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Can You Polish Engineered Wood Flooring?
No matter what kind of flooring you have, there will come a time when maintenance is required. Especially in high-traffic areas, where oil and lacquer finishes can become dull and lose their overall vigour. This is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about. The best thing about real wood floors – and engineered wood specifically – is that when dullness strikes, you can restore them in just a few simple steps. Cloths at the ready, we will teach you the most effective polishing methods for your engineered wood floors, as well as the top three ways to keep them looking their best. How to Polish Engineered Wood Floors If your engineered wood floors have lost their shine, our tried-and-true polishing technique can uplift and restore them to their former glory. All you really need is a soft cloth and some elbow grease – we will provide the rest. 1. Give Yourself Plenty of Room In order to polish the entire floor properly, and avoid dull smears around the edges of the room, it is best to remove all furniture before beginning and tie up curtains so that they do not trail across the floor. This will give you the whole room to work with and help you to see where you still need to polish. If it is not possible to remove all the furniture and items from the room, then remove a section at a time, replacing once the floor is polished, and work methodically in neat squares until the whole room is done. 2. Make Sure the Area Is Clean If you have taken away all furniture and rugs from the room, then this next step should be easy. Simply hoover away any dry dust and debris from the floor, especially the spaces where furniture usually stands. Otherwise, dirt can become embedded in the surface of the floor when we polish it or dull the overall appearance – which is the opposite of our goal. Once the space has been swept and vacuumed, move on to wet cleaning. We have a vast range of floor cleaners specifically tailored to engineered wood floors. It is important to use products that are designed for your flooring type, otherwise, you run the risk of damaging the finish, and in turn the wood itself. Once you have your cleaner of choice, just apply and clean with a damp mop or cloth, working from the co er out towards the door. Rather than leaving them to air-dry, it will be best to hand-dry your floors with a clean and dry cloth or mop. 3. Choose Your Polishing Technique Now the space is prepared, you are now ready to start polishing. We recommend, like when mopping, to work from one co er and work towards the door. This way, you can avoid becoming trapped by your own polish or having to tread over your hard work. When it comes to polishing, you can approach it in a couple of ways. Polishing by Hand Start by coating a cloth with your chosen engineered wood floor polish, and then working steadily in sections. Wipe the solution into the wood in figure-of-eight motions, to avoid the appearance of smears. Work carefully, section by section, until the whole floor is covered. Then, it will be time to wait for the polish to dry. Consult the manufacturer’s guidelines on how long to wait before you can replace your furniture and walk over the floor as normal. Polishing by Machine You might have professional buffing or burnishing equipment, in which case the process will be slightly different – yet still achieve the same results. Apply your polish generously, in sections, until the whole room has been treated. Wait for it to dry before moving on to the next step (the waxy substance should turn white, but this is product-dependent). Using your electric tool of choice, work in lines, back and forth, and behold the shine of our achievement. Polishing and buffing with a machine is understandably much easier than by hand alone, but should not be undertaken by inexperienced homeowners. These machines work at high speeds and can be dangerous if not used correctly. If you are unable to work by hand, you can always seek the help of a trained professional to get the job done. 3 Tips for Maintaining Your Engineered Wood Floors Once your floors are gleaming, you will want to keep them that way. Engineered wood floors can be repolished every four months or so, depending on use, but there are other ways you can keep up appearances between now and then. 1. Protect Against Heavy Footfall and Furniture Over the years, your engineered wood floors will begin to show signs of wear if not protected correctly. To avoid damage to the finish or surface of the wood itself, apply soft foam pads to the legs of heavy, stationary furniture. We also recommend doing the same to the legs of dining chairs or stools, to reduce the risk of scratching when dragged. In areas of high traffic, such as hallways and landings, you can bolster your floor’s defences with a simple (or o ate!) rug. This will not only protect them from unnecessary wear, but also improve comfort while walking barefoot, reduce the risk of slips and falls, and nurture a feeling of cosiness in your space. 2. Vacuum and Mop Regularly Loose dust and dirt, if left alone, can be trodden into the surface of your floors. This causes damage and hinders cleaning, but can be easily avoided if floors are cleaned often – or at least when messes occur. The same goes for liquid spills, which should be mopped or dried quickly. Despite robust finishes, if left to stand for too long, liquid can sink into the top layer of wood and cause deterioration or permanent staining. 3. Add a Finishing Touch If your floors were installed with a finish already applied, then this will not need to be done regularly, but every seven to ten years, you can reapply the oil or lacquer your floors came with. If your floors came without a finish, then this is all the more important – as these coats can protect from surface damage as well as penetrate deep enough to lengthen the lifespan of your floors. No matter which finishes your floors have been applied with, be it oil or lacquer, they will naturally wear away over time. A change in colour or uncharacteristic mattifying is a tell tale sign of this. High-traffic areas will show more quickly than others, and will need reapplication more regularly. Occasional sanding and refinishing stands as one of the best and most effective ways to keep your engineered wood floors looking brand new. Real Wood Floors That Give a Lot and Ask a Little Overall, engineered wood flooring is incredibly resilient and simple to look after. If you are considering a real wood alternative to hardwood floors, which is cost-effective and requires less maintenance to keep up appearances, engineered wood is the way to go. For those who have already taken the leap, we hope our polishing techniques and aftercare tips have brought a new lease of life into your space, as well as recreated that unbeatable feeling of stepping onto freshly lain wooden floors for the first time. READ OUR SUPPORT GUIDES
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Can You Oil Engineered Wood Flooring?
