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Bring Nature Inside - The Animation Story
Watch the full animation. At the heart of everything we do at V4 Wood Flooring is a core value; to deliver real wood products that Bring Nature Inside. We wanted to find a way to bring this ethos to life. Create a story that engages our audiences with the beauty of nature and strip it back to the essence of how our natural environment, full of organic wonder, has such an effortless place in our surroundings. And so the origination of creating a captivating animation began. Working with animation director Effie Pappa, a London based award-winning freelance film and advertising Director, Animator and Artist - a story board unfolded where we would take our ‘inside world’ outside - back into nature to reconnect with the origins and organic surroundings that inspire our products. The child that features captures the child in all of us – where the desire to explore and discover never ends. Creating a scaled forest set; intricately dressed with natural elements, we created the scene of a sublime and magical wood where our leading character is drawn into the outside world, curious and captivated in discovering how we effortlessly connect with nature. Elements of the home uncovered in the wood are a reminder of nature’s natural synergy with our own homes and interiors – and how V4’s relationship with Bring Nature Inside inspires our range of beautiful real wood products. The animation is a prelude into our contemporary real wood floor and wall solutions. Designed with nature in mind, and sustainably sourced, our extensive palette of wood floor and wall surfaces can be discovered in our latest brochure. We hope our new website will enable you, just like our animation character, to explore and discover an extensive spectrum of natural wood products that will enhance any interior space and bring nature inside with stunning results.
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Why a Hardwood Floor can be a best choice of flooring
If you are looking for quality, a classic feel and a timeless beauty, then a real hardwood floor is an affordable choice for your home. It’s an easy way to add charm and elegance to any setting adding beauty, warmth, value and good ambiance to your home. Though it offers so many benefits, many homeowners often find themselves comparing hardwood floors to other types of flooring. But with its alluring appearance and unbeatable sturdiness, here are some of the reasons why it is such a popular and sustainable option for so many homeowners. Value - Cost is often the first thing that buyers consider while making a decision in choosing the best floor that suits their home. Though hardwood can be more expensive than other flooring options, installing one in your home increases its value and typically they to sell faster than homes with wall to wall carpeting. Upkeep on the floor is inexpensive and it will also last a lot longer. Longevity - Hardwood floors will last years, V4 Woodflooring comes with a 35 year guarantee. The floors can be refinished to bring out their natural beauty if it starts to fade. However carpeting needs to be replaced on average once every seven to ten years, and one of the big differences between laminate and real wood floors is the life span of the floor. Laminate floors last a few years longer than carpet but does not last nearly as long as hardwood. Cleanliness - Wood is a better choice for people with allergic reactions. Installing carpets can trap in dust, dirt and allergens but with hardwood that won’t be a problem. Stinky odors from carpets may become part of your home, introducing themselves to everyone who walks through your door. But with a real wood floor they do not hang onto odors, or hide dust, dirt, hair and other particles as a carpet does. And they are great if you have pets or children. Appearance - Unlike carpeting, tile, and vinyl, hardwood floors do not go out of style and are naturally beautiful adding an attractive look to your interior décor. And with an array of patte s and finishes you can be as creative as you like and install a unique style that suits your own personal design aspirations Installation - Hardwood takes little more effort than laminate or carpets when it comes to installation and done well, and with the sturdiness and lasting quality of a real wood floor, the end results are worth the work of installing these quality boards. Overall, if you’re thinking about installing a real wood floor you should consider the expense as an investment in your home since it will add a lot of value if you ever decide to sell, but is a lasting and beautiful finish for the years you do live there. Though hardwood can be a bit more expensive than some other floor options, it will also add more value to your home than many other types of flooring.
