Hardwood Flooring

For floors that last a lifetime


Choosing a type of flooring for your home or office can be overwhelming, especially with the many different types of floor covering materials and styles available. Although many other flooring types have been competing in the market for years, none have offered the same benefits or unique qualities of genuine hardwood flooring.

Hardwood floors are ideal for practically any decorating style or colour scheme. When carpets have become worn beyond repair and vinyl floors sustain damage that is impossible to disguise, hardwood flooring will still look as invitingly warm and beautiful as ever.

 

View the button below to browse our catalogue of Hardwood Flooring for inspiration and ideas, and feel free to give us a call for any further information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find the Answers You're Looking For

What is Solid Wood Flooring?
Solid Wood Flooring is exactly as it sounds, the individual boards of the floor are made from one continuous plank of wood as opposed to engineered wood flooring, which are solid wood veneer on top of a composite base. We have a real soft-spot for solid wood flooring as it makes for a beautiful floors and is the most established and traditional option for your home. Solid wood boards are cut from a single piece of timber; there’s no construction involved and no layers – just a simple, solid piece of wood from top to bottom.   What makes solid wood such a good choice is its longevity. If it starts to suffer from wear and tear over the years it can just be sanded down and refinished to look as good as new. This handy process can be carried out many times, meaning Solid Wood Floors can last much longer than any other floor – generations longer, in some cases. Because of this quality, solid wood floors come with impressive warranties.
Do Solid Wood Floors increase the value of your home?
Solid Wood Floors are recognised as a high quality building material. They are long lasting and completely renewable with very little effort. Aside from these benefits solid wood floors are fashionable, minimalist and above all, desirable which means that they can increase the value of your home.
What is the difference between Solid Wood and Laminate?
Solid Wood Flooring is made from one solid plank and so is solid the whole way through; it has not been engineered or glued. Laminate flooring is a photograph of wood printed onto a high-density base and then finished with an acrylic lacquer. There is no solid wood in a laminate.
Is Solid Wood Flooring suitable for use with Radiant Heat underfloor heating systems?
Can Solid Wood Flooring be installed on stairs?
Yes, specialist mouldings will be required to form the stair nosing and riser housing.
Is there a type of Hardwood Flooring that is more durable than others?
There is very little difference in durability and the choice really comes down to aesthetics and your own personal choice.
Which Solid Wood should I choose?
Other than the walls, the floor represents the largest expanse of colour or pattern in a room. It should complement the surroundings already present in the room, or fit for the new scheme you're working towards
Which installation method is best?
The method used for your hardwood installation will depend upon the type of product you have chosen, where the flooring will be installed and the type of subfloor. Nail down, glue down & floating are the three main types of installation. For instance, if you are remodelling your kitchen, some products can be "floated" over most subfloors, including vinyl or ceramic tile, eliminating the mess and cost of tearing up the existing floor and installing a subfloor
What is Floating Flooring?
Floating flooring is where the flooring is laid down over a layer of underlay. The individual planks are glued or clicked together, and they are not glued or nailed in to the permanent floor. By doing this the floor is "floating" above the underlay - this is the standard installation method for laminate flooring and is not recommended as the best method for solid wood floors.
Are Solid Wood Floors difficult to maintain and clean?
No - Pre-finished Flooring is coated on the surface with either UV-cured polyurethane or a natural flooring oil. However you must avoid over wetting use a damp mop rather than wet mop when cleaning. There are a number of products now available which are specifically for wood floors.
Can I have a Hardwood Floor if I have pets?
Yes. Many homeowners with hardwood floors have pets, but the issue lies in the fact that the floors are not really built to withstand the wear and tear pets can create. The pet’s claws will scratch the floor when they walk on it. If they urinate in the home, the chemicals in the urine can permanently discolour the floor. To remove the damage caused by pets, the floor must be sanded and refinished.
Should I expect colour variations in my floor?
Yes. Wood is a natural product and colour variations appear from board to board in all grades of hardwood especially in the lower grades such as Traditional, Country, and Rustic.
Why is my floor changing colour?
continued exposure to UV light such as sunlight and indoor light will eventually darken your hardwood floor. This is a natural process that occurs even if surfaces are coated with UV protection. UV protected floors just take longer to reach the darkening stage.
How do we stop a solid Hardwood Floor from gapping?
Gapping cannot be stopped entirely, as wood will swell and contract naturally with the change in humidity of the room. To combat the issue, use a humidifier during winter months to keep the year-round humidity relatively stable. Certain species of wood will expand and contract more than others. Using an engineered hardwood floor will reduce the appearance of gapping as these are more dimensionally stable than solid hardwoods.
Can I use throw rugs on my Hardwood floor?
Yes, but before using any rug on the floor, be sure to check that the rug is “non-staining” so the colours will not bleed from the rug onto the floor. Check the rug’s backing to make sure it is not rough, as this could cause the rug to scratch the finish when it is moved around on the floor. Lift the rug and clean the dirt, dust, and other debris out from under it regularly, as this could also damage the floor’s surface. Periodically move the rug to help prevent shading of the wood underneath it.
Why is my floor lighter under my rug area?
Areas of floor that are not exposed directly to UV light, such as areas under rugs, furniture, remain lighter in shade.
When I walk across my Hardwood Floor, I hear creaking sounds, why?

Creaking sounds usually occur from many conditions, most often it is because of an uneven/unsecured subfloor or a subfloor made from chipboard. Manufacturers recommend strengthening chipboard subfloors with a plywood underlayment.

Parquet

Parquet isn't a unique material – it's made from either solid or engineered wood - but the design makes it so special it deserves its own section. Essentially, parquet is made of small, loose blocks of either solid or engineered wood that are laid in intricate patterns. Parquet is a style of floor steeped in heritage and history, and can be found anywhere from quaint country homes to grand public buildings. It has all the advantages of solid or engineered wood but it's designed to make a statement. The suitability of parquet flooring for different rooms depends on which material it’s made from. Generally speaking, engineered parquet floors can be laid in more rooms than solid parquet floors, but solid parquet will last longer.

Contact

01268 906562   |  info@leechapelfloors.co.uk
Unit 7, Barleylands Equestrian Centre, Basildon, Essex, SS15 4BG