Research by 1926 Wood Flooring has revealed that lots of people are searching online to discover which is better: real or laminate flooring?

In response to this, 1926 Flooring has produced information to help people come to a decision about the best type of flooring to suit their situation.

When deciding on a flooring material for your home, it can be difficult to choose between laminate flooring and real wood. Here are some facts about each of these to help make an informed decision:

Real Wood Flooring

Also called solid wood flooring, this type of surface is 100% real wood, with no extras other than paint or varnish, if you require them.

Advantages

For capturing that authentic look, nothing beats real wood flooring.
Solid wood floors can be sanded to remove any scratches or scuff marks. This means that they last longer than laminate, asthe surface can be restoredseveral times during the course of its life.
Real wood flooring can also be varnished and painted to match the decor of your room each time you redecorate.

Disadvantages

As real wood flooring consists solely of natural wood, it can expand and contract depending on levels of humidity in the air. This means that you should leave a small gap around the edge of wood flooring to allow for any expansion.

On particularly cold frosty days, you may find your flooring has unsightly gaps between the planks in draughty rooms.
Conversely, on days with high levels of humidity you may find the wood has buckled. This buckling can result in severe damage if you have not left enough space to accommodate it.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring consists of melamine resin fused with layers of fibre board, which simulate the appearance of real wood, stone or any other kind of flooring.

Advantages

This type of flooring is great if you’re on a budget. Generally it’s cheaper than real wood flooring (starting at around £10 per metre,) but is a bit of a compromise if you’re looking for an authentic finish.

If you have small children, laminate flooring is an excellent option as it is very easy to clean; dirt and moisture can simply be wiped away and the flooring won’t be discoloured by chemicals in household cleaning products.

This kind of flooring is resistant to scratches, so it a fairly robust option. Laminate will also not absorb moisture, which can be a problem with real wood flooring, so it can be laid anywhere, even areas in the home which experience varying levels of humidity, such as the kitchen. Some laminates as so resistant they can even be laid in the bathroom.

Disadvantages

As laminate flooring is made from several layers of man-made fibre, it is impossible to sand it down should it get damaged. This means the only option for dealing with imperfections that may occur in the laminate, such as cracks, is to replace it entirely. Also, if you want to change the appearance of your flooring, the only option is to buy an entirely new floor.

Engineered Wood Flooring

This type of flooring is made by layering different types of wood and then finishing off each section with a veneer of the wood of your choice. It’s the ‘best of both worlds option’.

Advantages

This gives the appearances of a real wood floor, with a price tag similar to that of laminate. Also like laminate this type of flooring does not have the same problems with moisture as solid wood, so it can be laid anywhere in the home.

Disadvantages

Like laminate this kind of flooring can’t be sanded down, re-finished or repaired, as the veneer on top is only a relatively thin layer.

To view 1926 Trading’s extensive ranges of real wood and laminate flooring, please visit the website,

The popular Linnea Living Collection by Kahrs, has been extended to include ten one-strip designs, made in Sweden from sustainable oak, walnut and cherry.

Linnea Living is only 7mm thick and offers a fashionable and practical real wood flooring option that benefits from Kährs award-winning manufacture and design:

• Offered in a popular one-strip plank format, Linnea Living boards measure 1225 x 118 x 7mm.

• The floors are crafted from sustainable European Oak, with designs including white-stained Oak Blanc, mocha-toned Oak Coffee and include FSC-certified choices.

• Blush toned Cherry Muscovado and rich Walnut Cocoa, complete the range and offer alternative sustainable species.

• All of the floors benefit from a durable satin or matt lacquer pre-finish, with many designs also featuring micro-bevelled edges, as well as stained and brushed surface treatments.

• All designs feature a light weight, high performance structure, which is both easy to handle and eco-friendly. Below the hardwood surface, boards consist off a layer of High Density Fibreboard above a hardwood veneer base.

• Kährs eco-conscious construction, - combined with its Woodloc® joint, eliminates gapping and reduces natural movement caused by humidity change.

Boards can be laid on most dry, level surfaces including concrete, wood and particle board and can be installed either floating, or glued down.
Kährs Linnea is also ideal for installation over underfloor heating and all products are offered with a 12-year guarantee.

For more information on the Kahrs Linnea Living Collection, please visit the website.

Kährs eco-friendly World Collection has been launched online by 1926 Wood Flooring.

The award-winning new sustainable World Collection is an eco-friendly construction patented by Kährs:

The floors are crafted in Sweden from sustainable European Oak, and as well as using the natural materials in the most nature-friendly way, the ‘criss-cross’ construction offers 75% greater stability than a solid floor and it can be renovated in exactly the same manner.

The oak floors are available in one, two and three-strip designs and have an authentic exotic stained finish in a choice of copper/red wine and rich burnt orange/topaz tones.

The launch follows Kährs removal of all tropical species from its range, until guaranteed controlled sources can be found.

Collection styles include: red toned 1-strip Cayenne, 2-strip Chili and 3-strip Habanero and topaz toned 1-strip Coriander, 2-strip Nutmeg and 3-strip Cardamom.