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Responsibly Sourced Hardwood Flooring - FSC®
In 1990 a group of timber traders, users and members from human rights and environmental movements met in Califo ia. The group met due to their shared conce s regarding the increase in deforestation, social exclusion and environmental degradation. During the meeting the assembled group agreed on the importance of establishing a system which could successfully identify well-managed forests as the source for ethically and responsibly produced timber and wood products. As a result of the Califo ia meeting in 1990, the concept of FSC® was created. However, it was a further two years before changes began as part of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development was held in Rio de Janeiro. The event has since been termed the “Earth Summit”. Although the summit produced no legally binding obligations for sustainable forest management, it did produce Agenda 21 and the Forest Principles. However the major victory of the summit was that for the first time it produced a forum where non-gove mental organisations and bodies were able to discuss and create support for the creation of a non-gove mental, independent and inte ational forest certifications scheme. This forum met at ten separate occasions in the following year. The discussions held at these meetings led to the establishment in 1993 of the FSC Founding Assembly, which was held in Toronto. In February 1994 the FSC became a legal entity. Following its origins the FSC has grown and developed. This growth is quantified by the substantial rise of certificates which have been issued for both chain of custody and forest management. By 2011 a total of 20,000 certificates had been awarded to organisations globally. The FSC have three main objectives, these are as follows: Socially Beneficial: Forest management which is socially beneficial helps both the local community and the global society. Providing local populations with incentives in order to provide sustainable forest management solutions both long term and short term. Environmentally Appropriate: This approach to forest management ensures that the harvesting of timber and non-timber products from forests maintains the natural bio-diversity and ecological processes. Economically Viable: FSC are committed to ensuring that their forest management efforts remain sufficiently profitable, without profiting at the expense of the forest’s biodiversity or the local indigenous inhabitants. For more information about the FSC visit the FSC Forest Stewardship Council for the United Kingdom at https://www.fsc-uk.org.
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What Is FSC? An Explanation from V4 Woodflooring®
In 1990 a group of timber traders, users and members from human rights and environmental movements met in Califo ia. The group met due to their shared conce s regarding the increase in deforestation, social exclusion and environmental degradation. During the meeting the assembled group agreed on the importance of establishing a system which could successfully identify well-managed forests as the source for ethically and responsibly produced timber and wood products. As a result of the Califo ia meeting in 1990, the concept of FSC® was created. However, it was a further two years before changes began as part of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development was held in Rio de Janeiro. The event has since been termed the “Earth Summit”. Although the summit produced no legally binding obligations for sustainable forest management, it did produce Agenda 21 and the Forest Principles. However the major victory of the summit was that for the first time it produced a forum where non-gove mental organisations and bodies were able to discuss and create support for the creation of a non-gove mental, independent and inte ational forest certifications scheme. This forum met at ten separate occasions in the following year. The discussions held at these meetings led to the establishment in 1993 of the FSC Founding Assembly, which was held in Toronto. In February 1994 the FSC became a legal entity. Following its origins the FSC has grown and developed. This growth is quantified by the substantial rise of certificates which have been issued for both chain of custody and forest management. By 2011 a total of 20,000 certificates had been awarded to organisations globally. The FSC have three main objectives, these are as follows: Socially Beneficial: Forest management which is socially beneficial helps both the local community and the global society. Providing local populations with incentives in order to provide sustainable forest management solutions both long term and short term. Environmentally Appropriate: This approach to forest management ensures that the harvesting of timber and non-timber products from forests maintains the natural bio-diversity and ecological processes. Economically Viable: FSC are committed to ensuring that their forest management efforts remain sufficiently profitable, without profiting at the expense of the forest’s biodiversity or the local indigenous inhabitants. Currently, six of the hardwood flooring planks contained within our product range proudly bear the FSC label. However we are currently exploring means by which we can increase this figure. For more information about the FSC visit the FSC Forest Stewardship Council for the United Kingdom at https://www.fsc-uk.org.
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Responsibly Sourced Hardwood Flooring by V4 Woodflooring
All of the hardwood flooring planks we construct use timber that has been responsibly sourced and is from legally managed forests. Sounds good, but what does it mean? Responsibly managed forests mean that trees are, perhaps ironically, still cut down. However this process is done with the minimal possible impact on the local environment. Managed forests are sustainable sources of wood, when individuals purchase responsibly sourced wooden flooring they can rest assured that they are helping to protect the world’s trees and forests. Why Choose Responsibly Sourced Flooring? The other benefits of selecting hardwood flooring planks which are manufactured using responsibly sourced timber include: Helping the survival of other species of plants, animals and insects by ensuring that their environment is responsibly managed. Locking carbon away in a product which has a long lifetime and can then be recycled. Enables customers to avoid the harmful chemicals and pollutants which can be released from non-responsibly sourced timber. By using timber from irresponsible sources, an individual is contributing to the deforestation of an area half the size of Great Britain every year. This deforestation occurs across the world, in the northe hemisphere, in the southe hemisphere, in temperate environments and in tropical environments. Half of the planetary landmass used to be covered in forests. Often they are irreplaceable once they have gone, having massive social, environmental and economic impacts. Innumerable species of animals and an uncountable number of human beings depend on forests for their very existence. Forests provide 1.6 billion of the world’s poorest people with a means of survival. Due to the catastrophic deforestation which continues to occur in Bo eo and Sumatra, the UN has said it is likely that the orangutan will be extinct by the 2020's. The indirect consequences of irresponsible deforestation are a major contributor to global warming. A Greenpeace report revealed that the deforestation and bu ing in Indonesia of forests and peat plants, were responsible for unleashing 1.8 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Greenpeace statistics just 0.1% of the global landmass is contributing 4% of all the emissions. Responsibly and sustainably sourced wood prevents the occurrence of these ecological atrocities. Due to this all the wood which we use for the manufacture of our wooden flooring panels use timber which conforms to the EU Timber Regulation. The Regulation prohibits the placing and use of illegally sourced timber in the EU market, this is regardless of whether the timber’s origin is domestic or imported. In addition, a number of our product ranges bear the FSC stamp; these include Urban Nature, Eiger Grande and Eiger Phoenix.
