British Pound
Our boards are made up from a top layer of European Oak bonded to high quality Birch plywood to ensure the product is very stable and also suitable for underfloor heating systems (assuming standard guidelines are met).
General Details
| Oak Type: | European Oak |
| Oak Source: | Central European |
| Plywood Type: | WBP Birch Plywood |
| Plywood Source: | Russia |
| Product Moisture Content: | Between 8 - 11% |
| Length Specification: | Minimum 80% between 1.8 - 2.4m, maximum 20% between 0.6 - 1.8m (unless otherwise requested / advised) |
| Jointing system: | Tongue & grooved all 4 edges |
| Edge profile: | Bevelled 2 long edges only (unless otherwise requested / advised) |
| Maximum bow: | Along the length allowed - 30mm |
| Grade: | Authentic and Prime Grade |
General details of Woodtrend Authentic Grade.
Woodtrend Authentic definition: Rustic AB or Character Grade
Surface appearance: Coarse and lively
Knot content: Healthy knots up to 55mm diameter allowed.
Knot Filling: Filled cracked knots up to 55 diameter allowed. Filled dead knot holes up to 20mm diameter allowed ( Replacement knots may be used on larger dead knot holes). Total number of knots unlimited
Other defects ( characteristics ) . Limited small bark pockets allowed with end splits up to 1mm in width and 100mm in length allowed, limited to 20% of the total volume.
Worm Holes. No worm holes allowed
Sap content: Edge sap allowed limited to 30% of the width of the board. Limited core sap to 15% of the total volume
Colour: Natural variation allowed. small amount of dark heart wood allowed
General Details of Woodtrend Prime Grade:
Not available in all of the series but call to check.
Knot Content: Only pin knots up to 5mm diameter allowed, limited to 3 knots per board
Other defects ( characteristics ): No bark pocket, splits or worm holes allowed
Sap content: No edge sap allowed, limited core sap to 5% of total volume
Colour: Natural variation allowed, no dark heart wood allowed.
Thickness Options
| 20mm Product Specification | 16mm Product Specification |
|---|---|
| Oak top layer thickness = 6mm (+/- 0.5mm) | Oak op layer thickness=4mm (+/- 0.5mm) |
| Birch plywood thickness = 14.5mm (+/- 0.5mm) | Birch Plywood thickness=12mm (+/- 0.5mm) |
| Overall product thickness = 20.5mm (+/- 0.3mm) | Overall product thickness=16mm (+/- 0.3mm) |
Width & Length Options
| Width: | 180mm, 220mm & 260mm |
| Length: | 1.8m - 2.8m |
| Other sizes available to order | |
There can be some elements of tension between the two elements of an engineered board which can create some bowing along the length, this is perfectly normal. The product is still suitable for installation if the bowing is within the allowed tolerance detailed within this section as correct fitment will ensure that the boards sit flat when installed.
Your Woodtrend Hardwood Engineered timber Floor will react to humidity and temperature variations. In high humidity, wood picks up moisture and swells; in low humidity wood releases moisture and shrinks. At some periods of the year gaps may appear between the boards. This is normal. Gloss reduction and fading are also normal features of wear and tear. Exposure of the flooring to sunlight will alter the colour of the floor, exposure for prolonged periods to excessive heat from the sun through glass in summer (such as conservatories) will make it shrink and it will then expand in winter, this will happen even with engineered flooring, this is normal. This is a natural reaction for wood floors which is not considered a defect.
Important facts to note when buying European Oak Flooring
Colour variation of wood flooring
Wood is a natural material and will have variations from board to board and even within the board, not only in the visual features such as grain, knots and growth rings, but more subtlety in the mineral density and fibre density ratio in the exposed wood surface. This natural variation in the wood responds to the process reaction during any subsequent colouring process whereby the speed of the reactions (E.g. fuming reactivity) and/or stain absorption saturation point can give rise to variation in hue and density of the observed colour. The result is a distribution or range of colours and tones around a central median colour. Subtle variation between individual trees and different parts of the same tree can result in different ranges of colour hue and density, and also a difference in the median colour of a board exposed to the same production process. Any batch of flooring will in all probability be constituted from more than one tree. The full run of supplied flooring will not only have a wider distribution of colour hue and density than a limited selection shown in a sample panel, board or swatch, but may have multiple distributions of colour hue and density overlaid on a range of median colours.
Indeed, a sample panel, being a sample will not exhibit the extremes or full range of the variation in the colour. Examples of how this might appear could be:
Placing a board against the sample, the board may appear lighter, darker or have a different hue or density in colour. Two boards placed side by side could have a different median colour.