Each design features Kährs glueless Woodloc joint for fast, easy installation and a durable lacquer prefinish for easy care.

1926 Trading were Kährs first choice to be awarded the prestigious status of Kährs Authorised Internet Dealer, in recognition of its Kährs product knowledge and customer

For further information and to view the full Kährs Eco-Friendly World Collection of wood flooring, please visit the website.

Forbo Flooring’s new Novilon collection offers an ideal way to introduce a natural look into your home:

• Combining the warmth of rustic wood effects with the comfort of a cushioned vinyl, the Nova Wood range draws on conventional looks and updates them for 2011.

• From warm beech and chestnut versions to more earthy looks such as blackened oak, the realistic finishes combine elegance and simplicity without compromising on practicality.

• The Novilon Nova Wood in our picture comes with a 20-year guarantee and the hard-wearing Diamond Seal finish, which protects against scuffs and scratches, makes it perfect for family living. It also benefits from Aquagrip slip resistant technology and a Noviclean top layer for easy cleaning.

Forbo’s colour and design expert Margareta Grieve said: “Channeling classic style, the high end range of colourways available from the Nova Wood collection, create a pared-back base for experimenting with colourful accessories and seasonal trends.”

Prices for the new Novilon range start at £13.99 per m².

For more information about Forbo’s Novilon ranges, please visit the website.

Tel: (0800) 731 2369 for stockists.

UK company 1926, has introduced an exciting and pioneering wood effect flooring range to its collection.

Elesgo Supergloss is the first 99% high gloss laminate flooring to combine deluxe looks, low-maintenance and strength:

• With a dependable Uniclic jointing system, these floors are designed to allow an easy clean laying of the floor without glue, to ensure perfect results without gaps.

• This range has been developed to be long lasting, requiring minimal maintenance and suitable for all rooms in the home except for high traffic areas such as hallways.

• The hardwearing floor surface is designed to withstand the effects of daily life, as the surface of the product is patented to be scratch resistant.

• The Elesgo Supergloss range is available in a wide variety of stunning and realistic timber and stone finishes, featuring a large choice of wood-effects - Traditional cherry, beech and walnut look spectacular, while Dark Bamboo and Golden Yew Single Plank can offer a more personalised look to your décor.
• Priced from £17.65 m².

1926 Trading is one of the UK’s leading distributors of wood flooring, doors and carpet tiles, and have attained the impressive status of a Kahrs Authorised Internet Dealer and Heuga Premier Retailer.

To view the wide variety of the Elesgo Supergloss realistic wood and stone finishes, please visit the website.

Since 1995, Walking on Wood craftsmen have designed and installed custom-made parquet wood flooring and herringbone parquet flooring for interior designers, architects, construction companies and home-owners.

They specialize in bespoke, hand-made, parquet wood flooring that is tailored to each client’s style, requirements and budget.

Walking on Wood’s parquet wood flooring is found in townhouses, country residences, museums, hotels, restaurants and boutiques around the world.

On the newly designed website, the photos galleries show bespoke, classic modern, contemporary, traditional, exotic, country and commercial - actual floors, designed and installed for clients, many of them high profile.

The Timber Collection on the website, illustrates timber and patterns in different colours, which have been developed for clients over the years. They are constantly evolving, as Walking on Wood continues to innovate and seek solutions to specific clients’ requirements.

• The company lays well-known patterns, including Versailles, Herringbone, Chevron and Basket-weave, create individual patterns, and work with clients to design parquet wood flooring that combines wood with leather, carpet, steel and glass.

• They select the best possible partners to ensure that their parquet wood flooring co-exists with sound-proofing systems, under-floor heating and new concrete floors.

• Easy-to-use maintenance products are recommended for oiled or varnished floors, to preserve the quality of the floor throughout its lifetime.

The Walking on Wood products can be seen in their showrooms in Chelsea, Kensington and Nottinghill in London.

To view the spectacular parquet wood flooring designs and colours, please visit the website.

Tel: (020) 7243 1409 (Nottinghill)

As we head into winter, channel the natural textures of exotic Africa into your home, with Forbo Flooring’s Enduro range.

The calming influence of the seamless wood effect creates a perfect balance, when combined with ethnic patterns and tribal influences.

The new Enduro range of luxury vinyl tiles, boasts fifteen natural shades of natural wood and stone effects:

• Not only is Enduro quick to lay and ready to walk on in just 30 minutes, but it is a highly cost-effective way to help bring a refreshing look to the home.
• An optional peel and stick process means no nails, power tools or glue are needed – ideal for first time DIY-enthusiasts. Just peel off the backing and place down on the floor.

Forbo’s colour and design expert, Margareta Grieve, says that an African atmosphere is perfect to enrich the home all year round:

“The warm, exotic tones of the Savannah never fail to create a warmth that adapts seamlessly to the modern home. The bright, natural feel of a wood effect floor is the ideal way to complement vibrant patterns.”

This cost-effective collection is perfect for those looking to inject a little exotic luxury into their home. Prices start from £14.99 per m2.

