The New & Reclaimed Flooring Company is launching a new showroom which will be housed in our flag workshop in Cheshire. Our new showroom will be geared up to service the leading creatives and design professionals in Manchester and Northern England.
The Cheshire showroom will offer you a comprehensive look inside our workshop and showcase our production and colouring process.
We will be delighted to welcome you and guide you through your ideas, designs and flooring requirements. Feel free to come in for a chat and spend time getting to know each of our floors on display; from bespoke finishes to the characteristics and quirks of our reclaimed floors.
Visit Our Cheshire Showroom
Unit 3 Hammond Trade Centre
Hammond Avenue
Stockport
Cheshire
SK41PQ
Norway is set to break the record for the tallest timber structure, which sits on the edge of a river in the small town of Brumunddal, an hour and a half drive north of Oslo.
Designed by Voll Arkitekter, the construction began in early September 2017 and is due completion in March 2019.
Mjøstårnet, named after its neighbourhood and Norway’s largest lake will reach 80 metres high, and stands 30 metres higher than what is today considered the world’s tallest timber building.
The 18 story high-rise building will include apartments, a hotel, offices, restaurant, communal areas and a 4,700-square-meter swimming hall.
Arthur Buchardt, investor and contracting client, has dubbed the construction “the closest we come to a skyscraper in timber” and believes “Mjøstårnet sets new standards for timber constructions”.
Timber used to construct the tower and the swimming pool area will be sourced from local spruce forests by Moelven, a Mjøsa-local Scandinavian industrial group.
Timber structures are becoming increasingly popular, and its ability to create skyscrapers is a benchmark for sustainable construction.
“A project group established by Norwegian road authorities investigated the possibility of building the world’s longest timber bridge across Lake Mjøsa. Their studies show that building with wood instead of concrete can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 30 percent,” said Buchardt.
The construction of Mjøstårnet hopes to inspire more large wood structures. “Through Mjøstårnet we demonstrate that it is possible to construct large, complex wooden buildings. The planned construction of the Norwegian Government quarter can become a wooden landmark internationally. I want to help convey an important message with this project. To build with wood is to contribute to the world breathing better.”
The lightweight property of the timber frame can sway up to 140 millimetres at the top when faced with strong winds of the region, which presents a challenge in the construction. A concrete floor slab will be used on the seven top floors to increase the weight towards the top and slow down the swaying. The building will also be anchored into the ground with piles up to 50 meters deep.
Images: Moelven Limtre (http://www.moelven.com)
Wood floors remain the most sought-after flooring material because of their authentic, elegant and timeless appearance.
We are pleased to provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Wood flooring.
What are the benefits of Wood flooring?
- They offer an elegant and timeless look that never goes out of style.
- They also enable a look of spaciousness and lend a warm and authentic feel wherever they’re installed.
- Wood flooring offers a variety of appearances; from grain patterns to colours, stains and species.
- The floors are easy to clean as they do not accumulate a lot of dirt, dust and debris.
- Wood floors have long-term durability and can last for generations.
- They are a great long-term investment and can increase the value of your property.
- Properly installed wood floors increase and improve acoustics in the room; suitable for music rooms and concert halls.
- A healthy floor choice for allergy sufferers.
Are Wood floors good for homes with pets?
Wood floors are relatively easy to clean and maintain and can live in harmony with pets. However, they are vulnerable to scratches — hence choosing a harder species of wood makes it possible to enjoy your gorgeous floor without stressing about your pets.
A rustic or distressed finish is particularly a good option since it easily hides signs of everyday wear and tear. Alternatively, you may want to select wood flooring with a lighter colour and lower gloss level to help hide additional marks that may occur.
Can I use solid wood with underfloor heating?
Can I expect my wood floor to have colour variations?
Wood is a natural material, each plank features unique details and therefore, you should expect there will be natural colour variations. Most people love these slight variations for added character and charm that they offer. The higher grade of wood flooring tends to feature a more uniform colour and minimal character marks whilst a lower grade of flooring contains distinct variations in colour tone.
I have engineered wood flooring, can they be refinished?
Engineered woods have a thin veneer compared to solid wood. About 75% of engineered floors can be refinished — and the quality and thickness of the veneer layer is the major factor contributing to this. Premium collections have a thicker wear layer which can be sanded and refinished once, some up to 5 times. 0.6 mm thinner wear layer can only be recoated and cannot be sanded and refinished once they get worn.
Can wood flooring be installed over ceramic tiles?
