Wood floor restoration is a vital part of keeping your solid wood floor looking fantastic for many years. Solid wood flooring can be a huge asset to your home or business premises, so it is important to keep it looking great through regular wood floor restoration and maintenance.
Wood floor restoration will keep a wood floor in the best possible condition so you can enjoy the look of it for many years to come. Solid wood floors often experience a lot of wear and tear from every day use so it’s important to protect them. Keeping your solid wood correctly looked after with wood floor restoration means that visitors to your home get a good first impression and you benefit from truly beautiful surroundings.
As well as enhancing the look of your home, solid wood floors can increase it’s value too so making sure you keep up to date with any wood floor restoration is well worth doing. If you are thinking of selling your house then doing any wood floor restoration before hand can only increase your chances of selling.
In this guide we will introduce what the main aspects of wood floor restoration are including replacing damaged areas, removing dents and scratches, removing stained areas, filling gaps, sanding and finishing.
Wood Floor Restoration - click here for full information on our wood floor refurbishment service.
Our Wood Floor Restoration Process
Step 1: Floor Repairs
There are three main types of common floor repairs that need to be undertaken when you are thinking about wood floor restoration.
Replace Damaged Floorboards
Most types of floorboard or floor block can be replaced, solving a wide range of problems. It does however depend on the type of flooring you have and this is why we always carry out a survey before any work is under taken. We offer a free no obligation survey to inspect your floor and give you our recommendations.
Because we are specialists in reclaimed wood we have access to a large range of floorboards, wood blocks and strip floors and these can all be cut to the correct size. It is not completely possible to ensure an exact match to your original flooring but by using reclaimed wood we try and find as close a match as we can.
Scratches
Any scratches on your solid wood floor can be taken away using fine to medium sandpaper depending on the depth of the scratch. Light scratches can be sanded down and the wood refinished to look as good as new. More serious scratches will need prolonged sanding to expose the bare wood. Only then can the surface be refinished.
The finish on your wood floor will determine whether the scratched and repaired area can be refinished in isolation, or if this patch will stand out too much. If the latter is the case, then for a consistent finish the entire floor will need to be sanded and have the chosen finish re-applied.
Dents
Dents are a problem with solid wood floors and it’s advisable to ask people to remove their shoes before walking on them, particularly high heels. There are two ways to tackle dents in your wood, they can be filled with a wax which will set and go hard or if the floor is being sanded the dent can be filled with a resin mixed with some of the sawdust the sanding has created.
Step 2: Filling Gaps
Gaps between floorboards will naturally occur but some customers prefer for these to be filled. Small items could get wedged or lost between the boards and draughts will come up through the gaps.
Solid wood floors are all susceptible to the seasons and affected by heat and cold. Wood expands during the hot summer months but then contracts during winter when it is colder. This expansion and shrinkage may cause any filler used to try and fill the gaps to split and disappear.
There are three effective ways to fill gaps between floorboards.
The Stopgap method involves placing strips of plastic in between each floorboard. This helps prevent draughts passing through.
For pine floorboards then Pine Fillets can be used. These are wedges of pine that are placed between the floorboards and glued into place.
If your wood floor has been sanded then the resulting sawdust can me mixed with a resin called Lecol 7500 to fill in all the gaps.
Step 3: Wood Floor Sanding
Sanding is not a complicated process but it is a lengthy one, which requires patience, skill, care and attention to detail. How you sand, the grade of sandpaper used and the machinery employed for the task will all affect the finish of your wood floor.
We can sand all the wood floors we offer including parquet flooring, distressed flooring, end grain floors, engineered floors, strip floors and mosaic floors.
Hardwood floors are beautiful and need to stay that way to give you years of lasting pleasure so how they are sanded down when being restored is vitally important. We only use professional equipment and fully trained staff with a passion and knowledge for restoring the natural qualities of your wood flooring.
Step 4: Staining
Once your floor has been sanded down the next part of the wood floor restoration process is to stain or finish it with an oil or lacquer. Naturally Wood Floors offer all these services once your floor has been sanded down and can advise you on the best choice.
Staining can make a bold statement as the finish for your restored flooring. Stains can either darken or enhance the natural colours of the wood and with wood dyes you can change the colour of the wood altogether.
