Maple and beech are similar looking (maple being lighter) and are both very hard woods that are more often found in sports halls.  There are many houses that were built in the 70s that had Mahogany, merbau or oak finger parquet these floors will almost always be stuck down with bitumen adhesive and will look stunning when sanded. Walnut is not very common although we have seen both parquet and plank floors.

Where to get it
We as a company hold small stocks of reclaimed flooring at our joinery workshop in Alresford but can source all types of flooring for you. We have many connections that are able to find what you are looking for. If you would like to look for yourself, you can try reclamation yards which there are a few of locally, it’s also worth keeping a look out on eBay and gumtree.

Benefits
In my opinion the main benefit to using reclaimed flooring is keeping part of history to your home; stripping out an old floor is simply disrespectful to the building in my opinion. A nice old floor will add character and charm to your home giving it the wow factor and increasing the home’s value. Almost always restoring an old floor will be more cost effective than having a new floor installed, certainly a good quality one anyway.

Maintenance advice
Reclaimed flooring is no different to other wood floors. If the floor has been freshly sanded and re-finished simply sweeping and or vacuuming it followed by using the recommended cleaning product will keep your floor looking its best for the longest. Normally sanding a floor, refinishing it and then implementing a maintenance programme is the best route to take. However, with some old reclaimed floors, sanding may not be advisable and there are a range of products that can be applied to the floors to help maintain them as best as possible.

Good products to use
Over years of experience we have found that the following brands work the best and all have their place depending on the result that is trying to be achieved. Over recent years the products that ae now available for finishing wooden floors is totally mind blowing. There are constantly new products coming onto the market. The main brands that we use are BONA, JUNKERS, OSMO and BLANCHON. Bona, Blanchon and Junkers for Lacquers and OSMO and BLANCHON for oils / hard wax oils. We also have our secret staining system that that works particularly well on pine.

How much does reclaimed flooring cost?
It is more of a case of how long is a piece of string! To keep things simple and not waffling on for pages it depends on a few factors. 1 – species of the wood. 2 – width of board. 3 –  age. Reclaimed pine for example would normally be approximately £35 per square meter for an average width, but for much wider boards I have seen it being sold for as much as £100. Reclaimed oak is an entirely different thing. We recently had to source some flooring and there were only 2 places in the country that had what we needed and it was over £500 per square meter.

For more information about our flooring services and options please visit our workshop, call 01962 733016 or visit www.alresfordinteriors.co.uk today.

What you need to know about laying wood floors

by Wood Flooring

Laying wood floors is something we do regularly here at Alresford Interiors. We work weekly on projects for clients, bringing peoples flooring aspirations to reality. We specialise in engineered wood flooring and hand finishing boards for our clients. A large amount of what we do is hand distressed, (also known as tumbled flooring) and hand finished. This process gives the boards an aged look making them ideally suited to older houses. Having said that, we have seen signs recently of people with new build homes wanting something a bit different and choosing an aged look floor.

Engineered wood floors are hugely popular and for good reasons. They give off the same gorgeous wooden appearance but offer far more stability. Our engineered boards come with tongue and groove joints designed so they can be laid as a floating floor. This is good for laying onto areas with different surfaces by introducing an underlay to even out minor difference in the subfloor.

When it comes to subfloors for wood flooring, normally the most common surfaces are concrete or other timber. Wood flooring can be laid over concrete; however it cannot be nailed down, only glued. Gluing wooden flooring is the only method to directly attach wood floors to a concrete sublayer unless you introduce an underlay or plywood. If the moisture levels of the subfloor are high, a floating floor option is normally the way to go where an underlay is introduced to prevent the moisture damaging the wood over time. Plywood is the best timber surface for wood to be laid onto; it can be nailed or glued. Also plywood will stabilise a floor, for instance if you were laying a wood floor over 2 different sub floors (say concrete and wood) you would ideally need to fix ply down first to stabilise the whole floor to stop the risk of movement.  If you have a vinyl, laminate, carpet, tiles or lino flooring we would normally need to remove it and use the sublayer to that flooring as the surface to lay the wood onto.

