If you have solid wood flooring within your house, you are certainly going to be the envy of many of your friends and family. Wooden flooring gives off a sense of style and quality which you simply cannot replicate with carpets. After all, many of the very finest people in history have enjoyed the feel of having solid oak wood flooring inside their homes. There are many benefits that come with having wood floors as opposed to carpeted ones, but if you have never had any before you may not be sure on how to best care for them.
One of the major differences between wood and carpeted floors is the differentiation in absorbency levels. If you spill something such as a glass of red wine of a carpet, the liquid is likely to soak into and stain the fabric area affected in no time whatsoever. This can then cause many hours of scrubbing away at the stain with white wine and soapy water in an effort to remove it! If it is a really bad stain then you may be forced to call in a professional carpet cleaner which is sure to cost you a significant amount of money. However, with wooden floors you do not have to worry so much about unsightly stains. Most liquids can be mopped up immediately with as little fuss as possible, meaning that you can concern yourself with more important things in life – like enjoying the wine!
Household areas such as hallways or kitchens may benefit from the placement of a quality rug in order to protect the sections of your floors which have the heaviest use. Think about the number of heavy feet that tramp up and down your hallway each day and you will understand why it can be a good idea to help give your floors that little bit of extra protection! What is more, a decent rug can help accentuate the beautiful deep colours of your wooden floorboards.
Solid oak floors are very easy to look after in terms of keeping clean and tidy. You don’t have to invest in any nasty chemical based cleaning fluids or tools. Make sure that you give your floors a decent sweep with a broom or dustpan and brush around once a week to dislodge any loose dirt or grit which might work into the wood. When faced with really muddy or dirty areas, simply use a bowl of warm water and mop or cloth to gently dislodge the grime. It is important to ensure that you always dry your floors after mopping as this helps to protect the shape and integrity of the wooden boards.
Vacuuming is another effective way of cleaning up your wooden floors. Keep the suction power at a low level and feel free to hoover your heart away! Wooden floorboards really do add a sense of character to a home and they can last a lifetime as long as they are looked after properly. You don’t need fancy equipment, common sense will do!
When you are considering a bit of home renovation, it may be time to look at the quality of your floors. Many houses are carpeted these days, but there are other options available. Hardwood oak flooring gives a house a certain sense of style which cannot be obtained from an ordinary carpet. However, this is not the only reason why you may want to consider investing your hard earned cash into oak wood flooring. Here are a few things to consider when debating the benefits of ripping up your carpets and fitting a quality oak wood floor instead.
Wooden floors are not as expensive as you might first think. In fact, they represent excellent value for money. A wood floor cannot be stained or torn in the same way that a carpet can, and can actually add value to the price of your home. Depending on the type of flooring you install, wooden floors can last a lifetime and won’t need to be replaced on a regular basis like normal carpets.
Trees are naturally sustainable, which means that wood as a material is as environmentally friendly as they come. You don’t need to treat wood with any nasty chemical cleaning sprays and it won’t stain as easily as a carpet. Indeed, if you spill a glass of red wine of a wooden floor you can simply mop it up and dry the area with as little fuss as possible. Wooden flooring can be varnished to a shade of your choice if you so request, and easily blends into all types of interior decoration colour schemes. So, if you fancy changing the paint colour on your walls you don’t have to worry whether it will match the shade of your carpet.
Wooden floors are far easier to keep clean and maintain than carpeted floors. A quick sweep with a dustpan and brush will help clear away most dirt, and you can always use a vacuum cleaner if it gets really messy. You never have to worry about glaring stains or dirty patches with wood floors, and you can protect well used areas with rugs or mats to keep the heavy feet at bay.
A wooden floor really does add a sense of style to a home. The long timbered boards hark back to an era of natural charm and elegance and are sure to impress all your guests. Wooden floors have a unique comforting feel under bare feet, and you don’t have to worry about dealing with any itchy carpet mites attacking your limbs in the morning. Indeed, wooden floors have added health benefits as they do not collect dust and mites in the same way that carpet materials can. If you suffer from asthma or hay fever then wooden floors may reduce the risks of you suffering from serious attacks. If you want to live in a home which oozes style and class, then you should seriously consider investing in quality wooden flooring.
Kempas is a wood generally less well-known by consumers, especially compared to established materials such as oak and walnut. But for those within the industry and people with an extensive knowledge of solid wood flooring, it is recognised as a quality material of astounding appearance.
Since retailers such as us introduced it to the market, it has gained increasing popularity due to its luxuriously dark, rich colour that sits well in both traditional and modern settings.
