Oak or Ash Wood Flooring
If you are one of those people who can’t decide about the type of wood flooring to be installed in your home, it is very important that you know the different wood flooring that will fit in your home.
Oak Wood Flooring
Oak wood flooring is a favorite of decorators, designers and architects. It is also now a favorite of the average homeowner. Many may have put off having oak wooden flooring installed in the past because they perceived it as too expensive, too much hassle to install and too easily damage. However, none of the above actually applied anymore so now you have no excuse. Oak wood flooring is today readily available from numerous suppliers all over the UK. As a result, it is extremely accessible and no longer as exclusive as it once was in terms of the price. New technology for creating the flooring has lowered the price drastically.
Many companies only use sustainable wood from sustainable forests so your home will not have a major impact on the environment in that way. Affordable and available oak wooden flooring can put the finishing touches to any room because it comes in a variety of different styles. It can actually help to capture the light in an Old Italian style kitchen or compliment wooden sideboards in an Old English kitchen. It can complement yellow, blue, red or any other colors of sofa in a living room, and it can bring out subtle tones in the wall décor as well. Oak wooden flooring can achieve any effect that you want and need after it has been installed and installation is not that difficult either.

Ash Wood Flooring
Ash wood flooring is versatile and can be used in a variety of applications from tools to sports equipment and even furniture. Black Ash is a medium dense wood, similar to a Black Walnut, but softer than White Ash. This allows Ash wood to be used in various types of furniture, modern contemporary ash furniture designs and also more traditionally designed furniture. Ash wood is odor free because of which it can be used to make serving utensils. Ash wood is a user friendly wood and takes easily to glue, screws and nails.
Though it is hard, the wood bends well and allows a smooth finish because stain and paint adhere well to the wood. Ash wood is typically easy to sand and machine. In addition to this, ash wood is resistant to decay in the heartwood. This makes it durable and requires low maintenance. One of the best things about ash wood is that it has the best strength to weight ratio and is therefore used to make baseball bats. Since most players do not want a bat greater than 32 oz. this becomes significant. It is also used for tool handles and other sports equipment.
Ash furniture tends to be more easily available and is cheaper too. In comparison to Oak, ash wood has the same high quality standards as Oak, but at a more affordable cost. 

Chevron Wood Flooring Trend
Chevron has become more and more famous option when it comes to wood flooring for most homes and even business establishments in the city of London. This material has been known for its versatility that it could be used for a more contemporary or traditional design, based on the chosen material. Perhaps, you are one of those people who possibly seen and loved the Chevron design, yet you are not aware that the pattern actually came with a name.
Handcrafted vintage wood floorings with reclaimed wood have become popular in the city of London as well.  Adding reclaimed wood flooring but kept entirely unique is simple and can be achieved through using a patterned flooring design like Chevron parquet wood flooring. Whilst it is flexible in design, this kind of flooring design adds another dimension to that plain space inside the room. There are two different patterns that are continuously gaining recognition and popularity and these are Herringbone and Chevron. These patterned floor designs are creating a perfect zigzag pattern and the way this pattern has been gained is within the base of variance between these finishes.
The chevron pattern has been called point de Hongrie and it was named after a type of embroidery stitch which came into scene in the 16th century. The reason why this stitch was named for Hungary was still unclear, considering that it’s mostly associated with Italy, yet it might be named after the 13th century St. Elizabeth who was from Hungary.
The chevron pattern takes place once the planks of wood are cut on the angle so that the “zig” and “zag” will meet one another in a perfectly straight axis. The major difference between herringbone and chevron patterns is quite minimal as what you can see in the first glance that turns into a rich and sophisticated design in the long run. Whilst herringbone and chevron floorings are both laid out in a zigzag pattern, chevron planks will be cut in order to make sure that every zig and zag are connected at a perfect 45 degree angle. For that reason, every chevron floors set comes with left and right elements.
If you want your floor to be designed with Chevron parquet wood flooring then you should get started in looking for a company that specializes in this kind of flooring pattern design and installation. There are many companies out there that can assist you and are eager to provide the best results for you. Most of them are working closely with professional and experienced designers in order to form the most excellent combination of Chevron patterns to improve any flooring project in the city of London. All you have to do is to get in touch with them today.
Through a few clicks, and using the internet, you will instantly find a good number of reliable companies specializing in Chevron parquet wood flooring. Use this for your advantage through getting free quotes from them and choose the best pricing while ensuring that you will be able to get high quality services. 