With a board, the colour may vary (E.g. in the vicinity of a knot)
This is the natural variation as expected from a natural material. The median colour of the sample will reside within the full colour range of the production batch.
Installation Requirements
General
In order for your Engineered Flooring product to perform to standard expectations the following conditions must be in place:
It is recommended that the engineered plank flooring should be installed by means of direct gluing to the subfloor; however 21mm thick engineered flooring can be directly nailed to joists if they are at 400mm centres or less. This product can be laid as a floating floor but this can result in some spring within the floor, reduce efficiency of under-floor heating performance and lead to the requirement of very large expansion gaps if the floor area is larger than 5 metres in width. Therefore it is expected that this flooring will be glued down when installed on under floor heating.
Environmental Conditions
All major building work including plastering, decorating and kitchen fitting must be completed prior to fitting the new flooring.
The bundles of flooring should be stored in a protected dry place on site where the flooring is to be laid.
The bundles should ideally be allowed to acclimatise to the room environment for at least 48 hours prior to installation.
Each board should be carefully checked prior to installation, never install any damaged boards.
During installation the temperature of the subfloor should be at least 15°C
During installation the ambient temperature of the room should be around 20°C
During installation the relative humidity of the room should be between 45-65%, ideal is 55%.
The subfloor should be clean, dry, absolutely flat and free from any cracks or movement.
Irregularities on the subfloor should not exceed 3mm over 1 metre in any direction.
Subfloors should not exceed the following humidity levels:
Cement = no more than 2%
Wooden = no more than 10%
Anhydrite = no more 0.5%
If the moisture reading is high on a cement based subfloor then you must apply a liquid DPM. If you are using the floating method you must install a vapour barrier of at least 0.2mm thickness and to tape the joints.
In order for your product to perform adequately for years to come it is important that the relative humidity and temperature parameters detailed above are consistent within the property at all times. On some occasions properties with poor ventilation or very high levels of heating and insulation can have very low relative humidity levels, particularly during colder months. In this situation there is a risk of shrinkage and possibly even structural deficiencies within the product, therefore a re-humidifier would be recommended.
Installation Requirements
If you are laying the planks directly onto load bearing joists then you must use both flexible adhesive and portanails to secure to each joist.
If you are laying the planks onto an existing floorboard subfloor then you must ensure that each of the existing floorboards are independently fixed securely to the joist below with no independent movement. If the floorboards have an uneven surface then correct levelling needs to be done prior to installation either by levelling the joists or for minor unevenness using a sheet material could be sufficient. If the engineered flooring is to be laid in the same orientation of the existing floorboards then sheet material must be fixed down first. Sheet material must be screwed down every 15cm in both directions.
An allowance of approximately 15mm around the perimeter of the room should be provided to accommodate any expansion, including under door frames, central heating pipes and connection with tiles. Bigger rooms will need bigger expansion gaps, please allow a further 2mm expansion gap for every 1 metre of floor width greater than 5 metres.
For direct glue down installation flexible flooring adhesive must be used and the manufacturer’s recommendations must be followed, never use a rigid or water based glue.
A minimum of 30cm distance between one header joint and the other of the next row shall be applied when arranging the installation.
Any contractor fitting this engineered flooring should adhere to these guidelines, if there are any queries or concerns relating to these guidelines then please do not hesitate to contact us.
We cannot be held responsible for any product failure caused or associated with sub-floor or on-site environmental conditions
Prior to installation it is the customer’s responsibility to check the material is in accordance to their invoice, once installation is started this is deemed as your acceptance of the product provided.
Protection
We strongly advise your floor has the correct protection whilst being fitted, to prevent any damage to the finish.
Under Floor Heating
- If the heating system is new, the system must have been switched on and operable at normal capacity for at least 3 weeks prior to installation.
- The heating system must be switched off at least 48 hours prior to installation.
- All otherwise detailed environmental conditions must be adhered to.
- On the day of installation the subfloor should not exceed a temperature of 18°C
- The under floor heating system can be switched on again 1 week after the installation but it must be turned on initially very low and increasing the temperature by 1°C per day.
- It is crucial to ensure the floor temperature does not exceed 27°C, in order to achieve this, the system should have an under floor sensor and suitable cut off capability. Under floor heating systems can dry the relative humidity out lower than the required levels detailed previously therefore a re-humidifier may be necessary to ensure a consistent relative humidity all year round.
* Please refer to your underfloor heating manufacturers for guidelines
To protect your investment we strongly recommend
that you follow these simple care & maintenance
guidelines to keep your Woodtrend floor looking the best.
