Oak flooring is undoubtedly beautiful. It has warmth, durability and elegance and will enhance the value of your home. It is also more hygienic than carpets which makes it a great choice for your home.
British hardwoods are some of the nicest looking woods in the world and one of the best ways to show off their beauty is with flooring. The trees take over 100 years to grow to maturity and when they are cut they then need to lie for up to 5 years to reduce tension. Only then should they be sawn into planks that will take a further year to dry naturally. The planks will be finished off in a kiln to make them stable. The planks are then fashioned into a state where they are ready to be laid as flooring.
If you are tempted to fit oak, your local hardwood flooring supplier should be your first stop so that you can see samples. You find that there are two types of oak flooring – regular size and wide oak flooring. The wide oak flooring itself comes in two options – solid and engineered. The solid option is crafted purely from solid oak wood, but the engineered option is actually more stable. Both types of wide oak flooring look fantastic and they will mature with age.
Oak flooring complements any furniture and is guaranteed to brighten and liven up your home, whilst adding a sophisticated feel. There are a variety of finishes and colours available and so you will need to find what best matches your current home.
White oak is harder than red and more resistant to fungi but both are unlikely to split and both provide high shock absorption. White oak is the best choice for bathrooms and kitchens because it almost impermeable to liquids and so easier to clean.
After you have bought your flooring, you will find it surprisingly easy to install and maintain. It can be nailed, screwed or glued in and then a quick weekly sweep should keep it looking good. You will need to clean the floor occasionally with a specialist cleaning product to keep the wood at its best but this is a small price to pay for the amazing beauty that your floor will give you for many decades to come.
