Wood Flooring Finishes Explained

The finish of the wood flooring which you pick is very important. It can mean the difference between your flooring looking and feeling natural, glossy or even distressed. A wood flooring finish can also marginally change the texture of the surface of the floor.

All hardwood flooring must have a finish added to your surface. This is to safeguard the hardwood from damage and supply additional layers of strength. Most hardwood flooring is already pre-finished. This means that the floor has already had the end added during the manufacture process. As an alternative, you could decide on an unfinished floor. You'll be getting the raw timber and has to apply a coating complete after it has been installed.

Here are a Few of the different flooring finishes available:

Natural Oiled Wood Flooring

Hardwood flooring using an oiled finish means that the natural elegance of these species of timber has been adequately protected using layers of air-dried matt oil. This maintains the character and attractiveness of the wood.This floor is ready to be utilized once the installation process is complete.

UV Oiled Wood Flooring

A UV oiled finish signifies that the oil was treated with a ultra violet light. Thus, more oil can be used, making it a stronger surface finish than natural oil. The charm and character of the wood and grain pattern is maintained, and it may be utilized as soon as it's been installed.

Brushed and Oiled Wood Flooring

A brushed and Engineered hardwood floor is as soon as the surface of the flooring has been gently brushed. This exposes the organic qualities and allure of this wood without causing any damage. The planks of floors are then protected with a matt oil. This flooring is prepared to be used once the installation process is complete.

Lacquered Wood Flooring

A wooden floor with a lacquered finish can be found with a matt finish or a satin matt finish. The lacquer adds additional protection and strength to the hardwood whilst maintaining its natural character and allure. This floor is ready to be utilized once the setup procedure is complete.

Hand Scraped Wood Flooring

With a hand scraped wooden floor, the surface of the hardwood was scraped, by hand, to add extra definition and uniqueness. The surface of the flooring planks are then protected with layers of a matt lacquer. This flooring is ready to be used when the installation process is complete.

Distressed Wood Flooring

A distressed wooden floor has been intentionally aged by giving it a worn and distressed appearance. To try it, slight imperfections are added to the surface of the ground to enhance its appeal and allure. The floor is then protected with layers of oil.This floor is ready to be used when the installation procedure is complete.

Unfinished Wood Flooring

An unfinished hardwood flooring is your raw wood made in boards, with no protective layers of lacquer or oil included. It is actually important that once it has been set up, the top layer of the floor is protected with layers of oil or lacquer until it could be walked . Deciding upon an unfinished floor is ideal if you're looking to create an entirely unique flooring. You have the capability to include your own selection of color protective and stain top layers.
 

HOW TO CHOOSE BETWEEN ENGINEERED AND SOLID WOOD FLOORING

If you are thinking about revamping your flooring and you adore a timber finish, you may be considering the specific advantages of engineered wood and solid wood. Which is the best choice for your property? First of all we will need to learn more about the differences between these materials.

Engineered wood: Engineered wood consists of a layer of wood veneer on top of a plywood base. This consists of laminate flooring that's constructed of plastic with a wood grain image on top.

Solid wood: Solid wood, as the name suggests, is simply a solid piece of wood from top to bottom. 

You may assume that strong wood is a superior substance since it's 100% high excellent wood. However there are a range of elements to think about before you pick the flooring material to your premises.

- When You've Got underfloor heating

- Whether your area is subject to moisture or moist

- Whether your flooring will observe a good deal of visitors (eg. In a commercial real estate )

- Whether the foundation of your floors (your roof ) includes wooden planks, concrete or rock


The Benefits

Engineered Wood Flooring...

• Durability

Engineered wood flooring is valuable if you really do have under-floor heating, moisture or moist, or a lot of traffic. This is because it's very durable and can deal with conditions that may possibly damage a good wood flooring. It is less likely to warp under extreme temperatures and if exposed to a lot of direct sun or moisture.

• Choice


Engineered wood flooring is available in a wider range of finishes and sizes.

• Easily fitted on various surfaces

While it can at times be problematic laying solid wood flooring on some concrete or stone sub-floors, engineered timber can be glued down quite readily, or permitted to float. A floating floor is where the floor boards attach to each other but not to the sub floor beneath.

• Could be sanded


Although engineered flooring has just a veneer of solid wood it's usually 3-7mm thick and may be sanded down to five times. This allows you to cover up any minor damage or marks created.

Solid Wood Flooring...

• Quality timber


An advantage of purchasing solid wood flooring is that you know you've got complete parts of excellent timber. This is quite attractive for many home improvers who want their home to be, well, strong! Wood flooring is usually sanded down to wooden floorboards so in the event that you have a wooden base to operate on you can rest assured it is quite secure. Strong wood floor may also be glued down to either a concrete or wood sub floor. Otherwise, modern solid wood can sometimes be allowed to float on a concrete floor, sometimes with the aid of some underlay.

• Long lasting


We have acknowledged that engineered flooring is extremely durable and able to cope with numerous ailments. But so are lots of good wood flooring. That is evident by the number of historical hardwood flooring that still exist in historical buildings all around the world, from schools to churches, libraries and public buildings. A well maintained solid wood floor can last for decades, or even centuries.

• Can be sanded and repaired more

Solid hardwood flooring can be sanded down to the the groove - this means that they can be sanded usually one or 2 more times than engineered flooring. Sanding takes normally 1 - 2mm off the surface.

Cost and Making your Mind Up

The prices of solid and engineered hardwood floors do not differ very much these days so cost should not be that significant in your choice. Your choice should be based, in part, on your particular property and how it is assembled, in addition to the usage of these rooms in which you are considering installing new floors. However we believe the choice is actually an aesthetic one - solid floors boards are usually narrower and the spans are shorter - this alone generates a very different appearance to the wider longer engineered floors. And like we have mentioned, engineered flooring can be found in a lot more colors and finishes than solid wood floors.