Engineered wood floors are specifically ‘engineered’ to be stronger and more durable than standard wooden floors. This mostly comes from its composition, layering precision-cut plywood beneath a high-quality layer of oak or walnut, to create a dense and reliable hardwood flooring solution. Oiling an engineered wood floor can seal the deal. So, to answer the question: yes, you can oil your engineered wood flooring, with several clear benefits. The Benefits of Oiling Engineered Wood Flooring Engineered wood flooring can come unfinished, though thanks to its sturdy composition, it will still perform incredibly well under regular household use. However, adding a touch of oil to unfinished floors, or choosing planks that have already been finished, can open you up to a whole host of additional benefits: Easy maintenance: Oil finishes make engineered wood floors much easier to clean and keep tidy long-term. In busy households, especially those with children and pets, you need flooring with no fuss, and oil finishes provide a smooth and glossed layer that holds its own over time. Resistance to mess and spills: Bare wood is porous by nature, so spills and mess can easily become embedded or absorbed into the grain, causing permanent staining and persistent odours. Oil finishes provide a protective barrier against everyday dirt and moisture, giving you extra time to mop up spillages before they can sink in. Longer lasting durability: On top of its moisture resistance, oiling your engineered wood flooring can also provide a layer of protection against dents and scratches, especially in high-traffic areas. Deeper impact damage or general wear and tear is also much less visible thanks to the natural sheen the oil provides, keeping your floors looking newer for longer. A more attractive finish: On the topic of keeping your engineered wood floors looking fresh long-term, oil finishes also bring out the natural grain texture and colour in the wood. Certain finishes can accentuate a specific look, from warm to cool and dark to light. Few things beat the rich and luxurious look of an oiled wood floor. CARE GUIDE FOR OILED FLOORS Our Range of Oil Finishes for Engineered Wood Flooring At V4, we use a wide range of oils and lacquers to finish our engineered wood floors, depending on how we want them to look, where they are to be installed, and the level of durability required. Natural Cured Oil: We buff our natural oils into the top layer of wood and leave them to air cure and penetrate into the grain itself, to provide root-deep protection against damage, decay, and wood pests. Hardwax Oil: Similar to natural oil, and with all the same restorative properties, but with an added layer of wax. This provides extra protection and ease of maintenance. UV Cured Oil: Our UV oils are natural oil that has been cured under UV lighting. This bolsters the surface of the lamella but maintains a natural look. Our range of lacquered finishes is just as vast as our oil finishes, with a number of looks to choose from including UV, Satin, Invisible, and Matt Lacquer. What Is the Difference Between Oil and Lacquer? Some of our engineered wood floors are finished with lacquer instead of oil. The two are largely quite similar, and so are often confused. Traditional oil and lacquer could be told apart by their look, with oil providing more of a matt finish and lacquer erring more on the glossy side. But in recent years, formulas of each have been created to limit or enhance the amount of gloss and achieve the desired look no matter which is chosen. The real difference now lies in their durability and maintenance needs. Oiled VS Lacquered Engineered Wood Floors Oil is hardwearing in its own right and highly resistant to moisture and damage, however, lacquer is slightly stronger. Our lacquered engineered wood floors are finished with up to eight coats, giving them added strength over oiled alternatives. The second difference between the two is how they are maintained. Oil floors need to be refinished more often than lacquered ones, but new coats of oil are much easier to apply yourself with a paint roller and the right brand of oil. Lacquered floors will last longer between refinishes, between 10 to 20 years, but when the time comes to reapply lacquer, the old layers must be sanded off, making it a less convenient choice for those looking for easy maintenance. IN-DEPTH MAINTENANCE GUIDES How to Recoat Your Oiled Engineered Wood Flooring If you have recently finished your engineered wood floors in oil, or if you have purchased new flooring ready-finished, only day-to-day maintenance will be required. Mop up spills quickly to stop seepage and clean away loose debris to avoid embedding, and your floors will keep up appearances on their own. After about 7 to 10 years, you will need to reoil your floors. By this time, most of the original finish will have wo away. High-traffic areas will need more regular refinishing, but try not to worry – the process is much easier than with lacquered floors. Be sure to use a brand of oil that ideally matches that which was originally used, and make sure that it is designed for engineered wood floors specifically. Once you have that, vacuum loose mess and mop your floors first. Once dry, you can use a paint roller to lay your fresh finish. Work your way across the space in sections, moving towards doors and exits so that you can minimise the need to re-tread your steps across wet oil. Then simply leave your floor to cure for at least 24 hours, but ideally 48 to make sure that the oil has had plenty of time to sink in and do its job. After this, you can enjoy your beautiful floors for another soft-footed decade. Invest in Oiled Floors That Last Our selection of oiled engineered wood floors offers a stunning and timeless addition to any home, busy or quiet. An oil finish is not only possible but recommended, as it strengthens the wood against damage and decay more effectively than unfinished alternatives. It is also simple to maintain and reapply as needed. Browse our impressive range and contact us for a free sample today. ORDER A FREE SAMPLE
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How to Clean Engineered Wood Flooring