If you are installing a floating wood floor, a foam, moisture stop or rubber underlay is what will be needed to create a barrier between the wood and sublayer. There is some stigma attached to floating floors however it has its place and there are some gorgeous floors available with manufacturers who recommend floating. Floating is normally always the cheapest option of fitting. As long as the sub floor is flat it will be hard to tell how it has been fitted. If there is some damp within the house floating can be a good option because the underlay acts as a membrane to stop the wood being affected. Fixed floors that are glued or nailed down don’t require an underlay because they are directly secured to the subfloor.

Secret nailing is the second of the three methods of installing a wood floor; this is the most simple and efficient way to secure wooden boards into place. Gluing is also a very good choice when it comes to securing floor boards especially if levels are an issue. For instance, at a front door. (we all want to be able to get into our homes)

How to acclimatise the floor to the room is a commonly asked question, however, rather than adapting the wood to that particular room, it is much better to ensure the building itself is dried out to a safe moisture level. It is important that all wet trades, especially plastering is dried before introducing wood.

Underfloor heating is an extremely popular trend in homes across the UK and lots of people regularly ask about underfloor heating with wooden flooring. Engineered wood flooring is more stable with moisture and temperature change. Due to this engineered wood flooring is suitable for underfloor heating and this is one of the advantages of having engineered wood instead of solid. However, it is advised that homeowners do not exceed 25c (some manufacturers will say 30c) because the impact of the heat and dramatic change can lead to damaging the wood over time basically cooking it. This can result in splits and even delamination in extreme situations. This is very rare though and with normal day to day use at the average temperature setting of 21˚c your engineered wood flooring will be perfectly fine.

For more information about our flooring services and options please visit our workshop, call 01962 733016 or visit www.alresfordinteriors.co.uk today.

How to keep your oak floor in perfect condition

by Wood Flooring

Oak flooring is hugely popular and here at Alresford Interiors we regularly fit engineered oak wood floors. Oak flooring is beautiful and durable which are two of the main reasons it’s so popular, but does need a little bit more care than some other floors. To ensure your oak flooring is looking its best, here are our top tips on how to keep your oak floor looking in perfect condition for longer.

The easiest way to maintain your floors finish and appearance is dry sweeping or vacuuming with a soft brush attachment. Both methods help remove dirt and grit quickly, which does act as an abrasive on your oak flooring; this can lead to scratching the finish. Also a good quality microfiber dust mop with a 12-18inch cotton head used dry or with special cleaning sprays won’t damage your floor but will help clean it. Wooden floor cleaners are formulated so they’ll clean your floor without removing the finish, but will remove surface scuffs. Other methods are daily sweeping with a soft bristle broom; harsh bristles will disturb the floor finish and cause scratching.

Things to definitely avoid when it comes to looking after your floors is water, wet mops and other cleaning methods, including a lot of water are a massive no.  Excessive water and liquid can damage both the flooring itself and the finish, water resistant flooring doesn’t mean waterproof. Also harsh cheap floor cleaners are another product to avoid; they can build up and create problems whilst dulling the overall appearance of your flooring. Stick to neutral branded PH cleaners made specifically to wooden flooring. We supply the correct floor cleaners depending on the finish you have.

Some other things that can make your floor look duller faster and can make marks are furniture and certain shoes. Furniture such as chairs that move a lot can disturb the floors finish and create dents/scratches. We recommend using felt pads on the area of contact. This will help prevent your furniture causing any unnecessary damage. Shoes with heels or spikes can cause severe damage to the upper wear layer of the floor; avoiding wearing these types of shoes will eliminate this risk.

Darkening of wood flooring is inevitable and is a process that happens slowly over time due to sunlight. To reduce the speed of discolouring, closing curtains/blinds or having sheer drapes will help protect your oak flooring from UV rays.

Rugs are a method to help stop the build-up of dirt in high traffic areas and near doors. Walking over an area frequently can eventually wear down the finish. When people walk into your home from the outdoors they can bring in dirt/grit, rugs will help reduce the amount that comes into contact with your oak flooring. Overall, under normal circumstances, your oak flooring shouldn’t normally get scratched.

