Comparing Wood Worktops, What To Look For?

Wood worktops are a excellent addition to any kitchen. When thought of as the worktop of selection to get country-style kitchens, in the past few decades, wood worktops come into their own and are trendy additions to all different kinds of kitchen, from contemporary, state of the art into conventional. Consequently, if you have determined a timber worktop is the smartest choice for your job, how should you go about ensuring you make the perfect option?

Our manual about what to look out for should help:

Species

The species of worktop you choose is arguably among the most important selections you’re likely to make. At Floor Sanding Lambeth, we’ve got a fantastic range of wood species, that we think represent the’best of breed’ when it comes to timber worktops. Each species has its own traits and here is an Notion of exactly what each has to offer:

Oak

Abundantly accessible, oak enjoys attractive grain markings, good durability and strength as well as being an affordable choice. In addition to looking great, oak is particularly hardwearing and with the right maintenance and attention will look great for many, many decades.

American Walnut

American walnut, as the name suggests hails from America. Found in North America, American walnut is often referred to as Black, or North American walnut. This species of wood ranges in color from tan to almost black. Having a tendency to lighten somewhat over time, the heartwood of the American walnut tree begins off a very dark brown and carries on a more gold tone with time. It is this developing nature of American walnut worktops that makes such an especially appealing option.

European Walnut

Recognised as one of Europe’s finest timbers, European walnut climbs in England, France and Italy, as well as some other European countries. Normally greyish brown in color, with a particularly appealing, almost smoky look for this, the grain of this wood is normally slightly wavy, making it a really attractive worktop alternative.

Iroko

It begins its existence a bright yellowish color, but mellows over the years into a medium golden brown. Iroko is a very durable wood and can be very resistant to environmental issues like moisture and temperature fluctuations. These attributes, together with its durability, durability and density make it the perfect worktop choice.

Size

The dimensions of worktop you desire will impact not just the price tag, but the alternatives which are offered to you. The normal width of worktops is 620mm, however 650mm and 750mm are popular sizes since they enable machines to fit snugly under, using a fantastic overlap. In reality, there’s even a 950mm choice, which is excellent if you’re looking for plenty of additional space to make your culinary joys. If it comes to worktop lengths, you are typically looking at two or three meters, meaning that in most kitchens you are able to gain from a timber worktop that is not spoiled by a combine.

Colour

Colour is likely to be among the driving forces in regards to making sure you opt for the right worktop. With colors which range from nearly white (generally walnut ) to nearly black (typically teak), you really are certain to find the exact look you’re after. When it comes to choosing the right color for your job it often pays off to become imaginative; breaking the rules can make a massive impact!

Thickness

At Wood and Beyond, our worktop thicknesses range from 26mm to 40mm, which we think gives you the flexibility to choose the best depth to suit your budget and your kitchen’s requirements. Should you fancy a very chunky, pricey look, then clearly a 40mm worktop is hard to beat, but when you’re trying to find a nice, budget finish over cabinets, then our 26mm alternative is perfect.

Full stave or small stave

Full stave worktops comprise of cleverly constructed planks of wood which are united to enable each plank to conduct the full duration of your worktop. This fashion of worktop provides a pleasant, clean line plus shows the wood off to its very best. The alternative to complete stave is little stave, which means that the worktop consists of small staves or pieces of wood that are combined to constitute the bigger board.

Optional extras

When you choose your worktop, it’s a fantastic idea to decide on a supplier that will customize, or customize the worktop to fit your requirements. Such matters as cutting to profile trimming, pre-oiling, the cutting edge of tap holes and drainage grooves as well as hot sticks installation can add really appealing characteristics to a fundamental worktop. Availing of this service will also save you time and create the installation process easier and stress free.

HARDWOOD FLOORS AND ISSUES WITH SCRATCHES

The ones that have had a hardwood floor fitted in their house could be forgiven for fretting about scratches to the surface of this precious investment.

However, there is no need to stress as it’s true to state they are always unavoidable — unless you vow never to set foot on the ground , you can expect them to look from time to time.

The trick, though, is learning how to fix them and stop them from spoiling the look and feel of the ground. To maintain the appeal of hardwood flooring takes care and attention in any case, so you ought to be well prepared to perform maintenance whenever required.

If the floor is used quite a good deal as well as the footfall is rather high, you can expect these scratches to grow. Along with this, pets may cause marks in wooden flooring and so you will have to provide them with alternatives to paw on instead. Be very careful when moving furniture too as this action often contributes to the surface of the flooring being damaged somehow, so make sure that you have pads on the bottom of the legs.

Minor scratches should not be too much of a difficulty to remedy, but excessive surface damage might require re-sanding. In the next article we’ll be focusing on minor scratches and what to think about when considering repairing them.