Our stains come in a variety of colours such as antique pine, ebony, walnut, light and dark teak, brown or red mahogany and light, medium and dark oak. If you have a particular colour you wish to match then we have a fully trained French Polisher who can assist you.
The stain must be evenly applied in order to penetrate the wood completely and then any excess wiped away. It is worth remembering that stains only colour the wood they do not give any added protection and for this you would need to apply a finish.
Step 5: Finishing
There are two main types of finish for a restored wood floor to choose from, oil or lacquer. These can be applied straight to a sanded finish or on top of a stain.
The plus side of an oiled finish is that when any repairs are undertaken then specific areas can be treated without the need to re-finish the entire floor. As with all wood flooring regular cleaning is a must and then a fresh coat of oil every 1 to 2 years will keep your wood floor looking beautiful. If you try and minimize the risk of heavy scratches then there should be no need to have the flooring re-sanded again. The oil we use, Osmo hard wax oil, is long lasting and hard wearing.
With a lacquered finish again we recommend regular cleaning and a new coat every 1 or 2 years to refresh the surface. Unfortunately with lacquer it is difficult to carry out repair work on single areas so the whole floor will need sanding again if patches of wear and tear are too visible and spoil the look of the floor. The two lacquers we use are a Swedish brand called Bona Mega and Bona Traffic and they are tough and durable so little maintenance is needed.
Additional Products and Services
In addition to restoring your floor we can also supply you with any relevant floor care products. These will help you to prolong the life of your wooden floor.
We can also carry out Concrete Hearth Removal and Restitch. This is when an existing concrete fire heath needs to be removed by chasing it out. Next we remove any surrounding flooring and then replace the area with reclaimed floorboards that match your existing wood floor.
Wood Floor Restoration - click here for full information on our wood floor refurbishment service.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Wood Floor Repairs
However carefully you look after your wooden floor, wood floor repairs will need to be done occasionally. Common wood floor repairs include the removal of scratches and stains or correcting a badly laid floor.
Many beautiful wood floors are covered by carpet or vinyl but once revealed, with just a few wood floor repairs they can be stunning again. Or perhaps you have recently moved to a house with original wood floors that need some care and attention. The wood floor repairs that need carrying out to a floor could range from sanding down and varnishing a simple stain to replacing whole sections with new wood. If the latter is the case then the job really needs to be tackled by a professional floor layer to get the best results. And that's where we can help!
Wood Floor Repairs - click here for full information on our wood floor refurbishment service.
DIY Wood Floor Repairs
After watching DIY shows on television many people think they can save money by carrying out wood floor repairs themselves. At best this will usually prove to be a false economy, due to the time it takes, the cost of equipment hire and the potential to be unhappy with the result. At worst, you could spend money on materials and equipment to fix the floor and then still have to hire a professional to correct your mistakes! Or you could cause long-term lasting damage to your floor by mishandling machinery, reducing its lifespan by up to 50%
It is therefore much safer and cost effective to hire qualified floor layers from the start, as they will have the expertise and correct machinery for the task. This will prolong the life of your floor and give you a perfect finish.
Wood Floor Repairs - click here for full information on our wood floor refurbishment service.
Common Floor Problems Fixed With Wood Floor Repairs
Here are some of the most common wood floor repairs problems with solutions.
Scratches
Removing scratches is one of the most common wood floor repair jobs and these can often be rectified with a light to medium sanding. Fine scratches are rubbed down with light sandpaper before refinishing the surface. If the scratches are more engrained, then medium sandpaper will be used to take the finish right back down to the bare wood. In most cases only the area affected will need to be repaired but if the finish of the floor makes this patch stand out, then the entire floor may need to be restored.
Dents
Dents are another problem with wood floors, especially those caused by high heels. If the whole floor is being sanded down then any dents can be filled with a combination of resin filler and sawdust. If only the dents need repairing and no other work is being done to the floor then hard wax will bring the surface flush again.
Broken Boards
It is possible to replace broken or damaged floorboards or blocks but it does depend upon the type of wood flooring you have so this is always subject to a survey. A survey of the condition of your wood flooring will determine the degree of work needed.
Stains
If the stain has gone too far down into the grain of the wood then the intense sanding required could mean that section of flooring would not look the same as the rest. Therefore if a floorboard is too badly stained the best solution is to replace it.