A lot of people are unsure whether they can use steam cleaners on their wooden floors, the answer is no. Steam cleaners work by forcing steam onto the floor surface; this is meant to eliminate dust, mites, germs, dirt, mould and fungus. Steam mops are the most popular type of steam cleaner, its quicker and easier than regular mopping. It sounds great, but it isn’t for your wooden floors. Even though a steam mop is truly intended to be used on ‘sealed’ wooden floors, a solid hardwood floor may have patches where it isn’t fully or is unsealed. This means the floor has no protection and is completely exposed, this can lead to the floor quickly absorbing any water and it can result in your floor warping. Excessive moisture can also change the external finish of the hardwood floor straight away. Using steam mops forces moisture into your wooden floor and goes in between its layers. It can look dry shortly afterwards, but constantly dampening your floor and pushing in warm moisture at such power can make your wooden floors swell and curl eventually disjoining the pieces of flooring and peeling the layers apart. This is not a good look!

For any advice or more information about flooring and our services please visit our workshop, call 01962 733016 or visit www.alresfordinteriors.co.uk today.

Pet Owners: What Wood Flooring Should You Choose?

by Wood Flooring

Most homeowners want to know what the hardwood flooring options are if they have pets – particularly for dogs with their muddy feet and scratchy claws!

Fortunately, if you have a pet and want a gorgeous hardwood floor for your home, the two aren’t mutually exclusive.  Engineered hardwood flooring is a great option, particularly when it has a strong finish applied. All pre-finished hardwood flooring comes with several layers of tough finish which helps create a protective layer that can withstand a great deal of wear and tear. An alternative option is to fit an unfinished floor, then apply quality lacquers or oils to give you a customised, wear-resistant finish, helping it withstand a daily onslaught of dog and cat claws.

Like most materials, some types of wood naturally stronger than others, making them more suitable for a pet friendly home. If you’re looking for the best hardwood flooring for your pets, always go for tougher species, such as Oak, Ash and Maple.

Before choosing your flooring, take a look at a few pros and cons of wooden flooring for pet owners:

Pros

  • Hardwood flooring is tougher against scratches than some other flooring types. You can opt for a lighter hardwood, which doesn’t make scratches so visible, or choose a distressed finish, which hides marks and blemishes with its ‘lived in’ appearance
  • If your hardwood floors do get scratched, they can be fixed! A simple sanding and refinishing will bring your floors back to their former beauty.
  • Wood floors are very easy to clean, unlike carpet, which is perfect if your pets moult!
  • Wooden floors are more hygienic than carpets, being much easier to clean and providing nowhere for fleas, ticks and mites to hide. This should also help allergy & asthma sufferers.
  • Wood floors are not as slippery as laminate, making it a safer option for your pets.

Cons

  • Pet urine will stain and leave odours if not cleaned, which can be unsightly and difficult to remove
  • Water damage can occur if moisture soaks into wood flooring; if you can keep your pets water bowls on a mat it will help eliminate this problem.
  • Wood floors can be loud if pets  race around, such as a hyperactive puppy, which can be minimised with the use of rugs.

Choosing a hard wearing finish for your floor when it comes to pets is important. Oiled and lacquered finishes have their pros and cons. Oiled flooring will probably need to be recoated more frequently compared to a pet free home, but is easy to re-coat and fix. Lacquered floors will potentially show more scratches, but will stand up to more wear and tear, lasting longer. Should it need to be re-coated, it’s a bigger job, as it needs to be completely stripped and re-finished.

Overall having pets shouldn’t shatter your dreams of having hardwood flooring, it might just mean an extra bit of organisation and care. The good thing about hardwood flooring is that it comes in a variety of choices and what you choose will ultimately depend on your lifestyle and preferences. We can recommend a finish tailored to your individual needs and whether you choose lacquered or oiled, pre-finished or bespoke, combined with the correct cleaning products, we can help you keep your floors looking great for longer.

For more information about our flooring services and options please visit our workshop, call 01962 733016 or visit our website today.

Engineered Wood Flooring: Everything You Need To Know

by Wood Flooring

What is engineered wood flooring?

