Hard wood flooring has a timeless beauty and warmth, which is what makes it such a great option for church interiors and other places of worship. It can suit modern and traditional buildings and is extremely durable, as hard wood flooring can cope with heavy foot fall.
During the Medieval period, clay tiles or stone slabs were used as church flooring and, before that, churches had beaten earth floors. Timber floors have been used for centuries in churches and are thought to have been introduced in the post-medieval period. Nowadays, there are a wide range of different types of flooring used in churches including carpet, ceramic tiles, marble and stone.
Hard wood flooring is a popular surface because it is so attractive and long lasting - a well maintained solid hard wood floor can last up to 100 years. Naturally Wood specialise in the installation and restoration of all types of hard wood flooring for churches and other places of worship, as well as homes and commercial properties.
If you are looking at having new hard wood flooring laid in your church or place of worship, here are some of the things to consider.
Hard Wood Flooring - visit our web site now for a free quote or click here to view our range of Flooring Products
1. Ensure Your Hard Wood Flooring is In Keeping with the Church Interior
If you have an ancient church with a traditional interior, make sure your choice of flooring reflects this; likewise if you have a modern interior. As a guide, darker woods tend to suit more historical buildings and lighter woods work well with contemporary interiors. Oak is a popular choice for places of worship, and maple is a good option for lighter, more modern interiors.
Hard wood flooring is more robust than softer woods and tends to have a more refined grain. If you are looking for an elegant and durable surface, exotic woods - such as teak or wenge - are more expensive, but are extremely hard wearing.
A parquet floor with a herringbone design is a popular option for churches, and a lacquer finish produces a very robust surface. Naturally Wood have installed and restored wood flooring for a range of public buildings, including churches, and you can see these in the case studies section of our website.
An example of one of our case studies is a restoration project we completed in a church in Ruislip, Middlesex. Our experts at naturally wood restored the original Burmese teak wood blocks and the flooring was finished with Bona Mega Lacquer.
In another case study, we installed oak wood flooring in a church in Willesden, London. Our team applied three coats of liquid Damp Proof Membrane (DPM) to a new concrete sub floor. We then installed Legacy European Oak prime grade wood blocks, and the surface was finished with Bona Mega Lacquer.
2. Work Out How Much You Can Spend on Hard Wood Flooring for Your Church
When you are looking to install hard wood flooring in any building, including churches, you should first work out a budget - but be realistic on how much you need to spend. Discuss your overall budget with Naturally Wood and find out what they can do to fit within this price range.
You may not want hard wood flooring for all areas of the church, but for one section - such as the pews and aisles, but not the altar. Or you may want a new hard wood flooring fitted for a Sunday School classroom, youth area, or community room, but not for the main hall of worship.
Another thing to think about is whether you need a brand new floor fitted. In some cases, worn floors can be restored to their former glory, so there is no need for a complete re-fit. Naturally Wood are passionate about the installation, restoration and repair of solid wood floors and can advise you on the best steps to take.
3. Choose a Professional Team to Install Your Church’s Hard Wood Flooring
Once you have decided on floor restoration or installation of your church flooring, it is vital to call in the professionals, so you can be assured that all work will be carried out to the highest possible standards.
Naturally Wood has a family history in the hard wood flooring trade that goes back more than a century and we are proud of our superb quality workmanship. We have the experience of working on church interiors and can advise on all aspects of flooring, including the wood types, finishes, and restoration and repair.
It is vital to call in professionals with a proven track record of working in churches, as there are various considerations to make. This means not only choosing the correct wood flooring to suit the interior but there are also other factors to take on board such as the careful removal and installation of pews. Most pews have concealed anchors instead of L-shaped brackets; they need to be removed correctly and put back exactly in the right place, so as not to damage the new flooring.
Choosing a hard wood flooring company you can trust will give you complete peace of mind. Contact us for friendly, expert advice.
4. Work Out a Time Schedule To Suit Your Congregation
Our floor repair, restoration and installation work is designed to keep disruption at a minimum. However, there is likely to be some element of inconvenience while work is carried out.
Work out a time schedule to suit your congregation and think about whether there are alternatives that can be made during this time. It may be that a temporary room can be used for prayer meetings or Sunday worship. We can help and advise you on all aspects of hard wood flooring and installation.
Based in Loughton, Essex, Naturally Wood offers a complete flooring solution for homes, businesses and public buildings in Essex, London, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Middlesex, Hertfordshire and Kent.
Hard Wood Flooring - visit our web site now for a free quote or click here to view our range of Flooring Products