Grey shades wood flooring trend
When you decide wrongly about your home design, the consequences live with you for a long time unless you want to rework the entire design to correct your mistake. Choosing which color is ideal for your home depends on a lot of possibilities. Designing your home finishing and choosing the right color should all depend on what makes you happy.
 
In designing your home's wood flooring, the color you choose should go, naturally, with other colors like the wall and furniture and gray shades wood flooring trend tend to give you ample choices to choose.
 
Grey is a cool color and comes in different shades and should be a backdrop to another color as well and provide a balance for warm tones. When using gray shades wood flooring, you need warmer tones to balance it out for a perfect home color combinations. Without that, you will be leaving home too dull and uninspiring.
 
The industrial and Scandinavian-inspired style popularity in the interior scene more people are choosing gray flooring as their favorite. When well designed and balanced, striking ashen floorboards look good for capturing a modern day style with authentic feel in the home environment, and they naturally complement for pastel, monochrome or pop-color decoration.
 
Using shades of gray wood flooring are unmistakably modern; they make the right statement of maturity and are much better when balanced with other colors to have a complete home color palette that brings the best in your home interior. It adds depth, aesthetics, and sophistication with a sense of calm giving you the perfect environment to relax and retune your energy for productivity.
 
Why you should choose gray wood flooring
Choosing wood flooring makes your interior space cozier and comfier but selecting a gray shade finish makes your floor more durable. There are many shades of gray wood to choose; your final pick should complement your home design and style. While I may like a look that is shabby chic and vintage, your choice may be different.
 
Below are the basic shades of gray you can select from to give you the satisfaction you have always wanted.
 

1. Light gray for a bright home. There are different shades of light gray you can pick from; your designer will best help you to balance your choice with your home color palette for a perfect match.

 

1. Dark gray for sophistication. It is more prominent with black shade, and it is a sleek choice for people who love it cool and calm. Of course, you need to warm it up with other colors for a great home appeal.

 

1. Blue-gray for lovers of blue. When you need a color that is calm yet a bit warmer, the blue-gray shade is the choice. Find a perfect balance in other home furniture to give you the perfect interior tone.

 

1. Brown gray is classic. Of course, this color is typical with wood and its neutral appeal makes decorating your interior easier. You have shades of brown to choose from, so be guided in your final choice for a happy home.

 
You do have lots of options in your home interior designing and the more you get it right, the better your home will look. The rule of the thumb is talking to experts who have a working knowledge of how wood flooring colors play out to guide you in your choice.

Wooden floors nowadays? Brushed, hand scraped, smoked?
Most wooden floors today are manufactured from hardwoods like the red oak, white oak, maple cherry, white ash, pecan or hickory trees. Some are also made from hardwoods from Brazil like Cherry, Tiger wood, Ipe and the African teak wood trees. Also in use are engineered wood. Thus the commonest hardwood flooring used today includes Solid Hardwood, Engineered wood, and long-engineered wood.
 
These hardwoods used in flooring also have different methods of preparation to give a unique taste of qualities different from its natural features. There are also special preparations to give it an entirely different look in texture and color aimed at excellent finishing. Therefore, today’s hardwood preparations can be Brushed, Scraped or Smoked. We shall dwell more on each for proper understanding.
 
Brushed Solid Wood Flooring
Brushed solid wood flooring is aimed at changing the quality of finish to give the flooring a distinct look different from the standard finish. The finish is in between smooth and hand scraped to offer a smooth linear texture that brings out the grain patterns for a more beautiful look.
 
Brushed Solid wood flooring comes in different shades of colors and patterns. The wood flooring is treated, slightly, with a wire brush to create linear strokes across the grain of the surface. The type of wood materials will determine the aesthetics of the finish. Brushed solid wood is resistant to scratches, and spillages.
 
Hand scraped hardwood flooring
It is also known as hand sculpted wood flooring. It has the advantage of adding warmth and adding a classic look to the area of installation. The flooring style is on the high side of cost, but its benefits make it stand out among choices of wooden flooring options. It requires considerable skill, and your contractor must be detailed and ready to do the work to bring out the aesthetics demanded of it.
 
