The best trees for absorbing carbon

One of the best tree species for absorbing carbon is oaks, thanks to their large canopies, dense wood and long lifespans. Other top carbon-absorbing trees include the common horse-chestnut, black Walnut, London plane, and American sweetgum. However, variety is best.

What happened to the trees in England?

Nowadays, about 13% of Britain’s land surface is wooded. The country’s supply of timber was severely depleted during the First and Second World Wars, when imports were difficult, and the forested area bottomed out at under 5% of Britain’s land surface in 1919.

What is the best tree to plant for climate change?

Broadleaved species – such as oak, beech and maple – are best because they have a larger surface area of leaves which generates more photosynthesis, whereas conifers absorb more heat.

Which country has the most afforestation?

What country cuts down the most trees in the world?

Afforestation site visit with ClimatePartner UK

After 20 years of advising on wood flooring installations, we still find that builders can destroy beautiful floors. 

We always advise that the floor should be the very last product to be installed in any situation. All wet works and snagging should be completed before any wood flooring is delivered to the site.

If for whatever reason the floor needs to be installed before this, then we insist on the floor being protected if any other works are going to be carried out after installation. You should use a breathable membrane and then a hardboard to fully protect the floor. Make sure there are no gaps anywhere for any dust (especially plaster dust or plaster) to penetrate and get into the surface of the floor.

Please see the image below where plaster dust got onto the surface of the floor. 

Plaster dust and wet plaster are corrosive and will destroy any engineered wood floor surface. The worst action we find is that rather than using a powerful hoover machine with a brush (but with no bar underneath, which can damage a floor), people use water and a mop. All this will do is make the plaster dust wet and corrosive as it will “suck” up the water and have a whitening effect like the image below.

Below you can see what has happened by doing this and how the original floor looked. 

The only solution to this is to get a professional floor finished or sometimes a French polisher to resurrect the floor. Normal cleaning will not get rid of what you see in the images because it has destroyed the finish and penetrated the grain of the wood.

You can find out more about installing and maintaining all our engineered wood flooring here.

Our Light Brushed Raw Timber UV Oiled Oak Herringbone Parquet flooring was recently used in an open plan kitchen, diner and living area within a residential home. 

This product creates a light engineered floor compatible with underfloor heating. It’s UV oil finish creates a good, hardwearing finish suitable for your home and other residential environments. You can find out the benefits of choosing engineered wood flooring for your home and residential projects here.

Raw Timber oil leaves the oak with its natural colour and finishes, rather than changing its natural look. Perfect for classic and traditional designs, it can look and feel like unfinished oak, but comes with a durable finish thanks to being cured through our factory process.

A QUICK GUIDE TO FUMED OAK FLOORING

There are many ways to colour oak flooring, and one of the best is to fume the boards. In old stables with oak beams, you will see the effect created by horse’s excrement where the steam rises, which among other things, contains ammonia. This darkens the oak over the years by reacting with the natural tannins of the oak. The result is a very warm brown old-aged oak colour. This is the best way to create some “Grey” oak floors as well, where the fuming time is much shorter.

Other methods include chemical staining, water-based stains and reactive stains. Water-based stains are not very good as the colour will easily scratch. A lot of our competitors state their boards are fumed, but in reality, they are stained.

We use heated sealed containers to fume our fumed oak wood flooring. Solid Oak is impossible to fume over a short period, so we fume our oak veneers all the way through. Fuming can take anywhere from 7 hours to 7 days, depending on how dark the final wood floor needs to be.

To reduce colour variation, we use coloured oils so that any future damage is easy to repair. You can find out more about how we fume and colour our engineered wood flooring here.

INTERIOR DESIGN ADVICE: NEVER BUILD ONTO A WOOD FLOOR 

Wood doesn’t provide a good foundation to build on. Therefore, it is important to design any cabinets and internal furniture with their own structural base. By not sitting them directly on wood flooring, the floor’s finish can be easily repaired or removed should any damage occur.

Remember, wood flooring should never be used as a foundation, even if it is fully bonded, and building cabinets or stud walls onto any wood floor would be asking for serious trouble and remain the responsibility of the designer or specifier.