Refreshing your wooden floor in a way that you dream of

You prefer a clear and fresh floor? You have a wooden floor at home or in your office? But it’s not so easy to keep it looking good, right? And now you want to renovate it, but how exactly? Here are some advises for you that will definitely help you with the restoration in your wooden floor.
Sanding is the best refreshing technique for your wooden floor. Don’t be afraid, forget about the heavy dust clouds it your apartment. We work with new generation dust free sanding machines! We sand the wood in a modern way that ensures a long lasting effect. Your floor will look fresh and cool many years after the restoration. And that’s for sure because our customers’ children love floor skating with socks on the refreshed floor!
But first of all, you need to prepare the floor for sanding. Move the furniture and take down the drapes. That’s needed because we want to keep everything perfectly clean. Yes, we work with a modern, 99% dust FREE sanding machines. But also we want to be sure that there will be not a single drop of dust in your place, office or apartment. Remember, the preparation of the floor is a very important process – some floor types need more specific preparation – it depends on the wood. But we have a long-time experience in renovating, gap filling, sanding, polishing and any kind of care for your wooden floor! That’s why we guarantee a special treatment for every kind of wooden floor – and our customers are glad with this!
After the sanding, maybe you will think about polishing your brand new floor? But you are confused – what kind of varnish to choose? Don’t worry, our specialist at floor buffing will choose the best varnish technique for your wooden floor, so that it can look really flat, shiny and most of all – refreshed!
You want to know how it feels to step on a refreshed wooden floor? Contact us if you need special advises for your own floor.

Luton Floor Sanding

Pine vs Ash Wood

PINE: Pine is a softwood which grows in most areas of the Northern Hemisphere. There are more than 100 species worldwide.

Properties: Pine is a soft, white or pale yellow wood which is light weight, straight grained and lacks figure.It resists shrinking and swelling. Knotty pine is often used for decorative effect.
Uses: Pine is often used for country or provincial furniture. Pickled, whitened, painted and oil finishes are often used on this wood.

ASH: There are 16 species of ash which grow in the eastern United States. Of these, the white ash is the largest and most commercially important.

Properties: Ash is a hard, heavy, ring porous hardwood. It has a prominent grain that resembles oak, and a white to light brown colour. Ash can be differentiated from hickory (pecan) which it also resembles, by white dots in the darker summer wood which can be seen with the naked eye. Ash burls have a twisted, interwoven figure.
Uses: Ash is widely used for structural frames and steam bent furniture pieces. It is often less expensive than comparable hardwoods.

HICKORY

HICKORY

There are 15 species of hickory in the eastern United States, eight of which are commercially important.

Properties: Hickory is one of the heaviest and hardest woods available. Pecan is a species of hickory sometimes used in furniture. It has a close grain without much figure.
Uses: Wood from the hickory is used for structural parts, especially where strength and thinness are required. Decorative hickory veneers are also commonly used.

TOP 10 HARDEST WOODS

TOP 10 HARDEST WOODS
1. Quebracho – From the Spanish “quebrar hacha,” which literally means
“axe breaker.” Aptly named, wood in the Schinopsis genus is among the
heaviest and hardest in the world.
2. Lignum Vitae -Widely accepted as the hardest wood in the world–this
wood has been listed as an endangered species and is listed in CITES.
Consider Verawood as a very close substitute.
3. Gidgee – This Australian endemic is both very heavy and very strong.
Some pieces are dark enough to be used as an ebony substitute: one that’s
even harder than the original article.
4. Snakewood – It’s easy to see what makes Snakewood so unique–its patterns
and markings resemble the skin of a snake. Limited supply and high demand
make this one of the most expensive woods on eart.
5. Verawood – Sometimes called Argentine Lignum Vitae, this wood is a gem:
inexpensive, great olive-green color, beautiful feathery grain pattern, and
it takes a great natural polish on the lathe.
6. Camelthorn – Formerly classified as a member of the Acacia genus, this
south African hardwood is a tough customer. The wood is stubbornly hard,
and the tree is protected by giant sharp thorns.
7. African Blackwood – In some parts of the world, this wood has achieved
an almost legendary status. Historical evidence points to this wood
(rather than Diospyros spp.) being the original “ebony.”
8. Black Ironwood – Pieces are very seldom seen for sale, as this tree is
too small to produce commercially viable lumber. Like the unrelated
Desert Ironwood, Black Ironwood is an excellent choice for small
turning projects.
9. Katalox / Wamara – Some pieces can be just about a dark as true ebony,
while others are a more reddish brown with black streaks. So much depth
in the Swartzia genus, there’s something for everyone!
10. Cebil- Also known as Curupay or by the exaggerated name Patagonian
Rosewood, Cebil is not a true rosewood. It has a highly variable streaked
appearance not too unlike Goncalo Alves.