V4 Cube Awards 2023
Find out who won the 2023 Cube Awards, hosted by Laura Jane Clark! At the 2023 V4 Wood Flooring Cube Awards, we were celebrating another fantastic year of design. We were joined by the brilliant architect and TV presenter Laura Jane Clark, who hosted the awards ceremony, announcing the results and presenting each winner with their Cube Award and gifts. Located in the heart of Surrey, the awards were held at our Surrey Design Centre, which had recently received a revamp in time for the celebrations! Once again this year we were joined by The Ukeholics who greeted our guests with live music, and the fantastic Gin Inn, who handmade our signature cocktail ‘Gin Nature Inside’, the perfect drink to celebrate not only the amazing designs shortlisted this year but also V4’s 21st birthday. What’s more, the team from Dough & Deer were ready and waiting to make the guests an array of delicious wood-fired pizzas throughout the night - the perfect combination for a summer celebration. Before the awards started, the guests were invited to browse the wide selection of samples our Surrey Design Centre hosts, including our brand-new Luxury Cork flooring collection, Cortejo and our hardened wood floor collection, Bjelin. With large samples of hundreds of flooring options, in styles such as plank, herringbone and chevron, the Design Centre is the perfect place to begin your flooring journey! Organise your visit here. New this year, we introduced a third category, Retailer Project of the Year, celebrating the impressive work our retailers and flooring specialists have completed over the last twelve months. Together with our Commerical Design category, twenty installations featuring V4’s wood flooring were shortlisted and voted for by the public. It was a pleasure to showcase the brilliant projects our clients have worked on and our host Laura Jane Clark brilliantly captured the magic of the evening when discussing the Awards… “I love celebrating designers, architects, installers and suppliers because we all make design happen. It’s not just a couple of drawings and then it magically gets made. So really talking to people, meeting people and meeting the people that we work with every day is fabulous” With the votes counted, it was over to Laura Jane Clark to announce the winners! Starting with our Retailer Project category, in third place we had Past and Present Wood Flooring Ltd whose impressive Basket Weave installation in their client’s grade 2 listed property, perfectly complemented the historical architecture, adding an abundance of character. In second place was True Wood Flooring, who spared no details when installing Brushed Matt Oak herringbone in this family home by adding a single block border to the design, perfect for the period property. And in the first place, we had the brilliant Signature Me! Their impressive installation was complete with a combination of V4’s White Smoked Oak plank and parquet flooring, creating a seamless, contemporary rustic design. Moving on to our Commerical Design category, in third place we have Susan Venn Design Ltd! This installation showcased a large-scale refurbishment inspired by its tranquil location and secluded garden. Featuring V4’s Frozen Umber plank, the materials used celebrated nature, with blues, greens and oak tones. In second place was Bridge Flooring, who combined Tannery Brown in plank and parquet to create a seamless aesthetic inspired by Art Deco Styles in the brand-new Guildford Coppa Club Clubhouse. And in first place was Just a Little Build! Sarah’s design saw a converted bungalow featuring White Smoked Oak Plank, which effortlessly sits amongst the drama of the double-height ceiling and curved staircase, creating a seamless design in this traditional yet contemporary family home. Finally, this year Laura presented a special award to a member of the public whose home design stood out to the team. The winner of this year’s ‘Design of the Year’ award went to the Shepeard family! Their beautiful home design inspired by the leafy countryside of Surrey features V4’s Frozen Umber Parquet – check it out here. A herringbone-style floor has become increasingly popular over the years, and Laura couldn’t agree more, as she went on to say… “There is definitely a massive trend in herringbone flooring. I have been in love with herringbone and chevron flooring for about 10 years, and finally, people are starting to catch up. As soon as I walked into this showroom, and it’s a very glamorous showroom, I made a beeline for the chevron flooring… It’s just absolutely beautiful!” Thank you to everyone who entered their designs to this year’s cube awards, and to all who attended the evening – it was great to celebrate a fantastic year of design with you all! If you are thinking of entering a project into the 2024 Cube Awards, get in touch with the team today to be in with a chance of being chosen for a featured case study and in with a chance of being shortlisted for next year’s Awards!
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Can You Repair Engineered Wood Flooring?
