Hardwood Flooring - Frequently Asked Questions

• Is Treework flooring solid hardwood? Yes. We only supply solid hardwood floors. If you buy, for instance, an Oak floor from Treework you will get planks of Oak that have been machined by the company. Many products offered as solid wood flooring are in fact a veneer of hardwood stuck on a softwood or other type of wood base.
• Can Treework’s wood floors be fixed to concrete? Real wide plank hardwood flooring needs to be fixed to a timber base. This is usually done by secret nailing each board, which is the traditional method of fixing wood flooring and allows each board to move as the environment changes. The minimum thickness of this base is 18mm and as the thickness of the hardwood boards is 19mm the total height will be raised by a minimum of 37mm. This is not usually a problem and we can machine threshold pieces or other items that may be necessary. Where height is a problem you may wish to consider our Overlay System.
• What bases can solid wood flooring be fixed to? Apart from the situation of a concrete floor dealt with above our hardwood boards can be fitted over existing floorboards, flooring quality chipboard or plywood, joists or battens.
• Will my new floor have gaps? Wood is a natural material and will adjust to changes in temperatures and humidity. At Treework we have a timber kiln which allows us to dry our wood to 10%-12% the recommended level for centrally heated environments. Modern houses are quite controlled environments, however in some situations small gaps may appear and these should not be considered a fault.
• Does the wood for Treework flooring come from ecological sources? Treework has been exercising its ecological policy since it was founded over twenty years ago. It is our policy that all timber we use comes from sustainable sources. We have achieved ‘Chain of Custody’ certification under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) scheme, which is internationally recognised foe ensuring that timber comes from well managed woodlands.
• Do I need an expansion gap at the edge of the new floor? Yes. This can be covered with beading or skirting. If you wish we can supply these in timber to match your new wood floor.
• Is Treework’s hardwood flooring pre-finished? No. Our floorboards are supplied with a good machined surface which is sanded and finished on site in the traditional way. This allows the fitter to make good any unevenness and to form features such as threshold pieces and mitred surrounds to hearths and matwells etc.. The customer can choose what sort of finish they wish to be applied.
• What is the best finish? A wax or oil based seal will allow the wood floor to age and mellow and can be refurbished. A lacquered seal will keep the floor looking more like it was when first fitted and a good lacquer will give a tough finish. If a lacquered surface does get worn with time it may be re-sanded and sealed.
• Can Treework’s hardwood floors be fitted over underfloor heating? Yes. We have undertaken many successful installations of wood floors over underfloor heating. We can use our kiln to dry the wood to 6%-9%, which is the recommended moisture content for this situation. It is a good idea to contact us as soon as possible as we may be able to advise on the best way to install the heating to suit the wood flooring.