Correcting a Badly Laid Floor
A badly laid floor will always need a site survey to ascertain what the actual problems are and where the installation went wrong in the first place. The work required will depend on the type of flooring and the type of repairs needed.
How We Work
Many beautiful wood floors are covered by carpet or vinyl but once revealed, with just a few wood floor repairs they can be stunning again. Or perhaps you have recently moved to a house with original wood floors that need some care and attention. The wood floor repairs that need carrying out to a floor could range from sanding down and varnishing a simple stain to replacing whole sections with new wood. If the latter is the case then the job really needs to be tackled by a professional floor layer to get the best results. And that's where we can help!
Wood Floor Repairs - click here for full information on our wood floor refurbishment service.
DIY Wood Floor Repairs
After watching DIY shows on television many people think they can save money by carrying out wood floor repairs themselves. At best this will usually prove to be a false economy, due to the time it takes, the cost of equipment hire and the potential to be unhappy with the result. At worst, you could spend money on materials and equipment to fix the floor and then still have to hire a professional to correct your mistakes! Or you could cause long-term lasting damage to your floor by mishandling machinery, reducing its lifespan by up to 50%
It is therefore much safer and cost effective to hire qualified floor layers from the start, as they will have the expertise and correct machinery for the task. This will prolong the life of your floor and give you a perfect finish.
Wood Floor Repairs - click here for full information on our wood floor refurbishment service.
Common Floor Problems Fixed With Wood Floor Repairs
Here are some of the most common wood floor repairs problems with solutions.
Scratches
Removing scratches is one of the most common wood floor repair jobs and these can often be rectified with a light to medium sanding. Fine scratches are rubbed down with light sandpaper before refinishing the surface. If the scratches are more engrained, then medium sandpaper will be used to take the finish right back down to the bare wood. In most cases only the area affected will need to be repaired but if the finish of the floor makes this patch stand out, then the entire floor may need to be restored.
Dents
Dents are another problem with wood floors, especially those caused by high heels. If the whole floor is being sanded down then any dents can be filled with a combination of resin filler and sawdust. If only the dents need repairing and no other work is being done to the floor then hard wax will bring the surface flush again.
Broken Boards
It is possible to replace broken or damaged floorboards or blocks but it does depend upon the type of wood flooring you have so this is always subject to a survey. A survey of the condition of your wood flooring will determine the degree of work needed.
Stains
If the stain has gone too far down into the grain of the wood then the intense sanding required could mean that section of flooring would not look the same as the rest. Therefore if a floorboard is too badly stained the best solution is to replace it.
Correcting a Badly Laid Floor
A badly laid floor will always need a site survey to ascertain what the actual problems are and where the installation went wrong in the first place. The work required will depend on the type of flooring and the type of repairs needed.
How We Work
- We offer a complete range of services for wood floor repairs and restoration such as repairing dents and gaps, sanding to take out scratches, replacing floorboards and re-laying floors as well as oiling, lacquering and staining. We can repair all types of wood floors including distressed flooring, engineered floors, mosaic floors, parquet flooring end grain floors and strip floors.
- Our surveys are free and without obligation.
- All of our staff here at Naturally Wood are fully trained and keep up to date with changes in methods and products to give you the best possible service for your wood floor repairs.
- In addition, our state of the art equipment will minimize the production of dust particles during wood floor repairs.
- Whilst our equipment is fully up to date, we work with traditional, time honoured floor laying techniques. We use reclaimed wood to try and find the closest match we can to repair your wood floor, although it is never 100% guaranteed we could ensure an exact match
- Our business is all about the installation and restoration of solid wood floors and it’s a real passion with all our staff.
- We can install, repair or restore all types of wood floors including engineered floors, strip floors, mosaic floors, wood block floors, aged and distressed floors and parquet floors.
- The best materials are used by our knowledgeable and highly experienced team to provide you with the complete flooring package, from supply, design, installation, restoration and repairs
- A high standard of workmanship and the quality of our wood floors is very important to us and we strive to carry on growing our reputation for a fantastic product combined with the best possible customer service.
- Naturally Wood Floors are based in Loughton and work with customers for our complete wood floor installation and restoration packages in London, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Kent, and Suffolk.