When compared with hardwood alternatives, engineered wood flooring is not only simpler to install, more durable, and better for the environment, but is also easier to maintain. All flooring types, from real wood to laminate, will require some level of care in order to last, so we have put together a useful guide to help keep your floors looking brand new. Initial Prevention Techniques to Consider Engineered wood flooring is known for its robustness, but as with all real wood floors, the surface planks will start to show scratches and dents from heavy foot traffic and general wear and tear. Here are some prevention measures: 1. Multiple Doormats Our shoes have a tendency to track in all sorts of dirt and debris from outside. This can be especially damaging in areas of high foot traffic, such as entrance halls, where unclean shoes will tread in unwanted debris, such as sand and gravel, which can cause irreparable scratches. Investing in a good quality doormat is the best place way to keep unwanted debris, such as sand and gravel, from wreaking havoc on your engineered wood flooring. 2. Soft Furniture Pads Heavy furniture should already have wide footing for better stability and weight distribution. But items such as chairs and some tables are more transient, and are pulled out or moved around the house regularly. Those with thinner legs can cause dents and scuffs on the surface of your engineered wood flooring. To prevent this, we recommend applying soft protective pads to the bottom of chair and table legs. Foam or rubber work nicely, but try to avoid metal alternatives – although they are hard-wearing, they run the risk of damaging your floors more when dragged across them. 3. Light vs Dark Wood If you are yet to choose a type of engineered wood flooring, and would prefer a solution with minimal hassle, we recommend opting for darker wood finishes. Lighter woods, though stylish and attractive, tend to show their wear and tear more so than darker variations. Both are equally durable and resistant to damage, however, but we have found darker woods require less regular maintenance. Something to keep in mind for homes with children or pets. Maintaining Your Engineered Wood Flooring With the right level of care, your engineered wood flooring will look and feel great for years to come. Cleaning Oiled and Lacquered Flooring We apply oils and lacquers to our engineered wooden floors to bring out their natural beauty and give the lamella a protective and moisture-resistant layer. However, be careful when using potent stain removers or vigorous scrubbing methods, as this can cause wear and discolouration. For more information, we have in-depth maintenance guides available that detail how best to care for your engineered wood floor finishes – including lacquer, hardwax, UV, and natural oil. Our Top 3 Maintenance Methods 1. Sweep and vacuum regularly: Clear away loose mess and dust using dry methods, such as brooms, hoovers, or microfibre cloths. Doing so often will prevent debris from embedding into your floor and causing premature wear. 2. Apply liquid cleaner: For deep cleaning very dirty areas, wipe away what you can using a cloth or a dry method first and then apply your chosen liquid solution, cleaning with a wet mop. Try to opt for cleaners specifically designed for engineered wood flooring, and if you can, avoid vinegar and ammonia-based products, as they can be overly abrasive. Overall, mopping is a better alternative to steam cleaning, as it will harm the surface of the wood and cause moisture retention and warping. 3. Re-finish if necessary: If your flooring surface has sustained heavier damage, to the point where existing lacquer and oil have been compromised, consider applying a fresh finish. However, well-maintained engineered wooden floors should not need topping up for at least 7–10 years. See all our support guides.
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Engineered Wood Flooring Buying Guide
Before we get into the breakdown, we will cover some common questions we get asked, to give you some insight and deepen your understanding of what engineered wood flooring is and how it can benefit your home life. Navigate to: Where to Buy - Our Full Range - Key Features What Is Engineered Wood Flooring? When we say ‘engineered’, that does not mean our flooring is made from unnatural materials. On the contrary, our engineered wood flooring is crafted using the finest cuts of real wood, and stands as a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and almost indistinguishable alternative to hardwood flooring. ORDER A FREE SAMPLE Sustainable Manufacturing The engineering process starts with wood – more specifically, the highest quality oak and walnut timber, which we handpick from managed woodlands across Europe and America. Unlike popular methods of procurement, the minute ecosystems of these timber forests are maintained and protected. New, fast-growing saplings are planted every day to keep growth strong and consistently high grade. OUR ECO PROMISE Robust Composition Engineered wood flooring is made by combining slim cuts of hardwood with multiple layers of plywood, often made from birch, pine, poplar, or spruce. The oak and walnut planks we use for our top layer are cut to between 2 and 6 mm, unlike traditional hardwood which needs to be a minimum of 14 to 22 mm thick. With thinner cuts of timber, we increase our yield per tree by 60%. Once combined with V4’s signature ply base, our engineered wood flooring becomes stronger than standard hardwood floors, as well as more resilient to natural fluctuations in temperature and humidity. FIND OUT MORE Quick & Easy Installation All real wood flooring needs to acclimatise in the space before it can be installed. Traditional hardwood will require up to 7 days to fully settle into the space, and will often need to be cross-stacked in the room - which can be inconvenient in small spaces and disrupt the flow of other building works. Our engineered wood flooring comes packed in breathable, recycled packaging that allows the planks to acclimatise within. The other great thing about engineered wood is that it only requires 48 to 72 hours to fully acclimatise, making it an extremely convenient option, especially when planning complex projects or if you need a fully usable floor in a matter of days rather than weeks. IN-DEPTH ACCLIMATISATION GUIDE Where Can I Buy Engineered Wood Flooring? V4 engineered wood flooring is available anywhere in the UK, from the Scottish