We pride ourselves on offering high-quality commercial flooring. It’s at the heart of our mission and takes us back to our roots.

Driven by his work in the development business on Grade I and II listed properties in the 1980s, our CEO and Founder Martyn Ryder was inspired to create engineered hardwood flooring tailormade for the commercial industry.

We’re motivated by service, quality, and sustainability. It’s our mission to bring state-of-the-art industrial flooring to the projects that matter.

It’s why we collaborate with architects and interior designers. Our commercial flooring combines the durability that high-traffic areas demand with the high-quality finishes they deserve.

Our range of engineered wood flooring is built for commercial properties, from hotels and restaurants to shopping floors and showrooms. Read on to find out why.

FLOORING MADE TO BE MULTI-PURPOSE

Commercial projects come with unique spaces to design. By investing in innovation, we afford interior designers’ new levels of imagination.

All our engineered boards can be used for cladding walls or bar fronts to create an atmosphere and transform spaces. By offering multi-purpose boards, interior designers can create cohesion and consistency by matching up the flooring with the walls and bar fronts. 

Over the years, we’ve worked with high-profile restaurants like Bubba Gump’s Shrimp Company and Marco Pierre White’s Steakhouse to hotels such as Spitbank Fort. All of these clients have used our products for multi-purposes to bring their projects to life.

SUSTAINABLE INTERIOR DESIGN FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES

Sustainability is in our DNA. It’s why we’re committed to helping deliver long-lasting high-quality design with low environmental impact.

Working closely with interior designers, we use and repurpose all of the timber wood we buy. This allows us to make unique designs without compromising our commitment to bettering our planet. Using rustic grade materials, we create engineered boards via scouring and brushing to offer a reflective surface. 

We ensure our materials come from certified, sustainable and well-managed forests by working with the FSC®️ and PEFC™️. In addition, as part of our collaboration with Gone West, we plant three new trees for every one we cut down. All in all, we’re creating sustainable materials for sustainable interior design.

DURABLE BY DESIGN

Whenever you’re working on commercial projects and properties, it’s important to consider how durable everything is. Especially the flooring. If you’re catering for high-traffic areas, such as hotels, restaurants, and offices, you’ll want the flooring to be able to withstand it.

The good news is that engineered wood flooring takes top marks. Its veneer means it can be sanded down and refinished several times, so it can last for many decades. It also means if a project’s design changes, the flooring can do without trouble.

Better yet, it’s suitable for moisture-prone areas like basements and bathrooms, covering every inch of commercial space. Its installation means it can tolerate more moisture than solid wood without showing damage or warping.

BE INSPIRED BY OUR PROJECTS SO FAR

We know we buy with our eyes, and we design with them, too. That’s why we document the projects we work on, showcasing how we help clients achieve their dream floor. Get inspired for your next residential project with some of our favourites.

BISTROT PIERRE RESTAURANTS

Bistrot Pierre has been serving great-value French-style dishes inspired by their chefs’ travels for 25 years. We’ve been supplying their flooring for over 3 years, helping them create the stylish, relaxing environments their restaurants thrive on.

The restaurant chain chose us for our quality engineered wood flooring, our sustainability principles, and our price. As manufacturers of engineered wood floors, we cut out the middlemen so that commercial clients get the best flooring at the best price.

Our Unfinished Double Brushed Fumed Oak Flooring was chosen to create a dark and intriguing tone, whilst the double brushing created deep grooves along the board. Not only is this ideal for durability, but for catching colour oils to create limited effects. We did this using coloured and hard wax oils on-site, making it sustainable and easy to maintain, too.

You can learn more about our work on commercial properties like restaurants here.

THE PLACE APART HOTEL IN CENTRAL MANCHESTER

We’re not just commercial experts, we’re listed property specialists too. The Place Apart Hotel required our experience and expertise to help manufacture a unique chevron board during the refurbishment of its Grade II listed building.

Awarded Grade II status by English Heritage in 1998 for its important cultural and architectural legacy, the former railway warehouse was built in 1867 during Manchester’s time as the number one centre for the cloth trade. Retaining the building’s original features, it was transformed into The Place Apart Hotel, using its impressively crafted iron, stone and brickwork.