Hopefully this post can allow you to select between engineered or solid flooring, but for more information please get in touch.

Choosing Natural Oil Finishes for Your Home’s Wood Flooring

The end is one of the pieces of your house's wood flooring that you can not discount. As you may think it isn't significant, the end really helps preserve the appearance of your floors. This means they can last longer, regardless of what it is they have to withstand: humidity, food spills, or stains from different sources, such as dirt and sand. Here's why you should think about utilizing natural oil finishes for your wood flooring.

Make Good Choices

The pure oil finishes go deeper into the wood. This leaves them more effective than traditional wood finishes. Additionally, it strengthens the wood, which is almost always a fantastic thing. Moisturizing the timber seems like an ineffective way to safeguard it against humidity. But despite what you might think, it's actually amazingly beneficial.

Make Excellent Choices

The natural oil finishes go deeper into the timber . This leaves them more powerful than conventional wood finishes. Additionally, it strengthens the wood, which is always a fantastic thing. Moisturizing the timber looks like an ineffective method to protect it from humidity. But regardless of what you may think, it is actually incredibly valuable.

Added Protection

A basic level of security is fine. It is acceptable. But occasionally you know that it's simply not
enough. That is why additional protection is a fantastic investment. It is possible to receive this through using pure petroleum finishes. The timber becomes more resistant to scratches, and this can be something which would not occur if the oils just stumbled on the face of their floorboards.

Dramatic Cosmetic

Selecting natural petroleum timber finishes can help improve it. The warmth and smoothness could be emphasized while showcasing different colours and shades looking to function in the wood.

Reduced Maintenance

Among the best things about using natural oils is that helps decrease the maintenance related to hardwood flooring. Additionally, it becomes a great deal more environmentally friendly than it was earlier.

Hardwood Flooring Installation and Maintenance from Floor Sanding Croydon

At Floor Sanding Croydon , our dedication to quality installation is apparent in all we do, which is precisely why our customers consistently rate us as one of the top contractors in the region. If you are prepared to speak with someone concerning your hardwood flooring job, we want to hear from you! Contact us at 020 3369 0685 Or send us a message.

5 Benefits of Oil Finished Engineered Wood Flooring

Commercial companies want flooring that's both beautiful and durable. They want something that will stand up to the high amount of usage which will not require a lot of upkeep.

Engineered wood flooring is an perfect alternative for companies that want a beautiful, yet hard, floor. Engineered wood is more durable than standard wood, as it comes in many different finishes. Oil finished is a popular option for clients that want a timber floor with a natural, aged appearance.

To determine whether a petroleum finished engineered wood floor will work for your client, you will need to ask them a few questions:

• What kind of foot traffic do you generally have on a daily basis
• What sort of work is done on the floor itself, like the use of equipment or machines that may stress the ground?

• Can you have clients coming in and out frequently
• What type of cleaning and maintenance program do you have in place?
• Do you want to change the entire look of the floor?
• What are the odds of accidents or spills happening on the ground, such as a store that's constantly working together with liquid items that can stain or harm the flooring ?

Asking these questions can help determine which floor will work best for your customer. In many instances, an oil finished engineered wood floor can be an extremely appealing and functional choice.

More Flexibility in Overcoming Damage

One benefit for commercial customers is that an oil finished floor is extremely easy to fix if damage occurs.

Even though it may not be as durable as cement, if the petroleum finished floor is scratched, it's very simple to repair and refinish. This is a massive advantage to people in fast-paced, active businesses such as restaurants or hotels.
The simplicity of fixing the flooring through sanding and sanding makes it appealing to those who deal with a lot of foot traffic on a daily basis. It gives clients peace of mind that they will not need to undertake a massive job just to fix several scratches or dings.

Natural Appearance

Natural hardwood flooring are increasing in popularity and show no signs of slowing down. When your customer desires a natural look to their wood floors, oil finished is the perfect thing to do.

This type of finish gives your customer a gorgeous, natural wood appearance without a lot of hassle or upkeep. Despite being an engineered product, an oil finished wood floor will look exactly like a standard wood floor.

Clients needing a rustic, distressed or weathered look to their space will find oil finished to be a cool option which comes with less upkeep.

 Low Sheen vs. High Sheen
 
Another benefit your customer will receive is the very low sheen that this finish gives off.

A few finishes, such as urethane finishing, can give very a high-sheen, shiny look to the floor. Unless the client specifically asks for this type of look, a low-gloss flooring is usually the best choice.

Why? Low gloss floors have a tendency to hide scratches, scuffs and dirt around the ground's surface. The glossier the ground, the more obvious any debris and blemishes will be.

 Environmentally Conscious

Eco-conscious clients may desire or even demand a floor that's proper for green building designs. Oil finished engineered wood flooring are a safe option for these kinds of projects.

The oils used to seal the floors have no volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This implies they promote a safer and healthier indoor environment for building occupants. They are also safer for the environment and won't off-gas dangerous fumes.

Oil finished flooring are a terrific benefit to business owners that are conscious of the impact on the environment but also require a floor that meets the high standards of contemporary architecture.

Lower Cost of Application
 
Clients will probably have a budget to get their flooring, and typically, the more affordable the floor, the greater. Oil finished engineered wood flooring is more cost-effective, both in terms of upfront costs and long-term care.

Oil finished engineered wood tends to be more affordable than other finishes. When it comes to upkeep and keeping it looking fresh, it is quite easy to care for. With regular cleaning utilizing the correct type of soap and water, these floors can look newly completed for a long time to come.