The Evolution of the Wood Floor
Looking at the trends and benefits in using wood flooring throughout developments by Kährs (UK) Limited.
In today’s highly competitive market house builders are having to work
increasingly hard to attract potential buyers. Price and location aren’t the only important criteria. Every component and feature counts making specification of a product like flooring just as important as a fitted kitchen or bathroom suite. Once rarely seen outside of the hallway, wood flooring is now being specified throughout developments, with builders recognising that it can add value and create a real wow factor, as well as ticking other boxes in terms of sound eco-choice, suitability with underfloor heating and healthy living benefits, including non-dust retention. This shift has seen wood flooring evolve from an almost structural component to a key design element, and leading manufacturers have responded by developing a new breed of designer products to fulfil customer demand. However, rather than setting out to re-invent the wheel, the new wood floors use cutting-edge techniques to reinforce their natural look and to create a designer edge without compromising beauty. New stained lacquers and oils, in a spectrum of shades, are being used to emphasize the grain and texture of a real wood floor. Meanwhile, other new finishing techniques magnify the tone of the pre-finish further, whilst bevelled edges add distinction to long board formats. Whilst traditional pre-finishes were all about durability, today’s quality finishes are thin enough, so as not to disguise the wood’s natural lustre. They’re solvent-free too and offer even greater durability so the benefits aren’t just superficial. The format of the floor boards themselves is also changing. New collections are being offered in dimensions previously not available in a modern ‘multi-layered’ format, giving designers greater scope in terms of scale and ambitious design. Floors no longer need to form part of a wider interior theme; with options like these, they can boldly set the tone for the whole decoration scheme. As well as adding to the overall aesthetics of a project, a wood floor with a multi-layered construction, in particular, makes an ideal partner for underfloor heating. As the floor is constructed in layers and expands and contracts as a complete surface, the risk of gaps appearing, or of any
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humidity-related issues occurring, is eliminated. This makes application of the two products together very successful in terms of practicality and comfort.
Quality ‘carbon-neutral’ wood flooring brands, produced from sustainable resources, can also be used to reinforce a developer’s eco- credentials. Multi-layered or engineered products offer the greatest benefits in eco- terms; five times the amount of flooring can be produced with the same hardwood yield, because slow growing hardwood is used in the surface layer only, and fast growing pine or spruce in the core layers. In terms of the environment, eco-credentials are set to play an
increasingly big part in new specification for wood flooring manufacturers across all sectors. Going forward wood flooring manufacturers need to be able to demonstrate that their eco-commitment is reflected throughout their production, rather than just in their timber sourcing and construction methods. For companies, that invest massive amounts on product development
and environment initiatives, it’s a blessing in disguise, and one from which the building sector can only benefit in the long-term. Bruce Uhler, Environment Ambassador at Kährs, commented, “As an
industry, we’re lucky that we’re able to work with such a fabulous material. However, we have to invest both time and resources to ensure that we do it justice; to ensure that as a product it keeps on evolving, giving house builders what they need to fulfil consumer demand whilst having as little impact on the environment as possible.” “None of us can afford to be complacent; we’ve made huge progress
but we all need to work to continuously improve our environmental programs”. Today’s new breed of wood floors certainly have a lot to offer in terms of design, performance and eco credentials. It’s a product that’s been loved by builders for centuries. It’s proved that it can evolve, whilst still retaining its original charm and benefits. With leading manufacturers switched on to both house builders’ demands and consumer needs, it looks like the enduring popularity of wood is set to grow still further.
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