When deciding on a new floor laminate flooring offers more options than any other type of flooring. It is seen as the best choice for flooring needs, regardless of price, mainly because of its superior selection and the ease of installation.
Laminate flooring has come a long way since its introduction into the USA around fifteen years ago. Today with the different types of texture and design laminate flooring will give you the look you want for your home, it is almost indistinguishable from hardwood. With product décor options from basic wood species Walnut, Cherry, Beech, Maple and Oak to the more exotic species of Brazilian Cherry, Pecan and Merbau there is literally hundreds of decors to choose from along with different textures and finishes including registered, embossed, piano finish accompanied with wide plank, short plank and the latest narrow plank and beveled there is a literally an endless choice a laminate flooring for everyone.
Laminate flooring is a lot more durable than the so called real thing, very easy to clean as laminate floor cleaner can be found nearly anywhere and is not terribly expensive.
Laminate flooring is still fairly new to the USA. Even so, it has already become one of the most popular types of floor in the US today with sales achieving double digit percentage growth since its introduction. Durability, low prices along with ease of installation are among the reasons that laminate flooring has become so popular.
Flooring manufacturers have picked up on the wood laminate floor trend quickly and are already producing laminated planks and tiles in an endless array of textures, styles and colors. Installation formats initially had some variation but over the last few years have settled down to just one glue-less format that simply locks together as a ‘floating floor’. This ease of installation has proved to be one of the key features in laminate floors astonishing growth with pretty much anyone being able to install their own laminate floor, should they so choose.
Companies like Pergo have become synonymous with laminate flooring. Lots of other manufacturers are also making names for themselves becoming more efficient in the manufacturing process, becoming fully integrated and bringing to market surprisingly high quality laminate flooring, affordable pricing and finishes that would delight any customer.
Laminate flooring is available both from the Internet and from your local hardware store. Ecommerce offers incredible benefits of manufacturer direct flooring the highest possible quality products at the lowest possible price. It would be wise to check around so you can see just how affordable it can be and home improvement stores will often have a display to show off various types of laminate floors. However, always be wary of cheap laminate flooring buy from a company that runs their business cost effectively this will ensure that they sell the highest quality products at the lowest possible price.
Laminate Flooring Weekly is an informational website on the laminate flooring industry and manufacturers visit us online at http://www.laminateflooringweekly.com/
If giving a enormous stylish look for your house to make it seem fresh and up to date is one of your top most priorities, in that case you will be no stranger to laminate flooring that would give the whole interior of your home an upscale and sophisticated look devoid of breaking the bank. Truly, the laminate floors is one of the best ways where you can instantaneously create a clean finish to your own homes and give it an updated sophistication without going over the budget or breaking the bank.
And given that we all know that laminate flooring is one of the easiest and affordable ways to make our homes a better place to live in with minimal maintenance but at the same time give the kind of elegance that we want for our own homes, it is still is great if we would find shops that would give us discount laminate flooring. Therefore if you are finding great ideas that you could incorporate into your own home, you should go for having a discount laminate flooring to help us save money and at the same time, give the look that we want for our home.
While your budget for your home improvements is really small, there may be bargains for some products, in particular discontinued laminate flooring. As many times the particular pattern or color has been discontinued, laminate flooring from the same manufacturer is still on the market. Nevertheless, regardless of how good the deal may seem, if there are not enough boxes of that style to cover your floor, it is definitely not going to be a good buy.
Very much depending on the reputation of the manufacturer, as well as the retailer, there have been times that discontinued laminate flooring has been found to include hidden damage inside the box. In lots of cases, the purchase of flooring at a discount outlet may also be short of any type of warranty and once you take it out of the store, you own it. If there are any hidden damages inside the box, there may not be sufficient to complete the job you had in mind.
If possible, try buying an extra box or two of discontinued laminate flooring will help eliminate that problem, plus allowing you to have some on hand in case of damage later on. If you have to replace damaged pieces, they will be impossible to find and the appearance of your floor will have to suffer.
Not a word in the English language is more definite than the word cheap. If a supplier chooses to use the word cheap in describing their product then you may want to consider again about buying it. Certainly the supplier could choose to use the word inexpensive or even the word value when describing their lower quality line of laminate flooring however using the phrase cheap laminate flooring says a great deal concerning the supplier and none of it is good.
Purchasing laminate flooring is an imperative decision because aside from the cost of the flooring you also have the installation and use factors to remember as well. Installation of laminate flooring is though a simple process yet that is not easy to do so if you invest in cheap laminate flooring, and spending a great deal of time installing it, you may consider it days lost when the cheap laminate flooring starts to fail on you. Wear and tear on a floor is above the wear and tear in any other part of your house and if you use cheap laminate flooring then that wear and tear won’t take long to obliterate your cheap new floor.