Working with the project’s contractors, Cost Consultants, and architects Archer Humphryes Architects, we outlined what the client wanted and produced 3 variations before they chose to move ahead with our Fumed Antique Chevron Parquet Band Sawn Finish Wood Flooring. The band-sawn surface offers a fantastic texture, finished with a matt UV oil to offer an extreme colour variation and look that’s unique to them.

You can learn more about our work on commercial properties like hotels here.

VOLVO SHOWROOMS

Luxury Swedish car manufacturers Volvo decided to rebrand all their distributor’s showrooms to promote their sustainability values in terms of both their vehicles and their commercial properties.

Working closely with their architects and interior designers, we chose to move forward with two types of flooring: Natural European Oak Flooring (Oiled Finish) and Fineline Oak Flooring.

Using timber floors is one of the most sustainable options available, and these oiled floors are perfect for car showrooms. After completing a full display mock-up of a showroom at the annual Volvo dealership convention, our floors are now being fitted across the country.

You can learn more about our work on commercial properties like retail and showrooms here.

When it comes to interior design for residential properties the initial planning process is more important than the construction process. You take a blank canvas and paint it with the possibilities of living. And every grand design starts with a solid base. Or shall we say floor.

We work closely with interior designers to manufacture and supply engineered wood flooring that fits the specific briefs residential properties require. Whether it’s a bespoke floor or our unfinished engineered flooring, we offer the opportunity to design a space’s atmosphere with its own unique colour and finish.

But picking the right type of flooring for residential property isn’t easy. With plenty to choose from, there’s much to consider. That’s why we’re lending a helping hand with our quick guide to flooring types for residential projects. Read on to find out about the different types and the benefits they can bring to your next project.

WHAT TYPES OF FLOORING DO THE SOLID WOOD FLOORING COMPANY OFFER?
We specialise in manufacturing and supplying engineered wood,parquet, and optimum flooring. In addition, we offer luxury planks and tiles as part of our Impervia range. All of our engineered wood flooring is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™). This means our materials come from certified, sustainable and well-managed forests.

WHAT IS ENGINEERED WOOD FLOORING? 

Whilst hardwood flooring is made entirely of solid wood (which is not environmentally friendly), engineered wood features a solid hard wood top layer (normally Oak, Walnut or Maple) which is fixed onto a supportive timber base.  There are typically three different types of base structures:

1. (Cross ply) Plywood back –  The plywood is made of several layers of timber (normally Birch), with each layer’s grain running in opposite directions, ensuring the top layer has a hard, stable surface on which to adhere
2. Sandwich board – A central ‘core’ layer has the top layer and base layer bonded to it.  Each layer uses the same hard wood timber species (i.e. Oak, Walnut etc.) Each layer runs in alternate directions to improve stability.  
3. 3-Layer – which consists of a central core layer and a backing layer, usually made from Poplar

By using engineered construction methods, we can create five times the amount of flooring that you would get from the same amount of felled hardwood to create a solid board.  This means we can be environmentally responsible to natural forests by cutting down less and planting more.

WHAT BENEFITS DOES ENGINEERED WOOD FLOORING HAVE?

Engineered flooring offers plenty of scope for interior designers and architects working on residential projects, such as:

• It’s compatible with underfloor heating
• It can be used in moisture prone areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and walkways
• It’s easily installable, whether you let the boards rest on an underlay or glue it directly to a concrete screed or subfloor.
• It comes in a large range of colours, finishes and styles

By choosing engineered wood flooring for your project, you’re helping the environment. We only harvest older trees consuming less carbon and producing less oxygen. Utilising every inch of a tree, we consume one fifth of the material in comparison to solid wood.

WHAT IS PARQUET FLOORING?

Parquet flooring, also known as herringbone flooring, is made of short wooden battens slotted together in a geometric shape. It first became popular in the 1600’s for its beautiful, decorative, and long-lasting effect. 

At The Solid Wood Flooring Company, we offer the following three types of parquet flooring:

1. Chevron Parquet Wood Floors – this design utilises a zig-zag pattern, laid to form a true point, at a 45 or 60-degree angle.
2. Herringbone Parquet Block Engineered Wood Flooring – this design is cut into rectangles and laid staggered in a zig-zag pattern.
3. Parquet panels – this design features fixed-sized parquet panels that are always bordered and square, complete with a mansion weave pattern.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PARQUET FLOORING? 