Making hand scraped wooden flooring technique requires the woodworker to be good with the knife used in scraping the wood for smoothness. The knife is pulled towards the woodworker to remove the shavings to make a smooth surface; this process leaves scraped mark typical of wood flooring. It requires careful and precision mastery to get it right and deliver quality finish.
 
Smoked hardwood flooring
Smoked hardwood flooring style is a new technique in hardwood flooring. This flooring style is fast gaining acceptance among because the process exposes the wood to ammonia and tone down on the natural look of wood. Smoking or fuming as interchangeably called brings the effect of darkening of the wood by drawing the tannins to the surface.
 
Smoking makes the wood look highly natural and aged; even with a lacquered option, the look is still unique and beautiful! The fumed wood requires the use of UV filter to protect it from the harmful effect of the sun. The best part is there are ample finishing choices you can make to give a smoked wood flooring a good treat for the best outcome after installation.
 
While many people still celebrate wooden flooring today, more people are still learning how best to make use of hardwood flooring for its aesthetics and uniqueness. On the whole, if you are looking for flooring style that brings out the beauty in your home, joining the group of wooden flooring user won’t be a bad idea as your choices of flooring are unlimited.

Wіrе Bruѕhеd wood flооrіng
Thеrе are millions оf hоmеоwnеrѕ whо undеrѕtаnd аnd аррrесіаtе thе lооk оf hаrdwооd flооrіng. Whіlе thе раѕt few decades saw аn іnсrеаѕе іn dеmаnd fоr ѕmооth fіnіѕhеd flооrѕ, thіѕ is a trend thаt is changing. Nоw, many hоmеоwnеrѕ рrеfеr thе lооk of a wіrе bruѕhеd plank, оvеr the unіfоrm look оf a ѕmооth plank. Lеаrn mоrе about this trеnd and thе changes іn thе industry thаt hаvе ѕрurrеd іt into асtіоn.
What іѕ Wіrе Bruѕhеd Wood Flооrіng?
Whеn hаrdwооd is wіrе bruѕhеd іt wіll еѕѕеntіаllу undergo a рrосеѕѕ juѕt аѕ thе nаmе іmрlіеѕ - a wіrе bruѕh wіll be used to scrape thе ѕurfасе. This muѕt bе done durіng іt іѕ manufactured tо сrеаtе a unіԛuе tеxturе. Yоu саn еаѕіlу rесоgnіzе thіѕ tуре flooring duе tо thе tооthеd, rough соnѕіѕtеnсу аnd accented (open) grаіn іt dіѕрlауѕ. The other common textured flooring іn uѕе tоdау, whісh іѕ hаnd ѕсrареd, hаѕ a smoother and mоrе weathered texture, аѕ wеll аѕ a more even grаіn. By сhооѕіng wіrе bruѕhеd рlаnk flооrіng, уоu can асhіеvе a more dramatic lооk in уоur hоmе since more оf thе natural grаіn оf thе wood іѕ exposed and уоu саn ѕее all of the knots аnd character that іѕ present.
Advantage of Tеxturеd Wood Flooring
There аrе a number of bеnеfіtѕ thаt gо аlоng wіth сhооѕіng wіrе bruѕhеd flooring. Onе іѕ thе uniquе look іt сrеаtеѕ. This іѕ very рорulаr in thе Cаnаdіаn mаrkеt, еѕресіаllу for home оr business оwnеrѕ whо аrе trying tо create a mоrе European lооk іn thеіr ѕрасе. When wire brushing is used, аll of the ѕарwооd wіll bе ѕсrареd аwау frоm thе tор оf thе рlаnkѕ, whісh leaves оnlу thе hаrdеѕt wооd behind. This рrоvіdеѕ аnоthеr bеnеfіt, whісh іѕ аn іnсrеаѕе іn оvеrаll durability оf thе hаrdwооd. Since the ѕurfасе іѕ аlrеаdу dіѕtrеѕѕеd, thе damage thаt may оссur duе tо pet сlаwѕ аnd furnіturе lеgѕ wіll tурісаllу juѕt blеnd іn.
Cаrе аnd Mаіntеnаnсе оf Wіrе Bruѕhеd Hаrdwооd Flooring
Sіnсе thе wооd hаѕ mоrе nаturаl crevices аnd nооkѕ еxроѕеd on the ѕurfасе, thе wіrе bruѕhеd рlаnk can оftеn be mоrе dіffісult to clean thаn оthеr hаrdwооd орtіоnѕ. It is a gооd іdеа tо сlеаn thе рlаnkѕ rеgulаrlу to mіnіmіzе thе оссurrеnсе of ѕtісkу аrеаѕ оr соmрrеѕѕеd dirt, whісh can make сlеаnіng еvеn mоrе сhаllеngіng. Also, if уоu are gоіng tо refinish thе ѕurfасе оf this flооrіng, you nееd tо dо so carefully. If it іѕ not dоnе рrореrlу, it саn destroy the lооk оf thе wіrе brushed surface. Be ѕurе tо lеаrn the рrореr mеthоdѕ, оr hіrе ѕоmеоnе fоr аѕѕіѕtаnсе tо ensure thе refinished flооr wіll rеtаіn the оrіgіnаl texture аnd lооk оf thе flooring.
Take ѕоmе time tо browse thе vаrіоuѕ hardwood flооrіng options. Doing ѕо wіll help уоu fіnd a style аnd look you аррrесіаtе. Alѕо, learning about саrе, mаіntеnаnсе аnd cost can help уоu nаrrоw dоwn thе flооrіng that is right fоr уоur home or business. Wire brushed flooring mау nоt be right fоr everyone, but іf you are lооkіng for something unique, уоu will lіkеlу lоvе thіѕ variety.