highlands to the coasts of Brighton. We have handpicked the very best retailers across the country to receive our V4 approval, all of which will be happy to help you to select just the right real wood and laminate flooring for your home or business. Engineered wood flooring requires much less timber than hardwood alternatives. So you can achieve the same look and feel as hardwood but at a fraction of the cost. Ideal for smaller budgets and reflooring wider areas. Find a retailer today for a bespoke quote. SEARCH FOR RETAILERS Which Rooms Are Best? Engineered wood floors can be installed in just about every room in your home, especially high-traffic areas – including hallways, living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and even kitchens. It is best to avoid installations in rooms with a lot of excess moisture, such as bathrooms, as all hardwood is naturally hygroscopic, which means it will absorb water vapour, as well as swell and deflate with changing temperatures. The lacquers and oils we use to seal and finish our engineered wood flooring are designed to protect against the worst effects, but even so, we recommend avoiding these settings in order to reduce potential damage, however small. Our Range of Engineered Wood Flooring Simple and Timeless - Wood planks are the staple of hardwood flooring, and have been for centuries. Simple but timeless in their design. We craft all of our engineered wooden planks from natural European oak and American walnut, with a whole host of finishes from pale, dusty greys to deep, rich browns. When it comes to flooring, wooden planks are never a risk. And our engineered oak and walnut planks can be installed in almost any space with ease, complementing and uplifting all interior styles effortlessly. The Key Features of Our Engineered Wood Flooring 35-Year Guarantee Because we trust the quality of our engineered wood flooring, we offer a generous 35-year guarantee for all domestic installations. Without exception, we want you to feel secure with your choice of flooring, and know for certain that it will last long into the future. Range of Finishing Coats Once our engineered wood flooring has left the mill, we use low-VOC lacquers and oils to finish the job, accentuating grain textures and enhancing existing hued in the veneer. These treatments help to protect the wood from minor surface damage and the over-absorption of moisture. They also reduce the need for strenuous maintenance schedules, creating an easy-clean surface that lasts. Robust Profiling To make installation quick and maintain an even lay, we utilise both tongue & groove and lock systems for our fittings – all of our precision-cut profiling fits together seamlessly and securely, creating a reliably smooth surface every time. Underfloor Heating Compatible Engineered wood flooring is the preferred option for those looking to lay hardwood over electrical or hot-water underfloor heating systems, as it is much more resilient than standard hardwood. This is thanks to its precision-cut veneer and layers of softwood that provide additional strength and flexibility when it comes to natural fluctuations caused by changes in interior temperatures and humidity. Four-Sided Micro Bevelling Gaps in hardwood floorboards are the cause of most draughts and heat loss in the home. But we micro-bevel our engineered wood flooring on four sides, meaning each piece fits together snuggly and sharp edges are softened. This creates a smoother surface that, as a result, is more snag and chip-resistant. Energy efficiency is also improved with tighter fittings that let in less cold air from the subfloors. Which Rooms Are Best? Engineered wood floors can be installed in just about every room in your home, especially high-traffic areas – including hallways, living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and even kitchens. It is best to avoid installations in rooms with a lot of excess moisture, such as bathrooms, as all hardwood is naturally hygroscopic, which means it will absorb water vapour, as well as swell and deflate with changing temperatures. The lacquers and oils we use to seal and finish our engineered wood flooring are designed to protect against the worst effects, but even so, we recommend avoiding these settings in order to reduce potential damage, however small. The Key Features of Our Engineered Wood Flooring 35-Year Guarantee Because we trust the quality of our engineered wood flooring, we offer a generous 35-year guarantee for all domestic installations. Without exception, we want you to feel secure with your choice of flooring, and know for certain that it will last long into the future. Range of Finishing Coats Once our engineered wood flooring has left the mill, we use low-VOC lacquers and oils to finish the job, accentuating grain textures and enhancing existing hued in the veneer. These treatments help to protect the wood from minor surface damage and the over-absorption of moisture. They also reduce the need for strenuous maintenance schedules, creating an easy-clean surface that lasts. Robust Profiling To make installation quick and maintain an even lay, we utilise both tongue & groove and lock systems for our fittings – all of our precision-cut profiling fits together seamlessly and securely, creating a reliably smooth surface every time. Underfloor Heating Compatible Engineered wood flooring is the preferred option for those looking to lay hardwood over electrical or hot-water underfloor heating systems, as it is much more resilient than standard hardwood. This is thanks to its precision-cut veneer and layers of softwood that provide additional strength and flexibility when it comes to natural fluctuations caused by changes in interior temperatures and humidity. Four-Sided Micro Bevelling Gaps in hardwood floorboards are the cause of most draughts and heat loss in the home. But we micro-bevel our engineered wood flooring on four sides, meaning each piece fits together snuggly and sharp edges are softened. This creates a smoother surface that, as a result, is more snag and chip-resistant. Energy efficiency is also improved with tighter fittings that let in less cold air from the subfloors. BROWSE THE ENGINEERED WOOD FLOORING COLLECTIONS
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Do Engineered Wood Floors Need to Acclimatise Before Installation?