Parquet flooring can be perfect for traditional residential properties capturing moments in time. It offers a range of benefits for your next project, including:

• It’s sophisticated look and pattern-arranging nature means you can create a unique look and feel for a room
• It’s easy-to-clean, stain-resistant, and doesn’t absorb odors.
• Unlike carpets and rugs, parquet flooring has no space to harbour allergens, dirt and dust, so it’s perfect for high-traffic areas and homes for young families and pets.

WHAT IS OPTIMUM FLOORING? 

Optimum Flooring is the latest in sustainable, easy to fit flooring technology. It’s created using an AC4 commercial-grade wear layer, a real wood effect textured surface and a built-in EVA backing layer.

Optimum is ethically and sustainably sourced flooring made from wood and printed paper. It is manufactured using photographic technology to render surface images. It’s textured surface creates a more natural look than laminate, and is guaranteed to last for 15 years.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF OPTIMUM FLOORING?

Made with interior designers in mind, optimum flooring is perfect for both commercial and residential projects of any shape and size. It’s particularly suitable for high traffic areas in the home. It offers plenty of benefits, including:

• It’s quick installation, using patented click-lock technology
• It requires no underlay, as it’s built-in EVA backing layer is ready to place.
• It’s long lasting, with a guaranteed lifetime of 15 years.

WHAT IS IMPERVIA FLOORING?

Impervia is a waterproof, non-toxic, sound dampening, fire-resistant and low-slip flooring product made from composite stone and a commercial grade finish.

It is a 6.5mm thick floor with its own acoustic backing that looks and feels like real wood. Once installed it is difficult to tell the difference between Impervia and engineered wood flooring. It is generally priced at 50% less than good quality engineered wood flooring.

Available in wood effect planks, herringbone parquet, and marble and stone tiles, Impervia looks and feels like wood or stone.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF IMPERVIA? 

Designed for durability, Impervia’s porcelain tiles and luxury planks are a perfect solution to fit any space, whether it’s commercial or residential. Better yet, it’s the green safe option for flooring, certified by GREENGUARD and FloorScore by SCS. But it offers more benefits than just that, including:

• It’s 100% waterproof, so it’s perfect for kitchens and bathrooms
• No underlay is required, as every plank and tile has a built-in IPEX underlayer
• An easy installation thanks to it’s 5Gi push-fit system – planks really do just click together
• Combines the durability your project deserves with the luxury it desires, offering unique choices for architects and designers

BUT WHICH FLOORING IS BEST FOR MY PROJECT? 

Every project is a puzzle, and every floor is unique. So, get in touch with us today to discuss which type of wood flooring is perfect for your next residential project now.

Today all we hear are companies declaring their products are ‘Sustainable, Fully Sustainable, Green and Eco Friendly’. These are the latest buzz words, but clients only want to buy ‘sustainable’ flooring for their projects.  So, what is ‘sustainable’ flooring and how can you ensure what you buy and supply is truly that?

Sustainable flooring should be produced from sustainable materials, and by a sustainable process that reduces demands on ecosystems during its life-cycle. That’s the essence of sustainability, which includes harvest, production, use and disposal. 

SUSTAINABLE WOOD FLOORING SHOULD NOT IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT IN ANY WAY, THROUGHOUT ITS LIFE CYCLE, FROM HARVESTING TO DISPOSAL

Sustainable timber refers to timber that has been harvested responsibly from well-managed forests that are continuously replenished and ensure that there is no damage to the surrounding environment or native flora and fauna.

An increasing number of developers are looking for ways to be more sustainable with their projects, and when it comes to sustainable flooring, engineered wood fits the bill perfectly.

THE PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING ENGINEERED WOOD FLOORING USES FAR LESS OF THE TREE PER PLANK THAN A SOLID HARDWOOD FLOOR

Our manufacturing processes alone make it a more sustainable, environmentally friendly and natural wood product. The process doesn’t involve toxic glue, making engineered wood flooring better for your health.

