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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
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| Can anyone lay one of your floors? |
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If you're familiar with standard DIY projects then you'll have no trouble with laying an engineered floor. |
| Do I need any special tools? |
Very few. Hire a Portanailer nail gun either from us or your local hire shop. This puts special nails at precisely 45º every time with little effort. If you're installing solid planks, unfinished, then a rotary sander will be needed. See our "finishing products page" |
| I'm having a house extension built with a concrete floor. When is it safe to lay a new wooden floor? |
It is crucial that the slab and plastering are thoroughly dry out. You can help it by leaving the heating on and provide adequate ventilation, depending on season. In general we reckon to allow 1 day per 1 mm of concrete or screed. If laying a floating floor you can put a sheet of damp proofing polythene under it. |
| Do I need special chipboard to lay it on? |
Always use flooring grade sheet material. This is made with WBP glue (water and boil proof) to hold the fibres together. It also has t & g edges which can be glued together. The chipboard can be left "floating" on the slab. We recommend 22mm thick. |
| I want to lay your flooring in my conservatory but I'm worried about the heat in summer. |
We suggest using Legacy engineered board which has a 6mm solid oak veneer glued to a substantial ply base. This provides a very stable flooring with minimal movement and is fixed in the same way as solid plank flooring. It comes pre-sanded or sealed. |
| What's the best method of sealing the floor? |
We're all used to seeing varnished floors but a better method is to use Osmo Hardwax Oil. Made in Germany from natural oils this provides a beautiful semi-matt finish in only two easily applied coats. You can order this through us. |
| I'm worried about rugs slipping on my new floor |
Use a non-slip underlay: we suggest an AKO latex mesh (not their tape) that can be cut to size. |
| How much gap should I allow round the floor for possible movement? |
We suggest 12mm for solid planking, less for engineered board. This can be covered by skirting or cover strips. Don't of course fix any cover to the floor, just the wall. A T-bar can be used for doorway thresholds. For very big floors, ie village halls, expansion gaps should be left but that is a more complex subject best left to skilled fitters. |
| What should I do when the flooring arrives from you? |
Keep it dry! Preferably store off the floor on supportive battens in the same environment in which it will be laid to acclimatise. If you are uncertain about the atmosphere then leave packs wrapped. In any event all new floors may take some months to achieve stability once laid. |
| I want everything in the room to match. Can you help? |
Look at our skirtings page and you will see we offer a wide range of oak skirtings boards and door linings to tone in with your lovely new oak floor. And maybe one of our cottage doors? |
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