Forbo Flooring Systems is a worldwide player in high-quality commercial and residential floor coverings.
It focuses on environmentally friendly, functional and design-oriented linoleum, project vinyls for specialized applications, entrance matting systems, carpet tiles for the object market and needle felt, as well as cushion vinyls for the home market.

For more information about the new Enduro range of luxury vinyl tiles, or to find your nearest stockist please visit the Forbo website.
Tel: (0800) 731 2369

Kährs has launched its new Avenue Collection - the third collection of wood floors from its exclusive Supreme Range.

Crafted from fine Walnut and Maple, the new collection includes six one-strip wood floors offered with a variety of stunning surface treatments, and with a durable natural oil or UV lacquer pre-finish.

Measuring 1830 x 148 x 15mm, Avenue floors are crafted from a single plank of wood, giving a sought after one-strip look.

Maple options include the lively-toned Park Avenue, with its hand scraped and bevelled finish, and the distinct, bevelled Nordic Avenue, (In our picture), with its mono-toned ‘gothic’ appearance.

Meanwhile Walnut Majestic, Ritz, Palace and Plaza Avenue, each provide a different look in a rich conker tone and have a tactile brushed, bevelled, distressed and hand scraped surface finish.

All floors throughout the Avenue Collection, feature Kährs award-winning multi-layered construction and glueless Woodloc® joint, which is both eco-friendly and promotes an easy installation without gapping.

Floors can be refurbished in exactly the same way as a solid product and the ‘criss-cross’ build offers additional performance benefits, including 75% greater stability throughout all climates.

All Supreme Range floors are also offered with a 30-year guarantee.

For more information on the new Supreme Range of wooden floors , please visit the Kährs (UK) Ltd website.
Tel: (023) 9245 3045

The Fired Earth summer sale runs from June 19 to July 17 and they are offering up to 25% off selected wall and floor tiles, kitchens and bathroom and even 50% off special purchase and discontinued tiles.

Kitchens

• Fired Earth’s kitchens are handcrafted from the highest quality, responsibly sourced materials and work well in contemporary and traditional spaces.
• Now is a great time to think about updating yours, as there’s 15% off all freestanding and fitted kitchens - including the new fitted Bastide (in our picture) and Moderne collections by Charles Smallbone - and rising to 25% off if you spend more than £10,000. (Offer excludes worktops and appliances for fitted kitchens.)

Tiles

• Fired Earth is well known for its collection of stunning wall and floor tiles and there’s never been a better time to buy them - with up to 25% off selected tiles from the hugely popular Tile Basics collection; in fact, you can now buy tiles from just 27p each, as the Architecture tiles have been reduced by 25%.

Bathrooms

• From truly chic wet rooms through to the most romantic bathrooms imaginable, Fired Earth has pieces to suit every taste. The summer sale offers savings of up to 25% off a huge range of products.
• For example there’s 25% off Bastide bathrooms, including the Washstand 1170 - reduced from £2,495 to £1,871.25.
• There’s also 25% off the Bastide dual control shower and accessories, which are reduced from £1,565 to £1,173.75.

Plus there’s also 15% off selected wood flooring, all Lloyd Loom furniture and hand-woven rugs.

For more information on sale products and prices, please visit the Fired Earth website.

Tel: (0845) 366 0400

In today’s chaotic world a sense of peace and harmony is more important than ever. Our environment has a considerable impact on how we think and feel and the right surroundings have the ability to help us relax, rest and refocus.

All these things enable us to be more productive, creative and improve our problem solving capabilities. So what better time than spring to freshen up a home or work environment.

A great way to create a naturally comfortable and serene environment is to get more in touch with nature.

With this in mind, here are a few tips on how to introduce a little of the outside, inside:

Plants
Not only do plants energise a bland room, they’re proven to help reduce stress and absorb toxins.
So why not harness the mood-boosting power of gardening and make the most of your indoor space with an indoor window herb garden.

Water
You may wonder how you can bring running water indoors, but there are some amazing minimalist indoor water fountains, which can be the perfect answer.

Not only will an indoor water feature be visually stunning, but also it is believed that water has natural healing properties.

Scents
With the ability to transform our emotions and heal our bodies, smell is one of the most powerful senses. So with this in mind you could introduce a little aromatherapy at work or home to soothe, uplift, energise, relax or even stimulate the body.

Real Wood
A real wood floor is one of the biggest natural statements you can make in a room and the warm, natural tones and texture of wood emulate the outdoors.

The variation in styles and colours of wood flooring is now greater than ever. Take a look at wood flooring from1926 Trading Co for some great examples at prices that won’t break the bank.

Featured here is their Karhs Wood Flooring (Kahrs Walnut Atlanta, City - American Naturals Collection).

Light
One of the great things about the outside is natural light and in the darker months of the year, you may find the lack of light is affecting your mood.

Floor-to-ceiling windows and skylights are two great ways to encourage every beam of natural of light into a room. If you look out to a green space or garden, large windows will create the illusion that the outside is part of the inside.

So there you have it, five simple ways to bring a little more of the outside in and make indoors a more inspiring and positive environment.

Web: http://www.1926woodflooring.co.uk/