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Select will have very few and no filling,
whereas Rustic will have reasonable numbers
and some may be filled. All our wood floors
are carefully selected to offer a range of the
naturally occurring characteristics of the tree.
Knots will vary in size and filling will be with
an appropriate colour of filler.
Shakes
Kiln checking and ‘heart shakes’ will be
present on some boards. These are uneven
cracks running in the direction of the grain
and are characteristic of the wood.
Sealing
Oiled presealed floors all require finishing
with one light coat of Maintenance Oil.
Unsealed boards will require sealing and
finishing with Master Oil or one of
the 6 Coloured Oils.
Sanding
None of our boards require further sanding
if correctly installed.
Specification
Due to the nature of wood, some variation
in size and thickness may occur. The
dimensions listed may be subject to minor
inaccuracies and are given as a guide only.
All wood flooring is supplied to the nearest
whole square metre (always rounding up).
External Use
Fired Earth wood flooring is not suitable
for external use.
Solid Wood Board
Traditionalists will be unanimous in their
appreciation of our solid wood boards. In
the pursuit of the purest design dream,
laying these, the most traditional of boards,
will profoundly resonate all that is sought
after by using such a splendid natural
product. As anyone who owns a solid,
hardwood floor will testify, the boards
mature and improve with age.
Unsealed and brushed boards are produced
to give a more ‘rustic’ finish to the surface
of the board which adds further character.
Only 128mm solid wood floors are suitable
for the CLIP SYSTEM.
Engineered Board
The engineered board is a product of the
modern age. With the traditional look and
aesthetic characteristics of a solid board, it
provides more versatile fitting options for a
number of projects where solid boards are
unsuitable.
The eleven layers of ply and 5.5mm surface
layer of solid oak provide a stable
construction for floating floors and can
be used with some underfloor heating.
The strong construction of the board
prohibits extensive movement to reduce
the risk of warping.
76
Wood floors should be installed at a final
stage, prior to decoration. Generally
speaking, the boards should be laid
lengthways towards the main incoming
light source and, where possible, down the
length of the room. Consider at this stage
how the edges of the floor will be finished.
Whenever possible the skirting boards are
best fitted after installation of the wood
floor as they can disguise the 15mm gap
required for expansion around the
perimeters. A 15mm gap on each opposite
wall is sufficient for a maximum width of
flooring of 6.0 linear metres between those
walls. If the width of the floor to be
installed is over 6.0 linear metres, or if the
environment of the installation is going to
have a higher than normal moisture
content or relative humidity, consideration
should be given to using shims between
each row of boards. This ensures a specified
narrow gap is left between each board,
allowing independent expansion (seek fitter
advice if required).
Fired Earth can supply a range of skirting
boards, quadrants, pipe ferrules etc. to suit
your chosen timber. These will provide you
with the most appropriate product for the
finishing touch to your floor. Alternatively
cork fillets or can be used. At doorways and
thresholds finishing trims should be used to
provide grading for height changes,
protection for the edges of the floor and an
aesthetic finish. Prevent grit and dirt
damaging your floor by using good quality
entrance mats. Always have large good
quality mats both inside and outside
external doors. These must be cleaned
regularly to minimise the ingress of grit and
moisture onto the floor. Our non reducer
sections can be used to form a ‘well’ within
the floor which holds the mat in place and
can help where door clearance is limited.
The wood boards should be placed in the
room in which they are to be fitted to
acclimatise (minimum 48 hours but varying
on site conditions) and should be stacked
carefully to allow air to circulate, see chart
on page 5. The room should be at its
normal living temperature (minimum 15ºC
and maximum 25ºC and humidity 50% –
65%) during the acclimatisation process.
The heating should be switched on (if
required to provide normal living conditions)
at least 10 days prior to installing the wood.
It is not always necessary to acclimatise
engineered boards but if in any doubt a
period of acclimatisation is advisable
(see Underfloor Heating, page 15).
Calculating Quantities
Calculate the total square meterage of
the room/s and add 10% for cutting
and wastage. Small, complicated or
difficult areas may require more material
for wastage.
Planning