If you be desperate to save money on laminate flooring in that case don’t buy cheap laminate flooring but rather buy inexpensive flooring from a supplier that has a reputation to uphold. The best case in point of this is the local home improvement super store. From time to time they will get laminate flooring that is of good quality but their price is so low that it seems too good to be true. That super store has many to lose if you buy that flooring and it turns out to be cheaply made so you are pretty safe buying inexpensive laminate flooring from the local home improvement super store.
You will end up getting what you pay for if you do not do your homework and if you try and buy cheap laminate flooring from a less than reputable supplier then you are asking for trouble. Flooring is particularly important so make sure you make the right choice when you go to buy your laminate flooring and make the choice that not only makes sense for your wallet but furthermore makes good business sense as well.
One of the most important parts of any interiorâs design is the flooring, and in todayâs time, it is finally getting the attention that it deserves. New ideas and concepts in flooring are being regularly introduced in the market and homeowners who want their houses to stand out from the rest now have a million options in floor designs to choose from. When it comes to introducing new floor design concepts and ideas, then Amtico can definitely be called the pioneer.
The premier flooring manufacturer, Amtico, not only produces all kinds of flooring materials ranging from hardwood and laminates to vinyl and cork, it has also managed to make flooring extremely interesting with its varied and novel floor design ideas. Amticoâs flooring designers manage to introduce new ranges regularly and get their inspiration from anything and everything ranging from history and nature to youtube and James Bond.
No wonder then, Amticoâs floor design concepts and styles manage to leave the competitors far behind. Amtico is easily the world leader when it comes to flooring design and materials, and if you want nothing but the best in style, design and quality for your home, then Amtico flooring is what you should go for.
The best part is that these different design features that let you personalize your floor are available in all kinds of Amtico flooring, be it hardwood or cork flooring, laminate or tiles. Amtico hardwood flooring is created using the best natural woods and their high quality factory finish precludes the need for any kind of sanding or finishing. Amtico hardwood flooring is available in a wide variety of colors, textures, widths and finishes, providing you with a large number of options to create your own personalized hardwood floor. Amtico cork flooring can also be found in a large variety of textures, grain and coloring.
An equally wide range can be found when you look through the range of Amtico tiles in slates, ceramics and laminates. The use of contrast or complementary striping or motifs from Amtico will provide your tiled floor with a unique and distinctive character .By incorporating Amtico flooring designs in your own home, you will not only have the satisfaction of getting the best quality and design for your floor, but you will also be sure that you have the most stylish personalized floor that you could get anywhere.
Are you looking to get wooden flooring and become confused to see the number of options then I think engineered wooden flooring must be the right option for you. This type of flooring has become quite common these days and you should prefer it if you are a quality conscious person. When it comes to buy wooden flooring the main contenders are engineered wooden flooring, solid wood flooring, and laminate wooden flooring. These are the three competitors so you should compare them and it is hoped that engineered wooden flooring would be your ultimate choice.
Comparing Engineered Wooden Flooring With Its Competitors
Making comparison of the engineered wooden flooring and solid wood flooring is in fact quite foolish thing to do. The upper layer of both these floorings looks same. When it comes to the upper layer of engineered wood floor we can observe that it consists of thin portion of hard wood. Laminate flooring on the other hand looks quite different from the engineered flooring.
Don’t Forget To Consider The Sound Of Engineered Wooden Flooring
When you are in a market to buy wooden floor then an advice for you is that don’t forget to consider the sound before you decide to purchase any of the floorings. Apparently, the main thing you do with your flooring is walk on it, which creates sound. An important point to discuss here is that you would notice a big variation between different types of wooden flooring. Similarly the floorings of different brands may have different sounds. The hollow sound is the identity of laminate wooden flooring. A lot of flooring makers do the marketing of this type of flooring as not having that issue. You should be aware of the fact that normal solid wooden flooring does not have much sound. When you have used your flooring almost ten or more years then it will obviously change its sound and may start giving creaking sounds. When we talk about the engineered wooden flooring then we come to know that some of them may make hollow sound, and some other may not have such sound. The good thing about them is that they wouldn’t start making creaking sound very early and the reason for this is that they are good in quality and quite durable as well.
Damage Control
Another key feature of engineered wooden flooring is that you can refinish it if it is damaged. But you should also consider the fact that you can’t refinish it lots of times. It generally depends on the brand that you have preferred.
Price
The price of this type of floor is not easy to judge as different brands have different prices so the rates are quite fluctuating and hence we can’t give a specific figure of the price of engineering wooden flooring.