Solid Wood Flooring – The Benefits of a Solid Wood Floor Over Laminate, Carpet or Vinyl
Naturally Wood specialise in solid wood flooring for domestic and commercial properties in London, Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Middlesex and Kent. We have many types of wood styles of solid wood flooring on offer, providing customers with a practical and beautiful wooden floor solution for your home or business..
Solid Wood Flooring - click here to browse our range of products
Below we will explain the benefits of solid wood flooring over alternative flooring types and detail what solid wood flooring can do to enhance your home.
Why Choose a Hardwood Floor?
There are many benefits to solid wood flooring both practical and aesthetic. Primarily people choose solid wood flooring for their home because of its warmth and beauty. There are many different wood types to choose from, each with their own individual qualities that make them so attractive.
By far and away our most popular choice for solid wood flooring is Oak, which comes in both American red or white or French varieties. Oak exudes a natural warmth with it’s light golden brown colour sometimes flecked with a hint of red in the grain depending on the variety you choose.
Another popular choice for a light, almost white floor is Canadian Maple. Alternatively for those who prefer dark wood then the deep chocolatey Wenge or the rich red and browns of Merbau with it’s gold fleck, both create stunning results.
It’s not just wood types that make solid wood flooring beautiful but also the design of your floor. There are many types to choose from ranging from simple strip or engineered floorboards to mosaic panels and bespoke parquet designs in a choice of elaborate patterns like herringbone, basket weave and chevron. Different treatments of solid wood flooring can also add to its beauty and visual appeal. For those who prefer a rustic look, aged and distressed floors are an excellent choice. Here each individual floorboard or panel is tumbled and hand finished which gives a genuine lived in appeal to the look of your solid wood flooring.
Solid wood flooring is also very hygienic and easy to keep clean. Food and drink spills can be wiped up easily and you can sweep or vacuum the floor as required. Dust is visible and has nothing to become ingrained into so you always know your solid wood flooring is completely clean.
Durability and value for money is another big benefit of installing a hardwood floor. It depends on the wood you choose for your solid wood flooring but hardwood floors should last you a lifetime if looked after properly with only the need for a refresh of its finish every 1 to 2 years.
And because solid wood flooring is so desirable and is such a long lasting investment in the beauty and practicality of your home it can raise the value of your property if you wish to sell it. It is often seen as a key feature for estate agents to use in the house description.
Why Choose a Solid Wood Floor Over Laminate?
Here is a guide to some of our most popular wood types used for flooring.
American Oak - comes in both white and red varieties and is of a medium hardness. Both American and French Oak types are among our most popular wood choices for flooring.
French Oak - can come in quarter swan, flat sawn, natural or rustic grades. They are all of a medium hardness and predominantly light golden brown in colour with a dark grain and some with large knots.
Canadian Maple - is harder than Oak but has a much brighter white colour with small black flecks in the grain.
Burmese Teak - is an exotic hard wood with a trace of yellow in its grain underneath a dark brown base colour.
American Black Walnut - is a very dark wood, almost black in parts from the colour of the grain. Although it’s hardness rating is soft to medium it is very durable and extremely resistant to moisture.
Wenge - an exotic wood from Africa that is almost black in colour. This makes a very dramatic statement for flooring and is ideal due to its hardness and resistance to denting and footfall.
Merbau - an Indonesian wood of medium to hard strength, this wood will give you a very different look with its red brown colour and yellow grain.
Beech - a very light, almost blonde wood with a modern contemporary feel, Beech is of a medium hardness and holds the colour of additional stains very well.
Solid Wood Flooring - click here to browse our range of products
Solid Wood Flooring - click here to browse our range of products
Below we will explain the benefits of solid wood flooring over alternative flooring types and detail what solid wood flooring can do to enhance your home.
Why Choose a Hardwood Floor?
There are many benefits to solid wood flooring both practical and aesthetic. Primarily people choose solid wood flooring for their home because of its warmth and beauty. There are many different wood types to choose from, each with their own individual qualities that make them so attractive.
By far and away our most popular choice for solid wood flooring is Oak, which comes in both American red or white or French varieties. Oak exudes a natural warmth with it’s light golden brown colour sometimes flecked with a hint of red in the grain depending on the variety you choose.
