HARDWOOD FLOORS AND HUMIDITY

Water and wood flooring is never a fantastic mix. That is why it’s important to watch the humidity level inside your house. The humidity level, if too high or too low, of your house can impact your wood floors. So how can you know if you have a humidity issue and what’s the magic humidity level?

The wood flooring experts at Floor Sanding Stevenage have a few tips about how to control the humidity inside your house in order to keep up your beautiful hardwood floors.

WHY IS HUMIDITY BAD FOR WOOD FLOORS?

Because wood is a porous material, it soaks up moisture which can damage it. Depending on how much moisture, and how long the hardwood floor is exposed to it, it may do irreparable damage.

The humidity levels in your home are extremely important for keeping your wood flooring because moisture reduction causes wood to shrink and moisture absorption causes wood to swell. Below are a few warning signs that suggest you may need some help with humidity.

SYMPTOMS OF NOT ENOUGH HUMIDITY IN WINTER

In the wintertime, the most frequent symptom you see in hardwood flooring is gapping between the planks.

What occurs is that, when we turn our insecurities on, the humidity level inside our homes plummets.

Hardwood floors don’t shrink consistently in all directions. When humidity levels decrease, the boards will shrink more from side to side than end .

Therefore, the distance between the planks develops larger causing openings. This also suggests that broader boards will shrink over thinner boards.

SYMPTOMS OF TOO MUCH HUMIDITY IN SUMMER

Extra humidity in the summer can get the wood planks to expand and push against each other. This increase in pressure can cause the boards to cup or become higher on the edges than in the center.

As in low humidity cases, the planks swell from side to side than end to end. In extreme cases, the pressure can cause the boards to crack.

WHAT SHOULD MY HUMIDITY LEVELS BE IN MY HOME?

So what’s a secure humidity range for your wood floors? Many experts agree that an perfect degree of indoor humidity is around 45%, although anything between 35% and 55% is acceptable.

Summer is generally not as big of an issue as winter. As long as you operate your air conditioner, then it will remove excess humidity from the air. Winter is when we see the worst problems with a lack of humidity. The relative humidity of indoor air during heating season can be as low as 10%-15%.

Think about that. Your home can be drier than the desert during the chilly winter months! That is bad for you and it’s definitely not good for your wood floors!

HUMIDIFIERS PUT MOISTURE BACK IN THE AIR

Your home needs additional humidity in the wintermonths, but how can you put in it and command it to keep an optimal level. Listed below are a few humidifier Pointers to Help you Do Precisely That:

Purchase a Hygrometer
This system measures relative humidity so you can easily monitor humidity levels in your home. It will inform you when your humidity is too low so you know you need more moisture to keep your wood floors (and furniture and woodwork) healthy. It is affordable and you can pick one up in your regional hardware shop.

Have a Humidifier Installed on Your HVAC System
A humidistat that’s built into the device will permit you to set humidity levels instead of leave it to chance. This is an ideal solution because it lets you control humidity levels year round so that you can avoid damaging your hardwood flooring with humidity levels that are too high in the summer or too low in the winter.

Portable Humidifiers
While mobile humidifiers aren’t as convenient as a whole-house system that’s incorporated into a HVAC system, they are better than nothing. You are going to need to wash out the moisture that may gather them around and refill them every few days. Most manufacturers recommend using distilled water rather than tap water which can cause mineral deposits which impact the humidifier’s efficiency.

If you’ve experienced a humidity-related problem with your wood floors and need advice on How Best to Mend themgive us a call
01438 420 159 Or contact us online to receive your free quote.

SCHOOL WOOD FLOOR RESTORATION

We’re professional wood floor restoring and timber restoration specialists for school floors . Our solutions are supplied and include;

• School gymnasiums
• Hall flooring
• Dance flooring
• Aerobic studios

We know that in tough times, cost-effective solutions are significant. We tailor our solutions to match your budget and will go over all options available with one to ensure we’re supplying the best possible service with spectacular results ensured.

We pay particular attention to safe working practices and also have general liability insurance, promising commercial clients that they are dealing with a reputable and competent company. We’ll approach the job with appreciation and professionalism of school events to make sure disruption is minimal.

We utilize proven methods of timber floor refurbishing, using our dust-free sanding machines; this implies that no dust is generating in the sanding process, protecting teachers, students and visitors to the school whilst the job is being completed. We can track our work through the sanding process which supplies a better-quality complete.