¾ thick solid hardwood floors can only be installed over a wood subfloor, at or above ground level. These instructions will show you how to install a ¾ thick solid hardwood floor over a plywood subfloor. Remember that a good flooring installation starts with a correctly prepared subfloor. So be sure to watch the plywood subfloor prep video.
Take a look at the wasted space in many business premises. How much of that valuable building space is actually being put to good use? A mezzanine floor could be the solution.
If you think about lost volume, rather than simply thinking about the square footage you are trying to maximise the income from, the answer can be quite daunting. Who’s paying for all that non-working space â who’s heating and paying the rates?
Many mezzanine flooring manufacturers report that some of their customers have been using less than 20% of the cube of their building. With gas and electricity constantly on the rise and the increase year on year of business rates, the full area of the premises needs to be used.
Mezzanine platform applications and systems can make this space work a little harder for you. You can increase your productive footprint without the hassle of moving. The right premises are not always available, coupled with the fees involved with moving and the hassle of changing address, means maximising a current building is far more practical.
What are the benefits of Mezzanine Floors and Mezzanine Flooring?
1.   A mezzanine floor is a low cost way to create extra floor space, saving the money, time and disruption of relocation. 2.   Sweat the asset by utilising the mezzanine floor to use headroom to release valuable ground floor space – several storeys can be built, not just one. 3.   Create an additional office, canteen, showroom, storage space or a combination of these with our mezzanine flooring. 4.   Set up a more spacious, appropriate working environment to boost efficiency and productivity. 5.   Flexibility – can be moved, modified or dismantled. 6.   A rapid and easily installed solution to your needs, with minimal disruption to your business. Mezzanine flooring is quick to assemble and can be in use within weeks. Some small floors can be installed in a day.
Here’s an idea – if you don’t need all that extra space, make money from someone who does! Why not look at installing offices or storage facilities over your existing operation and rent them out? A few points need to be considered though:
â¢Â   Building Control issues and the submission of Building Control Applications need to be carried out. â¢Â   The design of a layout that best suits the business needs. This includes designing the placement of mezzanine flooring columns that are not in productive parts of the operations below (sometimes existing building structures can be used as support). â¢Â   Minimal disruption to current. â¢Â   Does the business need access to part of the floor to work on and so the mezzanine floor installer will come back to build the rest at a later date. â¢Â   What weight of goods/machinery etc will be used on the floor?
In most commercial applications mezzanine floor planning permission is not required, providing there are no issues that alter the external look of the building surrounding the project (e.g. additional external windows to bring light to the new floor). In retail applications, or other areas affecting an increase in vehicular traffic, mezzanine floor planning permission may apply.
Experts in Mezzanine Floors in the UK. Thirty years experience in design/installation of mezzanine floor Liverpool products.
Laminate or Carpet? Many homeowners face this question when planning floor coverings. Both are great flooring options, but the making the decision that is best for you depends on a number of factors. What is the style of your home? How much traffic does the area in question see? Do you have small children? How would you like the room to feel?
Here, we’ll explore the pros and cons of laminate flooring versus those of carpet for your home.
The first thing we tend to think about is style. What is the look you’re going for? Laminate flooring can remarkably simulate the look of hardwood or tile. Considering its Swedish design origins, it should be no surprise that laminate flooring can be a good choice for rooms with a modern aesthetic. As well, the clean lines lend themselves to cooler, more masculine areas.
Brett Morris of ProSource Denver Flooring, a popular flooring company located in Colorado, has seen his fair share of customers come into the store seeking other types of flooring but end up going with laminate. “We have had numerous customers come in looking for hardwood or tile flooring, but end up going with the relatively cheap laminate flooring at Denver ProSource.”
If your tastes tend more towards soft, warm, and luxurious, then carpet would fit the bill. If coziness is a factor, carpet would also seem to be the only choice. Carpet feels warmer, as well. When you wake up on a cold morning in Denver carpet in your bare feet can be a much more pleasant experience than the colder laminate.
When it comes to durability, Denver laminate flooring can easily last up to 30 years with much less maintenance than any carpeting. Laminate floors do not require shampooing and clean much easier. If the room in question is one that sees heavy traffic, laminate might be the way to go.
If you have small children, carpet is much less harmful for them to tumble around on. However, we all know that children are prone to tracking in mud and snow, and are generally extremely adept at making messes on the floor.
Laminates, while not as kind to tumbling children, do clean much easier, will resist lots of scratching, and possibly most importantly, are hypoallergenic. The lack of fiber offers less space for dust to be trapped, which can result in fewer allergies for everyone in the home.