Another popular choice for a light, almost white floor is Canadian Maple. Alternatively for those who prefer dark wood then the deep chocolatey Wenge or the rich red and browns of Merbau with it’s gold fleck, both create stunning results.
It’s not just wood types that make solid wood flooring beautiful but also the design of your floor. There are many types to choose from ranging from simple strip or engineered floorboards to mosaic panels and bespoke parquet designs in a choice of elaborate patterns like herringbone, basket weave and chevron. Different treatments of solid wood flooring can also add to its beauty and visual appeal. For those who prefer a rustic look, aged and distressed floors are an excellent choice. Here each individual floorboard or panel is tumbled and hand finished which gives a genuine lived in appeal to the look of your solid wood flooring.
Solid wood flooring is also very hygienic and easy to keep clean. Food and drink spills can be wiped up easily and you can sweep or vacuum the floor as required. Dust is visible and has nothing to become ingrained into so you always know your solid wood flooring is completely clean.
Durability and value for money is another big benefit of installing a hardwood floor. It depends on the wood you choose for your solid wood flooring but hardwood floors should last you a lifetime if looked after properly with only the need for a refresh of its finish every 1 to 2 years.
And because solid wood flooring is so desirable and is such a long lasting investment in the beauty and practicality of your home it can raise the value of your property if you wish to sell it. It is often seen as a key feature for estate agents to use in the house description.
Why Choose a Solid Wood Floor Over Laminate?
- Although good quality laminate floors are made to look like solid wood flooring they don’t have the same natural, beautiful appearance you only get with real wood.
- Solid wood flooring has a much longer lifespan than laminate flooring. Laminate floors will last at best between 10-20 years.
- Laminate floors cannot be restored or individual floorboards repaired. So once part of a laminate floor is damaged, the entire floor must be replaced. In contrast, wood floors can be sanded on average between 4-8 times, restoring an 'as-new' finish.
- Although solid wood flooring is no less dusty than laminate floors it is just as easy to keep clean and it will add more value to your property depending upon the kind of house you have.
- Laminate is only really a temporary solution to your flooring needs compared to the lifetime of pleasure you can get from solid wood flooring.
- For many years carpet was the first choice for flooring in most homes but as fashions and styles have changed there is now much more of a trend towards cleaner lines and natural materials. This means that solid wood flooring is an ideal choice as an alternative to carpet.
- Solid wood flooring retains it’s beautiful appearance for much longer than a new carpet. Carpet can soon look dull, tired and shabby with an average life of just 8-10 years. If properly maintained your wooden floor will last a lifetime.
- Once a carpet is worn or damaged then it needs to be replaced whereas a solid wood floor can be repaired or restored by sanding down and refinishing. This means once you’ve had the initial floor laid you don’t have the upheaval of having it done again.
- Carpet can trap dust and dirt particles you cannot see, which even a high tech vacuum cleaner cannot get to. Because any dust or dirt sits on top of the surface of the wood, hardwood floors are much easier to keep clean and more hygienic, especially in rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms.
- Solid wood flooring is a healthier option for Asthma sufferers.
- Vinyl flooring is often a popular choice in kitchens and bathrooms and can last up to 25 years but it is often not of the greatest quality and certainly has a very dated look in today’s modern home.
- It is a misconception that you cannot have solid wood flooring in kitchens and bathrooms. With the correct wood choice, finish and sealant then wood will give you a stunning natural look that will compliment any changes in décor over the years, and also be highly durable.
- In short, solid wood flooring looks better and lasts longer than vinyl!
Here is a guide to some of our most popular wood types used for flooring.
American Oak - comes in both white and red varieties and is of a medium hardness. Both American and French Oak types are among our most popular wood choices for flooring.
French Oak - can come in quarter swan, flat sawn, natural or rustic grades. They are all of a medium hardness and predominantly light golden brown in colour with a dark grain and some with large knots.
Canadian Maple - is harder than Oak but has a much brighter white colour with small black flecks in the grain.
Burmese Teak - is an exotic hard wood with a trace of yellow in its grain underneath a dark brown base colour.
American Black Walnut - is a very dark wood, almost black in parts from the colour of the grain. Although it’s hardness rating is soft to medium it is very durable and extremely resistant to moisture.