The wood is derived from the Koompassia Malaccensis tree, which is found in tropical countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. The tree type’s low-risk classification in terms of how endangered it is makes Kempas an especially popular substitute for less readily available exotic woods. The tree grows to heights of up to 100ft, and it does so slowly. This contributes to the wood’s hardwearing nature when finished.
Why We Love Kempas
The extraordinary beauty of Kempas lies in its striking appearance, of which there is no equivalent. Though bearing a resemblance in colour to other natural wood flooring types such as Brazilian Cherry and Santos Mahogany, both are generally harder to source and much more expensive.
In addition, with a structure that is composed of extraordinary large vessels (or reeds), Kempas has unique patterns contained within the grain that create an impressive finish that our customers love. As a result, it is a stand-out when it comes to reasonably-priced, high-quality wooden flooring.
Why Our Customers Love Kempas
We’re happy to recommend it to customers looking for a floor that can withstand many rigours. With its hardness rating standing at above 1,700 on the Janka scale (an industry-standard testing method), it is nearly 20% harder than standard maple floors. As one of the most dent-resistant woods on the market, it is highly suitable as a floor in areas that will see heavy use, such as the hallway or kitchen.
Our Kempas flooring is finished with six coats of UV Lacquer to provide a protective coating and though incredibly hard and having a relative tolerance against moisture compared with some other products, just as with all natural wood floors, it does still require a certain level of upkeep to maintain its look.
Care For Kempas and It Will Reward You with Natural Beauty for Years to Come
Ensuring that the floor avoids unnecessary and prolonged exposure to dirt is recommended. This can be achieved simply by sweeping up any debris with a natural-bristled broom and regularly vacuum cleaning the surface, so that any grime is not left to embed in the grain of the wood for extended periods.
Likewise, any spills should be cleaned up quickly to prevent the wood from absorbing moisture. You should bear this in mind when mopping, ensuring never to use too much water and using only mild, pH-neutral cleaning products. Oiling the surface every so often will prevent static attracting moisture, too.
Following these basic protective measures will mean the stunning impact that Kempas achieves won’t diminish over time, and that if you choose Kempas you’ll love it in years to come just as much as you do the day it is installed.
Laminate flooring was invented in 1977 by the company who, today, remain at the forefront of the industry. That company is Pergo, and to this day they invest in research and development so that they can continue to carve the path at the head of the niche that they first created.
As manufacturers of laminate and vinyl flooring with unique, patented properties, their products are considered amongst the very best in the market by suppliers and consumers alike. They have plants in North America, where their market is predominantly focused on supplying residential properties. In Europe, where they have factories based in Sweden, they make products that are sold for use in commercial settings, as well as supplying to residential environments.
Pergo’s historic association with the material, and their stance as market leaders on both sides of the Atlantic, means that they have a global reputation in laminate. As developers of a product that emulates the appearance of wood without the need for logging on a commercial scale, their success as product developers has had beneficial environmental consequences for the wider flooring industry.
Taking Their Environmental Role a Step Further
Just as they have led the pack in other parts of the industry, Pergo have led the way in the manner that flooring companies address ecological concerns too. Their ecological endeavours have always been close to the heart of what Pergo do, and this remains the case now.
Recycling is a key part of this policy. For example, 80% of their products’ content is made from wood surplus from the wood industry, and they use only renewable wood products. This is affirmed by their certification from the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification.
Additionally, they became the first flooring company to be awarded the Green Swan symbol by the Nordic Ecolabel. This shows their commitment to sustainability, and the low-level impact of their operations at every level, from raw materials to waste.
Our Pergo Products
The Pergo laminate flooring that we stock is all finished to resemble wood. Though considerably more affordable than having a solid wood floor fitted, laminate should not be considered an inferior choice.
As a material designed to simulate an appearance using an image coated in clear protective layer, it is less vulnerable to the sort of damage that natural materials can suffer. Its sealed outer layer makes it almost impenetrable to both dirt and moisture.
This means that cleaning and maintenance of the surface is easier, and because of the high build quality that defines the manufacturers that we choose to supply our products, the floor’s original high-quality appearance and feel is never compromised.
With its reputation for excellence, great look and durable quality, it’s not hard to see the reasons behind why laminate flooring from Pergo is so popular in both homes and commercial environments across the UK. You can browse the dedicated pages on our website that exhibit their whole range. Whatever your intended use, you can buy with confidence in their brand – we’re sure that you’ll be astounded by the quality finish that you can achieve at such a reasonable price.
When it comes to wood products, no less in the flooring industry, oak has become a byword for quality. There is a massive range of choices when it comes to choosing wood flooring, and the diversity available even just amongst oak products can leave some people puzzled to say the least.