From time to time, your engineered wood floors may need a bit of extra care. Accidents happen, and no flooring type is completely impervious, especially under more extreme circumstances. But engineered wood flooring stands apart from all other flooring types in its resilience and capacity for continual repair. In this guide, we will show you the best ways to care for your engineered wood flooring, old and new, and offer our advice on long-term maintenance schedules and the best restorative products to invest in. How to Care For Your Engineered Wood Flooring Though engineered wood flooring is resilient, and repairs are simple enough to implement, it is best to prevent their need as much as you can. The most effective way to maintain your engineered wood flooring is by keeping it clean and swept as regularly as you can. Wipe up messes and spills when they occur, and keep an eye on signs of wear and tear that could worsen over time if left unchecked. The strength of engineered wood flooring lies in its hardwearing nature. They are made with a solid layer of hardwood backed by several layers of high-quality plywood, which provide flexible stability and heavy-duty strength. This layered composition also aids in repair, as we’ll explain later. OUR FULL CARE GUIDES The Best Ways to Repair Your Engineered Wood Flooring The best way to repair your engineered wood floors will depend on the cause and severity of the damage, so you ought to adjust your approach accordingly. We offer a wide range of accessories to help you prime and maintain your engineered wood flooring, including repair kits and fillers, wood putty, liquid adhesives, cleaners, and more. View the range. Fixing Minor Issues In areas of high humidity and moisture levels, the glue bonding the boards to the subfloor can come away, causing raised and hollow spots in your flooring. When this happens, drill a small hole in the offending board, and inject a liquid adhesive inside until it reaches the base. Using a heavy object, hold the board in place until the glue has dried, bonding the plywood base and subfloor together. Then you can fill the drill’s hole with wood putty. Surface-level scratches and gouges can be repaired with wood putty. If your engineered wood floors are a unique shade, you may need to mix in some wood stain to achieve the right match. Apply your wood putty using a putty knife, and cover the areas of damage. Once roughly patched, smooth out the mix and clean any excess to maintain a level and smooth surface. Ideally, you should leave the area to dry overnight before you attempt to walk on it. Replacing Damaged Boards Using a circular saw, cut down the centre of the board, being mindful not to cut through to the subfloor. Work slowly and safely, with protective gloves and goggles. Once the plank has been cut lengthways, you should be able to remove it. A hammer and chisel will work well to lift it, but be careful not to damage the tongue and groove fittings around the edges of the clean boards. Your approved V4 retailer should be able to provide a replacement plank for you, or you may have some excess leftover from the initial installation. The new plank will likely have tongue and groove fittings, so a protruding ‘tongue’ connector on one side and a groove on the other. Cut away the tongue and apply adhesive to the area. Now, insert the board groove side first, slotting it into the other planks, then slipping the flat side down, fixing it with the adhesive. Sanding and Refinishing Extreme wear and tear, where lacquered surfaces have come away from the hardwood layer of your floors, will often require a complete refinish. Despite the thinner hardwood layer, this can be done a couple of times before the boards will need replacing. Using a hand or orbital sander, work in sections to take away any excess lacquer. Sanding by hand is generally safer, especially when working with engineered wood flooring, but if you have to sand a larger area then mechanical options will be less strenuous. Be careful not to take too much off or leave the boards warped. Work with a medium-grit paper and, with each pass, opt for finer-grit papers until the job is done. Then sweep away all leftover sanding dust and apply your finish. This will either be a type of oil or lacquer, depending on what your original floors were finished in. Lacquer provides a natural seal, but if you are oiling your floors you may want to apply a sealant to further protect the integrity of the flooring going forward. Top tip: Once the finish is applied, you should avoid walking on it for a few hours while it dries, so we recommend working from one co er and out towards your exit, so you avoid trapping yourself. Flooring That Asks for Little but Gives a Lot If you are looking for an economical alternative to solid wood flooring, with added resistance to damage and humidity and low overall maintenance, then look no further than engineered wood flooring. Our range exhibits the same unbeatable real wood look at a fantastic price, and is simple to look after and repair. CHOOSE YOURS NOW
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Can You Paint Engineered Wood Floors
Engineered wood floors are a popular alternative to traditional solid wood flooring, for their durability, low cost, and sustainable composition. And though you may have fallen in love with their unbeatable look and feel, there may come a time when you want to shake up your style, without the need for a complete overhaul. In these cases, you might turn to paint. The good news is you can paint engineered wood flooring, but there are a few important things to consider before you start. In this article, we will highlight what to do and what not to do when rejuvenating and restyling your floors with paint. Important Consideration Before You Can Start Painting Most engineered wood flooring comes prefinished with either oil or lacquer, and this protective layer will need to be removed before you can begin painting. This is the only downside of painting engineered wood flooring, because although it can be sanded and refinished multiple times, just like solid wood, the hardwood top layer of engineered floors can only take so much. If your floors are old, they may benefit from this preparatory sanding, but if you are looking to sand newer floors then it is worth bearing in mind that their longevity will be affected. Choose an Unfinished Engineered Wood Floor If you are looking into painting engineered wood flooring because you want a specific look for new floors that are yet to be installed, then we have the perfect unfinished alternative for you. Our Unfinished Oak range is made with the same click-and-lock tongue and groove fittings and quadruple bevelling, and comes in a timeless herringbone design, all without any additional finishes. This means the paint will take to the wood perfectly, without the need for pre-sanding. All of our other oak and walnut ranges will need to be sanded before painting can take place. The Process of Painting Engineered Wood Floors Preparation For those without unfinished engineered wood floors, you will need to start by sanding away the top layer of oil or lacquer from the floor. This can be done with an orbital sander for large areas, or a hand sander for smaller ones, and should be undertaken very carefully. You want to avoid