Timber flooring is now one of the commonest ways of decorating our homes. It is available in different styles and price ranges, as well as various finishes. A timber flooring expert is someone who can give you advice on which timber flooring designs would suit your home. Timbers are naturally beautiful. The grain of the timber, the colours, are all very pleasing.
Installation
Timber flooring is mainly a solid product made from timber to give a warm and simple feel to the floor. Unfinished timber flooring means that the underlying surface of timber flooring has a natural look and durability to it, ready for you to finish off. Finished timber flooring means that the timber flooring has been finished thoroughly on the surface and delivered to your home. This may be done by a specialist installer or you can do it yourself.
Timber flooring can be laid in two ways. There are solid timbers and veneer timber flooring. Veneer is the more expensive option. Veneer timber floors are made of thin sheets of timber glued onto larger pieces of timber, called the core layer. The core layer is responsible for giving your timber flooring the grain, colours and design you like.
Choosing
When choosing timber flooring, you have to take into account the climate where you live. If you live in a place where timber flooring material is not sustainable, then you will have to spend a lot of money on preserving the wood. In areas where timber flooring is sustainable, the timber flooring gets its moisture from rainwater and the air. You have to ensure that there is always enough moisture in the air to allow the timber flooring to expand and contract correctly.
Timber flooring made from solid wood has a wear layer. This is what makes the timber flooring look great when it is new. The wear layer can either be polished, sanded or be stained. Polished timber flooring can withstand wear for a longer time than sanded timber flooring. Sanded timber flooring can start to show signs of wear after a short time.
You have to choose between flat planks with a sloping surface. There are three types of timber flooring. There are flat plank floorboards, planks with a sloping surface and high-determined planks. The flat planks are the cheapest.
Important Features
Most timber flooring contains two to eight layers of wood. Most hardwoods contain just one layer. The timber flooring of America is mostly softwoods. The softwoods are usually cheaper than the hardwoods.
You should know that k-value refers to the density of the timber flooring. The higher the k-value, the more dense the hardwood flooring. Generally, k-value is inversely proportional to the width of the plank.
Timber flooring can be made from two kinds of hardwoods and softwoods. The softwoods are used for floorboards. Hardwoods are used for all other parts of the timber flooring. Hardwoods include oak, maple, pine and beech. Softwoods are pine, cedar, redwood, sisal and bamboo. Bamboo has some unique characteristics that make it a great timber flooring.
When you use low-density hardwood flooring, the timber flooring becomes dent free. Even the most severe nicks and dings will not be very noticeable. The denting does not allow moisture to get into the solid surface. This type of timber flooring is excellent for kitchens and bathroom. You can also use this kind of timber flooring in your home office and bedroom.
Timber flooring is quite easy to maintain. It requires no special treatment and you need not refinish it every year. Some kinds of timber flooring require sealant every few years to protect its surface. You can choose the right sealant for your hardwood flooring according to the age of the timber flooring and its general wear and tear.
It is always better to install your timber flooring yourself as it is easier than using professional installers. If you want to save your money, you can do it yourself. The best thing about solid timber flooring material is that it can be re-stretched when needed. There are no gaps between the boards, thereby providing smoothness in walking and besides, it adds beauty to your home.