At City Rental Services, we spend a lot of time advising landlords in Bristol on how to maximize the rental values of their rented properties for professional and student tenants.
One of the best ways to maximize rental values is with effective internal decoration, contemporary fixtures and fittings, and attention to detail – a good tenant will notice the small differences between rented properties when viewing. This might include the state of the flooring or carpeting in a property.
This week, we’re handing the CRS blog over to London-based experts in wood flooring, www.woodandbeyond.com, to provide some hints and tips:
On occasion landlords struggle with the question as to which flooring solution is most suitable for a their property. A well-fitted flooring solution can improve the interior of almost any property and make it more appealing to a bigger group of tenants. As a landlord looking to let your property, choosing a flooring solution should be based on a compromise between practicalities such as durability in the property over time and visually pleasing so your tenants are content as they enter the property each day.
Nowadays your new flooring solution can be made of various materials. Options vary from vinyl to carpet to laminate and wood. Each has its own pros and cons and you will do well to evaluate each of these options based on your type of property and more often, based on your budget.
A popular choice in residential properties is wood flooring. Equally, wood is also the toughest to choose correctly due to its variations. Hence, it is the subject of this blog post.
Types of Wood Flooring
To the naked eye all wood flooring must look alike, but nothing can be further from the truth. There are two options that fall under the definition of ‘real wood flooring’ and fitting an incorrect option in your property is a sure way to drastically shorten its service life, thereby incurring more costs. The two are solid wood and engineered wood.
Solid Wood – Each board is made from a core of solid hardwood such as common oak or exotic hardwood such as African Walnut. To meet the definition of ‘solid’, the board must be made from 100% wood. If it contains additional materials, it falls under the next category of engineered wood.
Engineered Wood – Each board is made from a top layer (called ‘wear’ or ‘lamella’ layer) of solid wood. Below this 3mm to 6mm layer you will come across several layers of synthetic materials such as Plywood, Softwood and MDF. Only the solid wear layer is visible when the boards are fitted.
Suitability In Your Property
Solid hardwood is by far the stronger of the two options and makes for a sensible choice when service life is concerned (it can exceed 100 years). Engineered hardwood is slightly more affordable and makes a sensible choice when renovating on a tight budget. It is easier to decide on the type based on the area where the floor is to be fitted.
Properties With Under Floor Heating – Under floor heating create high levels of heat that can damage natural wood due to expansion (a common feature of natural woods) and therefore makes solid hardwood an incorrect choice. Engineered wood flooring on the other hand, are suitable.
Rooms That Contain Humid and Wet Conditions – Wood and humid conditions do not go hand in hand. These conditions are likely to occur in the bathroom and kitchen area. Therefore, one option is to completely avoid fitting wood in these areas or to fit engineered wood flooring with a heavy waterproof coating.
All Other Areas – Solid aka real wood floor is the best long-term choice if heat and humid conditions are of no consequence. Besides its durability features, you are able to sand and recoat the boards when needed, thereby greatly extending its service life and looks.
Type of timber
The type of timber that is used as the core of the board varies from common to exotic kinds. Oakwood flooring is the most widely used in the UK followed by walnut flooring. Exotic species can include Teak, Cumaru and others. When comparing options, also look at the origin of the wood to ensure it was ethically sourced. Most UK merchants will source their stocks from managed forests in which timber is legally harvested from forests that are then replenished.
For more information on wood flooring, please feel free to visit www.woodandbeyond.com.
If you’d like to find out more about our central Bristol lettings agency, please feel free to get in touch here.
