FAQs
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Buying
If I order today, when will I receive my order?
The website allows 4 working days from order to delivery. If you would like your floors to be delivered on a specific date that fits around your other commitments then there is the facility to request this during the order process.
The fastest way of ordering is to order via our website because it operates using a 3D Secure payment system, which means that no further credit or security checks are required.
Next day delivery is sometimes available, depending on the delivery address and the time of day the order is completed. If you require your oak flooring in a hurry, please call us on 0800 043 3073 and we will endeavour to expedite your order.
Should I buy solid oak or engineered oak flooring?
Please make sure you read all the installation information within this website because the answer to this question depends on several factors such as;
• Where the flooring is being fitted?
• What width plank is preferred?
• What installation method is being used?
If there are still any doubts or concerns after reading all our installation guidelines, the best thing to do is call us to discuss.
I have underfloor heating – which product should I buy?
We always recommend that our Engineered Oak board is used and never advise for the use of solid oak due to its tendency to move more. Please refer to our Under Floor Heating Fitting Guidelines for correct procedures.
We recommend our Self Regulating Under Floor Heating system for use with Oak Flooring because it can never overheat.
Why don’t you guarantee your oak flooring over underfloor heating?
We are unable to offer a guarantee on oak flooring laid over underfloor heating because if anything goes wrong due to incorrect installation or acclimatisation, we cannot prove that the floor wasn’t fitted as per our recommendations.
What that means is that because flooring that’s fitted over under floor heating is subjected to extreme variances in heat during the different seasons, there are special guidelines for preparation and installation, as well as ongoing maintenance of the surrounding conditions.
The correct process for installation involves having the under floor system running for at least 7 days prior to the flooring being stored in that room, the flooring then being stored for at least another 7 days, and then the heating being turned off before installation begins. After installation, the heating should then be turned back on and increased by 2°C increments up to 26°C, and then back down again. As you can imagine, not only is it difficult for us to convince fitters to do this during their hectic work schedule but it’s also impossible to prove that they didn’t do it if the floor starts to defect after a few weeks or months.
Rather than risk facing claims for floors that were not fitted properly in the first place, we prefer to be honest and up-front about the situation.
Having said all that, as long as the installation guidelines are followed, your floor will perform properly with no problems whatsoever.
We also provide a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee as we are confident in our products, provided you have followed our suggested guidelines for acclimatisation, installation and care & maintenance.
We recommend our Self-Regulating Under Floor Heating system for use with oak flooring, so please contact us for more details or go to the Under Floor Heating page on this website.
What is the reason for your engineered oak having a minimum of 4mm wear layer – I’ve found some companies selling it with 2mm or 3mm?
We firmly believe that when anyone buys an oak floor, they want it to last, and don’t want to be replacing it again in just a few years’ time. The thicker the wear layer an engineered oak plank has, the more durability it provides and the longer your oak floor will last. It still needs to be maintained and looked after but that’s the same as any flooring product.
Can I buy everything I need from you?
We can supply pretty much anything for any building or flooring project, so the answer is probably yes.
If there’s something you need that you cannot find on this website, just contact us with your enquiry and we will get onto it as soon as possible.
In some situations, it may be better to source some smaller items locally to avoid our courier delivery charge but we will tell you if that is the case when we receive your enquiry.
Most of your products are described as being ‘mixed grade’ – does this mean that it’s not all good quality?
That is not the case. Grade should not be confused with quality. You can have a very high quality finished floor that’s made up of different grades. Grade defines how many natural features are allowed; Grade A having very few features and characteristics, so being clear and consistent, whilst the lower Grades allow more and more natural variances such as knots, grain and colour variance.
Quality is what controls the actual materials and the production and machining process, which ultimately defines how well the flooring is made.
Grade is what controls the finished appearance of your floor whereas quality is what controls production and such things as stability and performance of your floor.
What should I consider before buying oak flooring?
Since you are reading this, you probably don’t need to be reminded how beautiful oak is – with its unique warm colours, richness of grain, and healthy sheen. But wood floors are not only beautiful; they are healthy, hardwearing and warm.
Wood is a natural insulator, whilst being simple to keep clean. This is obviously an advantage for people who suffer from allergies.
A wood floor can make a room seem bigger, lighter and more impressive – all factors that can give a house character and, according to estate agents, make it more desirable, valuable and saleable.
What types of wood floor are best for kitchens, bathrooms and conservatories?
We will always recommend engineered oak flooring for these areas because it ‘behaves itself’ a lot more than solid oak.
Having said that, most situations like these do still require ongoing maintenance to ensure your floor’s stability and performance.
Is buying oak flooring cost effective when compared with other flooring products?