The Importance of using Underlay when installing your new Wooden Floors
When you are thinking of laying a new wooden floor, using the under lay method does not usually come to mind. However, a good number of people have started going for this method and progressively, people are discovering its importance. If you have been following the market trend, you will know that are different kinds of underlay for your wood flooring.
Wood floor underlay come at various sizes and prices. If you find yourself not buoyant enough to buy the expensive one, you can settle for the cheap and affordable underlay because of their importance. It will not be ideal if you spend real money on beautiful hardwood flooring and later be unhappy because of the absence of the underlay. So ensure you purchase an underlay for wooden floors than not installing at all.
For clarity, let us discuss the vast importance of using Underlay when installing your new Wooden Floors. To begin with, using an underlay when doing you wood flooring installation will save you a lot of time. The underlay flooring method will save an average of 50% of the time it would have taken you to install only the wooden floor.
Time saved is money, if you are paying somebody to do the installation for you, you will discover that you are saving a lot of money for yourself. Note also that you will have to glue the floor down during flooring installation, and this will need glue and a tube of glue are very expensive, but in the case of underlay for your floors, you don’t need to buy glue.
Another important thing is that it is easier and faster to install. The method is much more natural, pleasant to use than any other method of laying your solid or engineered wood flooring. There is nothing like messy adhesives as the wooden boards are simply slotted together and stuck down onto the underlay. If you visit many underlay providers’ websites, you will notice a lot of positive feedback on how easy, pleasant and fast it could be.
Now that we have established that it is quicker, easier,  and better underlay when installing new wooden floors, what are the benefits that a quality underlay has when used to lay your solid or engineered oak flooring?
Firstly, some underlay reacts favorably to movement in the floor. Some wood flooring can have some movement, and even the most solid engineered flooring can move a little. When wood flooring is fixed down directly on a screed, and  a change occurs, there is usually no 'give' between the boards, the screed, and adhesive, this puts a lot of pressure on the base of the floor boards. Alternatively, when you use an underlay when installing your new wooden floor, the floor can float and still be in good condition. It is so because, nothing is glued to the screed, this process is known as floating floor, and it is recognized, approved and promoted by the official flooring federations. When there is movement in the wood flooring laid on the Underlay, the underlay will compensate for this movement because of the elastic properties it processes, and there is nothing like a strain on the base of the floorboard.
 Secondly,  using an underlay helps you create a slightly spongy layer beneath the wood flooring, and this layer makes the floor feel more pleasant to walk on and also prevent the sound being transferred to other areas in the home.
Lastly, Underlay can be laid on to screed directly without any high sub floors; this can help you save you money.
To conclude, therefore, there are many benefits you can derive from using Underlay when installing your new wooden floor. An Underlay is not only cost effective; it is also cheaper than other traditional methods of hardwood flooring.

