Introduction

Wooden flooring ? whether it be solid hardwood, or faux wood, in the form of laminate ? is becoming increasing popular and fashionable in the modern home, not least because it is resistant to wear and tear and relatively easy to maintain. Scratches, or stains, can be removed by the owner without the need for specialist materials or equipment, and refinishing, if need be, is similarly straightforward. Furthermore, wooden flooring is environmentally sustainable, hypoallergenic, and available in a wide range of styles and prices.

Wooden Floor Maintenance

A surface finished, or lacquered, wooden floor can maintained on an everyday basis by regular sweeping and/or vacuuming to remove dirt and grit. Revolving vacuum cleaner brushes, and excess moisture, should, however, be avoided; mopping with a damp mop, and wooden floor cleaner ? as recommended by the manufacturer ? may be necessary, and specialist polishes can be used to maintain the finish of the floor. In the longer term ? when regular cleaning no longer restore the original lustre of the floor ? the floor can be refinished with new coats of lacquer, with or without sanding down the original surface.

Stain, or waxed, wooden floors can similarly be swept, vacuumed and/or mopped on a regular basis, and buffed to maintain shine. Wax, or a combination wax and liquid cleaner, may need to be applied once, or twice, a year in order to maintain the floor in optimal condition. Wax should be applied evenly across the entire surface of the floor, left to dry for 20 minutes, or so, and buffed to the desired finish.

Wooden Floor Installation

If you are considering the installation of a wooden floor, you have the choice of doing the job yourself, or acquiring professional help, and your decision may be based, largely, on the nature and condition of your existing floor. You may, of course, be able to lay wooden flooring directly over your existing floor, but, in many cases, the sub floor will need to be cleaned, and levelled, in preparation for laying wooden planks. A new hardwood, or plywood, sub floor may be required, and this is of particular consequence if you are considering underfloor heating. In floor heating ? typically in the form of heating cables, or mats, with an output of 100W/m2, or so ? can be installed beneath wooden floors, but the moisture content of the wood should be less than 10%. Higher moisture content means that wooden flooring is subject to shrinkage and warping at the elevated temperatures provided by underfloor heating.