If taken care of, hardwood floors can last a lifetime with proper cleaning, felt pads on furniture, and re-coats every so often when required. Hardwood floors also help you add equity and value to your home whilst providing the ‘wow factor’. A high quality oak floor should be considered as an investment not just a purchase.
Some other companies offer free delivery – why don’t you?
Even though there appears to be no delivery charge, we can assure you that it is included somewhere in the total price because it is an additional cost that needs to be included to every supplier.
Whenever a company is offering free delivery on a like for like product basis, always compare the actual delivered price to see exactly what you’ll be paying. When you compare our delivered price with companies who are offering free delivery, usually we’re still the cheapest, even for the extra quality we supply.
How do I maintain my wood floor?
Please see our Care & Maintenance section.
The best maintenance is prevention, so make sure you protect the new floor from furniture scratches by applying our self-adhesive felt pads immediately after installation, or preferably before!
How much extra should I order for cutting and wastage?
Most oak is sold by the square metre so simply measure your room in metres and multiply the length by the width. If your room is not square add up the area in square sections as best you can and then total them up. Once you have your overall amount add 6-8% for wastage and cutting during the fitting process.
You can then convert your quantity to the nearest number of full cartons by checking the sizes on this website or by simply entering them into our pack calculator during the order process.
Please be warned that if the flooring you buy is not end matched like ours (tongue and groove on all four sides and ends) your fitter’s wastage will be considerably higher.
For more information see our guide on Cutting & Wastage.
I want wide solid oak but you only supply it up to 150mm wide – why?
Solid oak tends to ‘move’ more than engineered oak after installation. In other words, when forced to lose or take on moisture it will change dimensionally more than engineered oak does.
In our opinion, solid oak wider than 150mm needs to be face fixed to avoid excess dimensional movement and ‘cupping’, so we prefer to offer a maximum of 150mm to avoid the risk of costly site challenges for the end user.
If you want a wide oak plank, take a look at our engineered oak products; the oak is exactly the same as what is used for our solid but the different construction means that it provides better stability after installation.
Which floor should I use for my cellar conversion?
We will always recommend engineered oak flooring for areas below street level because engineered oak ‘behaves itself’ a lot more than solid oak does in situations where moisture and humidity can vary.
We recommend every situation like this should be correctly assessed before any installation begins in order to confirm suitability.
Is your oak flooring sustainably sourced and does it meet the necessary regulations?
Our oak flooring is EUTR Compliant and also meets the new European Regulation which is even more strict about sustainability than FSC. We can send you documents to support our compliance if you wish.
I want to order some small items but your website is trying to charge me for a full pallet delivery. Why is this?
Our website is set-up for pallets of flooring, so please contact our Trading Office on 01646 685238 and they will happily accept your order and give you the price for postage.
Is buying oak flooring cost effective when compared with other flooring products?
A resounding YES! Not only does oak flooring add to the value of your home and make it more saleable should you ever want to move, but it is extremely durable and long-lasting. When the lifespan of oak flooring is compared with other floor covering products, the value for money becomes more obvious. Should you ever want to change the decor of your home, oak flooring will compliment any style or colour you may choose.
Delivery
How do you deliver your flooring?
We use an external courier network for our deliveries, unless local to us in West Wales.
Someone needs to be available on the day of delivery to sign for the goods, to help offload and also to carry the flooring into a dry and sheltered area.
How long does it take for delivery?
Normal delivery is 4-5 days from order and cleared payment and you can choose a delivery date that suits you during the online order process. We can also offer Next Day delivery in some situations but if you are a fitter, or you’re working with a tight schedule, always check availability before committing.
Please also bear in mind that we recommend proper and sufficient acclimatisation of all our flooring before any installation.
Can I choose a delivery time?
You can enter a preferred time of day as AM or PM but there is a charge for this service.
Why use a courier?
We supply our flooring to customers all over the UK and sometimes even to Ireland and France, meaning that the best, most cost-effective and most simple system is to use a large courier network.
Courier deliveries are expensive aren't they?
When the whole delivery service they provide is considered, our couriers provide excellent value. They collect full pallets from us and deliver UK wide within a couple of days usually, for just £65-£75 per pallet.
When you compare our delivered price with companies who are offering free delivery, we will usually be the cheapest still.
Some other companies offer free delivery, why don’t you?
Even though there appears to be no delivery charge, we can assure you that it will be factored in somewhere in the total price because it is a cost to every supplier.
Whenever a company is offering free delivery on a like for like product basis, always compare the actual delivered price to see exactly what you’ll be paying.
When you compare our delivered price with companies who are offering free delivery, usually we are still the cheapest, even for the extra quality we supply.
For more details about our delivery service, read our full delivery guide.
Can you leave my order in the garage?
Because we use an external courier network for our nationwide deliveries and someone must be available to sign for the goods being delivered, we cannot provide this service.