We will then offer you a wood sealing or wood staining service, dependent on the finish which you are seeking to achieve. This may leave your wood floor smooth and secure for years to come. Part of our approach is to offer information and advice on maintenance so that we supply customers with the knowledge to maintain their wooden floors, ensuring outcomes are long-lasting.

Speedy and efficient services are offered with exceptional criteria; contact us on 01438 420 159 to find out more about our floor sanding services. We look forward to the opportunity of working with you.

 

Wooden Flooring Suitable for Underfloor Heating

Having an extremely higher comfort factor, using a nice even distribution of warmth, many assert that there is less wastage for this alternative in comparison with standard radiators. Whether it is more effective, 1 thing is for certain and that is it makes for even more compact, slick walls. Therefore, in the event that you’ve made the choice to proceed the UFH path and are on the lookout for hardwood floors acceptable for under floor heating, you are in the ideal location.

In this guide, we will provide you our perspective on which you ought to take under account when picking your wood floors to put in over under floor heatingsystem. Additionally, we will discuss a few of the vital things to bear in mind when you are matching the flooring.

Strong or engineered?

At Floor Sanding Stevenage, we recommend just installing engineered hardwood flooring for those who have under floor heating. Why is this the case? It is simple really. The construction of engineered wood flooring means it is a lot more resistant to expansion and contraction compared to solid wood floors. Why is this important? It’s significant because in the event of wood flooring that’s fitted over under floor heating, it is closely connected with the source of warmth.

Engineered wood flooring will expand and contract much less when faced with rising and falling temperatures and moisture levels compared to solid hardwood floors. This usually means that the flooring is not likely to endure any damage if it’s been fitted properly. Solid hardwood floors on the other hand is very likely to develop unsightly gaps and may even cup or bow based on the caliber of the floor and how it has been fitted.

Thickness?

As a broad guideline, all the engineered wood flooring options onto the Wood and Beyond site could be fitted above under floor heating. However, our favorite guidelines would be to opt for a solution that’s between 14mm and 16mm thick. This is because you will get optimum efficiency from the heating system with this specific thickness of board. That said, if you do need to set up a thicker board, like an 18mm board, then there’s no reason why you can not, unless of course the maker of your UFH system recommends against it. We only create our recommendation based on optimising the efficacy of your UFH system. In addition, we prefer a solid wood lamella or high layer maximum depth of 5mm for exactly the very same factors.

Fitting Method?

We’ve got a free manual on matching engineered timber flooring that you may download here. However, for now, the 3 Important things to not overlook when fitting your engineered hardwood floors over under floor heating would be:

Always respect the directions provided from the UFH manufacturer.
Be sure to take some opportunity to acclimatise your flooring before placing it.
Once fitting, provide your flooring time to accommodate by gradually raising the warmth of your heating as time passes.

 

Dream bedroom

Dreaming of pretty,tidy and shiny bedroom ? We can simply help you achieve this by floor sanding. Yes, you may need new bed or something new in decoration but it is not going to work out the way that sanding will do! We guarantee you that after our visitation , the transformation in you bedroom will look stunning, and also will be environment healthy because sanding help your flooring to reflect the light, light changes the air the temperature and also it handle the dust collecting , because when your flooring is dust the air you are breathing is not clean and it may harm you as not having a total relaxation in your own bedroom!

Test your floors

Test your floors
Wooden floors are the most solid and classic material in each home this days. The elegance that wooden floors are showing us and keeping the fact that it last for many decades is making wood flooring an attractive for informed house owners!
If you have a hardwood flooring, you can refinish it and bring back the in it sparkle again!
Wood as a material base is a porous and vulnerable. Many people today usually choose to help their floors last longer as protecting them against moisture with sanding. A simple test to find out your floor condition is to place a drop of water on it- if the drop isn’t absorbed, or takes a few minutes to soak in,this mean that your wooden floor may be in good shape, but in case the drop soaks in immediately- this mean that it is time for renovation !

How to feel your interior fresh again?

Most of the renovations are starting great, but soon after feels like nothing is changed or back to the old view again. When your interior is in need of renovation we are ready to provide you with the finest techniques in floor sanding business. We are aware floors are important because nothing can change the design at home better than a reliable, solid and welcoming wooden floors!

This is way a popular choice for refreshment these days is exactly the sanding procedure ! It helps your environment to improve completely !

Floor sanding immediately transform your home ! Our passion for wooden floors is something that we are happy to share with our customers for so many years! For our company this sanding procedure is  never ‘just a job’ because we are working for you to feel relaxed at your home !