Think about the style and durability that you’re going for when you’re choosing between carpet and laminate flooring. A quality flooring company such as ProSource Denver will be happy to help you make the best decision for your needs. For more information, visit http://www.prosourcedenver.com/.
About ProSource Denver
Prosource Denver is an independently owned wholesale flooring store serving the entire Front Range of Colorado with professional flooring products at the lowest wholesale prices. From Ft. Collins to Colorado Springs, and everywhere in between, ProSource Denver offers the best flooring products for the best prices, saving you time and money.
Flooring Website Helps the Pocketbook as the Economy Takes a Dive
The flooring industry is feeling the squeeze of the economic downturn just like every other industry. Flooring retailers, installers and floor cleaning professionals â with few exceptions â are all struggling as jobless rates rise and people have less money to spend. Recent estimates suggest that a significant number of flooring businesses in the United States have closed their doors in recent months. Itâs hard to put a smile on a number like that, but there is some comfort in knowing that there is some help out there.
âLike every industry, the flooring business has taken a hammering,â said Damien Patton, founder and CEO of FindAnyFloor.comâ¢. âFlooring professionals who a month ago had a stable business are now lined up looking for work like so many other people. Given that, itâs gratifying that what we do at FAF can actually help them, as well as the people looking to buy flooring but not overspend.â
FindAnyFloor.com is the worldâs largest flooring information website and it ranks in the top one percent of all searched sites on the Internet. Despite the woes of the economy, FAF has steadily grown in strength since it was unveiled in mid-August of 2008.
The âhelpâ that Patton refers to comes in a variety of forms.
To begin with, the site runs very deep with information. This is a benefit to consumers looking to save time and money by getting the right floor for their needs. And by using the siteâs Find A Local⢠search directory, customers can also access information on thousands of flooring professionals. By simply entering their zip code, site visitors can find the retailers, installers and cleaners nearest their home, which again translates to saving time and, very possibly, money.
Size Up That Floor or Reach Out to a Professional
The siteâs state-of-the-art Quick Click Floor Estimator⢠is an easy-to-use online tool for calculating the area, cost and waste factor of any new floor. By simply using the cursor to click and drag the provided flooring templates, any room configuration can be duplicated. From there, all kinds of options can be compared: for example, the cost of bamboo compared to cork; or angled tiling compared to having it laid straight across the room. So rather than taking a stab in the dark, the customer knows not only what outlay theyâre looking at, but precisely what theyâre getting for that outlay.
The latest addition to the FindAnyFloor.com âtoolboxâ is the Ask A Pro⢠Live Chat.Site visitors just click on the Ask A Pro button which appears on every page, type in their flooring question, and receive a real-time response. Itâs free of charge and requires no sign-up or log-in. In other words, itâs the simplest way possible to get unbiased flooring answers and get them fast. Of course, the key word is âunbiased.â
Sweet Deals and âFriendly Flooringâ
Any way to save money helps these days. It all adds up. FindAnyFloor.com has developed strong relationships with the professionals listed on the site and offers a Discounts & Coupons section for those seeking flooring goods and services. Once again, itâs simply a matter of the consumer typing in their zip code to find the vendors in their area who are offering deals.
Many people have special requirements when it comes to their floors. Perhaps they have pets or they suffer from allergies. Maybe they have some form of disability or are the parent of young children. Then again, they may live in a demanding climate or be very environmentally conscious. For just such circumstances, FindAnyFloor.com came up with its Friendly Flooring⢠section. Site users in the aforementioned situations can now go directly to the flooring information put together just for them.
How does this save money? Thatâs a long list. For example, some floors are kinder to allergy suffers than others â which can mean savings on medicines. Other floors are resistant to damage that might be caused by pets or climate swings. And in the case of, say, toddlers, well a floor that is forgiving on their tumbles and falls can save on medical bills not to mention the anguish caused to both parent and child. No other flooring site can boast anything like Friendly Flooring.
Helping You Get It Right
Few things are more expensive than mistakes. Imagine buying flooring and then finding it didnât suit your house or your needs. Or worse still, buying it and then trying to install it and botching the job. With FindAnyFloor.comâs detailed Buying Guides, do-it-yourself Installation Guides, and handy Buying Checklists, itâs hard to go wrong. All of the guides are available specifically for each of the major flooring types: bamboo, concrete, carpet, cork, hardwood, laminate, linoleum, rubber, stone, tile, and vinyl.
The Buying Guides cover all the main areas of floor purchasing: where to buy, questions to ask, installation considerations, and more. The Installation Guides come in short form for the more experienced do-it-yourselfer and a longer, more detailed form. A printable pdf version is available too, and once again, all the main floor types are covered. The buying checklists are a great way to move methodically through the purchasing process and make sure you donât miss any key questions or decisions.