Bamboo, although a very sustainable product, uses very toxic glues in its manufacturing process, which can contaminate the air you breathe. Cork is made from organic and renewable materials that are both biodegradable and recyclable, making it a versatile and sustainable product for the environment.

Oak floors are considered one of the most sustainable options because forest management protection programs and regulations make sure these trees are regularly replanted in forests. Oak also has a smaller carbon footprint and releases fewer toxic emissions during the manufacturing process than other options.

ALWAYS LOOK FOR OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION OF THE WOOD’S SUSTAINABLE SOURCE, EVEN IF IT SAYS IT’S FROM THE EU

To ensure you only buy sustainable wood, you should always lookout for the FSC’s official certification. Their internationally recognised standards provide complete assurance that you’re purchasing from sustainable sources and thereby protecting the planet’s forests for future generations.

If you find a retailer with a sustainable or green logo on their website, check to see what it means. It may be that all their products are ethical, but equally, there could be just one product that fits the bill.

IF YOU CAN’T FIND THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO CLARIFY THE PRODUCT YOU WANT IS SUSTAINABLE, DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK.

The Solid Wood Flooring Company, despite the name, manufactures engineered wood flooring.

We unreservedly condemn illegal logging or sourcing material from deforested regions. Therefore, we never harvest materials from rainforests and will not manufacture some exotic wood species. Sadly, so much timber from these areas comes from questionable sources. With modern oiled finishes, we can create a vast choice of colour tones on Oak flooring, so it seems so wasteful that people are still selling flooring that comes from our ever-reducing rainforests.

We only manufacture our own wooden flooring and can therefore control the sources of our raw material, unlike a number of our competitors who buy from traders.

WE ARE FSC AND PEFC CERTIFIED, WITH MEMBERSHIP TO THE TIMBER TRADE FEDERATION AND A RESPONSIBLE PURCHASER WITH FULL CHAIN OF CUSTODY

This means that all our certified flooring can be traced to the responsibly managed forest where it was harvested. This is just one of the ways we ensure all our products are sustainably sourced.

You can view our certification here:

• FSC
• PEFC

Remember, when you’re investing in sustainable products, use this checklist:

1. Buy FSC and PEFC certified products.
2. Research websites for documents and certificates.
3. Buy engineered wood flooring, not solid wood flooring.
4. Establish that the wood comes from well-managed forests.
5. If in doubt, ask.

You can learn more about our commitment to sustainability here.

Sustainability is in our DNA. Our mission of sustaining our planet home’s future forms part of the principles we operate on. Whilst we continue to forge ahead and find innovative ways to move forward the flooring industry, we also look for new ways to strengthen our commitment to creating sustainable practices. 

PLANTING OVER 50 TREES WITH MINCHINHAMPTON GOLF CLUB

In our continued efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and supply sustainable wood flooring, we teamed up with Minchinhampton Golf Club.

As part of this, we funded the planting of over 50 mixed oak and beech trees. The project required larger more mature trees, in an area of outstanding natural beauty in the Cotswolds.

We happily partner with ventures that encourage the protection and impact we make to the environment by planting trees and giving back what we take.

SUSTAINABLE LIVING STARTS WITH SUSTAINABLE FLOORING

By choosing to repurpose a building rather than demolishing it, you’re not only offering a solution to the climate change crisis but creating sustainable living environments.

Aiming to reduce personal and societal environmental impact, sustainable living promotes positive changes to counteract clime change. Sustainable living encourages us to minimise our use of the Earth’s resources, and reduce the damage of human and environmental interactions.

Whilst there is no perfect picture of sustainable living or a blueprint for achieving zero net living, there are steps we can all take. For us, sustainable living starts with sustainable design, which will always need sustainable flooring. If you’ve got a project coming up, help our commitment to sustaining our planet’s future by choosing a sustainable design. 

You can learn more about our promise to develop sustainable flooring for sustainable living here.

At The Solid Wood Flooring Company, sustainability is in our DNA. We’re committed to helping deliver long-lasting high-quality design with low environmental impact.