How you prepare your space for new flooring, especially engineered wood flooring, is part of the process of installation. Once you have chosen engineered wood flooring from V4, you want to ensure that your home or business is prepared for its arrival. Make sure that all wet trades or decorating have been finished and left to dry prior to installation. Once your engineered wood flooring arrives, we recommend leaving the planks to acclimatise to the humidity level and temperature in your home for between 48 and 72 hours. Your home’s ambient temperature should fall between 18°C and 24°C during this acclimatisation process. Why Does Engineered Wood Flooring Need to Be Acclimatised? As a porous material, wood will naturally expand and contract when humidity and temperature levels fluctuate. This is why we do not recommend engineered wood flooring for bathrooms, where there is constantly running water and a build-up of water vapour. Relative Humidity (RH) is a percentage that measures the amount of humidity present in the air, and the sweet spot for engineered wood flooring is between 45% and 65%. You can use a moisture metre to calculate the humidity percentage in your home – and if levels are too far outside of the recommended range, you can purchase a dehumidifier to balance the moisture content of the space. What Happens if You Do Not Acclimatise Engineered Wood Flooring? Hardwood flooring is known as a hygroscopic material – this means it will absorb water vapour in its environment. Metaphorically speaking, it inhales and exhales moisture, and this natural absorption process results in noticeable dimensional changes. If real wood planks are not naturally acclimatised to an environment before they are fitted, the overall look can be hindered by warping in the wood as it comes away from the subfloor. Rapid depletion of moisture can even cause cracks and imperfections to form on the smooth surface of the wood. Thanks to its flexible multi-ply construction, engineered wood flooring is able to resist hygroscopic dimensional changes, but not entirely. The planks will still need to be left to acclimatise in the space before they can be installed. This is because V4’s engineered wooden flooring is designed to slot together seamlessly using a lock system and tongue & groove fittings, and if even minor hygroscopic absorption occurs, the planks can deform and thus disrupt the smooth exterior surface of the flooring. How Do You Acclimatise Engineered Wood Flooring and How Long Does It Take? For your engineered wood to properly acclimatise, you will need to leave the planks in, or as close to, the room in which they are to be installed. Hardwood flooring can take up to 7 days to fully acclimatise, which can obstruct building and decorating projects, whereas V4’s engineered wood flooring will only take between 48 and 72 hours to reach full acclimatisation. Making it a more efficient and convenient choice for wooden flooring. We also save you more time by delivering all of our engineered wooden planks in breathable, recycled packaging. This means you do not need to worry about laying out or cross-stacking your planks to properly acclimatise them – instead they can be left in their packaging until they are ready to be installed. How Air Conditioning Impacts Acclimatisation A quality air conditioning unit will certainly help the acclimatisation process, especially if you are installing your engineered wood flooring during the summer months when your home is uncharacteristically warm and humid. IN-DEPTH MAINTENANCE GUIDES | ORDER A FREE SAMPLE For more information on how to install and maintain your engineered wood flooring, and where you can find a verified V4 retailer near you, our team will be happy to help. Get in touch with us today.
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V4 Cube Awards 2022
This year we had the pleasure of welcoming the fabulous, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen to host the award ceremony, and announce the winners of this year’s Cube Awards. Taking place on Thursday the 22nd of September at our 300 square meter Surrey Design Centre, we welcomed our guests with live music by, a local ukulele band The Ukeaholics and our signature cocktail, the Cube-a-Cubana hand-made by The Gin Inn to join us in celebrating not just a fantastic year of design, but also twenty years of V4 Wood Flooring. New this year, we had an exciting twist on our previous Cube Awards, by adding a second category – Commercial Designs! Which together with our Home Design category offered 20 shortlisted residential designs, each featuring one of our floors. This is where we turned to you for help, as members of the public browsed through each design’s case study before voting for their winners. Before enjoying a tasty bite to eat of handmade sourdough pizzas by the Stonerose Pizza Co., guests were able to browse the large selection of samples boards that are displayed inside the V4 Surrey Design Centre, including the brand-new collection, Heritage, which features 10 brilliant floors each hand finished in the UK to offer you a high-quality finish, never compromising on style. The V4 Surrey Design Centre is the perfect place to view hundreds of flooring options, ranging from plank to herringbone and chevron, in a large variety of colours and finishes. When discussing the use of wooden floors in home designs, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen reminded us “The last couple of years had seen a massive growth in people wanting to do things that are special to them. So, you’ve got to come somewhere like the V4 Design Centre where you can have an infinity of choice… People are obsessed about bringing the outside in now, the idea of British woodland being part of their home. So, the Heritage collection by V4 which has all of that romance, it has that rusticity, it has that real sense of engagement, it’s absolutely perfect for making a home feel like home”. With the votes counted, it was time for Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen to announce our winners and runners up, starting with the Home Design Categories. In first place we had Ross and Ian from the Fixer Uppers, who used a bespoke herringbone floor to create a rustic yet inviting living room design. In Second place, we had Sophia from the 1894 Home, whose use of Frozen Umber helped create her dream kitchen design. And finally, in third place, we had Sharon from Hornsby Style, who used Tannery Brown in both herringbone and plank to create a rustic, Scandi-Lux style. Moving on to our commercial category, in first place we had Bec Edmunds from Saskia Kate Interiors, who used Seashell Herringbone to create a contrasting design in her client's family home. In second place we had Charlotte Bucciero from Charlotte Bucciero Interiors who used Golden Oak to connect her client's home to its natural surroundings. And last by but no means least, was Charlotte Drinkall from Shere Madness who used a bespoke engineered plank to create a classic design with a mode twist in her client's family home. Thank you to all those who have voted and taken part in this year's V4 Cube Awards. If you have recently completed a design featuring a V4 floor, upload a picture to Instagram and tag your images @v4woodflooring including the hashtag #myv4room, and if we choose to feature your design in one of our case studies, you could be in with a chance of being shortlisted for next years Cube Awards!
