Rathbone Wide Espresso Dark Colour UV Oiled Deep Fumed Oak | TW-E720

Any type of underfloor heating system must be tested and commissioned before you consider installing any timber floor. You then turn it off before installing any floor.

The best way is to remove the old floorboards and then check the joist and the base floor and make sure that the bricks or other method of allowing air to circulate underneath as free form debris and other obstacles. You can then add insulation between the joists using “hangers” and then fix a 20mm structural board direct to the joists. An alternative method is to screw marine plywood to the joists and then fully bond a 15mm engineered board which can also be herringbone or chevron. Parquet herringbone and chevron cannot be fitted to joist as it needs a plywood or chipboard subfloor.

Yes, wood flooring can be fitted in any part of your home. Remember that wood flooring is a natural product and will react differently compared to man-made or stone tile options.  Discuss care and maintenance advise with our experts prior too fitting in high spillage areas.

The term character can be applied in two ways with wood flooring.  The first is referring to the aesthetic properties of the wood e.g. grain pattern, knots etc… the ‘character’ of the timber. The other meaning of this term is as a grade description, i.e. ‘Character Grade’ this denotes a way to visualise the grading specification. Character grade usually has a wider grain, with larger and more frequent knots permissible than a ‘select’ grade, but not as much as a ‘rustic’ grade.

This will depend on a number of factors unique to where the flooring is fitted. Typically, if the floor is well maintained and cleaned with the correct products, the finish should last for many years, possibly a lifetime depending on usage. If a wood floor has not been properly maintained or is in a very heavy use environment, then you need to watch out for indicators that the finish is in need of maintenance. These indicators are typically: • How quickly the wood floor is getting dirty/how easy it is to clean any soiling off? • Does the wood feel rough? (not application to band sawn flooring) • Does the floor look patchy? • Has a chemical cleaner been used or spilt on to the floor? If the answers to these questions are that it is hard to clean and looks/feels rough/patchy then it might be time to consider re-oiling. It is always best to get in touch with us first to discuss and sanding may not be required.