shaving off too much of the hardwood and compromising the integrity of the floor, and also that you are maintaining an even and smooth texture across the space. Once the wood has returned to its original, unfinished state, you should finish off by sweeping any sanding dust from the area. Before moving on to the next step, make sure the space is clean of any remaining dirt and debris, as this can mix with the paint when it is applied and ruin the overall appearance. Painting Before you start painting, make sure you have the right paint for the job. We recommend opting for water-based enamels for the highest quality look that lasts. Oil-based alternatives can work well, but do risk damaging the wood underneath. Start by readying the area with a coat of good-quality wood floor primer. Next, apply your first coat of paint. Work slowly from one co er of the room and gradually paint out towards an exit (otherwise you may become trapped and be forced to walk over your hard work). How many coats you apply after this first one will depend on the appearance you want. Thinner coats will create a more washed-out look that shows some of the natural tones of the wood grain underneath, whereas multiple coats will accentuate colour and texture. As a general rule, we recommend a minimum of two coats, with 4 hours of drying time between each. Once you are satisfied with the look, and the whole area is dry, you should apply a coat of water-based polyurethane finish. This will lock in colour for longer and stop tinting, whilst protecting the floors from day-to-day foot traffic, changing temperatures, and messy spills. Aftercare Paint provides an additional layer of protection, especially when paired with a reliable finish, and this makes cleaning and maintaining much easier than with bare solid wood floors. With a stiff-bristled broom, sweep your floors regularly to remove any loose debris that could be trodden on and lodged into the painted surface, risking scratches and chipped areas. You can also safely vacuum your painted engineered wood floors, to really get in between the boards and guarantee a job well done. We offer a wide range of cleaners that are compatible with engineered wood flooring, but with painted floors, we do recommend spot treating to avoid degradation. Generally, when it comes to cleaning engineered wood surfaces, the cleaners will be enough. You should not add additional water to them, as this may seep into the floor and cause the boards to raise. Use wet cleaners semi-regularly, or when tricky messes occur. Sweeping and hoovering should be enough on their own to keep your floors tidy. Alternatives to Painting Engineered Wood Floors Painting is a brilliant way to reinvent a space and pivot towards a whole new interior style, but it is not the only way. Before making a start on your home improvement project, consider the following alternatives to paint: Oil & Lacquer Finishes: A similar process to painting, as it will require some sanding and preparatory work, but there are plenty of options when it comes to oil and lacquer finishes for engineered wood flooring, each bringing its own hue and shade to the wood whilst maintaining a natural look. Wood Staining: Another process that will require a sanded or unfinished surface, but hardwood stains are a fantastic alternative to regular finishes and generally come in a wider variety of colours, some of which champion a less-natural look. A Fresh New Rug: Opting for a large rug can add a whole new dimension to the space in question, with minimal risk and hassle. The right colour and fabric can really complement the existing hardwood tones of your floor. Light or Heavy Polishing: Adding a coat of polish to any real wood flooring, especially engineered wood, can uplift the space and achieve a luxurious and unique aesthetic. This process does not require pre-sanding, and can be applied directly onto your finished floors. Just clean properly beforehand, and opt for a handheld or mechanical buffering tool. Rejuvenate Your Space and Floors With a Lick of Paint Engineered wood floors take incredibly well to the addition of paint, as long as they have been correctly primed and readied beforehand. Even so, whether you choose to paint, stain, or leave your engineered wood floors exactly as they are, their presence will be known and appreciated in any home or commercial setting. CHOOSE YOURS TODAY
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Can You Float An Engineered Wood Floor
This is a very common question we get asked when new customers are looking to install our engineered wood floors in their homes, and the simple answer is yes. But it can be a more complex issue than that, and when planning any DIY project or home improvement it is important to understand every aspect and prepare yourself accordingly. In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of ‘floating’ your engineered wood flooring, how this can be achieved, and touch on the other installation options available to you when you buy. What is a Floating Engineered Wood Floor? A ‘floating’ floor is one that has been installed over a subfloor without any bonding agent. In order to float engineered wood floors, they need to have tongue and groove fittings or a locking system that allows the boards to be fitted securely together. This means that the floor forms one large section that is held down by its weight alone, as opposed to adhesives or cleat nails. Pros and Cons of Floating Engineered Wood Floors Floating your floors is only a viable option for engineered wood flooring, as it is designed to withstand the pressure of movement and is generally more flexible than solid wood. But when deciding between installation options, it is vital to consider every benefit and drawback. PROS of Floating Floors CONS of Floating Floors Easy to Install Amplified Sound Floating your engineered wood flooring is a simple process, especially using the intuitive tongue and groove fittings. As a result, the method is much more accessible to DIYers looking to tackle it by themselves. Due to the slight space under the floating floors, they can often be noisier to walk on than glued or nailed floors. However, this can be easily solved with thicker underlayment. Easy to Replace Replaced More Frequently Floating floors are much easier to replace than other flooring types, especially those that have been glued. So whether you are replacing individual boards due to damage, or the entire floor, they are as simple to lift as they are to lay. Some floating floors may need to be replaced more often than other kinds, especially if under immense pressure, such as constant footfall or heavy furniture. But this is more an issue with how the floor has been floated, and can be easily solved with high-quality underlayment. Resistance to High Temperatures Less Resistance to Humidity Floating floors have the upper hand when it comes to temperature shifts, be they related to the internal/external climate or underfloor heating. With no glue, that is prone to melting or softening, floating floors are the best choice here. Where they are extremely well-equipped to deal with high temperatures, floating floors can run into trouble with moisture. Droplets can gather under the boards and cause decay and mould. This can be solved by correct installation practices and