Make sure you DO…
- It is important to allow the finish on your floor to fully cure; this can take up to 10 days after finishing. To achieve this we advise you do not wet the floor but simply sweep or vacuum (You will be given a 1st clean date, along with a wash care product suitable for your finish)
- Use a damp cloth to blot spills and spots as soon as they occur. Always avoid allowing liquids to stand on your floor.
- Sweep, dust or vacuum the floor regularly with the hard floor attachment (not the beater bar) to prevent accumulation of dirt or grit that can scratch or dull the floor finish.
- Weekly wipe the floor with a damp mop or cloth, micro fibre cloths and mops give the best performance.
- Using the recommended cleaner for your floor.
- Use protective mats- good quality entry and exit mats will help collect dirt, sand, grit and other substances that can damage your floor. Do not use rubber or foam backed plastic mats as these may discolour your floor. To prevent slippage use an approved vinyl rug underlay mat.
- Use floor protectors on furniture- this will minimise indentations and scratches from heavy objects. As a rule, the heavier the object, the wider the floor protector should be.
- Avoid sharp or pointed objects from scratching your floor.
- Watch your pets feet- keep your pets nails trimmed to keep them from scratching the floor.
Make sure that you DO NOT…
- Use abrasive cleaners.
- Use steel wool or scouring powder.
- Wash, steam or wet mop the floor as this may cause swelling, warping, delaminating, and joint separation.
Maintenance Tips
Whatever finish you choose on your flooring, there is one thing to remember... Dirt and Grit act like sandpaper to destroy the protective surface of a wood floor. Vacuum, sweep and dry mop regularly.
Apply Floor Protector Pads: All ‘moveable’ furniture need soft clean pads on the bottom of the legs or supports.
Use Door Mats: Keep dirt outside by using door mats placed at all exterior doors.
No High Heels: High heels concentrate a person’s weight onto a small point (estimated 125lbs person equals approximately 2000lbs per inch when taking a normal step). This kind of force can dent and pit wood floors, fracture ceramic tiles and perforate vinyl.
Kitchens, Bathrooms, Pets and Parties: Pets are fine on our Rhythm floors: Dog and Cat claws can scratch a wood floor so it is a good idea to trim them regularly. Our finish on the Rhythm Range can be used in the kitchens and bathrooms but spills and puddles of any kind should be wiped up straight away. Our floors are very hardy but remember that wood and water dont like each other. Pet urine will also not hurt these floors if cleaned up immediately and spills from food/water bowls are usually no problem if wiped up straight away.
Use Area Rugs: Some areas of the house experience more wear than others. Kitchens (especially in front of the sink) always have a lot of traffic. Rugs can be used to protect high-traffic areas. Make sure they are kept dry and clean. Shake them well and vacuum frequently.
Be Careful when Moving Heavy Furniture or Appliances: Remember to pick up heavy furniture and do not slide across the floor. Its a good idea to rent an ‘air sled’ or furniture dolly with rubber wheels. Floor guards enable you to move appliances for servicing without damaging your floor.
Underfloor Heating: Please contact your supplier for advice. Do not use heavy rugs on underfloor heating systems, this can cause the wood to overheat and may result in irreprable damage.
What about Cracks in my Floor?: Wood floors are very sensitive to their surrounding climate. Seasonal cracking is a common occurrence. Floor boards expand in humid conditions (generally summer months) and contract when air becomes dry (generally winter months when heating dries the environment). Using a Humidifier or Dehumidifier in conjuction with a heating/cooling system is recommended to keep an average 50/60% humidity level. This will minimise shrinkage and cracking.
Indoor Potted Plants: Never place plants directly on a wood floor even if they are in a water proof saucer. Always use trivets or short stands under the pot and saucer so that air can circulate underneath. This will prevent condensation on the saucer from damaging the wood floor. It will also be easier to see if the plant is over watered or if the water has spilled onto the floor.
Rug Marks: Many people are shocked when an area rug is moved and there is an outline of the rug on the floor. Luckily there is no need to panic. If you remove the rug completely, the colour will blend eventually but it will take a while, so be patient. This happens because the sunlight causes the floor to discolour but as it does not reach the floor under the rug, this remains unaffected. This discolouration can be avoided by moving the rugs often or by using a finish with a UV block in it.
Scratches: If your Woodtrend floor is getting very scratched ( even in the Rhythm Range ) then a little detective work is required to find out what caused them if the cause is not obvious. Find the cause and remedy the problem to prevent further scratches appearing. Scuffing on high traffic areas usually mean gritty shoes or dusty and dirty floors.
Woodtrend Rhythm Range Floors are designed for Low maintenance but that does not mean No maintenance. Look after your floor and the floor will look after you.