Is it safe to use hardwood flooring in a kitchen?
Wood is a natural product, high temperature and moisture level in the kitchen may cause it to contract and expand. In this case, engineered wood is your best option to avoid cupping and gapping.
Occasionally a kitchen may experience spills and stains, but if cleaned up promptly this will have little effect on your hardwood floors. It is equally important to stick to a maintenance routine and never allow water to stand upon the surface for any amount of time.
How do I stop my wood flooring from gapping?
Gapping is fairly normal during the winter season due to change in humidity of the room which causes wood to dry out and shrink. To combat the issue, use a humidifier during winter months to keep your home within the required temperature — as long as humidity level is above 45%. Depending on your wood selection, certain species tend to contract and expand more than others. Using an engineered wood floor will reduce the appearance of gapping as it is more dimensionally stable than solid wood. Click here for the best whole house humidifier
Can I put wood flooring over an existing floor?
In some instance, wood can be glued down over existing floors such as: laminate, vinyl, wood floors, and even some types of tile. The existing floor has to be relatively smooth, free of major imperfections and fully adhered to the sub-floor. It is important that the installer follows the manufacturers recommended installation procedures.
Can I install wood flooring over radiant heat?
It is generally recommended installing floating engineered wood floor over the radiant heated sub-floor, but the installation has to be done according to the manufacturer’s exact specifications.
Now in its fourth year, the Architecture Awards return in 2018 to reward the most outstanding projects and works conducted by the leading designers, engineers and visionaries, whose inspiring designs and structures shape the horizons of the industry.
We are thrilled to have received Build 2018 awards for Best Wood Flooring Designers — London and Best London Wood Flooring Projects: Hatcham Park Road — Chevron Oak.
Hatcham Park Road — Chevron Oak
As you can see, this beautiful private residence on Hatcham Park Road simply oozes understated elegance and style. The light colour of the Chevron Oak floors plus the clever use of natural light enhances the harmony and openness of the residence, and complements the client’s choice of furnishings and accessories.
Reclaimed Beam Oak is carefully re-sawn from ancient Reclaimed European oak beams into 10mm overlay planks which can be used to enhance the appearance of property. The stunning visual impact of its patina and texture complements any interior style; from contemporary to traditional, and becomes the talking point of any room
The wood itself is full of variations and tonal contrasts which makes the reclaimed oak very easy to work with. Once the floors are installed, they can be coloured in a variety of ways to accentuate their character. From cool natural tones using white pigmented hard wax oil to a deep tanned finish using dark hard wax oils or waxes — the result is an authentic and refined aesthetic.
Do you know the difference between unfinished and prefinished wood flooring?
Wood flooring is an investment; it’s something that you will see, live with and appreciate every day.
However exhausting as it may seem, taking the time to carefully choose the best flooring for your project is important and will save you a lot of future headaches.
The best choice is one which gets you the results you deserve from your time and money.
When installing wood flooring, you will have to decide whether to go for prefinished or unfinished floorboards.
Below, we look at the main differences benefits of unfinished and prefinished wood floors.
Prefinished Wood Flooring
As the name suggests, our prefinished wood flooring has been finished — sanded, treated and coated with hard wax oils before it is brought to your doorstep.
Because the finishing has been applied under a controlled environment, the finishing is less likely to be contaminated by dust, hair and other foreign particles.
Once the floorboards are installed, the work is done.
Advantages of Prefinished Wood Flooring
Time: When installing wood flooring, it’s important to consider the project time frame. Prefinished boards offer a faster installation process; and once the job is completed, you can walk on it and arrange your furniture on it immediately.
Specialized Colours: Our finishing methodologies involves specialised processes and compounds that are not available elsewhere. It won’t be possible to achieve the same appearance on-site.
Less Messy: When installing prefinished wood flooring, there are no worries about dust, toxic fumes or odour.
Durability: Factory-applied finishes are incredibly durable.
Guarantees: Often, prefinished floors come with finishing guarantee. At RFC, we offer a 20 long year guarantee for our finishes.
Unfinished Wood Flooring
Also referred to as “on-site finished,” unfinished wood flooring is raw (sometimes sanded-only) wood flooring that leaves the factory with no finishing or treatment; and needs to be finished/coloured on-site after installation.
Advantages of Unfinished Wood Flooring
Natural Appearance: Unfinished wood flooring has a natural warmth and authentic beauty that’s often loved by many homeowners.