Wenge - an exotic wood from Africa that is almost black in colour. This makes a very dramatic statement for flooring and is ideal due to its hardness and resistance to denting and footfall.
Merbau - an Indonesian wood of medium to hard strength, this wood will give you a very different look with its red brown colour and yellow grain.
Beech - a very light, almost blonde wood with a modern contemporary feel, Beech is of a medium hardness and holds the colour of additional stains very well.
Solid Wood Flooring - click here to browse our range of products
Wood Floor Laying - Choosing Your Hardwood Floor
Wood floor laying can be a very detailed process and there are many aspects to think about when you are choosing a hardwood floor from Naturally Wood. We are a wood floor laying company with a long tradition in the business and our experts can guide you through every phase of the wood floor laying in your home.
Wood Floor Laying - Click here to view our range of flooring products and service
Below we will explain step by step the process of selecting a new wood floor and our wood floor laying procedure which includes installation and finishing.
Step 1 - The ideal place to start when considering a new wooden floor is the Internet. Browse our main web site www.naurallywood.net for a wealth of ideas on wood species, floor patterns and different flooring products. Or if you prefer a hard copy to read through, then our company brochure can be downloaded from the website, or sent to you in the post.
The two main choices you need to make are the type of wood and type of flooring that you want. Here at Naturally Wood Floors, we can advise you on the best choices for your wood floor laying process.
Our wood types range from the traditional Oak, Beech, Maple, Walnut and Mahogany to exotic hardwoods such as Wenge, Merbau, Burmese Teak and Jatoba.
Our range of floor types is extensive from engineered, strip and wood blocks to mosaic panels and bespoke parquet flooring in a wide choice of patterns.
Step 2 - the next step is to give us a call to discuss what you have in mind and then we can recommend the best products to match your ideas.
Our highly trained craftsmen will talk you through the many differences of our entire product range including floor types and designs, wood types, grades of wood and finishes.
We can give you an estimate over the phone for your new wooden floor. To do this we will require the total square metres of the floor area to be covered and the wood and type of flooring you would like.
All wood flooring advice from Naturally Wood Floors is provided free of charge from our friendly and very helpful staff.
Step 3 - After providing an estimate over the phone, we will arrange a site meeting and inspection. Here we will draw up plans of the area or areas you want wood flooring for, take accurate measurements and inspect the sub floor. We will discuss with you the whole project including if there is any initial preparation work needed before the floor can be laid and if you require any accessories like perimeter beading and door thresholds.
At the site visit we bring along large sample panels of the wood type and flooring pattern you have chosen so you can see them in your home and get a true feeling of what they will look like and how they will fit in with your current décor.
Step 4 - Once you are happy with your choices and the work we need to undertake to begin the wood floor laying in your home, then a written quotation will be sent to you for your approval. In this quotation we will frequently put forward some alternatives to reflect different budgets for you to choose from.
Step 5 - You have chosen your flooring and wood types and approved the quotation so now it is time for the wood floor laying to begin. We will usually schedule the work in during Monday to Friday but sometimes weekend work can be arranged on request.
First the sub floor will be prepared as discussed at the site inspection and in accordance with our quotation. This preparation means uplifting and disposing of the old floor covering such as vinyl or carpet and then making any necessary repairs to the sub floor.
Sometimes there is a need to fit a plywood sub floor or apply leveling compounds to a concrete sub floor before work can begin. Any joists that are damaged will need to be repaired too.
Step 6 - It depends on the flooring type you have chosen as to how your wood floor will be installed so here are details of the process for our most popular floor types.
Engineered Flooring - This can be installed in two ways. The T&G joints can be joined together with glue and then the floor is floated on an underlay. We have a variety of underlays such as foam underlays incorporating DPM suitable for concrete floors or others, which help to minimize the impact noise.
Engineered flooring can also be fully fixed to a concrete of plywood sub floor using a flexible adhesive. If you have chosen a 20mm structural engineered floor, then this can be secret nailed through the T&G to the existing joists or timber sub floors.
20mm Solid T&G Strip Flooring - As long as the width chosen is no more than 130mm this type of flooring can be secret nailed to existing joists or a timber sub floor. It can also be fully glued with flexible adhesive to a concrete or plywood sub floor.