Working closely with architects and interior designers, we use and repurpose all of the timber wood we buy. This allows us to make unique designs without compromising our commitment to bettering our planet. Using rustic grade materials, we create engineered boards via scouring and brushing to offer a reflective surface.

We ensure our materials come from certified, sustainable and well-managed forests by working with the FSC®️ and PEFC™️. In addition, as part of our collaboration with Gone West, we plant three new trees for every one we cut down. All in all, we’re creating sustainable materials for sustainable design.

THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE CLIMATE CHANGE CRISIS

The construction industry has an extremely high carbon emissions rating, accounting for 45% of the UK’s total carbon emissions. This is due to the industry consuming much of the world’s cement, alongside 25% of all plastics, 26% of aluminium, and 50% of steel production.

One of the main reasons for this is the extremely ineffective economical model of demolishing buildings. At The Solid Wood Flooring Company, we support the RetroFirst campaign by promoting retrofitting as a sustainable alternative.

SUSTAINABLE LIVING STARTS WITH SUSTAINABLE FLOORING

By choosing to repurpose a building rather than demolishing it, you’re not only offering a solution to the climate change crisis but creating sustainable living environments.

Aiming to reduce personal and societal environmental impact, sustainable living promotes positive changes to counteract clime change. Sustainable living encourages us to minimise our use of the Earth’s resources, and reduce the damage of human and environmental interactions.

Whilst there is no perfect picture of sustainable living or a blueprint for achieving zero net living, there are steps we can all take. For us, sustainable living starts with sustainable design, which will always need sustainable flooring. 

If you’ve got a project coming up, help our commitment to sustaining our planet’s future by choosing a sustainable design. To help inspire you, discover how we’ve worked with architects, developers, and interior designers on large-scale residential properties to create sustainable living. 

FITZHARDINGE HOUSE 

Sustainable living requires collaborative working. It’s something we thrive on. We teamed up with Base Interior, Mandarin Stone, and Crosswater on a refurbishment in the affluent district of Kensington in Central London.

Inspired by Scandi design, Fitzhardinge House offers crisp, clean, and modern aesthetics. To achieve this, we used our Light Brushed Fumed Raw Timber UV Cured Finish Flooring. By creating a bright and spacious area, we help this brand of sustainable living stand the test of time from all perspectives.

Beautiful tiles were supplied by Mandarin Stone, and Cross Water supplied the taps, demonstrating how collaborative, sustainable design can be achieved without compromise.

PRINCE OF WALES DRIVE 

Set within 2.5 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, Prince Of Wales Drive is a collection of 1, 2, 3, and 4 bedroom apartments moments away from Battersea Park. Offering state-of-the-art residential facilities, including a 17m pool, sauna, steam room, cinema, and games area; its interior design needed to be distinctive and luxurious.

As part of Phase 1, we supplied our Herringbone Parquet Engineered Brushed White Oiled Oak Flooring, offering a stunning finish. Adding to the project’s sustainability, the fully bonded flooring is highly durable and designed for high-traffic environments. 

By choosing engineered flooring, the Prince Of Wales Drive project promotes sustainable living. It’s an environmentally friendly alternative, using far less of the tree per plank than solid hardwood does. Better yet, it uses 75% fewer slow-grow hardwoods like Oak by using faster-growing ones like Birch and Poplar.

In line with reducing carbon emissions and tackling climate change, the engineered wood flooring used here creates little to no pollutants during its production.

LONDON DOCK

London Dock by St George is nestled near some of London’s key landmarks, from The Tower of London to Tower Bridge. With zone 1 transport links nearby, 7.5 acres of landscaped open space, and luxury spa and gym facilities, sustainable living that looks as good as it is environmentally friendly is important.

Working with Berkeley Homes, we created the floor specifically for the interior designers, meeting their detailed specifications. Using our Cobble Grey Oak Herringbone Parquet Flooring in high-traffic areas like the kitchen, we offer a durable living environment ensuring. This means there’s less chance of replacing it further down the line, reinforcing sustainable living and design.

SUSTAINABLE INTERIOR DESIGN DONE DIFFERENTLY

Our roots are in refurbishing Grade I and II listed properties. Inspired by a lack of homegrown products and the quality of cheap imports, we spent several years researching and developing high-quality engineered flooring that interior designers can pick up and play with.