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V4 are proud sponsors of The Lightbox’s Raphael exhibition, providing flooring to create a renaissance setting for his works of art
V4 Wood Flooring are proud sponsors of the Raphael: Prince Albert's Passion exhibition taking place at The Lightbox in Woking. Running from 3rd October 2020 until 31st January 2021, the exhibition marks the 500th anniversary of the death of Raphael. To commemorate this significant event exhibitions are being staged around the world to celebrate one of the greatest artists of the Italian Renaissance, and The Lightbox in Woking is the only gallery in the UK to be holding an exhibition about Raphael as part of these celebrations. The Lightbox is an award-winning charitable arts and heritage organisation with a social purpose to improve the well-being and quality of life of its community, and as a neighbouring local business in Woking, with our V4 World design centre being just a five minute drive away, we welcomed the opportunity to show our support and be involved in creating the floor design for the Raphael exhibition space. With a brief to help transform a section of the main gallery making a space that would transport visitors back in time to give the feel of an opulent renaissance setting worthy of his works of art, our Natureffect XXL Inglenook Hearth laminate wood floors were selected for installation. These floors are full of warm rustic charm and earthy tones to give an elegant aged appearance – fitting as a backdrop to his timeless artistry and sketches. The temporary room is a low lit space to protect the ancient sketches or 'cartoons' as they were known 500 year ago, and the floor needed to be both beautiful and robust enough to last the 4 month exhibition. Natureffect Laminate XXL was the perfect solution as it can be installed on an underlay efficiently and with out the need of adhesive whilst still making a solid durable floor which is commercial grade and will stand up to high foot traffic and regular cleaning. The exhibition relays the fascinating story of Prince Albert’s passion for Raphael and his creation of the Raphael Collection at Windsor Castle. It reveals how Raphael caught the imagination of the Prince Consort, who embarked on a pioneering research-based project into the work of the Renaissance master, making copies of his work using the newest technology available - photography. The exhibition will reveal 500 years of reproductive techniques used to emulate Raphael's work, not only in photography, but also in a variety of mediums including engravings, original wood-block printing and lithography. The Raphael drawings from the Royal Collection are at the heart of the exhibition and several of them will be shown in the specially-designed space where our floors have been installed.
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Create a natural welcome in your home. Real wood floors in hallway design
You can't beat the beauty of a real wood floor to create a warm and natural welcome in your entrance hallway. Whether you choose this floor finish just for your hallway, or extend the same floor finish to create a seamless flow into your living spaces, a wood floor is the natural way to say hello in style. And while the hallway may be one of your home's high footfall spaces, our durable engineered wood floors offer a range of surface finishes designed to protect and ensure your wood floors stay free from damage. We always recommend you invest in a quality doormat once your hallway wood floors are installed, helping remove any dust, dirt and moisture as you enter your home, and as our floors are compatible with underfloor heating you can also choose to make your hallway clutter free without radiators taking up your greeting space. Here to inspire your home design and show you the wide range of wood floor styles you can choose from in our collections, here are just a few real life home design stories that start with a V4 wood floor welcome in the hallway. A bright welcome created with Zigzag Nordic Beach herringbone A grand entrance with Landscapes Water Meadow wood floors Darker rustic hallway design with Urban Nature Foundry Steel Saying hello with the warm tones of Zigzag Oak Smoked herringbone A smooth oak welcome with Alpine Lock Silver Sands A natural welcome into the home with Deco Frozen Umber If this has helped you decide installing an engineered wood floor in your hallway could be the perfect way to welcome people in, your next step is to find your perfect wood floors. Start browsing our collections and order free samples of your favourites.
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Local antiques shop helps V4 launch Panneau Peel & Stick wooden wall panels
Our V4 World showroom was awash with activity in preparation for the full launch of a beautiful range of wooden wall panels that has just arrived in the V4 collection. Panneau Peel & Stick delivers contemporary wood wall panels, available in a choice of finishes so you can get creative and add natural wood design to your feature walls. Produced from American Pine, wood is precision cut into thin slices creating lightweight planks which feature a simple self adhesive backing for quick and easy installation. The boards undergo various treatments which age and accentuate the rustic character of the timber, bringing walls to life. How better to showcase the rustic and engaging character of these wooden panels than inviting local antiques firm Arse Antiques to the showroom to provide some quirky dressings for our launch photo shoot. Based in nearby Chobham, Arse Antiques are about antiques with flair, selling beautiful, quirky and unusual items that start conversations - and the combination of Panneau Peel & Stick and beautiful home dressings will certainly start a conversation in your home. A big thank-you to Amy and Suzie for helping out, you've helped bring our panels to life with your beautiful antique collections. Design Inspiration Created with PS3 Dark Brown & Distressed Dark Grey Created with PS1 - Dark Grey Created with PS5D - Distressed Light Brown Created with PS2 - Light Grey About Peel & Stick Panels Produced from American Pine, precision cut into thin slices, the lightweight planks are brushed, cross sawn and distressed to accentuate the rustic character of the timber to bring walls to life. The textured surface is then stained and sealed in a range of rich earthen tones. The result is a collection of wooden wall cladding which gives a beautifully weathered and aged aesthetic. Measuring 12.8 x 118 cm these easy to install wall panels can be cut to any size or simply installed straight from the box with unrivalled simplicity as the boards are backed with self adhesive 3M tape. You simply peel and stick. Why not get creative and mix and match panel colours, or choose from a myriad of installation patte s. You could go vertical, horizontal, herringbone or however you choose. And caring for your new wooden feature walls is easy. All the panels need is an occasional dusting and trickier marks can be cleaned with a damp cloth. View the full collection and why not order free sample swatches. The collection is also available to view in large wall installation format inside our Woking Design Centre, V4 World.