TOP 10 HARDEST WOODS

TOP 10 HARDEST WOODS

1. Quebracho – From the Spanish “quebrar hacha,” which literally means
“axe breaker.” Aptly named, wood in the Schinopsis genus is among the
heaviest and hardest in the world.
2. Lignum Vitae -Widely accepted as the hardest wood in the world–this
wood has been listed as an endangered species and is listed in CITES.
Consider Verawood as a very close substitute.
3. Gidgee – This Australian endemic is both very heavy and very strong.
Some pieces are dark enough to be used as an ebony substitute: one that’s
even harder than the original article.
4. Snakewood – It’s easy to see what makes Snakewood so unique–its patterns
and markings resemble the skin of a snake. Limited supply and high demand
make this one of the most expensive woods on eart.
5. Verawood – Sometimes called Argentine Lignum Vitae, this wood is a gem:
inexpensive, great olive-green color, beautiful feathery grain pattern, and
it takes a great natural polish on the lathe.
6. Camelthorn – Formerly classified as a member of the Acacia genus, this
south African hardwood is a tough customer. The wood is stubbornly hard,
and the tree is protected by giant sharp thorns.
7. African Blackwood – In some parts of the world, this wood has achieved
an almost legendary status. Historical evidence points to this wood
(rather than Diospyros spp.) being the original “ebony.”
8. Black Ironwood – Pieces are very seldom seen for sale, as this tree is
too small to produce commercially viable lumber. Like the unrelated
Desert Ironwood, Black Ironwood is an excellent choice for small
turning projects.
9. Katalox / Wamara – Some pieces can be just about a dark as true ebony,
while others are a more reddish brown with black streaks. So much depth
in the Swartzia genus, there’s something for everyone!
10. Cebil- Also known as Curupay or by the exaggerated name Patagonian
Rosewood, Cebil is not a true rosewood. It has a highly variable streaked
appearance not too unlike Goncalo Alves.

SOFTWOODS Top 3

SOFTWOODS top 3 :

PINE: Pine is a softwood which grows in most areas of the Northern Hemisphere. There are more than 100 species worldwide.

Properties: Pine is a soft, white or pale yellow wood which is light weight, straight grained and lacks figure.It resists shrinking and swelling. Knotty pine is often used for decorative effect.
Uses: Pine is often used for country or provincial furniture. Pickled, whitened, painted and oil finishes are often used on this wood.

ASH: There are 16 species of ash which grow in the eastern United States. Of these, the white ash is the largest and most commercially important.

Properties: Ash is a hard, heavy, ring porous hardwood. It has a prominent grain that resembles oak, and a white to light brown colour. Ash can be differentiated from hickory (pecan) which it also resembles, by white dots in the darker summer wood which can be seen with the naked eye. Ash burls have a twisted, interwoven figure.
Uses: Ash is widely used for structural frames and steam bent furniture pieces. It is often less expensive than comparable hardwoods.

HICKORY: There are 15 species of hickory in the eastern United States, eight of which are commercially important.

Properties: Hickory is one of the heaviest and hardest woods available. Pecan is a species of hickory sometimes used in furniture. It has a close grain without much figure.
Uses: Wood from the hickory is used for structural parts, especially where strength and thinness are required. Decora

Floor Sanding Stevenage Tips for Clean Hardwood Floors!

The Best Ways to Clean Hardwood Floors

-Prep your floor for cleaning by sweeping or dust-mopping to get rid of large particles of dirt and debris.
-Use a pH neutral cleaner that will be gentle on your hardwood floors.
-Use a fine spray mist to clean your floor in sections. Avoid putting too much liquid on your floors.
-Use a microfiber mop to clean. Traditional mops can work, but they can leave excess water on your floors.
-Skip using white vinegar and water to clean your floors. Using a specially formulated hardwood floor care cleaner is a smart way to maintain the beauty and look of your floors.

10 Reasons to choose our company!

10 Reasons to choose our company!

1.RAPID COMPLETION
2.FREE AFTERCARE PRODUCTS
3.COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTAL
4.ALL WORKS GUARANTEED AND INSURED
5.FREE QUOTATION SERVICE
6.BEST EXPERTS WITH EXPERIENCE
7.ONLY HIGH QUALITY MATERIALS
8.99% DUST FREE SANDING TECHNIQUE
9.ECO- FRIENDLY AND PET FRIENDLY MATERIALS
10.RESULTS WHICH SPEAK LOUD FOR OUR QUALITY LEVEL

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