compatible underlayment. Much Cheaper Not as Sturdy Floating floors are much more economical than other types of flooring, thanks to the simplicity of their installation. They can be installed professionally, but handy homeowners can do this themselves, thus saving even more money. Some floating floors are prone to rattling and sliding, which can affect their overall sturdiness. But this is always an issue with how the floor was floated, and the quality of the underlayment. If you are worried about installing them yourself and running into trouble, you can always rely on a specialist. How to Install Floating Engineered Wood Flooring If you are preparing for the installation of new engineered wood floors, we have gathered a list of the essential tools and best practices when it comes to floating them. If you have any questions or concerns, you can get in touch with our team. Or, if you would prefer to have your floors floated professionally, you can contact your approved V4 retailer, who should be able to find you a local installer. The Tools Before you start, you should make sure you have all the tools you need. This list is not comprehensive, and you may need additional tools, but offers a general overview. Double-check your tool supply for a: Fine-tooth wood blade Flush-cut dovetail saw Coping saw Power jigsaw Circular saw Mitre saw Duct tape Utility knife PVA wood glue Tape measure Painter’s tape Hammer Pry bar The Process (8 Steps) Trim your door casings: With your flush-cut dovetail saw, cut a section from the bottom of your door casings. Combine a piece of underlayment and engineered wood board and lay your saw on top. This can help you to trim the right amount from the casing and maintain a level line. Lay your foam underlayment: Hoover the entire space and then unroll your foam underlayment. You will only need one layer, and be sure to cover the whole room. Trim the edges to fit under the skirting and door casings using a utility knife, and then seal any seams using duct tape. Install the first plank: Set down one plank, with the grooved edge pressed into the co er with a spacer block and the tongue facing out. Continue with the rest: With the first course set, you can move on to the second, and repeat the process across the room, trimming your planks to size where necessary. You should use specially designed PVA wood glue between each board to make sure it is fitted securely. You can use painter’s tape to keep the boards pressed while the glue dries. Prep for the last course: When you reach the final course, it is likely that the space will be smaller than one plank. This means that you will need to measure the space, keeping in mind that planks that run across doorways will need to be cut with notches. Cut the final plank to size: With your measurements marked, carefully cut your plank with a jigsaw. To prep the edges to fit under a doorway, you can use a fine-tooth wood blade for a controlled and precise cut. Pry in the final course: This is where your flat prybar will come in handy, which will help you to install the final planks along the edge of the room. You can also use your hammer to get it in tight. From here, let the remaining wood glue cure for at least twelve hours. After this, you should be able to remove all your painter’s tape and remaining spacers. Add your trim to finish: With your floor lain and dry, you can install fresh transition moulding between your doorjambs, and shoe moulding around the perimeter of the room. Separate pieces can be joined using a scarf joint, and co er pieces should utilise a coped joint. Alternative Installation Methods Engineered wood floors can be installed in several different ways, with floating being one of the most popular. Tongue and groove-engineered planks can be nailed directly into timber subflooring with a floor-nailer, or glued onto concrete or underlay. Which Installation Method Should You Choose? All methods have their pros and cons, and it is up to you to decide which will suit your needs best. Our range of engineered wood flooring is designed to work best when floated over an underlay or fully bonded to the subfloor, using flooring adhesive. No matter which installation method you choose, our engineered wood flooring is expertly crafted with sturdiness and aesthetics in mind, meaning each board fits together seamlessly and, whether glued or floated, will produce a consistent and high-quality finish every time. BROWSE THE RANGE FULL INSTALLATION GUIDES
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How To Take Up Engineered Wood Floors
All flooring, whether synthetic or natural, will eventually need to be removed. This could be a cosmetic choice, for homeowners looking to change up their interior style, or a decision led by some kind of damage or decay. For those looking to take up their engineered wood floors and replace them, we have put together this comprehensive guide to illustrate the different methods for removal, as well as answer some of your most frequently asked questions. When Should You Take Up Engineered Wood Floors? Engineered wood flooring, especially our own, has been designed to last for decades. And as the years pass, natural wear and tear will occur and certain imperfections will show themselves. Despite this natural ageing process, this does not mean that the real wood flooring in question needs to be replaced. Certain levels of damage or deterioration can be treated in an isolated manner, by removing individual planks or sections that can be swapped out for fresher boards. As for wear and tear, most engineered wood boards have a wear layer that grants them the capability to be sanded and refinished at least once. However, when hardwood floors of any kind are beyond localised repair and professional help, then you should consider having them removed. But this should always be a last resort. How to Remove Different Types of Engineered Wood Floors Before you embark on the process of taking up your engineered hardwood flooring, it is important to first determine how your floors have been installed, as this will directly affect the best method to remove them. Most engineered wood floors, including our range, can be installed in one of two ways. The first is to ‘float’ the floor, which means laying each board over an underlay, and relying on tongue and groove fittings to hold all the boards firmly together The second style is fully bonded, which is achieved through the use of wood adhesive, with each board being glued to the subfloor, concrete, or existing floor underneath it. Some hardwood floors can be nailed down, and though this is possible with engineered wood flooring, it is unlikely to be the case. Once you have figured out how your floors have been installed, you can begin the slow and steady work of uninstalling them. Taking Up Floating Engineered Wood Floors Floating floors are by far the simplest to remove, as there is no glue or nails involved in their installation. Adhesives are only used to bond the tongue and groove fittings together, and in the case of click and lock systems, no glue is necessary. You should start by removing any skirting around the room, then turn your attention to the first row of boards. This will be the hardest part of the process, as the gap between the board and the wall is usually very small, due to its installation