If you’re considering some home improvements, and have your heart set on a new oak floor but aren’t sure where to start looking, this entry should go some way to pointing you in the right direction.
We’ll take you through the three main sub-categories of flooring that we offer our customers, and explain some of the oak ranges in each. This should leave you more clued up and help you to make well-informed decisions.
Solid Oak Floors
We offer products from Nature, our trusted manufacturer. Their solid wood floors are constructed entirely of the designated material, with each plank made from a single piece of timber. Though solid wood in general tends to be the most expensive option, but the look that they create can add real class (not to say value) to any home.
Basic solid oak wood is treated with an oil or UV lacquer to give a quality finish of your choice. A handscraped finish to oak will give the appearance of aged wood, which brings a unique quality and warmth. Parquet and wood block oak flooring is a highly traditional look, used for centuries to create a glamorous appearance. Unfinished oak is also available.
Engineered Oak Flooring
Unlike solid wood, engineered planks consist of a top layer that provides the appearance, and a core for stability. The outer layer’s thickness varies, with prices changing accordingly. Engineered wood’s principle advantage over solid wood is its greater versatility in where it can be installed, and reduced product costs and fitting fees.
We have three different manufacturers to choose from. Nature is one of those three, and their products are suitable for use with underfloor heating. Boen, another, offer parquet-style flooring of extraordinary quality. The other is Tarkett, whose Salsa and Bravo ranges have a reputation for being suited to busy family homes.
Over the different ranges that each manufacturer provides, there are a number of different options when it comes to finish, opening up all sorts of possibilities for you to choose colour schemes.
As a material that simulates the appearance of wood, laminate materials provide the biggest range in form and colour. When it comes to oak flooring, our chosen manufacturers Pergo and Quickstep provide a huge number of options within that wood type, ranging from treated to natural finishes so that you can create a look to suit any space, be it traditional or modern.
Laminate flooring also offers affordability and practicality. It is hardwearing and very easy to clean, making it a popular choice for families, where heavy use is inevitable and resistance to damage necessary. It allows those in search of an oak (or any other) effect in their home to do so within budget, and without having to worry about it suffering damage even when put under the stresses of family life.
If you are fortunate enough to have a little bit of money set aside, now is the time of year to spend it. Indeed, a nice summer holiday could be the perfect purchase for your rainy day fund. However, if you’re not interested in getting away then maybe a little bit of home renovation is more up your street?
Redecorating your home can be a very exciting and satisfying endeavour, and summer is perfect time to do it as you have plenty of long evenings to make the most of. Even a few select adjustments or additions can transform the overall look of your home enormously when they are done well. However, rather than splashing out your cash on a new living room suite, luxurious kitchen or decadent bathroom, why not choose to have solid wood flooring installed instead?
After all, floors are one of the most immediately identifiable features of any property so having them fashioned from gloriously beautiful natural wood will make a massive difference to your home. Certainly, they will bring a warmth, character and charm to your rooms that other flooring solutions simply cannot match.
Natural wood floors are unequalled in being able to create a traditional and classic look. Indeed, the ability with which wooden floors can lend themselves so well to all types of decor and compliment practically everything will ensure that any and all of your rooms will look absolutely fantastic.
In addition to looking fantastic, solid wood floors can also provide your home with several other benefits too.
Chief amongst these benefits is the fact that wooden floors can add more value to your home. Naturally, this can be of great importance, especially with the current housing market still being less than favourable for sellers. Potential buyers often look for a ‘wow’ factor when they look around a home and having a solid wood floor will ensure that your home has it in spades.
Another significant benefit is that wooden floors offer a longevity that most other floor types can only dream of. This is because wooden floors are incredibly resistant to daily wear and tear, and are far more durable and longer lasting than any other flooring solutions.
Furthermore, natural wood is also far easier to clean than carpet, so you don’t need to think about investing in a large rug every time a drink or plate of food gets spilled. In fact, there are very few cleaning incidents that cannot be handled with a quick once over with the mop or vacuum cleaner.
And, as if all that wasn’t enough, wooden floors with under-floor heating can also help to ensure you stay nice and snug in the winter!
With so many plentiful advantages and great deals available, it is clear to see that wooden flooring really is the perfect renovation option for your rainy day investment fund.
Explore our pages further to find out more and view our wonderful wood flooring options in greater detail.
If you are looking for a natural-looking flooring option that is significantly cheaper to buy than a solid or engineered floor then look no further than laminates.
