Common Solid Oak Questions
Solid wood is not so suitable. The reasons you can’t use solid wood floors with underfloor heating is that the high heats can dry it out, causing it to shrink and creating gaps in the floor. When the heating goes off again, the wood reabsorbs moisture and expands, which can make it swell and buckle.
We often get asked this question and in a short answer to the question is No!
This is not recommended by manufacturers. The main reason being that solid wood flooring is much more susceptible to movement than engineered flooring, due to fluctuating moisture and humidity levels which can lead onto gapping the whole nature of solid hardwood flooring means that it is in a constant state of change due to the effects of rising and falling temperatures.
If you are laying the solid wood flooring over a concrete subfloor then you will need to check the latter’s moisture levels beforehand. It should be less than 4%. If it is not then use a damp proof membrane primer barrier to help prevent moisture affecting the solid wood. Refer to our advice center for our PDF instructions.
Since our wood flooring is stored in a warehouse, your home will be a very different environment to the one our flooring is used to. This difference in humidity and temperature can make the flooring expand and contract slightly once it’s brought indoors however this small difference could mean your floor gets installed incorrectly.
We recommend acclimatizing your flooring before fitting for a minimum of 7 days. Simply leave the flooring in its box in the room that it’ll be fitted in with the top and bottom ends left open. Try to keep the room at the temperature it’ll be when you use it.
For more useful information, visit our advice center.
Glue downs are installed by trowel spreading of adhesive on the subfloor in a pre determined area. Usually professionals will measure out three feet or enough for twelve rows to cover, using a three inch wide board as an example. Each and every individual board is placed one at a time into the adhesive until the glued area is covered. Once completed, another area is marked and laid.
We often get asked which glue would you recommend, and having used this company for the past 8 years Rewmar MS Polymer is a one part, modified silane based wood flooring adhesive. Suitable for sticking down any species of wooden flooring to almost any subfloor. It has a high bond strength between the wooden floor and the subfloor when dry, but remains permanently flexible. The flooring is allowed to move as the seasons change but will not crack. The floor will stay adhered to the subfloor. If any adhesive is left on the surface of the wood it is easy to remove either wet or dry (following day) and no special chemicals are required.
General advice for maintaining your wood flooring includes, keeping it regularly swept, clean, and dry. It’s recommended when sweeping to use either a hoover with a soft attachment, or a soft broom to avoid marking your floors. When cleaning, a damp mop or cloth will suffice, as long as the flooring is completely dried afterwards. Be wary of excess moisture that will cause it to swell, so AVOID using a steam mop and clean up any stains and spillages immediately.
More useful information can be found in our Advice Center.
If you’re after solid wood , we’d recommend against them for the kitchen. Solid wood flooring can warp in the changing moisture a can be weakened by the water. Oiled floors aren’t suitable as they offer less moisture resistance than lacquered floors.
If you’re after solid wood for your bathroom we would not recommend the use for this purpose. Over time real wood flooring could warp in the changing moisture and our natural carpets can be weakened by water.
More useful information in our advice center.
When it comes to installing an Solid oak Floor it is essential you leave at least a 10mm expansion gap, as this will allow the floor to breathe. As Engineered Wood Flooring is a natural product you will get some slight movement (expansion and contraction), therefore an expansion gap is essential. A good way to cover up an expansion gap would be to use beading or skirting boards. This way the gap won’t be visible to the eye.
One of the main advantages of an Solid Wood Flooring product is the fact you can sand and refinish it multiple times, giving the flooring an extremely long life span. However, you shouldn’t need to sand and refinish an Solid Wood Floor for the first 10 to 15 years. The idea behind sanding and refinishing a floor is so it looks as good as new.
Common Laminate Flooring Questions
Laminate AC ratings measure wear resistance and were originally designated AC1 to AC5. All of our laminate ranges fall under AC4 rating. AC4 (Class 32): Any domestic and general trafficked commercial spaces such as offices, cafes, salons and boutiques or residential spaces.
The surface on top of laminate flooring products are extremely hard wearing and scratch resistant, so you needn’t worry about pets for example damaging the surface.
All laminate floors are joined using a built in click locking mechanism and laid over an underlay known as a floating floor system with no need for glue or nails. This makes installing laminate floors a DIY job.
Laminate flooring material needs to acclimate (adjust) to the moisture and temperature conditions of the installation environment for 24 to 72 hours.
Our laminate flooring is an extremely versatile flooring product. It can be installed in virtually any room of your home as well as commercial environments such as high traffic areas and places where hygiene is paramount including:
- Bedroom
- Living Room
- Children’s Room
- Hall
- Kitchen
- Office
There are some areas that we do not recommend installing laminate flooring such as bathrooms, wet rooms and saunas.
Use a soft brush or vacuum cleaner to remove any surface dust. Do not use abrasive cleaners, steel wool or scouring pads, as they will damage your floor. For regular cleaning use a cloth, ensuring it is well wrung, it is important not to apply excess moisture to the floor.
The main advantage with Laminate Flooring is it is easy to install, is very durable and hard wearing and relatively inexpensive compared to real hardwood flooring. It is also a very versatile product which can be used in various areas and low maintenance, and a more natural & healthy alternative to carpets.