and natural expansion. You can use a flat crowbar to make the process easier. Once the first row is lifted, you can work your way across the room, moving from one co er to another. Tongue and groove fittings will need a little extra attention as you move through the room, since the adhesive seals between the boards will need to be cut. This can be done using a hammer and chisel, which should effectively sever the tongue of the adjacent board and allow you to take it up. Taking Up Glued Engineered Wood Floors In comparison to floating engineered wood floors, glued or ‘fully bonded’ flooring will be a more demanding process. It will take longer and require extra strength, but it can be done, With glued engineered wood floors, your boards will be stuck directly to the subfloor or underlayment, with an adhesive that is made to last. You cannot simply pry up the boards as with floating floors, and will need to pull up the adhesive beforehand using a scraper or chisel. This process is lengthy and strenuous, which is why we recommend hiring a professional to handle it and ensure the job is done properly. Removing glued hardwood floors also produces a lot more dust and debris than floating ones, as the boards are usually shattered in the process. So, it is a good idea to have a high-power or industrial grade hoover at the ready. Find Your Perfect Replacement Once your engineered wood floors have been taken up, you will need to replace them. Our range is expertly crafted to last for decades and age with grace, with engineered wood floors that can be floated or fully bonded, and come in both warm European oak and rich American walnut. FIND YOURS TODAY
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Can You Sand An Engineered Wood Floor
Engineered wood flooring earned its prestige by being an economical and attractive alterntive to solid wood flooring, offering a near-indistinguishable look and clear environmental benefits. Much like solid wood floors, engineered wood can be sanded and refinished. An engineered wood floor is composed of a hardwood ‘lamella’ that is set on top of several layers of high-quality plywood. The boards are then fitted with tongue and groove or click and lock fittings, to offer both an easy installation and a floor that can hold its own against day-to-day pressures and the natural ageing process. When these floors age, like solid wood, they will strengthen and mature. They can also start to show signs of wear and tear. This is a normal symptom of floors that have been used well and is usually nothing to worry about, and certainly not a reason to sand. When Should You Sand Your Engineered Wood Floors? Sanding should be a last resort, reserved for times when normal degradation worsens and risks irreparable damage, or if this wear has diminished the natural vibrance and beauty of the floor itself. In these cases, you can turn to sanding and refinishing to inject some much-needed life and lustre into your wooden floors. What to Consider Before You Sand Your Floors The Thickness of Your Wear Layer The wear layer is essentially the top portion of the hardwood lamella, and is the measurable amount of ‘give’ that the floor has for sanding. When it comes to wear layers, all engineered wood flooring is different, so some can be sanded and some cannot. Our range of engineered wood flooring has an average thickness of 14 mm, and 3 mm of that is the hardwood lamella. This provides you with plenty of wiggle room when it comes to sanding, and you should be able to safely refinish your V4 engineered wood floors at least once, if not more times depending on the model and depth of sanding required. How your Floors Have Been Fitted Most engineered wood floors are either glued directly to the subfloor or underlayment when installed, or ‘floated’, which means the boards are glued together but not bonded to the underlayment, forming a solid structure that holds itself in place. This will make a slight difference to your sanding process, as glued floors are generally more sturdy than floating ones, which means you can be more vigorous with your sanding practice, whereas the latter should be tended to more carefully. This delicacy will of course depend on the quality of your installation, but is worth bearing in mind before you begin, especially if you are considering powered methods over manual ones. Approach: Manual or Powered? You can either sand your floors by hand or with a mechanical sander. The choice is yours, and will depend on the size of your room and your own personal abilities. For larger areas, sanding floors by hand can be incredibly strenuous and time-consuming. Your Finish or Stain of Choice Applying some kind of finish to your newly sanded flooring is non-negotiable, but the choice of finish is up to you. You can choose to stick to what has been used already, or branch out. Our range of engineered wood floors comes with either: Lacquer Finishes With up to eight coats of low-maintenance and hardwearing lacquer, our engineered wood floors become the ideal choice for busy family homes. The lacquer provides a water-resistant surface that makes cleaning easy and protects your floors from everyday wear and tear. We offer matt and polished finishes to suit any space. LACQUER CARE GUIDE Oil Finishes We offer several types of natural oils, from UV-cured to hard wax variations, which will penetrate deep into the wear layer of the engineered wood flooring, providing lasting protection against degradation and extra resilience to wet spills. Oil finishes are best for households looking for natural richness when it comes to their floor’s look and feel. OIL CARE GUIDE Important Note: Lacquered floors can be sanded and refinished (as the lacquer itself forms a layer on the lamella that can be lifted and respread as needed) but oil finishes cannot be sanded, only maintained. This is because the oil functions by sinking deep into the grain and preserving it from the inside out. How to Sand and Refinish An Engineered Wood Floor Prepare the Area It is important to start by getting the space ready for sanding. Start by moving out all furniture, or covering items that cannot be moved. Some spaces may require skirting removal, but this is not always necessary. As long as the area is clean and clear, you should be ready to begin. Begin Sanding Work your way out from one co er, working in neat sections so you keep track of your progress. You must always move in the direction of the grain, otherwise, you risk weakening and damaging the boards. We recommend only hand sanding engineered wood floors, as machine and orbital sanders are highly powered and risk breaking through the thin wear layer of the lamella. These heavy-duty machines are best suited for solid wood floors. If the space is large or you lack the physical capability to complete the job on your own, you can bring in a professional to handle the process. Clean and Apply Finish Sanding any kind of real wood floor will produce a lot of dust. You should be able to hoover up any excess debris, and then give the boards a wipe with a damp cloth and specially formulated floor cleaner. From here, you can apply your chosen finish, be that lacquer or oil, making sure to follow the manufacturer’s guidance on how many coats to apply and their drying times. Generally speaking, most finishes will need around twenty-four hours to fully cure. Invest in Re-finishable Floors That Age Well The engineered wood floors we create at V4 are made to last, with high-quality hardwoods sourced from European or American managed woodlands, finished with industry-grade oils and lacquers to encase their natural beauty for decades to come, and set with a generous wear layer that allows for future sanding and refinishing. FIND YOURS TODAY