Matching Existing Flooring: If your home has existing hardwood flooring in other rooms, adding unfinished wood flooring makes it easier to create the closest possible match. This also allows you the freedom to test the stains and colours on the unfinished wood to exactly match the existing floor.
Wood Species and Plank Widths: Specific plank widths, some reclaimed wood or unusual wood species are only available as unfinished flooring.
Inspired by the trees on the estate, Modern Tree House designed by Cape Town based architects Pieter Malan and Jan-Heyn Vorster of Malan Vorster, features a contemporary cabin-like, one bedroom hide-away.
Located in a small clearing amongst forest-like gardens in Constantia suburb of the South African capital, the structure is elevated by four round columns in order to maximise views from the highest portion of the site.
The “Paarman Treehouse” draws inspiration from the timber cabins of Horace Gifford, Louis Kahn, Carlo Scarpa and Kengo Kuma’s approach to spatial configuration and meticulous detailing.
Composed of four cylindrical wooden towers elevated on stilts; the rings built from laser-cut and folded Corten steel plate supports the timber floors beams.
Red cedar battens wrap the tree house, with generous gaps throughout the windows and tighter spacing to help create a perfect balance between the resident’s enjoyment of the views and privacy.
The architect left all elements untreated, and will express the passing of time as they weather naturally to tone with the surrounding trees.
The home is four stories high — the first floor contains the living spaces, patio, dining; a bedroom and bathroom on the second level and a spacious roof deck on the top.
The interior is accessible via a suspended wood and Corten steel ramp; with a plant room located at ground level below the building.
The interior is high-end, pure elegance set against the peculiar wood and iron structure that the architects have wrought.
Contemporary furnishings adorn the space, making this not only a comfortable home, but also a timeless escape.
Images: Mickey Hoyle (http://mickyhoyle.com/)
Thanks to science, walking around your floors might someday create electricity and help power lights and batteries.
Floorboards are generally made from a sustainable material which makes them eco-friendly — and can soon be taking their place alongside solar and wind power.
A research by a team at University of Wisconsin–Madison has led them to develop an inexpensive and straightforward technique using wood pulp and chemically treated cellulose nanofibers, to make flooring generate electricity by simply converting footsteps into usable energy.
When these two are combined, stepping on them results in a compression that pushes the two together.
The electrons are converted from one fibre to the other; creating electricity that is channeled out of the floor through implanted wires.
The research was conducted by Xudong Wang, an associate professor of materials science and engineering, his graduate student Chunhua Yao, and several collaborators; with their findings published in the journal Nano Energy.
“One of the key merits of this technology is the scalable manufacturability because our technology is based on the same wood fibres that are used for making the floor panels,” explains Wang.
“We use a triboelectric energy harvesting board made from cellulose fibres that are chemically-treated to attract electrons,” says Wang, who acknowledges that the chemical details cannot be released until the patent review process is complete.
Wang believes that the flooring could be the next big thing for green building because wood pulp is a cheap and a plentiful waste material produced from several industries; making it an affordable and an inexpensive renewable energy source compared to more expensive and non-recyclable material that is able to harness energy.
“Right now, the small piece we are testing in our lab is about four square inches and can produce one milliwatt of power,” says Wang.
By assuming that an average of 10 people walked on the area and each person took two steps every second, the overall energy output would be roughly 2 Joules per second.
An amount of energy that equates to about 30% of an iPhone 6 battery.
Wang is also currently building a prototype on the UW-Madison campus to prove that the technology can be deployed at a large scale. “For example, we will make 100 square feet floor samples on campus and demonstrate the energy harvesting capability,” he says. “We’ve been working a lot on harvesting energy from human activities,” he further explains. “One way is to build something to put on people, and another way is to build something that has constant access to people. The ground is the most used place.”
As a renewable energy source, Wang feels confident that heavy traffic floors in hallways, stadiums and malls that incorporate this technology could generate significant amounts of usable energy to power lights in the building. “I would say this technology is ready to be implemented on a large scale.”
House R, by architecture design firm Nilsson Pflugfelder, is a two-storey house in Cambridge, England.
It sits in the heart of the English city, encircled by homes with lush Victorian gardens and terraces.
The exterior of the house is conceived as a compact box with striated timber facades, providing its inhabitants with dramatic vistas without compromising their sense of seclusion.
The designer achieved this by determining the height of the windows that puncture the structure by the surrounding building; their proximities to the home and the way the house would be viewed from their windows.