FindAnyFloor.com is also in the process of adding a series of installation videos to the site. Used in tandem with the installation guides, they make DIY jobs easier for the savvy homeowner.
Great Discussion Forums
FindAnyFloor.comâs Discussion Forums provide a community for flooring consumers. Site visitors can join one of the discussions or start their own. Naturally, the experience of others can be a money saver â and FAF even has a forum section specifically titled âMoney Saving Tips.â Open it up and youâll find a variety of subjects that can save you more than just nickels and dimes.
They say that knowledge is power. Well, when it comes to making major purchases in a shaky economy, itâs also a great insurance policy. With over 10,000 pages of flooring information, FindAnyFloor.com forewarns and forearms flooring consumers. Whether planning a major purchase or wondering how best to repair that pet-claw scratch, FAF is the premier website for getting the right, money-saving information.
âWhen I started FindAnyFloor.com I wanted it to be a thorough, plain-English resource that the average consumer could use and benefit from,â said Patton. âI didnât want to have lots of pointless bells and whistles on the site or cater only to the high-end consumers or flooring initiates. This is a site for everyone. And with the things that are going on with the economy now, I know more than ever that I did the right thing.â
Economists arenât predicting light at the end of the economic tunnel for some time yet. So if ever there was a time for doing the right thing with your âdollars and sense,â itâs now. Itâs still possible to purchase within your meansâ¦with a little help from your Internet friends.
Find And Floor is a flooring information site that provides a full scale of flooring information for the novice and the expert. Complete with a flooring directory and a great forum it’s one of the leading spaces online to keep up with the ever changing flooring industry.
Aquarius is a new technology that combines the benefits of Laminate Flooring and Vinyl Flooring. Easy to install. Check out the video. For more details, this link will take you directly to our Aquarius page: www.floorstoyourhome.com
Things To Consider When Buying Beautiful Oak Wood Flooring
If you are allergic to other types of flooring and you want to have some enhancement to your house in regards to flooring, then Oak wooden flooring is considered to be the one of best options. These wooden floorings are very beautiful, durable, and affordable. Their installation is easy and they are easy to maintain with only minimal care needed. Oak flooringis available for use in all rooms, except for the bathroom, as this type of floor is not suitable for areas that have a lot of water and moisture.
These floors are solid and durable, so you don’t have to worry about damage being caused if you drop something. Oak wooden flooring comes in natural colours and there are even some varieties of laminate that have created a similar look.
Here are a few facts that will help you to buy Oak Wooden Flooring:
Decide on the amount that you would be willing to spend. There are laminates that look like flooring, but they are not real wooden floors, so check carefully before buying. There are several colours, species and grain variations in the wood used for flooring. The most popular is red oak natural and this look can really ignite a room. There are many varieties when it comes to colour choice, so consider if you are looking for something dark, or something light. This choice will also depend on the amount of light that you currently have within your house throughout the day. If you have a dark home with minimal sunlight, choosing a light floor tone can make the room look lighter. Darker shades are usually appropriate for formal interiors, while lighter colours look great within casual and contemporary interiors.
Decide upon the rooms that need new flooring, or if you are looking to replace the entire floor of the house. Be careful in areas that gather a lot of traffic, dirt and water. Many people avoid using wood in wet areas of the home, due to the damage that water can have. The installation of a wooden floor is quite easy and when people are laying the boards themselves, many prefer to buy pre finished wooden floorings. This option will save you time and money too. The majority of flooring types should come with a warranty and it is a good idea to choose one that does. There should be adequate protection from direct sunlight, as wood can fade in colour if placed in this constant situation. There are different price ranges and ultimately, the price will depend upon the grade of wood that you choose. Buying engineered wood is also a good option, as it is stronger and will last indefinitely.
Oak Wooden Flooring has 14mm and 20mm of thickness and is available in narrow or wide planks. They are also available in a matt or satin finished and your choice will depend entirely upon your budget.
Are you looking for <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://www.cutdiamondflooring.com/”>Oak Wood Flooring</a> to finish off your home? <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://www.cutdiamondflooring.com/”>Cut Diamond Flooring</a> is an East Sussex company that has a wide range of wood floors for you. For more information visit the website at http://www.cutdiamondflooring.com/
It is important to start any flooring installation by firstly planning out the room and deciding where to start. Many rooms offer what at first appear to be very complicated situations to overcome. Don’t worry too much about these, all situations have a solution which are covered in this section, alternatively further information can be found in the handy hints and tips section.