Since day one, we work closely with architects, contractors, fitters and interior designers to manufacture flooring that brings the artistic vision to life. By investing in innovation, we afford architects and designers new levels of imagination.

All of our engineered boards can be used for cladding walls or bar fronts to create atmosphere and transform spaces. By offering multi-purpose boards, interior designers can create cohesion and consistency by matching up the flooring with the walls and bar fronts.

By offering multi-purpose engineered flooring, we continue our commitment to providing environmentally friendly alternatives suitable for sustainable living and design. 

If you’re working on a residential or commercial project, and want to commit to sustainable living, get in touch with us today.

Since our humble beginnings, we’ve built up over 40 years of experience and knowledge within the construction and refurbishment industry.

We take great pride in working with the UK’s most prestigious and established builders and property developers. Through these partnerships, we’ve played our part in bringing restaurant chains, hotels, museums, and commercial outlets to life.

One thing we’ve learnt is that architectural and design projects have specific, demanding requirements to create a space’s unique atmosphere. That’s why a large proportion of our wood floors have been designed and manufactured to exacting specifications created by architects and interior designers.

We don’t just talk the talk; we walk the walk too. Here are6reasons why The Solid Wood Flooring Company is an ideal match for Architects and Designers.

SUSTAINABLE LIVING & DESIGN

The construction, operation, and maintenance of built environments accounts for 45% of the UK’s total carbon emissions. It’s down to ineffective and wasteful demolishment models.

If you’re an architect or designer looking to develop environmentally friendly properties and promote sustainable living, we promote retrofitting.

Rather than knocking down buildings and starting from scratch, choose to repurpose them instead. Doing this improves energy efficiency, decreases energy demand, and is cost-effective.

Better yet, we’re experts at providing flooring for retrofitted properties and projects. Floors for residential spaces like homes and hotels require a high level of resistance against mould, dents, water, and fire. This is where some of our flooring holds its own, boasting fire and water resistant and dent and mould proof features.

SUSTAINABILITY & ETHICS

We know ethical and sustainable architecture and design is critical to our planet’s future. That’s why we unreservedly condemn illegal logging and will not manufacture some exotic species as we believe a lot come from questionable sources.

That’s why we only source from well-managed, legal sustainable forests. It’s also why we manufacture our own wood flooring because we can control the sources of our raw materials unlike our competitors who buy from traders.

To ensure our materials come from certified, sustainable, and well-managed forests, we work closely with the Forest Stewardship Commission (FSC®️) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™️).

Our FSC chain of custody certification means our materials have been identified and separated from ineligible and unacceptable ones as it makes its way along the supply chain from the forest to your project.

This means all our flooring can be traced back to the forest where it was harvested, ensuring its responsibly managed.

WE OFFER UNBIASED ADVICE

Thanks to years of experience working with architects and designers, we offer extensive and unbiased advice on large and small specialist projects. We know how important it is to ensure a successful installation of our wood flooring, which is why we’re always on hand to guide the process.

WE CREATE BESPOKE FLOORING AND UNIQUE DESIGNS

When it comes to architecture and design, no two projects are the same. It’s the same for flooring – there’s no one size fits all solution.

No matter the size of the space, we can manufacture bespoke floors to fit your project’s needs. And if you’ve got a specific brief to match, we can provide unfinished engineered flooring to create your own colour and finish. That way, you’ll have a completely unique atmosphere and design to play with.

LISTED BUILDINGS & PERIOD PROPERTIES

Our founder started out refurbishing Grade I and II listed properties, so we know they need a little TLC. And if you’re working on a listed property, we’ve got the expertise to help.
 
Whether the original wood flooring has become rotten, or a major refurbishment requires some delicate repairs and replacements, we’ve got the flooring to fit.

Our antique oak wood flooring is approved by the listed planning office, and because its appearance comes so close to that of real, heritage wood, it’s ideal for listed buildings where maintaining its original features is essential.

LARGE VOLUMES & ON LOCATION DELIVERY

At The Solid Wood Flooring Company, we take great pride in practising value engineering. We believe in being on time, on budget, and on value with our delivery.