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Cortejo - Luxury Cork Flooring
We are excited to welcome a brand new addition to the V4 Collection, sourced from the cork-rich forests of Portugal and expertly crafted for your home, Cortejo® Luxury Cork Flooring will help you to make a statement and support the planet, one step at a time. A Green Light for Eco-Friendliness In the heart of the Alentejo region, the cork oak has long thrived. This remarkable tree has the unique ability to regrow its bark after it is removed, and this bark is where we gather the cork for our Cortejo Luxury Cork Flooring, a robust and versatile material that can be taken without harming the tree in any way. The cork bark harvest is completely manual, with no need for heavy machinery and its accompanying pollutants, and all excess biomass is burned to generate more than half of the overall energy required to power the process. Cork is 100% sustainable and 100% eco-friendly as a material, and has been vastly untapped for the large-scale benefits it could provide to all construction and manufacturing industries. Thanks to its naturally robust and restorative nature, cork has the very real potential to replace the need for timber altogether. We are therefore very excited to utilise cork within our premium flooring range. Negative Carbon Balance Production utilises the waste material from the cork bottle stopper industry, along with cork bark harvesting that supports ancient eco systems. Cortejo really is our most sustainable flooring solution. Helping to Reduce Global Warming For each ton of cork produced, the cork oak forest retains up to 73 tons of CO2, helping to reduce Global Warming Potential (GWP). Reasons to Get Excited for Our Luxury Cork Flooring The environmental benefits of our Cortejo Luxury Cork Flooring are many, which is why we are so proud to launch this range. But the benefits do not end there. Improve Air Quality in Your Home The flooring you choose has a noticeable impact on the air you breathe indoors, with a measurable scale to how many volatile organic compounds (or ‘VOCs’) your flooring produces, whether left standing or used regularly. These fumes, in certain instances, can have an impact on your physical health. Vinyl flooring such as LVT is a key offender here, especially when paired with underfloor heating systems that warm the PVC and other synthetic materials, increasing the VOCs they emit. Our Cortejo Luxury Cork Flooring is entirely PVC-free, and has been tested rigorously to achieve its A+ rating for air quality, wholly complying with the standards laid out by industry-leading bodies such as Greenguard. Naturally Durable Floors That Can Handle Anything Due to cork’s natural elasticity and dense composition, it is one of the most shock-absorbant materials in existence, outperforming other options including carpeting. You can soften the blow of a dropped phone or a child’s bumped knee with our premium cork flooring, finished with PVC-free protective coatings that offer additional resistance to water and long-term wear. Our Cortejo Luxury Cork Floors are a fantastic choice for homeowners across the country, with a hardwearing and flexible composition meaning they can be installed virtually anywhere in your home. Say No to Cold Feet in the Morning Traditional flooring options like carpeting and tiling can cause issues at certain times of the year, with carpets heating up in the summer, and ceramic tiles chilling your feet in the winter. Cork offers a great middle ground between the two. Wood has been the number one option for years, and our engineered wood flooring is a testament to that, but cork has really set the bar as a thermal insulator and regulator. Combining the cushioned softness of carpet with the natural heat regulation of hardwood planks, cork flooring maintains a comfortable temperature underfoot, no matter the location or time of year. Take Underfoot Comfort to the Next Level When it comes to floors in your home, you need to find a balance between softness and hardness, as going too far one way can lead to strain and disadvantage. Cork flooring is the perfect mix of rigidity and malleability, providing trustworthy support in all areas whilst absorbing traversal impact, which reduces the build-up of tension in your body, thus helping you to move comfortably around your home at all times. Get Some Peace and Quiet This balance, along with cork’s integral shock-absorbing capabilities, makes our Cortejo Luxury Cork Flooring one of the quietest flooring types on the market. Tests have shown an impressive 53% decrease in walking sounds when compared to laminate and wood flooring. This is especially crucial for busy families who are hoping to reduce noise and vibrations inside the house, but want a flooring type that holds its own against the pressures of day-to-day living. Mode Floors Made to Last and Simple to Install As a flooring supplier that specialises in quality hardwood and laminate solutions, longevity is crucial to us. Our new Cortejo Luxury Cork Flooring will stand among our longest-lasting ranges. Similarly to our engineered wood flooring, Cortejo Luxury Cork Floors are composed of individual layers that come together to form 7-millimetre planks, each cut with a 2G glueless locking system that makes the installation process extremely simple, and even DIY-friendly. The cork boards can be floated or fully bonded, depending on your preference, and can be fitted over most subfloors, including existing wood flooring and quality underlayment. How Our Cortejo Luxury Cork Flooring Is Made The range can be split into two categories, and both have their own unique composition that bolsters lifespan and stands alone in style. Pure Cork: Made from 100% cork, and built with five distinct layers. They are based on a sturdy cork underlay and a rigid core, with a robust inlay and cork surface layer, that is then topped with an HRT (PVC-free) protective coating. Wood-Look: Still made entirely from cork, with the five integral layers and protective coating, but instead of a pure cork surface layer, our wood-look range boasts a high-definition wood printed film, that gives the impression of hardwood over a multilayered cork base. Both types only differ in their appearance, with one embracing the rustic and organic look of cork and the other leaning into more traditional flooring textures. When it comes to physical properties, they are completely identical. The Cortejo range is incredibly forgiving, compatible with mode underfloor heating systems, and easy to clean and look after. Get To Know the Debut Range The Cortejo range consists of a premium, hand-picked selection, demonstrating every tonal and textural strength that cork has to offer. Some staple examples from the collection include:
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What Is the Difference Between Engineered and Solid Wood Flooring?