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The V4 Colour Series Issue 1 | Dark Wood Flooring Ideas
Dark wood floors are a bold and rewarding design choice within a home, bringing warmth and depth to your interior spaces. From shady walnuts to rich oak, our dark wood flooring can add an air of sophistication to any room you might be decorating, be that a bedroom or a hallway, bringing out every feature, from the wallpaper and paintwork to the furniture and rugs, and making them truly pop. To help you pick the right style and shade for your project, we have put together a complete guide to not only our dark wood flooring, but our design range, including parquet, planks, and reclaimed looks. Types of Dark Wood Floors Dark Wood Planks When you think of hardwood floors, planks are probably what comes to mind first. They are a classic style that has stood the test of time, offering a timeless and reliable solution to flooring whether installed residentially or commercially. Though much simpler in its arrangement than other styles of wood flooring, the classic plank is a perfect choice for darker timber options as the colour alone pulls more than enough visual weight, and the paired back planks allow those colours to fully take the stage. Dark Wood Parquet This range pulls its inspiration from 17th-century France, and when paired with a darker shade of hardwood, their unique arrangements are truly eye-catching. If you are someone who is looking to conjure an o ate aesthetic in an interior, our selection of parquet floors is the way to go. The range includes two core styles: Chevron Most parquet arrangements feature short-cut battens of wood, joined into sharp V-shapes to create a variety of zig-zag patte ing. Chevron is the neatest among them, with clean Vs and sharp lines separating each row, creating a unique look that still maintains its class. Herringbone Herringbone takes stylish geometry to the next level with its V-shaped arrangements. Similar to chevron, but rather than clean-cut Vs, the herringbone battens form interlocked Ws. Dark herringbone floors are the perfect option for design-savvy individuals looking for a twist on a classic look. Advantages of Our Dark Wood Floors A Sustainable Option No matter the shade or finish, our engineered wood flooring is crafted from 100% FSC® certified oak and walnut timber, sourced from managed woodlands in North America and Europe. These forests are carefully tended to and produce excellent hardwoods that not only yield more than the average tree, but also support the surrounding ecosystem. If you want real wood floors but are worried about the environmental impact, or want to know if there is a more ethical option that achieves the same end, then engineered wood flooring could be the perfect alte ative to explore. Our dark engineered wood floors have all the same benefits as hardwood, including its ability to age well, hold its own against everyday wear and tear, and handle refinishing, but their production puts considerably less strain on the environment. OUR ECO PROMISE Simple to Maintain Long-Term Hardwood is generally simple to look after. It resists the most common stressors that flooring is subjected to, including heavy foot traffic, messes and spills, and general deterioration over time. Engineered wood also has a little more resilience than regular hardwood thanks to its composition. Engineered wood floors, like our dark wood range, are crafted by layering several pieces of high-strength plywood and then topping them with the ‘lamella’ of your chosen hardwood. This layered approach to wood flooring allows for more flexibility and durability in the long-term, and also helps the floor to last well in a number of environments (including those with mode underfloor heating systems). When engineered wood floors do eventually show their age, they can be sanded and refinished to tu back the clock and revert them to their original state, adding an extra decade or two to their overall lifespan. IN-DEPTH MAINTENANCE GUIDES Suits Most Interiors One of the best advantages to choosing dark wood flooring for your home or business is that you can guarantee a gorgeous aesthetic. Dark wood flooring is a surefire way to level up the interior design of any room, adding class and natural beauty, and playing off both rustic and professional aesthetics. Browse our collections and find the right colour wood floor for you
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The natural choice for flooring - the latest wood floor trends emerging this year
When we talk about trends in flooring it’s with a different focus than say clothing trends, where a trend may change with the seasons and last summer’s big thing is ready for the charity shop when the season comes around again. Today’s discerning homeowners want flooring which is stylish, hardwearing and long-lasting, featuring design innovations that will still be as fashionable in ten years as it is today. The resurgence continues in people opting for real wood floors, and in particular engineered wood floors. Engineered wood flooring offers excellent value, stability and, if treated correctly, a long-lasting floor. One of the reasons for the resurgence of real wood is people’s motivation to move back to choosing natural products as the environmental agenda gathers pace and we all look to play a role in reducing the impact waste products are having on our environment, especially our oceans and landfill resources. Homeowners want to know where their floors came from, what they are made from and how sustainable they are. Choosing a wood floor that has been sustainably sourced from well-managed forests where only mature trees are selected for harvest and several fast growing saplings are planted for the next generation means you have selected a natural, renewable and recyclable material – free from plastic and non-recyclable qualities. Today’s engineered wood floors can also be resurfaced and retreated, just like solid wood floors, giving your floors an even longer life. You can even change their colour with the application of coloured oils, reinstating and reinventing your wood floors to give them a fresh new look. So with more people choosing the natural qualities of real wood floors, there are some key trends at the moment when it comes to styling. The first is the renaissance of parquet style wood floors. While maintaining the original 17th Century approach of creating a beautifully patterned, low maintenance wood floor, parquet floors in the 21st century offer more choice and versatility. Today’s mode parquet has seen a shift towards larger oak blocks which offer complete adaptability both in terms of installation patterns – everything from traditional herringbone and chevron to basketweave and multiple block formations – and a much easier installation with tongue and groove profiles on engineered oak blocks making install simpler and allowing the floors to work over different subfloor types and under floor heating. Adding the intricate geometry of a parquet style pattern will work in harmony with any interior style and the choice of colours and tones available now is endless. At the other end of the spectrum, playing to the appeal of wood floors for their natural qualities, there is a growing demand for larger, wider plank styles full of oak character and rustic appeal. This style really does bring nature inside on an impressive scale, and opting for a rustic, almost aged appearance the floors are more forgiving to natural wear and will give your home a timeless feel. Larger boards are also a great choice for creating a feeling of space, and by choosing a more authentic and rustic finish you add extra texture and a more tactile sensation where light will reflect across different grains and angles and the floor becomes a little more intriguing. And finally, let there be light. Mode colouring techniques have allowed wood floors to enter a wider spectrum of colour choice than ever, and white, grey and muted tones are proving popular. They deliver understated tones that are the perfect choice if you don’t want your flooring to dominate your home. Lighter shades naturally create a smooth and calming backdrop that will work with any interior style. They are an ideal choice to make smaller spaces feel bigger, but are just as at home in large open plan design, promoting light and bringing together all the elements of a room without competing against them. Introducing a muted foundation can also let you be a little more expressive and bold with the rest of your interior colour palette. View our collections and take a look at some of our featured installations for more wood floor inspiration.