20mm Solid T&G Wood Blocks - A flexible adhesive is used here to attach the flooring to a concrete or plywood sub floor.
End Grain Flooring - A 2 part PU/Epoxy adhesive is used here to attach the flooring to a concrete or plywood sub floor.
Mosaic Flooring - Mesh backed Mosaic flooring can be installed on top of a concrete or plywood sub floor using a spirit based or 2 part PU/Epoxy adhesive. Felt backed Mosaic flooring can only be installed using a spirit based adhesive.
6-10mm Parquet - A 2 part PU/Epoxy adhesive is used with very small 23G stainless steel headless pins to fix the 6-10mm parquet flooring to a plywood sub floor. The plywood thickness can vary from 4-6mm over existing timber floorboards and 9-18mm over concrete sub floors.
Step 7 - The last part of the wood floor laying process is to finish your floor. Naturally Wood Floors offer a large range of different finishes such as stains, oils, lacquers and treatments.
Stains - These darken or even alter the colour of the original wood and come in light and dark teak, antique pine, ebony, light, medium and dark oak, brown and red mahogany and walnut. A stain will only dye your wood floor it does not offer any additional protection.
Oils - based on vegetable oils and waxes our matt, satin, snow, white spruce and a large range of coloured oils offer protection against wear and tear and make your wood flooring much more moisture resistant. Oils leave the surface of the wood in a very natural state whilst guarding it against dirt and liquids.
Lacquers - provide an excellent shield against scratches and scuff marks whilst enhancing the natural beauty of your wood floor with a subtle sheen. Our range comes in matt, silk and gloss.
Treatments - various treatments can alter the look and texture of your wood flooring. Oak can be smoked, fumed or thermo treated which will darken its appearance and our flooring products can also be tumbled, brushed or have bevelled edges to alter their look.
About Naturally Wood
Naturally Wood are based in Loughton Essex and supply a complete flooring solution of wood floor laying, design and restoration for homes and businesses in London, Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Middlesex and Kent.
We have a huge range of wood types and styles to choose from and can supply and install strip floors, bespoke parquet floors, mosaic panels, engineered floors, wood block floors and aged and distressed floors for homes and offices as well as shop floors, dance floors and floors for large commercial premises.
We have a wealth of experience in the wood flooring trade and our overall intention is to maintain the high levels of our products, workmanship and customer relationships to give you the best possible service.
You can contact us via the telephone or on our website to discuss your requirements and for a free home consultation and quotation.
Wood Floor Laying - Click here to view our range of flooring products and service
Wood Floor Laying - Click here to view our range of flooring products and service
Below we will explain step by step the process of selecting a new wood floor and our wood floor laying procedure which includes installation and finishing.
Step 1 - The ideal place to start when considering a new wooden floor is the Internet. Browse our main web site www.naurallywood.net for a wealth of ideas on wood species, floor patterns and different flooring products. Or if you prefer a hard copy to read through, then our company brochure can be downloaded from the website, or sent to you in the post.
The two main choices you need to make are the type of wood and type of flooring that you want. Here at Naturally Wood Floors, we can advise you on the best choices for your wood floor laying process.
Our wood types range from the traditional Oak, Beech, Maple, Walnut and Mahogany to exotic hardwoods such as Wenge, Merbau, Burmese Teak and Jatoba.
Our range of floor types is extensive from engineered, strip and wood blocks to mosaic panels and bespoke parquet flooring in a wide choice of patterns.
Step 2 - the next step is to give us a call to discuss what you have in mind and then we can recommend the best products to match your ideas.
Our highly trained craftsmen will talk you through the many differences of our entire product range including floor types and designs, wood types, grades of wood and finishes.
We can give you an estimate over the phone for your new wooden floor. To do this we will require the total square metres of the floor area to be covered and the wood and type of flooring you would like.
All wood flooring advice from Naturally Wood Floors is provided free of charge from our friendly and very helpful staff.
Step 3 - After providing an estimate over the phone, we will arrange a site meeting and inspection. Here we will draw up plans of the area or areas you want wood flooring for, take accurate measurements and inspect the sub floor. We will discuss with you the whole project including if there is any initial preparation work needed before the floor can be laid and if you require any accessories like perimeter beading and door thresholds.