“Windows are carefully placed without creating overlooking issues, to provide long uninterrupted vistas, with the purpose of lending an unexpected, carefully choreographed sense of grandness to the otherwise spatially efficiently planned house,” explained studio founders Magnus Nilsson and Ralf Pflugfelder.
House R is located towards the centre of the site; 8.20 metres away from the southern boundary and 4.00 metres from the northern boundary.
This maximises the distance away from the site boundaries whilst increasing the available amenity space on the site.
The Space is optimised on the south side, to offer more outdoor and garden space, and capture the best of the sunlight.
The house’s design components lend quite a traditional setting; that is, on the ground floor the doors open to social spaces such as dining room and living room facing the south side — whilst the north side accommodates service areas including the kitchen, pantry and utility room.
The bathrooms, storage space, a study, and bedrooms can be found on upper floor; and can be accessed by a staircase ascending through a double-height void in the center of the home.
A curved inner wall that’s illuminated from above by a skylight sits in the same area.
To overcome overlooking issues, some of the windows at first floor that are not placed above eye-level or equipped with translucent glass, have a fixed fin that project 750mm perpendicular to the facade.
To allow adequate natural light, the south-facing window in the study is designed as an oriel window and extends out without compromising any privacy.
To preserve the building’s sustainable qualifications and further enhance cost savings; a standard timber cladding was used to cover the exterior walls — consisting of untreated 28mm solid timber (without disrupting the prefabricated panels underneath). “Through strong horizontal striations and leaving the timber untreated, it is intended to lend the light timber cladding a materiality and gravity akin to a heavy brick facade, to make the timber appear brick-like,” the studio said.
Images: Joakim Boren (https://www.joakimboren.com/home)
Installing hardwood floor is a great investment that can significantly increase and boost the value of your property.
Wood floors are a fantastic addition to any home; they look sleek, elegant and highly desirable due to their longevity.
Contractors, builders, and designers seem to agree that homes, where wood flooring has been laid, sell faster and achieve higher prices than similar properties which don’t feature wooden floors.
Even though it is impossible to quantify, wood flooring has become increasingly popular over the last several years.
In an article featured in the UK Telegraph, wood flooring expert and presenter of Location, Location, Location, Phil Spencer, mentioned how the longevity of wood floors really appeals to him when it comes to picking out homes for potential buyers, especially those with families.
A few studies posit the idea that home buyers might be willing to pay more for a home with wood flooring.
Over 90% of real estate agents surveyed by National Wood Flooring Association agree that homes with hardwood floors spent less days on the market — and increases home value by 1% – 10%.
For example, the value of a £250,000 property would increase to between £257,500 – £275,000.
Additionally, 12% of the estate agents surveyed agree an even larger increase in value is likely.
People are often looking for a refreshed and visually warmer look, and wooden floors radiate just that.
Furthermore, hardwood floors appeal to any interior style; from traditional to modern — which allows for creative freedom when selecting furniture, decorating and redecorating without having to perform costly renovations.
Located at the base of a residential complex in Downtown Austin, ATX Cocina is a commodious and lofty Mexican restaurant designed by locally based practice Michael Hsu Office of Architecture.
The restaurant features floor-to-ceiling windows and light wood surfaces.
To enhance the pre-built space, the restaurant interior features consistent use of wood detailing and geometric shapes.
“The project was given a glass facade that could not be changed, so we focused our attention on the ceilings, two small enamel steel interior greenhouses and furnishings to create intimacy, layers of space and warmth,” said Hsu.
To add charm and character to space, the arched ceiling is covered in lightly toned hemlock and pine.
A geometric pattern of rifled panelling adorns part of the ceiling, while large built-in-glass spans across the section of the dining room, creating a more private eating area just beyond.
The restaurant is furnished with darker-toned pecan tabletops and floors, while vetiver green-wire mesh, blackened-steel cabinetry, copper accents, and peppery reds from fabrics add contrast to the raw wood found throughout.
Colourful, geometric art on the walls is created by local artist Aaron Michalovic.
In addition to an open kitchen, other spaces include the wine counter, crudo area, and an outdoor dining section shaded with large oak trees.
Taupe and cream-coloured upholstery covers the benches, with a vibrant striped fabric used on the backs. Darker tones of black, grey, and green can be found as you move closer to the kitchen.
Hsu collaborated with other designers; including design and fabrication studio Drophouse Design, lighting studio Warbach, and designer Brandon Mike.
Images: Casey Dunn (https://caseydunn.net/)