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Engineered Wood Floors for Modern Kitchens
Real wood floors in kitchen design add a natural warmth, texture and style to your kitchen space – and with such a wide range of colours, tones and styles available it is now far easier to choose a wood floor that is an integral part of your overall kitchen design – and not just an afterthought. There has been a tendency in the past to shy away from wood floors in the kitchen, with concerns about the impact of heat, water and general spillages. This is only a concern where solid or poor-quality wood is used. Properly cared for it is the only natural surface that can be used in kitchens. And with our focus on only the highest quality engineered wood floors, our floors are ideal for installation in the kitchen – treated with care you’ll have beautiful floors, made from a natural material, which will last for years. Won’t the floors expand from heat and moisture in the kitchen? Our engineered wood floors are all built on an ultra-stable hardwood multi-ply tongue & grooved base – giving a feeling as robust as solid wood – but significantly reducing the amount of expanding or contracting in response to conditions. Any impact will be so minimal it will go unnoticed when installed with the correct expansion gaps along the wall. What about spills and splashes? Whatever type of flooring you have, you will always be advised to quickly clean up spillages. Our wood floors all have durable surface treatments applied over the oak top surfaces, so just be diligent and quickly wipe up any spills and the wood floors will remain unaffected. What about underfloor heating? Good news again, all of our floors can be used with underfloor heating. Installed correctly, and ensuring the surface temperature never exceeds 27C, you can design your space more effectively by removing the need for radiator space. Will there be ongoing maintenance? Depending on the surface finish of your chosen wood floors maintenance needs vary. Our durable lacquered surfaces make them the ideal low-maintenance kitchen choice. Each plank has coats of UV-cured lacquer applied, leaving very little to do in the way of maintenance apart from keeping them clean. You will find lacquered options in our Alpine, Alpine Lock, Eiger, Zigzag and Home collections. If you do decide to choose a UV-oiled or hard wax oiled surface finish in the kitchen these need a little more maintenance, but with the right products and care they also make a great natural floor choice for kitchens. We recommend an initial coat of Woods Good Natural Floor Care Refresher is applied to the floors once installed, and then occasionally treat them with Wood’s Good Natural Floor Care soap spray which will help keep the protective layer on the floors, making spills easier to deal with. What about everyday cleaning? On top of any maintenance requirements, a regular sweep and gentle wet wash weekly will keep the floors clean. Only use a very slightly damp mop for wet cleaning, or we recommend using the Wood’s Good Natural Floor Care spray cleaning kit. A safe pH-neutral cleaning solution that is extremely effective and simple to use with no risk you might be damaging your floors. Our Modern Flooring Styles for Kitchens If we’ve not already convinced you that our engineered wood floors make ideal kitchen floors, be inspired by some real-life customer installation pictures featuring our wood floors. Zigzag Natural Oak Zigzag Brushed and Lacquered Natural Oak. Keeping things natural wood surfaces collide effortlessly in this country-style kitchen. Urban Nature Foundry Steel Urban Nature Foundry Steel. Rustic dark oak tones that look perfect against traditional kitchen styles and mode touches. Zigzag Frozen Umber Zigzag Frozen Umber adds a final layer of texture to this stunning kitchen design, which fuses modern and classic elements. Alpine Fjordic Shore Alpine Lock Fjordic Shore. The beautiful light oak tones create a stylish contrast to the dark grey tones in this modern kitchen design. Zigzag Nordic Beach Here, Zigzag Nordic Breach embraces a muted pastel palette to create a calming and light atmosphere Urban Nature Fired Brick Urban Nature Fired Brick delivering mode oak charm with a unique warm tone that enhances the feeling of space Urban Nature Weathered Beam The classic aged character of Urban Nature Weathered Beam is an ideal blend with this traditional country-styled kitchen Start the search for your perfect wood floors here.
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