Solid Wood Flooring Advice

Plank Effect:

Single Plank:

A majority of our Solid wood floors are designed in a single plank form, which are cut from individual pieces of timber. These are then sanded and shaped into either a tongue and groove or click system solid wood boards. This offers stunning natural appearances, showing off both the grains and knots of the wood.

Multi Strip:

Multi strip effect flooring is manufactured using several strips of wood, that vary in shade and pattern, which are then combined together to form a single plank. This often makes it a cheaper alternative to the traditional one-piece planks. We suggest the use of Multi-strip planks in smaller areas, since they can appear to make rooms feel bigger.

Parquet:

Parquet has a distinctive zigzag pattern, which is repeated across the entire floor. Each plank is taken from a single strip of solid wood, which is then specially cut so that when they are joined together, they create the iconic parquet design. It comes in a variety of shades and styles, making it the perfect choice if you are looking for something that will make a statement. This pattern is achieved using a very specific fitting style and therefore can be tricky to fit, so it is probably one that should be left to the professionals. (Read more about Parquet and Herringbone Floors)

Board Dimensions:

Thickness:

When shopping around for your Solid Wood floor, it is very important to consider the thickness of the boards, which is normally measured in millimeters (mm). When it comes to real wood flooring, thicker floors can simply be sanded down and re-treated for a fresh, new look a number of times throughout its life. Therefore, thicker boards are known to last longer, but sometimes a thinner floor may be more practical for a variety of different reasons, e.g. budget or the height between your floor and door. Generally speaking, thicker floors are known to be more stable and in some cases easier to install.

Solid wood flooring thicknesses generally range between 15mm to 22mm thick.

Width:

Our Solid Wood flooring comes in a variety of widths to complement any style or design that you may have in mind. There is no right or wrong when choosing narrow or wide planks, it’s all down to personal preference. Some people prefer smaller planks, as they can make a room feel bigger, and some prefer wider planks due to their more simple and modern appearance.

Solid Wood flooring is usually found in varying widths of 90mm – 200mm.

Wood Species:

Oak:

This is the most popular species of wood that customers tend to go for, as there are various shades, grades, textures and finishes, all available in a large range of dimensions. Oak is renowned for its straight, flat, natural grains and knots that give every plank a unique appearance with great character. Natural oak tends to establish a darker shade when exposed to direct sunlight over time, but we think this just adds to the character.

Walnut:

A rich, luxurious dark wood renowned for its incredible knots, unique colour and distinctive pattern. These one-off graining patterns can be either straight or irregular, creating a diverse appearance across every plank. Walnut is a hardwood with dense structure, making it a reliable and durable choice. When exposed to direct sunlight, Walnut floors can lighten over time.

Ash:

A creamy and light flooring, Ash has a slightly grey effect which can look super stylish in any room. Ash is known for its dense construction, which makes it highly durable and therefore ideal for areas with high foot traffic. The grains in Ash wood often form a variety of bold patterns, making each plank unique. When exposed to direct sunlight, Ash wood can become darker over time.

Beech:

With its distinctive and warm yellow, and sometimes pink tones, Beech wood is often a popular choice. Constantly evolving, Beech wood will develop a rich character over time as the wood matures. Slightly speckled with a straight and fairly regular grain, it is relatively resistant to knocks and marks. Direct sunlight can cause this flooring to darken over time.

Cherry:

As the name suggests, Cherry wood has sweet and opulent red and brown tones. Better for areas with low foot traffic, it can add warmth and luxury to any area where you are planning to relax. Cherry wood has a fairly regular pattern, meaning little variation across planks. Over time, sunlight can cause cherry wood to darken.

Finish:

Brushed & Lacquered:

With its shined finish, brushed and lacquered floors are both easy to clean and great if you have a high level of foot traffic. The brushing process allows for the rings, knots and grains of the wood to become exposed, providing a more natural finish. The lacquer provides a protective, shiny layer, which gives a distinctive look and can prologue the life of your floor. However, due to the shined finish, scratches can sometimes be more visible. (Also see, ‘Lacquered’)

Brushed & Oiled:

Brushed and oiled floors have a whole lot of character and are probably the most natural looking of all the solid wood floors. The brushing process allows for the rings, knots and grains of the wood to become exposed, and this is then oiled to treat the wood. The oil acts as a barrier to protect the wood from foot traffic. Brushed and oiled floors can also be re-oiled several times in order to prologue the life of the floor, meaning your floor will look as good as new time and time again. Due to the matt appearance, knocks and scratches are often less noticeable and can even add to the character of your floor. (Also see, ‘Oiled’)

Lacquered:

A lacquered finish provides a glossy and smooth appearance to your floor. The lacquer provides a protective layer on top of the wood, which reflects sunlight, is super easy to clean and is also fairly water resistant – although we recommend any spills be cleared up as soon as possible. Lacquered floors do have a tendency to show scratches more than the oiled variety. However, they can also be sanded and re-lacquered years down the line if they start to show signs of wear and tear. (Also see, ‘Brushed & Lacquered’)

Oiled:

Oiled floors are increasingly popular, due to their highly natural appearance. The oil used seeps deep into the wood, treating it and protecting it throughout. Although scratches are often less visible on oiled floors, any affected areas can easily be sanded and treated with a little oil, without the hassle of re-finishing the whole room. (Also see, ‘Brushed & Oiled’)

Hand Scraped:

With its distinctive rippled appearance, hand scraped floors have a luxurious and authentic appearance. Each plank varies significantly, each having a different texture and a variety of markings.

Unfinished:

If you can’t find exactly what you want, then unfinished may be the way to go. Unfinished floors have not been treated in any way, meaning that you can finish it exactly the way you like and create your own bespoke floor.

Shade:

Light:

Lightly shaded wood floorings can add a bright and airy finish to any room. With light reflecting colours, these floors can help create the illusion of more space and natural sunlight. This shade of flooring can also be very good at hiding marks and scratches, making it a perfect choice for busy areas or families with young children.

Medium:

Medium shaded wood floorings are a classic choice for any room in the house. Probably the most popular shade on the market, medium wood floorings can suit any home décor. There can still be quite some variation across medium shades, due to the fact that all species of wood can vary significantly in their colour; so it is worth looking around at all of our medium shaded wood in order to decide which colour you like best.

Dark:

Dark shaded wood has become increasingly popular in recent years and is the top choice for many interior designers. Paired with white walls, dark wood flooring can bring a clean, luxurious and contemporary feel to any living space. Although marks and scratches can be more visible with darker floors, any marks can be easily covered with a little sanding and matching wood stain.

Smoked:

This effect, which can also be referred to as ‘Fumed’, is created by leaving the wood in an atmosphere that is filled with ammonia. This causes the wood to darken, as the natural tannins in the wood are drawn out, creating a distinctive, fumed effect. Smoked effect is a relatively new style of solid wood floor, however it is becoming increasingly popular with those looking for something with a little more character.

Construction:

100% Solid Wood:

Yes, you guessed it, this is just a pure single piece of Solid Wood all the way through. This means that it is incredibly strong, heavy and reliable, as there’s no glue, no fillers and no top layers, just solid wood all the way through. This truly is the real deal and an investment that will last decades.

Structured / Finger-Jointed:

This particular structure is made up of long strips of solid oak that are tightly bonded together using finger joints and then topped with a layer of solid wood veneer. Imagine a lock and key or fingers interlocking; these structured wood planks are especially cut so that when glued together, they lock together snuggly, making this floor extremely strong. Therefore, you are still getting solid wood, but just constructed in a different fashion, which makes these structured planks cheaper than the 100% solid wood version.