Floor fitting
The products
We specialize in solid wooden floors made in Germany by Berthold and we are the only trader selling their flooring in Scotland. You will find all the information you need about the different types of flooring available on the Berthold web site (the navigation button for the English-language version is in the top right-hand corner of their home page).
Berthold floorboards are extremely well made and the company offers a range of finishes. Alternatively the boards can be ordered unfinished for hand-finishing after installation (i.e., for staining the wood by hand prior to coating it).
All planks are available in different lengths, the shortest lengths being 1160 mm, more typically 1760 / 2060 mm, or even as long as 2360 mm. The average width is either 128 mm (5") or 148 mm (6"). Other widths are available, especially for oak flooring. In comparison, other suppliers sell floors with their shortest length measuring just 300 mm. We mean no disrespect when we say that we would regard these strips as firewood!
Long and wide planks look stunning, especially in larger rooms, with as few joints as possible and a finish to suit the character of the property. Berthold offers all these options, and their HardWax oil finish looks much more natural than any other prefinished boards we have seen. Most prefinished boards are laquered and usually look like plastic.
We also specialize in brushed maritime pine floors, which are a cheaper flooring option. These floorboards are available in a range of colours and in two sizes: 2000 mm × 140 mm and 2000 mm × 195 mm.
Prices
We will send you the Berthold brochures and a price list on request. Prices for solid floors range from just over £20 per square metre for pine to over £100 per square metre for American walnut.
Prices also depend on the 'grade' of the floor: a 'rustic' timber is alway cheaper than a 'select' grade. Furthermore, 'unfinished' is cheaper than 'prefinished'.
With this vast range of woods of various grades and finishes available, it is little wonder that pricing over the phone is rather a complex matter and something we would much rather discuss face to face.
Showroom: the flooring shed
We would like to welcome you to our small showroom at the Old Manse in Clunie. Here you can see most floors from the Berthold web site on display and we can advise you regarding their suitability for your property. As well as seeing and touching the wood, you can see and compare similar floors with different finishes next to each other.
We are also happy to take customers into our own home to demonstrate 'lived on' oak and pine flooring. Seeing our floors is usually enough to convince people that even a softwood floor can stand up to traffic, including children and dogs. As the business is run from home there are no specific opening times, but if you phone us we will arrange a mutually convenient time for you to view our own floors.
To avoid disappointment, please do ring first and don't just turn up.
Quotations and estimates
Occasionally we can give prices for flooring materials or an estimate for fitting a floor over the phone. However, we do need precise information concerning the room size and the type of wood you prefer.
Sometimes we are asked "how much is a wooden floor?", which is clearly a question which cannot be answered without going into detail. Ideally you would phone and arrange a time to visit us or for us to visit you with our flooring samples, and we would then discuss the wood and prices. At some stage Alex would need to visit you at your home in order to measure up and price the job.
If you do want an estimate over the phone or by mail, please do some research at the Berthold web site (www.berthold-holz.de) and let us know what flooring you like and the areas you want to have floored. All quotations will be in writing, include VAT at the current rate, and valid for six months.
Installation of the floor
After inspecting your site we first prepare the subfloor. If we are fitting wooden flooring onto wood, we make sure that all subfloors are sound and dry. We then start installing the planks with screws, which is by far the best way to work; screws can be removed easily if necessary, but nails are not so easy.
When fitting wood over a screed or concrete subfloor we use appropriate adhesives to stick the floor down or lay a floating installation over an underlay. Yes, you can fit a wooden floor over concrete. Again, have a look at the Berthold website and see what your options are.
Once the floor installation is complete, skirting boards or beadings are fitted, doors trimmed, and the threshold fitted.
A prefinished floor, once in place, will be ready to use straightaway. If the boards were unfinished, we would apply the finish you have chosen.
Aftercare and maintenance
We will supply you with maintenance products such as felt pads and cleaning solutions if you wish. It is most important to keep wooden floors clean and free of any abrasive dirt. We recommend that areas with a high amount of traffic, such as kitchens, are recoated on an annual basis. For this purpose we can put you onto our 'Maintenance List' and will then contact you automatically after a 12-month period with the offer to inspect and recoat your floors.