Property Landlord advice: Wooden flooring best advice

By Michelle Strassburg

Wood flooring is popular in many homes as well as in commercial properties. Landlords often fit wood flooring due to their durability and in an attempt to give the property’s decor a modern touch. We know from speaking with property developers and landlords that in order to reduce costs, those individuals with do-it-yourself skills will often fit the floor on their own.

 As a service to Castle Estates readers we wanted to share first hand the more common mistakes that unless taken into account and corrected could seriously degrade the durability of the floor, resulting in more costs.

 Common DIY Mistakes When Fitting Wood Flooring:

 Selecting The Wrong Thickness – Quality wood flooring allows you to sand and treat the wood if it looks warn, thereby giving it a fresh and new look. Only thick floorboards will react well to such treatment.

 Choosing The Wrong Floor Finish – Different areas require different floor finish. If you are planning on installing the floor in high traffic areas such as halls and entrances, you should look into selecting Lacquered, Varnished or UV oil as they all offer better resistance to stains and spillage and much easier to clean.

 Not Taking Into Account Underfloor Heating – As a rule of thumb, unless the wood flooring you bought specifically mentions that it will cope with underfloor heating, do not fit wood flooring over such heating systems. Otherwise, with time, the wood will expand and erupt.

 Fitting Wood In Damp or Humid Areas – Wood and water do not mix well, and you probably don’t need us to tell you that. Fitting wood flooring in areas with high humidity such as basement or bathroom is ill-advised unless fitting engineered wood flooring. These types of wood flooring are made from a mix of materials (including wood) and are better suited for damp or humid conditions. In any way, it is better to first solve the cause of dump before fitting any flooring.

 Going For Inadequate Underlay – This thin layer which is fitted above the sub-floor is traditionally thought to make the floor more comfortable to walk on, however if your property is in the shape of a flat with downstairs occupants a quality underlay is essential. It will silence the footsteps of the property’s tenets.

 Fitting Over Humid Sub-Floor – Another typical mistake is fitting the floor over a humid surface. The most common humid sub-floor is concrete that has not been allowed to dry sufficiently. When fitting a wood floor, it’s essential that the humidity level of the sub-floor does not exceed 6%.

 Failing To Leave Gaps – Wood is a natural material that can expand in hot temperatures or shrink cold in temperatures. When fitting the floor, it is recommended to leave a gap of 1cm to 2cm between the floorboard and wall to allow this natural reaction to take place without damaging the wood.