Peter Oak flooring is, without a doubt one of the best types, but it does depend on the room in which it is going to be installed. For example, adding oak to your home may not be so straightforward. It’s heavy, you may not be able to match up the grain 100% and it’s costly. That said, it’s worth the investment for many people, so it’s important to understand its qualities as well as its potential drawbacks. The first point we’d like to make in this blog post is that oak flooring must always be installed by an experienced flooring contractor. For example, with any planked flooring, the key is to ensure there is little wastage. An excellent professional fitter should be able to keep wastage down to just 2%, so they’re mostly passing on the savings to you. There’s usually around two square metres of coverage in a single pack, obviously depending on the supplier, so do your best to measure your room and round up to the nearest square metre to make sure you’ve got enough, then calculate the number of packs you’ll need. You may not get it right first time, so do repeat the equation, but it’s always better to order the right amount, rather than having too little so you’re unable to complete the job or too much and you’re unable to shift the wood after. Just to ensure your project goes ahead through to completion, it’s worth adding an extra pack for luck, especially if you’re laying it yourself as you’re likely to waste more. Retailers usually take back unopened packs, so it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Tongue-and-groove is the top option
Tongue-and-groove boards have a protruding ‘tongue’ on one side to slot into a ‘groove’ on the other plank, allowing for a neat, flush finish. Fixing tongue-and-groove boards together can, therefore, be quite complicated. Still, again, a professional floorer who works with oak regularly will have no problem in this respect. Once the tongue is in the groove, you have to knock it firmly into place. Get the angle wrong, and you can dislodge planks that you’ve already joined. They also need to be glued into position and wedged or strapped together until the glue is set. Using insufficient glue or failing to hold it tightly together before it sets can lead to gaps between planks.
Oak flooring will not let you down, but only if it’s installed correctly. It’s fine to deliberate the type of oak you need and contemplate the many styles of oak; however, you also have to put a good amount of thought into the installation, especially if you want it to last. As a natural material, it’s best to choose an installer who understands its many qualities and drawbacks, as they can advise you on the right type, as well as completing the installation simply and efficiently.