As well as being relatively inexpensive, laminate floors are also easy-to-install and look very attractive. Indeed, today’s wood-look laminates are a long way from the synthetic-looking options that were doing the rounds a decade or so ago. In fact, modern laminate floors use exotic woods and unique finishes that are able to provide bevelled edges, unusual wood grains, realistically distressed surfaces and colours which can range from near-white to deep brown.
Like most other flooring solutions, the cost of a laminate floor varies with style and quality. In general, laminate floors typically cost around a third or sometimes even half the price of natural wood floors. Direct-pressure laminates (DPL) are suitable for most domestic settings and cost less to buy than high-pressure laminates (HPL). The cost of any underlay needed to cover sub-floors will also vary depending on the actual surface that needs to be covered.
Perhaps the most significant factor regarding cost comes from installation. Indeed, whilst you might not feel overly confident about installing solid wood flooring by yourself, your DIY skills could probably handle the relatively straightforward process of installing a laminate floor. Naturally, this can save you considerable amounts of money as it absolves you of the need to fork out extra cash on professional fitting services.
Today’s modern laminates allow you to easily fit and upgrade your floors by yourself. Indeed, most laminate planks have tongue-and-groove edges on all four sides so they can easily be snapped into place. Some laminates are designed to be installed with a specially formulated glue to lock the planks together and have pre-glued edges for extra water resistance.
Many laminate floors can also ‘float’ above existing surfaces without being attached to the old floor. In fact, modern laminates can be installed directly over any old floor that is made of tile, vinyl, wood and concrete. Carpet however is a different matter. If you want to lay laminate in a room where carpet is present, you will first need to remove the carpet and pads before you can install your new laminate floor.
If you do decide to opt for a laminate floor, you will soon find yourself spoilt for choice. Rich, dark wood tones are very popular at the moment as they are able to add a great deal of warmth to practically any decor. Faux versions of exotic African, Asian and South American woods, such as teak and merbau have also become favoured choices recently.
Regardless of whether your preferences lean more toward fashionable flooring solutions or to more obscure options, you can rest assured that you will be able to find a laminate that will be attractive, cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
So, if you’re after an inexpensive and attractive alternative to natural wood floors, look no further than laminate.
Solid wood floors are a wonderful addition to any home. Indeed, a well-made and correctly-installed natural wood floor will add warmth, character and charm to your interiors as well as value to your property as a whole.
However, solid wood flooring is generally the most expensive flooring option to buy and also has certain limitations. It is perhaps because of these reasons that engineered wooden floors have become so popular in recent years.
Engineered floors were originally developed for use on the ground floors of homes that have concrete bases. However, the advancements made in engineered wood flooring technology over the last two decades have made it possible to use engineered solutions just about anywhere, including places where you’d expect to find solid wood floors.
Despite the fact that both solid wood and engineered wooden floors are able to bring the look of natural wood into a home, they are in fact very different products. Indeed, there are different situations when one would work better than the other.
However, this article will concentrate on the benefits which engineered flooring solutions can provide.
As well as being less expensive to buy, engineered wood floors tend to be easier to install than solid wood floors. In addition, engineered wood floors are significantly more resistant to moisture than wooden floors and also tend to be more stable. The key to this increased stability and moisture tolerance comes from how an engineered wood floor is made.
High-quality engineered wood flooring is generally manufactured in thicknesses that range from around 1cm to 2cm. The top layer is a veneer of natural wood – the thicker that veneer is, the more expensive the floor will be to buy. When this top veneer is very thin (0.6mm or less), the resulting floor cannot be refinished; however, when the top veneer is between 2mm and 6mm, it can be refinished several times over. The layers underneath the veneer are very important and can affect the final retail price considerably. These layers are generally made of anywhere between three and 12 layers of plywood and unfinished white wood, depending on the thickness and quality of the finished product.
Engineered wood floors that are thinner than 2cm can be installed by simply gluing them down in the same way as you would glue down a vinyl or resilient floor. Therefore, as long as you have some rudimentary DIY skills and plenty of time and patience, you will most likely find it pretty easy to install an engineered wood floor.
Engineered wooden floors are a very sustainable flooring option. Indeed, a good-quality engineered wood floor will last anywhere from 20 to 100 years, depending on the thickness of the top veneer. Certainly, the best engineered floors available can last every bit as long as solid wood floors.
Explore our pages further to find out more about the benefits of engineered flooring solutions and view our excellent natural wood flooring products in greater detail.
Creating a proper home all comes down to one thing—comfort. You want somewhere that you feel truly relaxed in, a place for you to spend your days and nights in comfort and harmony, and a lot of that depends on the features you choose to incorporate. You need a heating system and type of flooring that works together perfectly, and these days there’s much more choice than you might imagine. Gone are the days of central heating systems and ugly radiators because underfloor heating is where it’s at, and if you opt for laminate flooring to complement it you’ll have a match made in heaven.
