Tag Archives: real wood flooring

Laminate Vs hardwood

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You could compare the difference between laminate wood flooring and real wood flooring to the distinction between obtaining a real tree and a fake tree in your garden. The real tree may have stood there for a hundred years plus and is at this point infected and decaying, or it might be a newly planted sapling that stands to grow into something absolutely stunning. The fake tree may be a low cost and tacky plastic-fantastic replica, or a flawlessly replica of the real thing. It doesn’t matter at all. Beauty is within the eye of the beholder, after all, and aesthetically speaking there isn’t any reason why an individual should favour one over the other (not merely one that stretches beyond the limits of your person’s personal tastes, anyway). Or is there?

A real tree can grow and change over time, but a synthetic tree is frozen in time (ignoring the predictable affect of weathering for now). These might be the principle variations between art and nature, but the same cannot necessarily be claimed with regards to wood flooring. A fake tree won’t need any care and attention unlike a real tree will need to be shielded from infection. A real wood floor would also require more care compared to a laminate alternative, requiring occasional refinishing with oil or stain, whilst a laminate floor will stay looking like new by using only the quantity of regular cleaning normally necessary for both.

A real tree typically needs specific types of conditions to thrive and you will also have to be extremely cautious where you plant one (especially if you take into account the possible possibility of subsidence taking place if rooted too close to your property). But, when it come to an artificial tree, there is no danger of subsidence and can be positioned basically anywhere. It isn’t exactly the same in terms of flooring obviously, though there are certainly some resemblances, despite this metaphor getting increasingly tenuous.

Solid wood flooring has a number of environmental limitations that govern where it can be safely fitted. High moisture areas (just like on top of concrete surfaces) or areas at risk of spillages (e.g. bathrooms) are not suitable locations to install solid wood flooring. Even though there now exists water resistant choices of laminate flooring which are perfect for rooms like bathrooms, not all are safeguarded from spillages and dampness, therefore, you need to be cautious while making your choice. Also, due to the fact that solid wood disfavors climate changes, you can not usually install it over under-floor heating. Most laminate flooring can often be installed with under-floor heating, though searching for specialist advice on this situation is usually suggested prior to deciding to try it.

Now, just like a real tree and a fake tree, a real tree might be preferable, however it is not always practical. If you don’t have a garden (or your garden is not on ground level) and you still desire to have something that looks like a tree, the only choice is to buy a synthetic equivalent (or simply a pot-plant). If you want the appearance of real wood flooring but either cannot afford one, or it wouldn’t be practical to install one, then laminate flooring might be the best choice. If, however, cost isn’t an issue and there aren’t any other problems to contend with (and it definitely has to be the real thing with no exceptions), then solid wood is often the ideal choice as well as being a good investment for your house.

The choice on whether you choose laminate flooring or solid wood flooring is ultimately down to you. However, always take in to account the many benefits and negatives of each type of flooring and choose what will work best for you in the long run.

Usual errors made when installing solid wood flooring

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Most of the time, real wood floor fitting ought to be conducted by a specialist, simply because DIY installers might not possess the knowledge or capabilities needed to guarantee a reasonable fit. Many types of laminate or engineered flooring are usually more suitable for a beginner fitter, as today’s types usually incorporate simple tongue and groove systems also, the materials are less vulnerable to temperature change. Real wood will expand and contract naturally according to atmospheric conditions, so to fit it correctly it will require a certain amount of “breathing room” to avoid becoming uneven over time.

Always be meticulous in relation to dampness

Solid woods are especially prone to moisture.
This is an essential point to keep in mind throughout pre-fit, fitting and post fit steps of a real wood floor fitting. Proper storage of the wooden flooring is important to its behavior as a finished product. In case it is sent to a work site in the middle of the winter season and then allowed to sit around in the cold, before being moved straight into a warm central-heated environment for instant installation, then issues can occur. Such problems are unlikely to be apparent right away, the issues will probably not become visible until the floor has been through an entire year of atmospheric variations.

Where the panels were able to acclimatise to the winter cold, they wouldn’t be the optimal size for installation. As summer humidity begins and the wood boards start to grow, they begin to press against one another causing deterioration around the edging. After that, as they start to shrink back into the winter season, the spaces in-between become increasing distinct and obvious to even the most casual of observers. One simple way to combat this incident is usually to fit your flooring in the seasons between summer and winter, where the temperature along with the moisture variance is at neither extreme, and also keep the wood at a suitable normal room temperature for some time prior to beginning the project.