​Lacquered or Oiled Wood Flooring?
Why wood flooring? Well, if you have come this far as to choose which finish applying on your wood flooring, we can all guess the answer was the choice you made between artificial and genuine Or between eco-friendliness and hazardousness characteristic of the materials. That being answered, you should now be worrying about the new floorboard’s longevity and looks. The Finishing of the floor gives it protection from heavy traffic, furniture, pets and also any harshness of the environment. So what type of finish does your flooring need? What are the options out there?  Which one lasts longer? Which one provides you with the amount of gloss or matte you’re seeking? We’ll be providing answers to all that and more, but just to feed your curiosity, for now, the answer to the first question is: you’ve got two options to choose from; lacquered flooring and oiled flooring. Each method has its criteria regarding durability, protecting capacity and visual effects.   
 
Engineered or Lacquered Oak Flooring
Lacquer is polyurethane or a mixture of shellac and alcohol coating applied with a roller or brush on a wooden floor. Although it sits on top of the wood and does not protect its core, it fills in the pores and provides the harder protection among the two options. It is ideal for the living room or the doorway where you anticipate heavy footfalls and traffic. You can choose from gloss, matt, silk matt and extra matt finishes. But be assured that no matter how matt you go, there will always be some glossiness in your lacquered flooring. Another advantage of this coating technique is incredibly easy to clean and maintain. You can use the regular vacuum cleaner, a broom or a mop as the dust does not get a chance to sit in on the highly hardened floor. It is also the more waterproof of the two options. However, it is best not to spill drinks on a wooden floor despite what the label says. The major disadvantage of lacquered oak flooring is that it is easily scratched and scuffed, which on a shiny surface is not very easily avoidable by the eyes. These scratches are responsible for the reduced longevity of lacquered flooring. And once it has been damaged, the process of solving the problem is costly and requires sanding and repainting the entire surface of the floor. Preventive measures like taking your shoes off before entering the room with lacquered floor to prevent transferring sand and small stones, using rugs and carpets in areas with the highest traffic, and applying floor protectors to your furniture can help solve the problem of scratches and scuffs.
Oiled Wood Flooring
For oiled wood flooring, there are two options: natural oiled and UV oiled finishes.
 
UV oiled is applied and dried under UV light which speeds up the drying process and ensures that another layer of coating is not needed.
Oiled wood flooring is preferable if you’re going for the natural look and color of the wood. The oil sinks to the core of the floorboard and protects it from within. This prevents scratches and scuffs. The swelling characteristic of oiled flooring also hides local cracks more easily than lacquered flooring and therefore ensures the longevity of the flooring. However, this finishing requires intense maintenance. Another layer of oil is to be applied very soon after the first layer is dried. This also needs to be done at least twice a year. But once it is damaged, the cost of repair is much lesser than lacquered wood flooring.
In conclusion, oiled wood flooring is not as waterproof and hard as lacquered wood flooring; it can be the best choice when you’re going for a more natural look. That being said, oiled flooring can sustain for up to 10 years if taken care of properly.