Why underfloor heating?
Underfloor heating may be viewed as an unnecessary extravagance by some, but there’s a reason it’s growing in popularity. To start with, it’s an interior designer’s dream—the room will be heated from beneath the floor, meaning there’s no need for radiators taking up valuable space. It’s incredibly comfortable so you needn’t worry about cold feet, but perhaps the best part is its efficiency. It heats your home from the floor up and if used as your primary heat source can be hugely economic—it offers uniform heat distribution so you can optimise your energy costs, and there’ll be no draughty corners or burning hot air streams next to the radiators. You can make great savings and most underfloor heating systems can be laid with ease, bringing you a system that’s perfect for modern environments.
Laminate floors offer the look and feel of solid wood with the convenience and practicality of a man-made material. It offers a high level of durability and stability to create a floor covering that’s ideal for the modern home, being easy to clean and maintain and hardwearing enough so that it’ll still look great in years to come. It offers the perfect combination of luxury looks, practical styling and comfort, truly bringing you a home you can be proud of.
Working together in harmony
If you’re looking for underfloor heating to suit laminate, you’ll probably want to go for a foil or film system. These versions have been specifically designed to be thin enough to be laid under such floors without needing to raise the floor level, and because it’s so easy to lay there’s no need to faff around with adhesives or screeds. With the right products you’ll find that underfloor heating and commercial laminate flooring can work together in perfect harmony—you’ll have the comfort and practicality of laminate with the efficiency and convenience of underfloor heating, bringing you the perfect combination for a home that’s as comfortable as it is stylish.
It’s a match made in heaven, and here at Nagle Flooring we know how beneficial laminate can be. That’s why we offer a fantastic range of options with Quick Step laminate flooring and Pergo flooring being our core brands, ensuring you’ve got the floor that meets your every requirement. Make sure to take a look around to find the floor that’s right for you, and then all you have to do is find the underfloor heating system to match.
Floors have come a long way since being dirt, straw and mud-packed surfaces. In ancient times your floor would have literally been the patch of ground on which your home was built, but thankfully times have changed. Over the years we’ve developed a whole range of floor coverings, and in many cases some of the most ancient types of floors are still used to this very day.
A brief history of flooring
Dirt floors may have been the first usable floor covering (and continued to be so for poorer classes until the Middle Ages), but as far back as 5,000 years ago we had stone and brick. The Egyptians developed stone construction and started to create beautiful floors that were works of art as well as practical necessities, and the Greeks followed by creating pebble mosaics. The Romans followed suit with ceramic tiles but when Rome fell so did the craft of tile-making, and it wasn’t until later centuries that it was revived. Wood floors came into being during the Middle Ages whilst carpets (or rugs at the very least) have been around for some 4,000 years, truly showing the longevity of our favourite floor coverings.
Now for something slightly more recent. In 1863 linoleum was first developed and it was quickly followed by rubber, cork and asphalt tiles, and in 1926 vinyl flooring was invented quite by accident. Resilient flooring of this kind soon became the style of choice and linoleum was used throughout much of the 20th century for its practicality and convenience, and in the 50s and 60s black and white checked tiles became the only option for kitchens and dining rooms. Hardwood floors combined with bright patterned rugs were also commonly seen throughout the 60s and 70s, and carpets became just as popular during the late 20th century.
The present day
The current trend has a distinctly traditional feel and is focused squarely on wood. Whether it’s restored wooden floorboards, laminate, parquet or hardwood oak flooring you’ll be spoilt for choice, and there’s a reason this style of floor is so popular. Not only does it bring a traditional vibe with a modern twist but natural wood floors suit any home imaginable, whether you’re modern and minimalist or crave the country cottage look, and as an added bonus it’s incredibly practical too.
Get the floors you need
It needn’t even be that difficult to achieve the desired result. For many people all they’ll need to do is rip up the carpet and get to work on some much-needed restoration—you could be standing on top of a beautiful floor without even realising it, and whether you decide to keep the boards natural, varnished or painted you’ll be left with a truly stunning home. Of course, you might not be so lucky to have such well-preserved floorboards lurking beneath your feet, in which case you’ll need to try something else. That’s where we come in. Here at Nagle Flooring we’ve got a fantastic range of flooring to take your fancy and if you switch to wood you can be confident in keeping up with the times, so take a look around to see the appeal of laminate, parquet or solid wood floors and you’ll soon see why wood is the only way to go.
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