Sub-par sub-floor

Preparation of sub-flooring should be perfect if you want to stop a poor floor performance. Moisture levels within the sub-floor foundation needs to be checked prior to attempting to fit any real wood flooring. They should in reality be checked ahead of laying most types of floor, although solid wood flooring is far more prone to deterioration compared to laminate or engineered types. Specific base levels such as concrete will need to have additional precautions taken due to its high moisture levels, virtually any type of wood flooring should never be installed directly on top of this type of base foundation. Suitable moisture barriers will need to be used to stop excess moisture reaching the bottom of hard wood boards, also, solid wood is virtually never an acceptable choice for installing on top of under-floor heating.

Next clean the sub-floor level, guaranteeing it’s both flat and dry prior to any more work can begin. Once all the debris is removed from the area and all bumps and dips have been flattened and / or filled, after this the underlay can be installed with full confidence. Any obstructions which might interfere with any necessary adhesives will also need to be cleared away. It is important that you’ve got the correct sub-flooring and underlay to match both the surface you have selected as well as the base-floor underneath, as well as one that suits your own personal preferences, like sound reduction.

Real wood flooring should ideally be laid by a professional to create the perfect finish to your requirements. Solid wood flooring is a great addition to any home, bringing warmth and depth to any room.

Advantages and disadvantages of Hardwood Flooring

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Solid wood flooring is a smart addition to any home and, although a bit more costly than the alternate options, it can have a favorable affect on the value of your property that might ultimately justify the extra expense. There’s a certain prestige linked to solid wood flooring that you might not discover with some other types, for instance laminate flooring or engineered, and the classic attraction of a authentic timber floors transcends trends and fleeting fashions. One thing is definite, a traditional solid wood floor will endure the ages, just as it always has.

Pro: Straightforward to Maintain

Though it’s true that hardwood flooring require a touch more attention when compared to a laminate flooring alternative, but the added customization offered by the range of stains and finishes is enough to make it worth it. In contrast to laminate flooring, a solid wood floor will need to be refinished periodically to renew that “just laid look”, as (over time) lacquers, oils and stains wear out and will need to be reapplied. Nevertheless, choosing not to refinish your floor can give it an old-fashioned or distressed appearance a lot of individuals find very attractive.

When appropriately maintained, a wood floor will certainly (like as not) outlive us all. Given that the solid wood flooring has been cared for properly, it will endure the test of time for centuries, just like the buildings you can see today that had been built a long time ago. An everyday cleaning regime, involving sweeping or light hoovering and an occasional wipe down with a wood floor cleaning agent, is all it will take to maintain your floor at a good day-to-day condition.

Con: Refinishing Essential

Although the ability to refinish is as much a gift as a curse, the frequency with which you will need to refinish areas with increased foot traffic can turn into cause for concern. To resist wear within places where you will be expecting a higher footfall, just like by cookers and sinks and through pathways in halls, you should try to protect your floor using area mats or throw rugs. You could also see that areas of the floor with more subjection to sunlight will start to fade at a faster rate to other parts.

Pro: Design Adaptability

Solid wood flooring will fit with just about any style of decor, working equally well alongside traditional country cottage designs as well as ultra fashionable minimalist designs. The most typical styles of hardwood flooring are generally; strip, plank and parquet, with each offering a distinct appearance. A typical solid oak floor may come in either dark or light colours naturally, although, dependant upon how you choose to finish your floor, you can generally make it lighter or darker by making use of a different combination of stains or oils.

The great thing about solid wood flooring is that, if at any point you wish to change the appearance of your floor, you can simply re-sand and refinish it.

The housing market is a competitive one, and solid wood flooring provides a great advantage over those which don’t.

Having the capability to sand and spot-repair makes it easier to correct localised damage on a real wood floor which on any other style of flooring and, assuming you know exactly which finish you used originally, you can generally refinish a restored spot without needing to re-coat the whole floor.

Each con and pro of this type of wood flooring is totally down to the buyers personal preference. For some, solid wood flooring is the only wood flooring for them irregardless of the common cons and pros associated with it.