Few other flooring types can boast the level of versatility, resilience, and elegance that real wood flooring offers. But when it comes to choosing the right kind for your home or business, where do you begin? There are a number of ways to achieve the ‘effect’ of real wood, some of which can be quite convincing – especially laminate flooring, which is printed with high-definition wood grain – but when it comes to real wood, there are only two types of flooring worth your consideration. ‘Engineered’ wood flooring and ‘solid’ wood flooring. But what is the difference? And which one should you choose as a final contender for your new flooring project? We will answer these questions and more in this comparative guide. First, we need to define what each flooring type actually is. What Is Solid Wood Flooring? Solid wood flooring, or ‘hardwood’ flooring, is what springs to most minds when thinking about real wood floors. They are simply thick cuts of timber, most commonly oak, that are arranged in various ways and either slotted into each other with tongue and groove fittings or, in older properties, nailed directly into the underfloor. Solid wood flooring comes in a variety of styles and widths, from simple planks to more o ate, parquet arrangements. What Is Engineered Wood Flooring? The term engineered wood often makes people think of fake wood or wood replicas such as with laminate flooring. But engineered wood floors are made entirely of real wood, just as solid wood flooring is. The only difference is, the hardwood timber is laid over a layered, plywood base. The hardwood timber is cut much thinner than that of solid wood boards, with the rest of the breadth made up by its plywood layers. This technique allows for floors that look identical to entirely solid wood variations, with all the same designs, but with a few extra benefits which we will explore in more detail. Engineered VS Solid Wood Flooring: What Is the Difference? Though both engineered and solid wood flooring is extremely similar, there are some key differences that set the two apart. To help you make your decision, we have broken down several aspects and provided comparative information on each. Starting with: Appearance The first thing anyone considers is the overall look. Engineered and solid wood look almost identical, as both are made with quality cuts of hardwood timber, but they do have some slight differences which, upon closer inspection, separate the two. Depending on the quality of the boards and installation, most solid wood flooring will have tighter seams between each individual board, whereas engineered wood is micro-bevelled to maintain a consistent space between each board. The two can also be told apart by the shape and size of each board, as solid wood planks will tend to vary in length, with some being much shorter than others. Engineered wood boards are cut with uniformity in mind, so there is almost no variation in their size or shape, unless specifically selected. This is why engineered flooring is the best choice for anyone looking for a contemporary look, with wider or longer planks. Both engineered and solid wood flooring can be made from different species of wood, most commonly oak – for its all-round robustness and gorgeous grain – but engineered wood flooring can be made from a wider variety of wood types. Solid wood floors need to be made from specific hardwoods such as oak, walnut, and mahogany, but due to the layered and reinforced composition of engineered wood, softer or more unusual wood types can be used to great effect. Cost If budget is your main concern , it is worth noting that engineered wood flooring often comes out cheaper than solid wood flooring. This is not a question of quality decline, and instead is based on the amount of wood needed to create each plank. Solid wood planks can be cut up to 22 mm in thickness, whereas engineered wood planks rarely exceed between 2 and 6 mm. Solid wood flooring, being made entirely of one type of high-grade hardwood, will cost more than an engineered floor which uses a much thinner cut of the same quality hardwood, with plywood making up the excess thickness. For the same look and benefits of solid wood for a fraction of the price, we recommend opting for engineered wood. Sustainability With timber yield per plank in mind, it is no surprise that solid wood flooring has a much greater impact on the environment than engineered wood. Both can be sourced from managed woodlands – as is our entire range – which considerably lessens the impact manufacturing will have. But as solid wood flooring requires so much more timber than engineered wood, it is not a feasible option for customers seeking an eco-conscious flooring type. Lea more about how engineered wood is changing the face of real wood flooring. Durability Both engineered and solid wood have a set ‘wear layer’, which gives each some give in terms of durability. When compared for their durability, the results are virtually equal - given that each is made from naturally hardy timber such as oak. Real wood flooring in general is not the most durable type of flooring, this is in part due to them being made from natural materials. Most hardwoods strengthen with age, but are still susceptible to scratches and dents if extreme pressure is applied. But out of the two, both are reliable choices when it comes to long-term durability. Water & Heat Resistance Real wood is porous, as well as highly hygroscopic – which means it absorbs moisture from its environment and naturally expands and contracts with its intake. This susceptibility makes any type of real wood flooring an unwise choice for overly wet environments or areas where temperatures fluctuate, such as kitchens and bathrooms especially. Finishes can provide hardy protection against water damage. But most solid wood flooring comes unfinished, as a standard, so is much more at risk than engineered wood – which will always come pre-finished with some kind of protective oil or lacquer. Out of the two, engineered wood comes out on top when it comes to water and heat resistance. This is, again, thanks to its plywood core, which provides more stability than solid wood and, most importantly, more flexibility. Meaning engineered wood is much less likely to warp and subsequently damage as a result of changing temperatures or humidity. Maintenance & Lifespan Overall care for both engineered and solid wood flooring is relatively similar. Both should be swept and vacuumed regularly in order to prevent loose debris from embedding into the grain or scratching the wood’s surface, but are equally easy to clean as long as you opt for products specifically tailored to real wood flooring. As we mentioned before, the lack of finish on the majority of solid wood flooring will put it at risk if liquid spillages are not mopped quickly. Engineered wood flooring can survive longer if water is left to stand, but this is still not recommended. In terms of lifespan, all hardwood matures with age – so will most often be stronger old than it was new, thanks to the fascinating composition of the wood itself. It is one of the reasons we have been using it in construction, and as a flooring solution, for countless years. But when we think in terms of lifespan, how long real wood flooring lasts will depend on how many times it can be refinished. Refinishing involves sanding down the top layer of hardwood, in the case of solid wood flooring, and recoating it in the preferred oil or lacquer, as is most often the case with engineered wood flooring. When sanding, we are working through the natural ‘wear layer’ of the flooring. Both engineered and solid wood have this layer. Solid wood flooring can be sanded several times in its life, and with the right care can last between 80 and 100 years. Engineered wood can be sanded a few times before it will need replacing, as its hardwood layer is thinner than that of solid wood variants. However, when it comes time to replace both, engineered wood comes out on top. This is thanks to its neat and ‘engineered’ installation. Planks can be easily unlocked and separated to make way for new floors, which can be installed quickly and efficiently thanks to this click-and-lock engineering. On the contrary, it is a much more involved process to replace solid wood flooring when the time comes. The Final Verdict When it comes to looks, engineered and solid wood flooring is virtually interchangeable, so if your choice is purely aesthetic, then both are safe choices. But if you are looking for real wood floors that are highly resilient to moisture and heat, more cost-effective, easier to maintain long-term and, above all, better for the environment, then engineered wood flooring is the only contender. Engineered wood flooring is the next step in eco-conscious manufacturing, as well as a tailored and modernised alternative to solid wood flooring, and this is why we have specialised in it for as long as we have. Our collections are exquisite in their quality and elegant in their aesthetic, and well worth considering for your home or business. If seeing is still believing, we have free samples ready and waiting for you. OUR ENGINEERED WOOD FLOORS ORDER FREE SAMPLE
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How Long Do Engineered Wood Floors Really Last?
