Laminate and Wood Flooring

This section is to inform you of some of the options available and things to think about and is for guidance only.  It is a good idea to always take some advice as there are so many varying factors and different products available, before selecting a wood / laminate floor.

Solid Wood - the boards are a solid single piece of wood and are stuck or nailed to the floor.

Engineered / Semi Solid wood - a construction of a wood base made up a minimium of 3 different pieces of woods cross laid at 90 degress with a veneer top. This is what makes it a very stable product.  This type of construction uses less of the slower growing hardwood trees for the veneer i.e. more oak flooring per tree. The core boards tend to be made from the faster growing softwood trees spruce etc. This is better for the environment. These can be stuck or nailed to the floor or can be floated using underlay etc depending on the sub-floor.  It is always a good idea to seek guidance as to which method is best suited. 

Laminate - This is a construction of MDF / HDF core board with a photographic image of wood / tiles with a wear layer on top.  As in all of the above they all come in varying qualities and costs.  The majority of laminates boards use a click fitting systems and do not require adhesives.

It is not recommended to have wood or laminate floors in bathrooms, shower rooms etc as moisture / water spillage is likely to cause problems (swelling of flooring, dishing of boards where the joints have become wet etc).  If you are thinking of a wood effect floor and are looking to install in a wet area, take a look at vinyl tiles which come in a variety of qualities and finishes (in various wood styles) which are better suited to a damper environments.  Most of these are suitable for contract areas.

Subfloor - A good sub-floor is essential and it  should be dry, even / level, dust free and grease free before installation.  Any irregularities should be smoothed and any uneven areas / low areas filled and levelled if necessary with special screeding compounds.  In new houses or areas with recently poured concrete sufficient drying time should be allowed approx 1 inch per month (i.e 4 inches of screed above damp membrane should take a minimium 4 months to dry).  Drying times vary and are subject to environmental conditions, humidity, ventilation etc.

Damp proof membrane these are laid on the sub-floor and cover the entire floor, any joins should be overlapped according to manufacturers instructions.  Liquid membranes are also used in certain applications.

Underlay are used to even out floors, provide sound and heat insulation. There are different  underlays available, foil underlays, fibre boards, and standard underlay, underlays that have damp membranes etc.  Underlays are used only on floating floors.   

Fitting - a knowledgeable trades persons should be employed to install a floor.  There are so many things to consider, expansions gaps at perimeter of room and around pipes, undercutting of door frames, clearance under worktops, where pipes and cables are laid  etc 

many types of wood are available

Oak, Beech, Maple, Cherry, Pine, Walnut, Merbau, Teak, Larch etc

and available in different finishes, 

lacquered matt or silk, oiled, oil wax, unfinshed, wire brushed, hand scraped 

 not all woods are available in all finishes.