Floor Show
Choosing the right flooring for your home can by an extremely daunting task. There are so many options - natural stone, wood, ceramic, travertine, concrete and even leather (strange but true!).
Before you consider the choices, take time to think about what type of home and family you have. Do you have children, dogs, a clumsy other half? Do you need a low maintenance floor due to a busy lifestyle? Do you want to 'wash n' go' or spend time sweeping, cleaning and polishing? Think about the long term wear and tear. What level can you cope with - if a small scratch or heel mark sends you into an uncontrollable rage, wood is not for you.
So what are the options at Wells Reclamation?
Natural stone - Great range of choice. Slate, sandstone, travertine, terracota, limestone. The finishes range from honed, polished, riven and tumbled depending on the look you like.
Polished and honed is more reflective, can be more contemporary and could be slippery when wet. Whereas riven and tumbled gives a more aged, traditional look and gives a natural grip.
Stone is phenomenally hardwearing but at the same time totally unforgiving. So it's great for a busy household but should be combined with some thick rugs if small children are in residence. You can use slabs of all the same size for a checker board effect or have a combination of sizes for a more random, traditional look.
Wells Reclamation always has a good stock across our entire range of natural stone. Most can be used for internal and external spaces.
Wood - Oak, pine, elm. Solid or engineered. They all have their pros and cons.
Oak is probably the most popular choice due to it's beautiful grain and colour. It's tougher than pine but if you go for solid boards, it must be left in the room unlaid, to acclimatise to the temperature otherwise it will warp. This means you have to plan well in advance. Once laid, it must be sealed properly to avoid movement. Despite the time consuming preparations it looks fantastic. One other small consideration is that this is not an ideal choice for underfloor heating. Huge changes in temperature do not suit solid oak boards.
Engineered Oak - this is the perfect option for those who want the look of oak boards, but do not have the time or inclination to acclimatise solid boards. This option comes with a high quality oak top layer on a commercial level ply base. Once it's down you can't tell the difference except that it won't move or warp, making it ideal for underfloor heating. It also needs to be sealed in the same way as solid boards and it will age in a similar way.
Pine is cheaper but softer than oak. High heels are not kind to pine boards. Again, make sure you seal the boards to avoid staining, movement and warping.
Elm is stunning but can be very volatile. Not that it'll bite your leg off, just that if not acclimatised or sealed and it gets wet or damp, it will look like a mexican wave across your living room. English elm is pretty rare these days but imported elm will give you a fantastic look. Due to it's rarity and spectacular finish, elm is an expensive option. But if you can afford it, it's amazing.
Without a doubt, you will find an extensive and beautiful range of flooring at Wells Reclamation. CALL US TODAY TO DISCUSS YOUR REQUIREMENTS 01749 677087
- 5th February 2013