Typically couriers are only insured to deliver ‘kerbside’ (meaning off the side of their vehicle). Having said this, some drivers do help to carry cartons into houses and garages but we cannot guarantee this will be the case with every driver and we cannot ask them to do this.
Why does someone need to be there to receive the delivery?
Somebody needs to receive the delivery so that the goods can be checked and accepted as OK.
If it is raining and the flooring is left outside, it will be ruined so it is important to get it inside to safety. Even if the weather is dry, there is always a risk of your flooring being stolen if it’s left outside.
Installation
How do I know when conditions are right for installation to start?
Please refer to our free information pack and to the information about installation on this website. Your fitter should advise on this too.
Should I buy solid oak or engineered oak flooring?
This depends on your installation situation, your preferred installation method, and the desired finished appearance of your floor. Consult our free information pack before you decide which is most suitable for your home and please get in touch should you have any further questions.
What is the best fitting method for my situation?
The best method of installation for your new floor will depend on the type of product you have chosen, where the flooring is going to be fitted, and the type of subfloor you have. Rather than us try to advise you over the telephone, it is much better to take the advice of your fitter who can assess the site situation far more accurately.
Should I do anything differently if I have underfloor heating?
Yes, because if a room has under floor heating, it becomes vitally important that it’s properly acclimatised and installed to allow for the extreme heat variations. We always recommend that our engineered oak board is used and never advise for the use of solid. See our video here about installing oak flooring over underfloor heating.
We recommend our self regulating underfloor heating system for use with oak flooring because it is self-regulating and so will never overheat.
Can I fit new oak flooring without removing my existing skirting board?
Please refer to our fitting guidelines page for the various ways of installation suitable for each type of oak floor.
An oak floor is an organic product and your floor will change dimensionally when subjected to temperature and humidity changes, so when it’s fitted there should be an expansion gap left around the floor edge, preferably covered and concealed with skirting board.
In a renovation, the old skirting will ideally be removed before being replaced to cover the gap. If you don’t want to remove it you can cover the expansion gap with a decorative bead like our oak Scotia or similar but the finished installation will not look like the floor has been installed for years.
Having decorative bead all around the perimeter of your finished floor can make it appear as if it’s a laminate instead of the high quality oak floor that you’ve paid for.
How long will it take to install my floor?
This will depend on the following;
• The size of your floor area
• Your chosen installation method
• How much work is required around the perimeter of the floor area
• Correct acclimatisation
It is best to discuss this with your fitter before work begins.
After Installation
How long will my floor last?
This will depend on a number of things;
• Where it is installed
• How much foot traffic it receives
• How often it needs refinishing
• How well it is maintained
• The type of flooring you choose; for an area with heavy footfall we recommend one of our thicker floors with a greater wear layer.
Your oak will stay durable so long as the proper care and attention is taken. Please see our Care & Maintenance guide for advice on preventing cracks, splits and shrinkage.
Which finish is easiest to maintain?
We would have to recommend oiled flooring as being the easiest to maintain, even though it may require maintenance more often in some situations.
Oiled flooring is as easy to clean in the same way as lacquered flooring, and it will need to be re-oiled occasionally, but this does not take long and need not be done more than once every couple of years under normal use and wear (depending on where it’s installed).
The big advantage with oiled flooring is that it can look like a new floor forever because if it gets scratched or damaged you can usually sand it away with a small piece of sandpaper and then apply more oil.
With a lacquered oak floor you would need to sand down and lacquer the whole floor area.
For more information on the oils & lacquers we supply please click here.
Will my oak floor change colour after it’s fitted in my home?
Most woods will darken as they age; becoming deeper and richer as they react to natural light. The extent of the contrast within the boards will be determined by the grade of floor chosen, with rustic floors changing the most. Quality is obviously another important factor.
It must always be remembered that a real wood floor is a natural product and it will react/respond to varying conditions and should be expected.
When will my oak floor need repairing?
This is usually down to personal preference on how your floor actually looks. One day you will notice that the ‘common route’ through the room looks a little worn compared with the surrounding areas, and this will be the time when it needs a little care and attention.
One thing we must emphasise here is that no oak floor should become worn so much that bare oak is apparent; every oak floor should be protected at all times with some kind of protective finish.
How do I repair a scratch or dent in my oak floor?
With oiled flooring, just take a bit of sandpaper and gently rub away the scratch until it has disappeared. Then apply more of the same oil and allow it to blend in. Buff it gently and that’s it. Depending on the age of the floor, you may need to refinish the whole area because the newly oiled area may stand out from the surrounding flooring.
Lacquered flooring will need to be completely sanded down to bare oak and re-lacquered, as it cannot be done in small patches. Some say that scratches and normal wear add to the character of the floor over time anyway but please note that these area should always be covered with finish for protection.
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