Installing real wood floors in your home is often a costly investment, so it is understandable that you have found yourself wondering: will they last? When it comes to wooden flooring living out its premium price tag, there are several factors to consider. In this article, we will take you through what to expect when you choose engineered wood floors for your home and how you can ensure longevity. Exactly How Long Engineered Wood Floors Last As a natural material, wood will naturally age. This goes for hardwood and engineered wood variants. Hardwood flooring is known for its endurance, mostly due to the fact planks can be sanded down and refinished multiple times in their lifetime. But this agelessness does not come for free. Hardwood flooring will have a sizeable impact on your budget, and an even greater one on the environment. But this might be why you are considering engineered wood floors. In this case, you will be pleased to know that with the right care, most engineered wood floors can last between 20 and 30 years. And, like hardwood floors, they can be sanded and refinished several times before they will ever need replacing, making them an incredibly cost-effective investment – as well as a long-lasting one. Reasons to Choose Engineered Wood Floors If proven longevity is not enough to convince you, engineered wood floors have a whole host of other unique benefits over other types of flooring. Above all, it is: 1. More Sustainable Because of their composition, which consists of a top layer (or ‘lamella’) which is set into a solid plywood base. This lamella is cut three times thinner than hardwood planks, meaning the timber yield is much higher, and the multi-ply base makes up the remaining heft – granting additional strength and flexibility. Not only do engineered wood floors waste less wood, but our range is also made from timber that is sourced from managed woodlands. These cultivated areas are fighting back against mode deforestation by growing high-quality saplings, in supported and healthy ecosystems, which are replanted regularly to meet demand. HOW WE SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENT 2. More Versatile Thanks to their multi-ply flexibility, engineered wood floors can be laid almost anywhere in your home, meaning you never have to compromise. Our engineered wood floors are underfloor heating safe, and can be installed over most mode systems without the risk of damage. The same cannot be said for hardwood floors. 3. More Durable Engineered wood floors are extremely hard wearing, able to withstand heavy footfall and everyday wear and tear with ease. With an additional finish, the flooring can even resist moisture penetration and noticeable scuffs and stains, making them an ideal choice for families or busy households that need tough floors that last. How to Ensure Your Engineered Wood Floors Last Despite being a naturally durable and resilient flooring type, which on its own can last for decades, a little care will go a long way towards preserving your new engineered wood floors and adding years to their life span. 1. Let Them Properly Acclimatise It is vital for your new engineered flooring, upon arrival, to be left to settle into the natural climate of your home. Finish up any other building works, if you can, to allow the wood to sit for at least a day. This will allow for the grain to naturally expand with the moisture levels and temperature in the space, which prevents warping and cracks after installation. 2. Prep Heavy Furniture Ahead of Time Adding soft foam pads to the bottom of heavy furniture can help to preserve your new floors, reducing the risk of long-standing indentation and scratches if the furniture needs to be moved. Chair legs are especially in need of this, as they are so often pushed and pulled along the floor, which can show over time if left untreated. 3. Clean Up Dirt and Spills Quickly It is recommended, as with any real wood floors, to not let dirt or liquid stand for long periods. If left alone, dirt can become embedded in the wood, causing lasting damage and discolouration. Regularly sweeping and vacuuming is the best solution. As for liquids, if not mopped up promptly, it runs the risk of being absorbed into the wood and potentially resulting in deterioration and staining. 4. Monitor High Traffic Areas Engineered wood flooring is extremely resilient, but it is worth checking on certain areas that are under heavy use, such as hallways and landings, for signs of wear over the years. This is natural, and to be expected of any type of real wood flooring, but more noticeable signs of age can be prevented with the use of rugs. A simple runner or small carpet can ease the pressure on certain areas of your home, whilst elevating your interior and improving comfort when walking without shoes. 5. Slow the Natural Aging Process There comes a time in any floor’s life when it calls for an uplift. No matter how the floor is finished, oils and lacquers will wear away in time, exposing the bare grain underneath. Exactly when this happens will depend on personal use, but it is widely recommended that you sand and refinish your engineered wood flooring every four to seven years. This is one of the best ways to preserve the integrity of your floors and keep them looking newer for longer. Do Finishes Make a Difference? Put simply, yes – but all finish options are going to have a positive effect on the long-term health of your engineered wood flooring, the only difference is how they go about doing it. The two most common types used are oil and lacquer. The advantage of lacquer is that it provides a surface that resists the usual scratches and scuffs of everyday use, as well as liquid spills. It is worth noting that they will wear down slightly quicker than oil finishes, so will need re-treating more regularly. They also tend to offer more of a high-sheen look, although mode blends can achieve a matte finish. Where lacquer forms a layer on top of your engineered wood floors, oil finishes work by absorption. When applied, the grain will take in the oil, so that it permeates the surface and provides good overall protection. Though not specifically targeted at, say, scratch or spillage resistance, oil finishes provide balanced protection across all areas. Confidently Choose Real Wood Flooring with V4 We make engineered wood floors that last. Combining exceptional craftsmanship with highly optimised finishes, our designs are timeless in their look and, with the right maintenance, their life span. Browse the V4 Collections.
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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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