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Skirting And Moulding: The Final Touches To A New Wooden Floor
When it comes to installing a new wooden floor surface, whether it be real wood or laminate, the finishing touches are incredibly important. It is not enough to select an aesthetically impressive species of wood, which provides a beautiful colour, an intricate grain and elaborate makings, in order to be truly successful, other touches need to be added in order to create the desired effect. Skirting and moulding are excellent final touches to complement any wooden floor. Whilst these features are commonly overlooked, they are actually as important as the selection of the floor itself. Without these final touches a new wooden floor, whether it be in a bedroom, living room or hallway, can look incomplete and tatty. What is skirting? Skirting, is specifically designed to cover the area between the flooring surface and the adjacent wall. Due to their wide usage, there are numerous styles of skirting available. These styles include solid, veneered and flexi-edged. When selecting a type of skirting, it is essential to ensure that the skirting matches the colour of the wooden flooring surface. Alte atively, skirting can be painted to match the existing aesthetics within the room. When painting skirting where the wooden floor has already been installed, it is important to take measures to protect the flooring surface from potential paint drips and stains. This can be done easily and effectively by laying down either cloths or a plastic surface. What is moulding? Whilst skirting performs a purely aesthetic role, moulding performs a much more practical function. Moulding serves to cover the gap between two separate floors, at the precise point where they meet, in order to create a seamless transition when occupants travel from one room to another. In addition to dramatically improving the aesthetic qualities within a property, the implementation of moulding prevents floors becoming a tripping hazard. This is because when moulding is utilised correctly it serves to cover any flooring edges and to create a level flooring surface. Like skirting, when selecting moulding it is important to select a wood which matches the colour of the flooring surface, in order to create a cohesive atmosphere within the room. As with skirting, moulding can be painted, in cases where the moulding is painted it is advisable to make use of the same colour which was used for the skirting. V4 Flooring specialise in the provision of high quality wooden flooring. Due to this position, we understand the aesthetic and practical intricacies of installing these surfaces. For further information regarding the selection or installation of moulding or skirting, or to enquire about wooden flooring solutions, a member of our expert customer service team can be contacted via email by clicking here.
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Doormat Selection For Your New Wooden Flooring
Selecting A Doormat To Protect Wooden Flooring When choosing a new wooden flooring surface, the doormat selection process is unlikely to be the first or most important consideration. However in many ways it should be. Simply put, selecting the right doormat will go a long way to lengthen the longevity of the flooring surface. This is because a doormat is the most effective measure to protect the floor from the damage and abrasion which is caused by dust and dirt. A doormat is important because it removes the dust and dirt particles from the soles of people feet which accumulates naturally from walking about in both wet and dry conditions. If these particles are not removed, they can cause a tremendous amount of damage to the surface of the wooden flooring. Over time this repeated abrasion can result in an aesthetically displeasing track along the surface of the floor. In an ideal world doormats would be placed both outside of the door and inside the door. In addition, doormats should be placed in this way at every point of entry into the property. Taking these measures ensures that a large amount of dirt and debris is removed, increasing the longevity of the wooden flooring. Typically, doormats are either comprised of a brush like surface, rubber or even in some cases metal. It is important to ensure that a doormat selected for outside use will be able to stand up to both the temperature and moisture changes which it is likely to face. Indoor doormats tend to be softer than those used outside, in some ways this is actually more effective. To demonstrate, once inside after using the outside doormat, the majority of the dirt and debris will have been removed from the footwear, therefore once inside this footwear requires a gentle dust down to remove any remaining dirt and potentially a wipe. When selecting an indoor doormat, aesthetic appearance is equally as important as functionality, however neither of these considerations should compromise the other. In addition, it is vitally important to select an indoor doormat with a waterproof base, this option will prevent discolouration under the mat if it gets wet. When it comes to selecting the size of a doormat it is well worth opting for the doormat which accommodates the largest number of potential steps, however it should not overwhelm the hallway or interior area in which it is to be deployed. The longer that people are forced to walk on the mat for then the larger the amount of dirt and dust which will be removed from their footwear. Once doormats have been deployed it is important to clean them on a regular basis. Exterior doormats can be cleaned using a hose, whilst indoor doormats can be cleaned using a vacuum cleaner.