Engineered wood flooring is, quite simply, timber boards which consist of more than one layer. The top layer of an engineered board is solid wood, the thickness can generally be anywhere from 2mm to 6mm. If the top solid wood layer is thicker, it can be sanded and refinished more times. By placing each layer so the grain runs vertically it becomes virtually impossible for the timber to swell or shrink, making it extremely stable compared to solid wood.

Once installed, engineered wood flooring is impossible to distinguish from solid wood flooring. Wooden flooring can add character and value to your home, whilst also adding warmth and beauty. The lasting lifespan of engineered wood flooring can be from 20 to 100 years, depending on the thickness of the top solid wood layer, the amount of wear and the amount of times sanded.

Benefits of Engineered wood flooring

Engineered wood is extremely popular due to its extreme resemblance of solid wood flooring but without the potential risks of movement. It still has that expensive wood look and feel without the worry of it getting easily ruined, making it the perfect choice for pet owners.

Engineered wood floors are more resistant to moisture and are more stable than solid wood. It doesn’t expand and contract to the same extend as solid wood, meaning it’s safer to install in rooms which may fluctuate in moisture and temperature levels frequently, such as bathrooms and kitchen environments. Engineered wooden flooring can also be fitted over an underfloor heating system, which is an increasingly popular trend.

Engineered boards are far more stable and durable than solid wood planks. Being made of several layers of bonded plywood means they are incredibly tough and will stand up to more wear and tear than their solid wood counterparts. They can also be re-sanded and finished, depending on the thickness of the solid wear layer, giving you the opportunity to bring your floor back to life by removing surface staining, marks and scratches. Having the option to refinish your floor  gives you a chance to change the look and feel or your flooring, refreshing your home without having to replace your floors.

The variety and options of the wood species, grades and finishes available allow you to achieve the look you want as well as choosing the best finish for your lifestyle. It is also an option to adapt your choices to your budget. We can find a colour that suits your home and is best for you, the range available is vast.

Does engineered wood flooring scratch easily?

The simple answer is no, under normal circumstances the flooring won’t be affected by day to day activity and won’t scratch easily. However, it’s always best to take steps to help prevent scratching from furniture and avoid any unnecessary damage . For furniture such as chairs, which frequently move around on the floor, we recommend  using felt pads on the legs to prevent direct contact between the furniture and floor, avoiding scratches. This stands for both engineered and solid wood; one type of flooring isn’t going to get scratched less or more.

Engineered wood flooring vs laminate

A lot of people believe that laminate and engineered wooden flooring are one and the same, however the two flooring types are very different and each has a distinct appearance.

Engineered wood is a closer match to solid wood flooring, it resembles the look by incorporating a thin layer of solid wood on top of the built up boards. The cost of engineered wooden flooring is moderate to high compared to other flooring, including laminate, but it’s expensive look and value does also raises the sale value of your house. The best point of engineered wood is the veneer of real solid wood, with its unique patterns and form cannot be matched with laminates artificial appearance.

For a cheaper option, laminate flooring can occasionally look extremely good; however, upon closer examination, the difference in quality becomes much more obviously apparent. Laminate flooring is a multi-layer synthetic flooring product, fused together with a lamination process to simulate wood, with a textured photographic layer under a clear protective layer. The price scale of laminate flooring is low to moderate, making it a more affordable option, but this will obviously have a marked reduction in the added resale value for your home.

Laminate flooring is inherently strong, due to its protective layer, and holds up well against scratches. Unlike engineered wood flooring, however, laminate cannot be re-finished in any way, so if a mark does appear in your flooring; it’s there for the long run. Both laminate and engineered flooring are water resistant, but not fully waterproof.

How to choose engineered wood flooring

The number of people choosing engineered wood flooring for their home is dramatically increasing; due in no small part to the wide range of timbers available, ensuring it suits your home. From choosing the wood, width, colour and finish, it is all down to you and your personal preferences. Oak flooring is the most popular, it can work equally well in traditional settings as well as modern, with the finish and tone adapting the floors style and look to suit your home.

At our workshop based in Alresford, near Winchester, we provide a showroom with a huge range of different styles and tones of wood available to help you decide what flooring you prefer. There is always an expert to help and advise you every step of the way.

For more information about our flooring services and floor restoration options you can visit our workshop, our website or call us on 01962 733016