Sub floors with hot water systems have to be prepared prior to fitting the laminate (special instructions are available). With regards to electrical heating systems we advise contacting the manufacturer; some systems have been tested and approved. The maximum temperature the floor should be heated to is 27°C.
General Questions
Yes, we offer upto 3 free samples on all our solid and engineered wood flooring products, laminate and vinyl products too. We feel this is important for our customer to touch and feel the quality of our products prior to purchasing. All our samples are delivered within 24- 48 hours of placing the order, sent first class via Royal mail.
All our flooring products will be securely wrapped and delivered using a pallet, as we feel this is best way to safely transport these goods. All of our deliveries are made to kerbside. We make sure we always inform our customers of the exact delivery date to allow you to make the relevant arrangements. Another advantage of our delivery system is we make sure the driver calls the customer beforehand to give you more flexibility throughout the day. A member of our team can explain should you require more information.
Once you have a placed an order and you have selected the payment of your choice, we will check our stock levels against your order and email you a confirmation of the purchase so you can double check all the correct items have been ordered, we will call you once the flooring has been dispatched as a courtesy reminder of your delivery.
There are many reasons why we have become the fastest online flooring retailer, but the main reasons are our the prices, products and service we offer. Not only do we offer the cheapest prices in the UK but we always make sure our product specifications are of higher quality than our competition. It doesn’t stop there, we take a huge amount of pride in the before and after sales service, which reflects on our 5 star review rating.
Common Engineered Oak Questions
Yes all our engineered flooring is compatible for the use with Under floor heating systems. It's fine to use with engineered as these floors are all designed to cope with dramatic changes in temperature. However, it's always worth checking with the product manufacturer, and remember that no floor should be exposed to temperatures above 27 degrees Celsius.
For more useful information please visit our advice center.
Engineered Wood Flooring generally have two fitting types, a click system and a tongue & groove. The click system doesn’t require glue, however you may require glue floor the tongue and groove system depending on whether you choose to glue to boards or use the secret nail method. For more information visit our advice centre.
Engineered flooring is stored in a warehouse, your home will be a very different environment to the one our flooring is used to. This difference in humidity and temperature can make the flooring expand and contract slightly once it’s brought indoors however this small difference could mean your floor gets installed incorrectly.
We recommend acclimatizing your flooring before fitting for a minimum of 2days. Simply leave the flooring in its box in the room that it’ll be fitted in with the top and bottom ends left open. Try to keep the room at the temperature it’ll be when you use it.
For more useful information, visit our advice center.
If you’re really set on the luxury of a real wood kitchen floor, lacquered engineered boards are your best bet, as the finish will help them resist splashes and engineered floors are designed to withstand changing temperatures. Always dry up splashes straightaway.
However if you are thinking about getting engineered for your bathroom, we don't recommend as over time flooring could warp in the changing moisture and our natural carpets can be weakened by water.
When it comes to installing an Engineered Wooden Floor it is essential you leave at least a 10mm expansion gap, as this will allow the floor to breathe. As Engineered Wood Flooring is a natural product you will get some slight movement (expansion and contraction), therefore an expansion gap is essential. A good way to cover up an expansion gap would be to use beading or skirting boards. This way the gap won’t be visible to the eye.
One of the main advantages of an Engineered Wood Flooring product is the fact you can sand and refinish it multiple times, giving the flooring an extremely long life span. However, you shouldn’t need to sand and refinish an Engineered Wood Floor for the first 10 to 15 years. The idea behind sanding and refinishing a floor is so it looks as good as new.
Engineered Wood Flooring is made of a core of hardwood or plywood, with a layer of hardwood veneer on the top of the surface. It’s still made of genuine wood so it gives any space the same contemporary look and feel which solid wood offers.
Engineered wood flooring is not all scratch resistant, factors such as the surface finish and wood species can affect the wear resistance of the floor massively. Wood floors with a multilayered polyurethane finish tend to be harder wearing but always speak to our experts first to see what suites your requirements.
There are many benefits to a engineered floor, but one of the main reasons you would chose a engineered floor rather than a solid floor is that is it more stable due to the product being manufactured with multiple layers, rather than one solid piece of wood. For more information visit our advice centre.
Common Luxury Vinyl Tiles Questions?
The primary component of LVT flooring is PVC vinyl, which is mainly plastic. This allows LVT flooring to be exceptionally hardwearing and resilient. It also means it is 100% water-resistant, making it ideal for bathrooms.
Installing LVT flooring couldn't be easier. All of our LVT flooring range comes with a glueless 'clic' system which allows you to slot the planks of flooring together, rather than using adhesives or nails. You can read more from our advice centre.
When cleaning LVT flooring it is best to avoid heavy-duty cleaners and to rinse well after cleaning. Do not use soap or detergent as they may have a dulling effect. For routine maintenance, be sure to sweep regularly, wipe spills up promptly and use a doormat outside to prevent bringing dirt onto your LVT flooring.
LVT a are water resistant and stand up against mold and mildew, making them elegant and stress-free choices for bathrooms, kitchens, and any room that is often exposed to moisture. Since most Luxury Vinyl Flooring is built to withstand even commercial levels of wear and tear, it’s ideal for high-traffic areas.
You can install LVT over concrete slabs or even layers of wood and other products. Primarily, the sub-floor must be prepared before installation. You want to make sure the surface is clean, dry and with no bumps or gaps.