Planning:-
When first presented with a room or area which is to be fitted with Solid wood flooring some key factors will help you to decide where to start your installation. Door ways, shape of room and locations of main window are all factors to take into consideration as well as the subfloor (existing floor which is to be covered with Solid wood floor) here are some rules and suggestions:-
Rules –
When laying Solid wood flooring on top of existing floor boards always lay the planks at 90 degrees to the floor boards
It is important not to end up with a piece of flooring at the end of a row which is less than 5cm in length or to have the last row less than 5cm in width. To avoid this measure the room’s width and length and divide the results by the dimensions of the flooring being installed. It may then be necessary to start the first row with a half plank or even to cut the width down to accommodate the area
An expansion joint will need to be inserted into any floor area which is larger than 8m in length or in width, in effect creating two floor areas
Acclimatise the boards in the room they are to be laid in for a minimum of 48 hours. The room should have a relative humidity of between 45% – 65% and a temperature of between 18C – 20C
Suggestions –
It is generally accepted that the best visual effect when installing Solid wood flooring is to lay the boards in the direction of the light source; so towards the main window (not forgetting rule 1 above)
It is also suggested that the floor should run along the longest wall of the room giving the best overall effect. (again take note of rule 1 above)
When laying a floor across a door way it is best practise to start at this point and work back into the room
Installation guide:-
Once your planning stage is complete it is time to prepare the room starting with the subfloor. It is vital that the subfloor is in optimal condition to allow the new floor to perform as expected and help to maintain its longevity
Subfloor preparation –
The main factors to consider are the smoothness, dryness and overall levelness of the floor. If the subfloor is uneven then the new floor will not last long as the pressure on the joints will cause the boards to separate
For concrete floors make sure that they are dry (it takes approx. 1 day per 1mm of wet concrete to be considered dry enough for a Solid wood floor to be installed). The relative humidity of the floor is also vital it should not exceed 85%
For wooden subfloors, ensure there is no movement in the floor. Any loose floor boards should be nailed or screwed securely in place. WBP (water and boil proof) ply can be used over existing floorboards to provide a suitable subfloor surface
All floors must be smooth and level
Finally all debris must be cleaned and the surface of the subfloor must be free from dust and other contaminants
Installation Techniques:-
There are three main ways to install a Solid Wood floor,
Secret nailing
Gluing directly to the subfloor
Installing the Solid wood onto a self adhesive underlay
All of these methods are perfectly acceptable methods of installation for a domestic application, each method has its benefits and draw backs. It is often the subfloor which will help to determine which installation is best suitable.
Installing the floor planks – Secret nailing –
Secret nailing a wooden floor is a method usually chosen when the existing subfloor is wood or when installing directly to joists. Solid wood flooring should have a minimum thickness of 21mm if it is to be fitted directly to joists.
It is possible to use the secret nail technique when the subfloor is concrete or screed. A damp proof membrane (DPM) needs to be placed over the concrete followed by an 18 – 24mm WBP plywood sheet.
Start the first row by loose laying the boards parallel to the wall allowing a 15mm expansion gap. Begin by resting the fitting wedges up against the wall to give you a 15mm gap. This is vital as the Solid boards will expand and contract after installation and if this gap is not present the floor will lift and buckle in the room. The wedges are removed after installation is complete and the gap is covered with either skirting or beading
At the end of the first row you will undoubtedly need to cut a board to length. A good way to measure the length of the board required is to rotate the loose board by 180 degree (facing upwards) so that the tongue is facing the tongue of the previous row. Rest the board next to the first row then mark and cut the boards to size.
(NB. When cutting Solid flooring ensure that a new blade is used)
Once you are happy with the alignment, ‘face nail’ the boards into the subfloor at intervals of 250-300mm or onto every joist. Face nailing is nailing through the top of the planks into the subfloor, counter sink the nails and fill in the dimples with wood filler.
Depending on the tools used and the width of the flooring installed, it may be necessary to face nail two or three rows before secret nailing can begin.
Continue laying rows of planks down ensuring that you keep the 15mm expansion gap around the perimeter of the room. Stagger the boards so that the end joint of each row is further than 150mm apart (brick bond)
Keeping the nails at a distance of 250 – 300mm, secret nail the planks into the subfloor. Secret nailing is a method where planks are secured through the tongue of the boards at a 45 degree angle and counter sunk to allow the groove of the next board to fit tightly. Mechanical nail guns are the best way to achieve professional results and make installation a lot easier.
The final row can be measured and marked to size using the following technique; firstly place the board to be marked directly on top of the last row laid. Place another plank on top of the loose plank but this time have the top plank pushed up against 15mm wedges against the wall to give you the correct measurement allowing for expansion. (be careful not to move the board to be marked) now draw a line along the edge of the top plank marking the board underneath.
The last few rows will also have to be face nailed as there will not be enough room for secret nailing.
