Local Life - Wigan - September 2021

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Solid wood is exactly that – whatever type of wood it is
composed of goes all the way through the board, so it
looks and feels entirely natural and can be sanded again
and again.
Engineered wood (sometimes called multi-layer or,
confusingly, laminated) is made from layers of solid
timber or a veneer of solid timber on top of MDF, plywood,
chipboard or softwood, with a balancing veneer beneath.
Most are made up of either three or five layers, crossbonded
for greater stability. A top layer of at least 5mm
allows for limited sanding if necessary. The advantage of
engineered boards over solid ones is that they shouldn’t
warp, gap, cup or bow.
Reclaimed boards have a beautiful patina that simply
can’t be replicated, and are the environmentally friendly
option. They don’t come cheap, as they often require
work to remedy problems such as woodworm, ingrained
dirt and stains, dents and splits, variations in thickness
or colour, broken tongue and groove, and lots of old
nails. When buying, always ask where the wood came
from and how it’s been stored since it was reclaimed
– timber that has stood outside for any length of time
may be useless, and would need to dry out considerably
before it could be used again. As a rule of thumb, pine
is cheaper than oak, and narrower boards are cheaper
than wider ones.
Style and finish
Most timber floors sold in the UK are made from
European oak, which has a lovely grain and is very longlasting.
There are, however, many other choices, including
beech, maple, ash, walnut, merbau, cherry and, of course,
pine. As for finishes, options include stains, waxes, oils,
varnishes and limewashes, each of which can subtly
change the appearance of the final floor.
An important consideration is the form and laying
pattern of the boards. Both solid and engineered wood
flooring is available as boards (in varying widths), strips
(less than 10cm wide), smallish blocks (extremely strong)
and parquet (like blocks, but thinner). While boards
are traditionally laid parallel to one another, designers
are increasingly turning to the contemporary effect
of chevron and herringbone styles, while parquet has
had something of a renaissance in recent years, with
intricately patterned squares that look glamorous and
dramatic.
A white-oil finish creates a clean, fresh look in this bright entrance hall.
Oak White oiled brushed wood flooring, £72 per square metre, The
Natural Wood Floor Company: 020 8871 9771; naturalwoodfloor.co.uk.
LOOKING AFTER A WOODEN FLOOR
Wood floors don’t need a great deal of special
treatment. The main thing to remember is not to
let them get too wet, to install a good doormat
and take off stilettos, which will punch small holes
everywhere. Remove dust and grit regularly by
vacuuming or cleaning with a soft broom. Mop
occasionally, but don’t soak the wood or leave
water sitting on it – wring the mop head as much
as possible, then wipe over again with a dry mop.
Using a proprietary cleaning product will make your
floor look better and last longer – ask your retailer
for advice. And don’t forget that a new wooden
floor will naturally become darker or lighter as it
matures.