HARDWOOD

Hardwood Floor Coverings
Can be either solid hardwood or engineered boards with hardwood laminate.

Solid Hardwood
Wood is a natural product and will be affected by both heat and humidity. When wood absorbs humidity it will swell, and subsequent drying will cause shrinkage. Timber flooring should be supplied kiln dried to approx 6-9% moisture content, it is advisable to loose lay the timber in the area where it is to be fitted so that it can acclimatise. This will take approx 7 days. Before laying, check the moisture content of the screed with a moisture meter and ensure it is below 4%. The hardwood floor should be laid with the floor heating on giving a surface temperature of approx 20°C. If the hardwood is being glued down, this should be done on a cool floor and ensure the correct adhesive is used (one suitable for use with underfloor heating) Begetube will always recommend that hardwood is floated over the screed instead of being glued down. This allows the hardwood to expand and contract.
When floating a hardwood floor most manufactures recommend a thin foam layer between the hardwood and screed, this is perfectly acceptable, do not use the thick foam type sheeting which is sometimes supplied. Always refer to the timber floor manufacturers fitting guides and if in doubt contact Begetube UK.
Engineered Boards (Laminates)
This type of flooring is made up of layers of plywood or MDF under the hardwood finish. It is a much more thermally stable product and will not react to heat or humidity to the same degree as solid hardwood. Moisture readings and laying procedures are the same as hardwood, but always follow manufacturers recommendations.
After installing a timber floor the underfloor heating can be slowly raised to full operating temperature. Final surface temperature of the timber floor should not exceed 27°C.
Always inform the floor covering supplier that his product is to go over underfloor heating.

CARPET & UNDERLAY

VINYL SHEET

TILES