Advice
Buying a hardwood floor is a long term investment which requires time and thought. Flooring which will last for decades should be chosen on an informed basis. After all you will want it to reflect your individuality and style for years to come. When visiting any hardwood flooring showroom you need to talk to the sales staff and discuss your requirement. You will find prices vary dramatically, remember there are reasons for this, all wooden floors are not the same.
Big Tree believe that wood is a timeless, versatile and beautiful material. All real wood products are individual which will bring warmth and naturalness. At Big Tree, our floors are constructed using carefully selected woods and materials of the finest quality. Our products are manufactured to the highest quality using the latest technology.
Please visit our Advice & FAQ section of our website where you will be able to find further information, however we would also be delighted to hear from you should you wish to contact us with your query.
When it comes to sourcing the right floor for you, few others have more knowledge, more expertise or more experience than Big Tree.
Tel: 0191 414 1300 or
Email: info@bigtreewoodenproducts.co.uk
FAQs
- What is solid wood flooring?
- What is engineered hardwood flooring?
- Do I need to acclimatise my hardwood flooring?
- Do I need to leave an expansion gap when installing hardwood flooring?
- How is laminate flooring installed?
- How is solid wood flooring installed?
- Can I use underfloor heating with my solid floor?
- How much wastage should I allow for?
- Can I put a solid wood floor in any room?
- Can I sand or refinish my hardwood floor?
- Can solid wood be laid on stairs?
- Does a hardwood floor increase the value of my home?
What is solid wood flooring?
Solid wood flooring is made up from one continuous plank of wood and is available in a wide range of traditional and exotic species.
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What is engineered hardwood flooring?
Engineered boards can be laid as a floating floor, because they are very stable, due to their cross-grained construction. The boards are far more dimensionally stable than solid boards and as such can be installed by the "floating floor" method of installation. Structural engineered boards are now also available; they are usually made with a plywood backing.
These boards can have a thicker wear layer and can also be laid over a joist.
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Do I need to acclimatise my hardwood flooring?
Yes, it is extremely important that the hardwood flooring is left in the room it is going to be fitted for around a week. The point of acclimating wood flooring before installing it is to allow the moisture content of the wood to adjust to "normal living conditions" at the site--that is, the temperature and humidity conditions that will typically be experienced once fitted.
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Do I need to leave an expansion gap when installing hardwood flooring?
You should leave a gap of around 15mm when laying hardwood flooring, this can be affected by temperature, moisture and geographical region so please check before purchasing.
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How is laminate flooring installed?
All of our laminate must be fitted on top of an underlay which is suited to your sub-floor, the flooring has a glue-less system and is laid on top of the underlay.
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How is solid wood flooring installed?
There are a few different methods of fitting solid wood flooring, this can be affected by the type of sub floor, the chosen product or even the environment the flooring is laid in, please contact us for further information.
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Can I use underfloor heating with my solid floor?
We would not recommend using a solid floor with underfloor heating, engineered boards are ideal for underfloor heating.
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How much wastage should I allow for?
We recommend allowing at least 5% to the rooms sqm total. This is needed to allow for cutting and any pieces you feel you dont want, remember a solid wood floor is a natural product and colour variation is normal.
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Can I put a solid wood floor in any room?
We would not recommend laying a solid wood floor in a bathroom or conservatory, this is due to potential moisture issues, if done so you can expect the floor to expand and contract more than normal.
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Can I sand or refinish my hardwood floor?
Absolutely, a solid wood floor can be sanded and refinished several times due to the wear layer, an engineered board can also be refinished depending on the thickness of the wear layer.
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Can solid wood be laid on stairs?
Yes, we have matching stair nosings to suit your floor.
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Does a hardwood floor increase the value of my home?
Yes, a hardwood floor is seen as fashionable, renewable and desirable and is sure to increase the value of your property.
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