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Laying Reclaimed Wood Flooring In Your Home

Having reclaimed wood flooring adds something special to your home, bringing authenticity to an older home renovation, or instant ambience with a rich patina for new construction. There are also a number of advantages to having a wood floor, beyond the conservation aspects of using reclaimed boards when laying the floor. For those who are seeking authentic reclaimed wood flooring, there are some really great products on the market today.

About reclaimed wood flooring

Reclaimed floors are simply floors made with repurposed wood. When an older home is being restored or refurbished, wood floors that are in keeping with the historicity of the structure are generally seen as more desirable than a modern floor which may take away from the character of the home. If you have an older home, you may also want to do any reno-work to the home in such a way that your work is in keeping with the character and period of the home. In this instance, the use of reclaimed wood is a good option to achieve an authentic finish.

The benefits of a wood floor

Wood floors are a good option if you require something which is durable and which adds to the appeal of your home. A wood floor can be easier to keep clean than carpets, as it is finished with a durable coating which protects the wood from stains and spills that would typically ruin carpet flooring. When choosing wood there are different types of wood, with hardwood being the most beautiful and wear-resistant. The downside of this is that it is more expensive, while pine flooring although slightly less hard is often less expensive. Ultimately, when choosing a type of reclaimed wood for your home, the type of wood already in your home may influence what type of wood you choose. The one surprising trend is the emergence of engineered reclaimed flooring.This involves a process where a thick layer of actual reclaimed wood flooring is bonded to multi-ply wood sheet.This greatly reduces the cost of the reclaimed wood flooring, and also results in a greater yield of the antique flooring.

Where to find materials for reclaimed flooring

There are a number of sources for reclaimed floor materials. If you are going to arrange to have the floors laid, but find the materials yourself, then you may want to look for materials being sold from schools, churches and other larger, old buildings that are undergoing refurbishment. The advantage of finding materials from larger buildings is that there may be more longer lengths of wood which can be cut to fit. However, it may be nearly impossible to find a company willing to mill the flooring for you as all reclaimed wood has to be hand inspected to remove metal from it.the old nails etc will cause major damage to the milling equipment.Alternatively, you may find it simpler to speak with a company that specializes in reclaimed wood flooring. You may also find that if you discuss the option of using recycled materials that are in keeping with your home, the company laying the floor may also be able to source the materials for your home improvement project.

With a bit of planning, it is possible to find the materials you need to ensure you have an attractive and authentic wooden floor. The sourcing of materials to achieve the look you desire is often much simpler than you may imagine. Finding a professional who is familiar with laying reclaimed wood flooring may also help you when it comes to acquiring the materials to carry out home renovations and improvements.

How To Buy The Correct Whiteboard For Your Needs

A look at the UK Whiteboard Offering  

Looking at the hundreds of different whiteboard offerings available on the UK market, this short article is designed to help customers narrow down their search and choose a dry-wipe whiteboard suitable for their needs. The article considers, size, surface type, mobility and price.

 

Size:

 

Whether it is an office whiteboard, school whiteboard or one for simply writing your shopping list on in the kitchen, the most obvious question to begin with is how large do you want the whiteboard to be? In considering this you will also need to take into account how quickly you would like it to be delivered. Products which can simply be taken off the shelf and consequently delivered on a next day basis, are loosely based around the older imperial measurements:

 

3’ x 2’ or 900 x 600mm

4’ x 3’ or 1200 x 900mm

6 x 4’ or 1800 x 1200mm

 

Some suppliers will hold stock on a few sizes outside of these sizes, but these are the most commonly stocked whiteboards available with nationwide next day delivery.

 

If time is not so pressing and you want a whiteboard made exactly to your size, then having a bespoke sized whiteboard can also be arranged. These typically can be supplied within a couple of weeks.

 

Writing Surface / Board construction:

 

There are three main types of whiteboard and in price ascending order these are; non magnetic melamine whiteboards, magnetic steel whiteboards and porcelain (ceramicsteel) whiteboards.

 

Melamine Whiteboards – These are the most commonly sold board owing to the cheaper cost prices.

Magnetic Whiteboards – The title type of these boards is a little misleading, as the boards themselves are not magnetic, but simply made from steel meaning they will accept magnets and magnetic planning accessories.

Porcelain Whiteboards – These are the top end type of board, but typically have a long manufacturers warranty. Owing to the longevity of these boards they are frequently used as school whiteboards or business whiteboards where they will receive regular usage.

 

In considering the surface of the board, at the time of purchase is worth deciding whether you think the board is likely to be projected onto for presentations, lessons etc. If the answer to that is yes, then one multi-use option is a matt whiteboard. The standard whiteboards will have a gloss finish, meaning throwing an LCD image up onto the board can result in a lot of glare back to the audience. A matt whiteboard removes this problem, allowing it be used as a normal dry-wipe whiteboard, but also as a projection screen.

 

Mobility:

 

The vast majority of whiteboards sold are wall mounted boards, but if you are needing a whiteboard to be used in different rooms you can purchase mobile whiteboards mounted on a steel frame with either a horizontal or vertical pivot. Owing to the weight of the board these are normally only available up to 8’ in width. These are a pivoting two sided board, so can have multipurpose applications (e.g. fabric notice board on the other side)

 

 

Value for Money and Branded Whiteboards:

 

Nobo are the UK brand leader for buying whiteboards online and through office supplies companies, but if a cheap whiteboard is sought then it is well worth considering the private label products and in particular, 5 star whiteboards. This private label range has whiteboards under £10 and still under £40 for a large 6’ x 4’ board.

 

 

If you need more information or would like to purchase one of the above whiteboards that we carry please feel free to visit our web site or contact us with your questions on 0845 2263313 

 

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