The knowledge and expertise we’ve acquired over the years enables us to work smarter. In turn, our careful planning and intelligent manufacturing processes significantly cuts costs, helping you save money on your project.

Items in stock can be delivered within three working days to mainland U.K., so if you’ve got a project with tricky time constraints, we can cater for it quickly. And if you’re ever caught short, we can deliver additional flooring efficiently, so there’s no delays to your work.

We know that architectural and design projects have specific, demanding requirements with short lead times. That’s why we take great pride in being able to manufacture bespoke boards for areas over 1000m2. So no matter how big or small a building, we’ve got what you need.

If you’re working on a commercial or residential project, and require bespoke flooring, please get in touch.

Our mission at The Solid Wood Flooring Company is simple. We want to make our planet more sustainable.

Since our humble beginnings, we’ve always prided ourselves on staying ahead of our competitors by embracing technological advances and adopting environmentally friendly principles.

Developing and designing sustainable spaces is critical. And wood is the only renewable choice of building material for flooring. Plastics are derived from fossil fuels, and concrete can damage our environment through the energy it takes to produce.

Wood is a renewable resource that naturally grows in abundance. And it’s the way forward. But it’s not just our bespoke wood flooring we offer for sustainability. Here’s just some of the work we’re doing as part of our green sustainability strategy.

We partner with Maersk Eco Delivery

Our forward-thinking approach means we’re always looking for ways to achieve our mission. Through this, we realised container shipping is an energy-intensive activity, as most shipping containers use unsustainable Heavy Fuel Oils (HFOs).

It’s important to explore low-carbon energy options which can integrate easily into our existing supply chains, which is why we’re proud to partner with global logistics specialists Maersk ECO Delivery.

Using only sustainable second-generation biodiesel, they offer a promising decarbonisation solution that saves an average of 2 tons of carbon emissions per container shipped.

This perfectly aligns with our commitment to sustain our planet whilst creating stunning interior spaces.

Why? Because we choose to use wood: the only renewable choice for flooring as its production uses less energy than any other material. By improving our efficiencies for our logistics, we’re choosing to further contribute to this commitment.

We collaborate with Gone West

It takes 5 times more energy to produce 1 tonne of cement, 24 times more energy for 1 tonne of steel, and 126 times for 1 tonne of aluminium. However, the production of wood flooring uses less energy in its processing methods than any other construction material.

Young trees absorb more carbon dioxide than mature ones. So, it makes sense to harvest older trees and plant new ones. However, with only 11.76% of our land being used as forests, it’s crucial to our country’s environmental future that we act now.

That’s why we’re proud to be a part of the Gone West global mission. Our plan is to use approximately 1,000 oak trees a year, and as part of our partnership we’ve committed to planting 4,000 oak trees every year. So, for every tree we cut down, we’ll plant three new ones.

And why is it important? Because climate change is real. We’ve underestimated our impact on the planet. In the past two centuries, we’ve cut down 50% of the world’s forest. It’s time to act.

We’re certified by the FSC and PEFC

We unreservedly condemn illegal logging and will not manufacture some exotic species as we believe a lot come from questionable sources.

That’s why we only source from well-managed, legal sustainable forests. It’s also why we manufacture our own wood flooring because we can control the sources of our raw materials unlike our competitors who buy from traders.

To ensure our materials come from certified, sustainable, and well-managed forests, we work closely with the Forest Stewardship Commission (FSC®️) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™️).

Our FSC chain of custody certification means our materials have been identified and separated from ineligible and unacceptable ones as it makes its way along the supply chain from the forest to your project.

This means all of our flooring can be traced back to the forest where it was harvested, ensuring its responsibly managed.

We only harvest older trees

Whenever we use a tree, we ensure nothing goes to waste. That’s why we only harvest older trees that consume less carbon and produce less oxygen. We work with forestry experts to select the trees and ensure no habitats are damaged or destroyed.

To utilise every inch of a tree, we primarily produce engineered floorboards. This means we consume around one fifth of the amount of material compared to producing solid boards. In turn, we can provide your project with additional benefits such as underfloor heating systems and flexible sizing without compromising sustainability.