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Selecting A Wooden Floor: What's Right For You? V4 Flooring
When it comes to selecting a wooden floor for use within your property it can seem a daunting proposal. So many questions can arise seemingly out of nowhere. These questions can range from what wood type to select, what sheen will best complement the rooms existing décor and which surface will prove most durable over the years to come? V4 Flooring understand that selecting a wooden floor is not always straight forward, due to this we have created a four stage selection process which enables you to easily and effectively identify the wooden floor which matches your requirements and personal tastes. Selecting A Wooden Floor: Four Easy Steps 1. Choose the right floor for you: The first stage in selecting a wooden floor is to decide which material you wish to use. When selecting a floor type it is not only the aesthetic appearance which should be taken into account. There are a number of other effects which are equally if not more important, which need to be taken into account. To demonstrate it is important to know whether a particular flooring type is compatible with underfloor heating. Other factors which should be considered are whether the flooring can be resealed if necessary. This is an important factor, if for some reason the flooring needs to be brought up in order to address an unrelated plumbing or electrical problem, boards which can be resealed can be replaced once work is finished. Boards which cannot be resealed on the other hand cannot. 2. Select your preferred grading type: Once you have selected a flooring type, it is time to consider the type of grading which most appeals. At V4 Flooring we make use of 3 tasteful grading variations. These variations include: AB Select/Natural Grade: This grading can feature some light sapwood around the edges of the board. In addition, boards of this grade type may feature some small sound knots and smaller filled knots both of which greatly enhance the natural effect of the grade. ABC Mixed Grade: This grading is popular in a number of wood types, most notably Walnut. This grade features a higher variation of grain and wood colour. In addition this grade features a greater number of sound ad filled knots than found in the AB Select/Natural grade type. With this grade type, dark streaks and a number of small, filled cracks may be present. CD Rustic Grade: Using more economical timber types provides greater grain and colour variation within the flooring. Flooring of this grade type tends to feature large sound knots and a greater number of filled knots than on other grade types. 3. Choose the right finish type: A number of finish types are available on wooden flooring. Each of these have their own maintenance requirements. The three finish types which V4 Flooring use include: Lacquer: Under this finishing method the top layer of the wooden surface is coated with five individual layers of primer coats. Added to this are at least two additional coats of a UV cured Treffert aluminium oxide lacquer. This method produces a surface which is both hard wearing and also low maintenance. Natural Oil: This finish is created with up to four coats of natural WOCA oil. This oil is applied with rollers, each successive layer is buffed into the top layer of the panel. This process not only permeates the grain of the plank but also adds a matt sheen which is then left to cure. The natural oil finish produces the most natural effect of the three finish types. UV Oil: The process to create this effect is similar to the one used to create the natural oil finish. Where it differs however is each coat is cured using a UV light. This process produces a slight satin sheen on the surface on the panels. 4. Finally choose the optimum surface: V4 Concrete make use of a number of different techniques, in order to provide a range of varied surface finishes. Each of these techniques produces a visually different aesthetic effect. The techniques include: Brushed: With this technique a steel brush is utilised in order to remove soft grain from the surface of the flooring. This technique greatly enhances the natural beauty of the woods natural grain. Hand Scraped: In order to be successful this technique must be undertaken by skilled and experienced craftsmen. The process involves using hand tools in order to scrape out the woods soft grain whilst following the natural contours of the wood. Distressed: To achieve this effect a number of techniques are used. These techniques give the wood an aged appearance. The skill of this technique is making the distressed effect look authentic and natural. Stained: In order to create this effect the wood panels are stained. The stain is applied with rollers, this is then buffed in order to enable the stain to penetrate the top level of the wood. The panel is then sealed with either oil or lacquer. Smoked: With this effect the timber is placed for three days in a drying room. The drying room is filled with ammonia vapour or ‚Äúsmoke‚Äù which causes the woods colour to darken. Carbonised: To achieve this effect the timber is baked in a kiln causing the soft grain to be consumed. This causes the wood to blacken and the grain texture becomes exposed.
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