At the site visit we bring along large sample panels of the wood type and flooring pattern you have chosen so you can see them in your home and get a true feeling of what they will look like and how they will fit in with your current décor.
Step 4 - Once you are happy with your choices and the work we need to undertake to begin the wood floor laying in your home, then a written quotation will be sent to you for your approval. In this quotation we will frequently put forward some alternatives to reflect different budgets for you to choose from.
Step 5 - You have chosen your flooring and wood types and approved the quotation so now it is time for the wood floor laying to begin. We will usually schedule the work in during Monday to Friday but sometimes weekend work can be arranged on request.
First the sub floor will be prepared as discussed at the site inspection and in accordance with our quotation. This preparation means uplifting and disposing of the old floor covering such as vinyl or carpet and then making any necessary repairs to the sub floor.
Sometimes there is a need to fit a plywood sub floor or apply leveling compounds to a concrete sub floor before work can begin. Any joists that are damaged will need to be repaired too.
Step 6 - It depends on the flooring type you have chosen as to how your wood floor will be installed so here are details of the process for our most popular floor types.
Engineered Flooring - This can be installed in two ways. The T&G joints can be joined together with glue and then the floor is floated on an underlay. We have a variety of underlays such as foam underlays incorporating DPM suitable for concrete floors or others, which help to minimize the impact noise.
Engineered flooring can also be fully fixed to a concrete of plywood sub floor using a flexible adhesive. If you have chosen a 20mm structural engineered floor, then this can be secret nailed through the T&G to the existing joists or timber sub floors.
20mm Solid T&G Strip Flooring - As long as the width chosen is no more than 130mm this type of flooring can be secret nailed to existing joists or a timber sub floor. It can also be fully glued with flexible adhesive to a concrete or plywood sub floor.
20mm Solid T&G Wood Blocks - A flexible adhesive is used here to attach the flooring to a concrete or plywood sub floor.
End Grain Flooring - A 2 part PU/Epoxy adhesive is used here to attach the flooring to a concrete or plywood sub floor.
Mosaic Flooring - Mesh backed Mosaic flooring can be installed on top of a concrete or plywood sub floor using a spirit based or 2 part PU/Epoxy adhesive. Felt backed Mosaic flooring can only be installed using a spirit based adhesive.
6-10mm Parquet - A 2 part PU/Epoxy adhesive is used with very small 23G stainless steel headless pins to fix the 6-10mm parquet flooring to a plywood sub floor. The plywood thickness can vary from 4-6mm over existing timber floorboards and 9-18mm over concrete sub floors.
Step 7 - The last part of the wood floor laying process is to finish your floor. Naturally Wood Floors offer a large range of different finishes such as stains, oils, lacquers and treatments.
Stains - These darken or even alter the colour of the original wood and come in light and dark teak, antique pine, ebony, light, medium and dark oak, brown and red mahogany and walnut. A stain will only dye your wood floor it does not offer any additional protection.
Oils - based on vegetable oils and waxes our matt, satin, snow, white spruce and a large range of coloured oils offer protection against wear and tear and make your wood flooring much more moisture resistant. Oils leave the surface of the wood in a very natural state whilst guarding it against dirt and liquids.
Lacquers - provide an excellent shield against scratches and scuff marks whilst enhancing the natural beauty of your wood floor with a subtle sheen. Our range comes in matt, silk and gloss.
Treatments - various treatments can alter the look and texture of your wood flooring. Oak can be smoked, fumed or thermo treated which will darken its appearance and our flooring products can also be tumbled, brushed or have bevelled edges to alter their look.
About Naturally Wood
Naturally Wood are based in Loughton Essex and supply a complete flooring solution of wood floor laying, design and restoration for homes and businesses in London, Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Middlesex and Kent.
We have a huge range of wood types and styles to choose from and can supply and install strip floors, bespoke parquet floors, mosaic panels, engineered floors, wood block floors and aged and distressed floors for homes and offices as well as shop floors, dance floors and floors for large commercial premises.
We have a wealth of experience in the wood flooring trade and our overall intention is to maintain the high levels of our products, workmanship and customer relationships to give you the best possible service.
You can contact us via the telephone or on our website to discuss your requirements and for a free home consultation and quotation.
Wood Floor Laying - Click here to view our range of flooring products and service
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