Installing the floor planks – Direct gluing –
Direct gluing is a suitable method of installation when fixing on top of a concrete or screed subfloor. One benefit is that the overall height of the new floor is kep to a minimum as there is no need to install an 18mm WBP plywood base. It is also suitable over existing wood floors which are suitably flat and firm.
The subfloor must be flat, firm and level; if necessary a levelling compound may be used. It is important to remember that all subfloors must be dry.
A liquid damp proof membrane must be laid first and allowed to dry.
Using a suitable wood flooring adhesive apply an even coat to the subfloor. A notched trowel held at between 450 and 900 is the best method for this.
Start the first row by laying the boards parallel to the wall allowing a 15mm expansion gap. Begin by resting the fitting wedges up against the wall to give you a 15mm gap. This is vital as the Solid boards will expand and contract after installation and if this gap is not present the floor will lift and buckle in the room. The wedges are removed after installation is complete and the gap is covered with either skirting or beading
At the end of the first row you will undoubtedly need to cut a board to length. A good way to measure the length of the board required is to rotate the loose board by 180 degree (facing upwards) so that the tongue is facing the tongue of the previous row. Rest the board next to the first row then mark and cut the boards to size.
(NB. When cutting Solid flooring ensure that a new blade is used)
After two rows have been successfully installed weigh them down while the glue sets. Any glue which has seeped through to the surface should be removed immediately.
Continue laying rows of planks down ensuring that you keep the 15mm expansion gap around the perimeter of the room. Stagger the boards so that the end joint of each row is further than 150mm apart (brick bond)
Tension straps may be used to hold rows tightly together whilst the glue sets.
The final row can be measured and marked to size using the following technique; firstly place the board to be marked directly on top of the last row laid. Place another plank on top of the loose plank but this time have the top plank pushed up against 15mm wedges against the wall to give you the correct measurement allowing for expansion. (be careful not to move the board to be marked) now draw a line along the edge of the top plank marking the board underneath.
Installing the floor planks – Self adhesive underlay –
Solid flooring can also be laid as a floating floor using a self adhesive underlay. The boards are adhered directly to the underlay which holds the floor together. This method can be used for all subfloor types (following the rules set out above that subfloors be flat, firm and dry) the benefits of the self adhesive underlay is that the room can be used immediately with no drying time required for glue to set.
Lay the underlay at 90 degrees to the direction of the boards ensuring that there are no gaps between sheets but equally important is that the underlay does not overlap. When using the underlay over concrete, first lay a DPM with the edges overlapped by 20cm.
Peel back the foil from the underlay by the width of 2 ½ planks and fold over.
Using the supplied spare foil, lay this over the exposed adhesive surface of the underlay with enough surplus foil facing the wall to fold back over the top of the underlay
Place the fitting wedges up against the wall to give you a 15mm gap. This is vital as the Solid boards will expand and contract after installation and if this gap is not present the floor will lift and buckle in the room. The wedges are removed after installation is complete and the gap is covered with either skirting or beading
Position the first row along the wall and wedges allowing for the expansion gap and ensure that this is perfectly straight. (if the first row is not perfectly straight the entire floor will be ruined) At the end of the first row you will undoubtedly need to cut a board to length. A good way to measure the length of the board required is to rotate the loose board by 180 degree (facing upwards) so that the tongue is facing the tongue of the previous row. Rest the board next to the first row then mark and cut the boards to size
(NB. When cutting Solid flooring ensure that a new blade is used)
Now lay a second row, this will help to stabilise the two rows whilst the foil is removed as well as help to provide a straight line
Once you are satisfied the rows are straight and tightly fitted, peel back the loose foil sheet which will expose the adhesive underlay to the solid wood flooring thus holding the boars in place.
The loose foil may now be discarded. The remaining attached foil will be your work area where new rows will be rested on until you are happy that they are tightly fitted.
Continue to fit the rows down and peel away the foil to fix the boards into place.
The final row can be measured and marked to size using the following technique; firstly place the board to be marked directly on top of the last row laid. Place another plank on top of the loose plank but this time have the top plank pushed up against 15mm wedges against the wall to give you the correct measurement allowing for expansion. (be careful not to move the board to be marked) now draw a line along the edge of the top plank marking the board underneath.
Obstacles –
There are various obstacles you will come across when installing any flooring. The trick is to identify these at the beginning and plan when to tackle them. You do not want to end up at an obstacle where you may need to remove some flooring you have already installed to enable you to deal with the situation.