Wood floor installations methods

Due to the increasing use of wooden floor people are looking for an easy and efficient way of installation. Pictures of hammer, nails and back-breaking works come to mind when people think about wood floor installation. But in real life, there are several methods of installing. The Proper method varies for flooring type, and there are four methods mostly used such as nail-down, glue-down, and floating and click method. Strategy and benefits of each method will be described below:-
Nail down
One of the most used and shared methods of hardwood floor installation is nail down, and the method includes clawing or stapling the wood flooring material straight to the wood subfloor. The viewer cannot see the nail after the completion of the process. Maintaining nailing schedules is must for perfect installation. In this methodology, one should avoid less fastener. For using few fastens it can results in crack and squeaks in the floor while using more means piercing the tongue. One issue you need to take into consideration is that this method is appropriate for both solid and engineering wood flooring material. But it works on the same sub floor.
Glue down
Glue down simply means using glue between engineering wood floor and parquets. In details, the process stated the use of adhesive to adhere the flooring materials to the subfloor. Available and most used sticky elements are moisture-curing urethane and synthetic adhesives. Application differs due to performance characteristics. The word moisture cure has been used as dry subfloor is an important factor in this method. During the process, one needs to be careful about small spot as those spots need leveling. Alongside top spot needed to be forced down.
Floating
Among the other process wood flooring installation, this floating method is the easiest and fastest way. A good analogy for understanding floating floors is a jigsaw puzzle. In this approach, woods float above the subfloor with the help of adhesive. An underlying pad beneath the floor material provides cushion. It also gives protection against moisture and reduces noise. As it plays a significant role, choosing the basic materials bears much importance. There are different types of flooring such as Laminate Flooring, Luxury Vinyl Flooring, and Engineered Flooring, etc.
Click installation
A new method has been introduced in the market known as click method. This is another type of floating installation process. In this process, sticky or clip to establish the works is not obligated. If you must have seen Lego, It’s like connecting parts. Floorboards simply “click” together. Other processes include chemical process, but this method includes mechanical process rather than chemical method. Due to the introduction of an automated process, it creates a chance of frictional error. So, intense observation during the process of installation can reduce these type problems.
Choosing between these methods differs from the choice of the customer, applications on different prospects and availability of different materials. So it doesn’t matter how frequently one of that method is being used it always the situation or condition determines which method will be perfect for the designing. Last of all flooring contractor must be concerned about subfloor as solid and flat subfloor is required for the perfection of the flooring.

The most commonly asked question regarding Parquet Flooring is, how to identify Herringbone flooring patterns from other patterns out there.
The Herringbone pattern is most often mistakenly confused with other flooring patterns. Herringbone parquet is created by inserting rectangles in a staggered zigzag pattern or forms, and it is mostly found in parquet floors and tile work. The wood for Herringbone Parquet Flooring is cut in rectangles which are laid in broken zigzag patterns.
Herringbone floors have the history of being traditionally used for flooring in the days of yore in Europe. You can install it using several configurations, with or without borders. There are other variations of Herringbone floors called the French herringbone. It is well known in many high-status European Chateaus.
Herringbone parquet floors are usually installed piece-by-piece in various configurations. It can either be installed diagonally or parallel to the wall. Herringbone looks best in homes with its points directed at a focal point or running to the direction of a room.
Installing Herringbone parquet floors is not too complicated, and you can do it on your own if you have the installation manual. You will need to know the various sizes of the repeating floor patterns so that you can do the layout of the room and select the best proper or optimal board size.
Today’s families are searching for the less expensive and smarter ways to redecorate and beautify their living homes. There are many flooring options one can choose from such as tiles, carpets, concrete, and herringbone parquet flooring. Herringbone flooring option is sometimes overlooked. It is a strong pattern of flooring which is easy to install, durable and can last for a very long time. It is a perfect product and excellent upgrade for any floor space from the room, kitchen to the basement. The installation can be done on concrete, hardwood. It can be done by lamination or ceramic tiles. It is a perfect DIY product for all flooring projects.
The origin of parquet flooring dates back to the year 1684 when it was used to replace marble in Versailles, France. It became popular and acceptable as a good alternative to marble flooring, which frequently faced the problem of constantly being cleaned, because water would run down to the under- lying floor supports,  causing them to rot each time water gets into it. Homeowners discovered that Parquet was easier to be cleaned, durable and maintained and they embraced this pattern of flooring. 
Nowadays, Parquet flooring has been developed into solid parquet and parquet panels, manufacture using different types of wood such as pine, oak, walnut, and mahogany.  The Solid parquet is in blocks of wood that are glued together into different patterns, e.g. Herringbone pattern. Typically, it is always between 3/4" to 5/8" thick and glued down. There is nothing like nailing, as was done in the past with hardwood flooring. On the other hand, the Parquet panels are coatings of hardwood glued into a less expensive wood, like plywood. The wear layer or veneer is between 1/4" thick to 1/16" thick and is usually installed with glue using the tongue and groove joints.
When deciding on the type of flooring to use in your house, choosing Herringbone Parquet Flooring can be just the perfect thing to finish that flooring beautifully.
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