Door frames are inevitable as almost all rooms will have these. It is necessary to remove a section of architrave and door jam to allow the Solid to be fitted under them, thus hiding the expansion gap away from sight. To do this you will need to place a piece of underlay and an upturned board against the door frame. Using a long saw pressed against the Solid floor begin to cut into the door frame. Make your cut until you reach the wall behind the door frame. Do not worry about cutting into the skirting as the beading will cover this. Remove as much of the door frame as possible so as to allow the right expansion room for the Engineered.
Measure and mark the Solid to fit and then install. When faced with a room where there are doors on both sides of a room and the Solid is installed across the door way it may be necessary to use glue to fit a board at one of these doors. As it is impossible to install the board at 30 degrees and still slide it under the architrave you will need to remove some of the locking joint on the previous row.
Remove the lip along the tongue of the long edge using a sharp chisel. Apply glue to this edge. Slide the board to be fitted under the door architrave and then pull it back into place along the previous row.
Radiator pipe covers can either protrude through the floor or from the wall. If they are floor mounted then the Solid will need to be cut around the pipes with an expansion gap. Measure and mark the position of the pipes on the Solid board and cut the holes out using a 32mm spade drill bit. This should allow for the 15mm pipe and an expansion gap. Then remove the excess Solid to allow the board to be placed against the pipes. The area of Solid removed should represent a keyhole shape. Keep the off cuts of the Solid as these can be glued back into place once the plank is installed.
Real Wood Flooring FAQs brought to you by the flooring experts at Wood Flooring 2U
If you would like any further information on solid wood flooring, engineered wood flooring, laminate wood flooring or advice on how to install a wooden floor, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, our knowledgeable team would be more than happy to help.
Wooden floors have been a common preference for many homeowners and interior designers over the years because it presents a warm, beautiful, and sophisticated look to any house that laminate and vinyl are unable to match. Nevertheless, wood flooring is now getting to be much more widely used for the reason that engineered wood flooring has created the choice both more effective and a lot less expensive so that it is an excellent option for every household. Entirely eco-friendly and with several finishes and colours available, engineered wood flooring is one of the top purchases that you could make for your home.
In brief, engineered wood flooring is flooring that are developed by layering solid wood and MDF together and then gluing and pushing the layers to produce a stable fit. Each of the layers is very carefully placed to make sure that a cross grain construction is produced which lends to its durability and good tolerance to water and dampness. This also helps prevent the wood flooring from warping over a period of time, which can be one of the major issues which home owners encounter with real wood floors. In fact, given the distinct characteristics of engineered wood flooring there’s been an influx in creative designs such as edging and radiator roses.
In addition there are a wide selection of widths and thickness to select from, though more often than not 3 and 5 ply flooring is bought with regards to engineered wood flooring. As stated before, its ability to deal with moisture which makes it the most appropriate flooring for many rooms where commonly you wouldn’t consider wood flooring to be a possibility such as cellars, and bath rooms. Mainly because as opposed to its solid wood counterpart, engineered wood is able to bear up to high volumes of traffic in addition to any differences (irrespective of exactly how dramatic) in temperature and moisture.
Engineered wood flooring is usually more favourable as a flooring option in many cases because it comes in pre-finished and finished styles, enabling the individual to easily install the floor in one step and it is instantly functional. In addition, since engineered wood floors are normally only about three-eighths to five-eighths of an inch thick, it makes it possible for them to be fitted on top of already present floor surfaces which makes installation a truly straightforward procedure. Therefore, rather than worrying about finishing, sanding, or removing the existing floor before an area is ready for use, engineered wood flooring could be installed in only one day.
As soon as it is the time to actually install engineered wood flooring into a house there is the selection between lengthier panels for installs that are ‘floating’ in style, or simply opt for the effortless tongue and groove boards, which can make it more realistic to think about installing the flooring without the need of any specialist assistance.
Lastly, there is a demand to take a close look at the veneer of the wood flooring that is being thought about considering that the thickness of the layers will denote how eye-catching the end product comes out to be.
The alternate options to engineered wood flooring are laminate and real wood. Each of which have their pros and cons.
Laminate floors appear to be similar in looks to real wood floors but are normally more cost effective and in some ways being more robust, and with distinctive finishes and beveling options available this kind of flooring can certainly still provide a real wood look at a portion of the cost . Because the laminate is not affixed to the sub floor, leveling is vital to ensuring a top quality finish. If the sub floor is bumpy the laminate floors may have a bouncy feel to it. Because some laminates simply click together without the need of adhesive it is quick to fit. Solid wood floors, as the name suggests, are a type of wood flooring that is solid wood all the way through. With its natural beauty as its principal focus, its drawback is that it might be susceptible to scrapes and dents though this isn’t essentially a serious problem in the long term due to the fact that real wood floors can be sanded down on many occasions.
