Will wooden flooring scratch or mark?

From semi solid, bamboo, laminate, cork, LVT and more. Wooden flooring has been designed to withstand the brunt of daily life. Thanks to wear layers, laminate floors are not only resistant to scratching and marking, but can also heal and repair minor amounts to damage, leaving you hassle free flooring to enjoy. Check out the video below.

LVT products have a far more durable top layer than most products which is why they can boast stain and water proofing not just resistance, it is the most durable flooring on the market, but as it's such a new product there is less design choice for now.

With laminate and engineered wood, look for the wear layer. The wear layer is a clear layer on top of the wood that acts as a protective barrier. The thicker the wear layer the more durable the flooring. The wear layer can vary in thickness from 2mm up to 6mm. A thicker wear layer means you can sand the floor to renew it a few times before it needs replaced. For example an engineered floor with a 3mm wear layer can be sanded and refinished at least 2 - 3 times. An engineered floor with a 4mm wear layer or thicker can be sanded and refinished 3 - 5 times.

You can always give you wood a helping hand to ensure your flooring stays in near mint condition, regular cleaning and maintenance of your wood flooring can protect it from scuffs and scrapes and also create a water resistant barrier to help defend against moisture issues.

Here are some cleaning and maintenance tips to help you keep your flooring in tip top condition.

1. Use two buckets for wood floor cleaning.

One bucket containing the soap solution and a second bucket with pure water to

rinse the mop. Change the water in the second bucket as needed. This two-bucket

wash method prevents the floor from getting a greyish gleam caused by dirty water.

2. Visible footprints on your freshly washed floor?

The problem may be an excessive dosage of soap. So even though you think you are

doing the floor a favour, it is very important to mix the soap with water as recommended

on the label. Recommendation: Clean the floor with pure, lukewarm water (without soap)

and the footprints will disappear again.

3. Wood cleaner reduces surface tensions.

Surface tensions are present when a basic treatment or maintenance product

does not penetrate into the wood. It is often seen with new and dried-out wood

floors. A thorough cleaning reduces the surface tensions.

4. Vinyl and lacquer care.

The scratches appear as matte areas on the surface when exposed in the light flowing

through windows. Vinyl and lacquer care can also reduce some of the severe wear

under tables, caused by chairs being pulled back and forth, while providing the floor

with a fine matte appearance.

5. Microfiber mops are not recommended.

Many people believe that a microfiber mop is a great tool for wood floor cleaning.

However, microfiber mops are mildly abrasive and will gradually wear down an oil finish.

Recommendation: Use a quality mop / cotton yarn twist mop instead.

6. Why you shouldn't use soap flakes.

Many people consider soap flakes to be a wonderful cleaning product at home for a

variety of things. However, this product does not have a beneficial effect on wood. Soap

flakes basically degrease and dry out the wood, while weakening the natural properties

of the wood. Subsequently the risk of splits is increased radically.

We are manufacturers and distributors and do not sell directly to the public. Our products are available from all leading specialist flooring retailers.  

Can laminate flooring be installed in bathrooms?

To have absolute confidence in bathroom and kitchen flooring, our LVT products such as our exclusive Rockwood or Egger Design Pro are water proof. These products will withstand day to day life with minimal maintenance.

We also have a selection of laminate floors that are engineered to be more waterproof than others and are suitable for use in bathrooms and kitchen.

Classen ranges have the ISOWAXX system. This unique system seals the joints upon installation and will keep the moisture out of your floor, all of the Classen floors we stock have this system. Balterio and Egger both offer a range of water resistant boards, such as the Grande and the Aqua plus tile and wood. Ask your stockist about what flooring is suitable, you may be surprised.

Although many people assume that wood floors possess the natural property of water resistance, this is not true. In order to provide this added level of durability across the lifetime of the wood floor, steps must be taken to protect the wood against the effects of spillages, wet foot traffic, and air moisture (humidity).

Types of water resistant finish include:

Polyurethane A popular choice for areas of heavy traffic. The robust finish is however difficult to touch up in the event of accidental chipping. Polyurethane is available as both an oil based and water based finish. The difference is commonly seen as a difference in the darkening of the wood, with oil based finishes generally resulting in a darker finish.

Varnish Varnishes offer a slightly less durable finish as compared to a polyurethane finish. However, a varnish not only provides adequate water resistance but is also easier to repair in the event of accidental damage.

Sealer Although sealer is easier to repair compared to other options, the durability and water resistant properties associated with a penetrative oil sealant are seen as minimal unless paired with an optional waxing process. This type of finish is ideal for low traffic areas.

Applying a water resistant finish at regular intervals (2-10 years, depending on type of finish and intensity of usage) can help to maximise the lifespan of a wood floor. Options for creating different levels of water resistance range from Polyurethane oil and water based finishes, to varnishes and sealants.

Waterproofing can help to avoid:

Bow Bowing occurs where water damage causes a distinct contraction across the surface of the wood, causing the two ends of a piece of wood flooring to rise up slightly.

Cup Much like bowing, cupping occurs where the effects of water damage results in pronounced lifted edges along the length of the wood, with the centre remaining level.

Kink A kink occurs where water damage causes a noticeable ‘dog leg’ in the direction of the natural grain. This type of damage is typically associated with knots in the wood. Twist

A twist is seen across the length of a piece of wood flooring, where water damage results in prominent one sided cupping on opposing sides and at opposite ends of the piece of wood flooring.

Crook A crook (also known as a wain) is a visible ‘c’ shaped curve in a piece of wood flooring, where water damage causes a contraction along one side of the length of the wood.

Waterproofing a wood floor (or creating a desired level of water resistance) involves adding several layers of product to the surface of the floor. However, steps must be taken in order to prime the floor in preparation for the finish to be applied.

Sanding Sanding aims to remove any existing finish that may be present. This provides a fresh surface with which to work. Vacuum away any debris, and buff the floor with fine steel wool to ensure a smooth and well prepped surface that will respond most favourably to waterproofing.

First & Second Coat There are three main types of finish available (see below). Ideally, at least two coats should be applied within a 24 hour period. This should then be left to dry for 24 hours before adding the final coat.

Final Coat Ensure to remove all furniture and foot traffic from the room during the 24 hours after applying the final coat. This is an essential consideration, as spot fixes at this stage become exceedingly difficult.

We are manufacturers and distributors and do not sell directly to the public. Our products are available from all leading specialist flooring retailers.  

What can you expect after hitting Submit?

So you've submitted your CV, what happens next?

1. CV and Cover Letter Submitted

Thanks for applying! We’ve received your CV and we’re reading through it. Only successful candidates will be contacted for a phone interview.

2. Phone Call from Flanagans Recruitment

One of our talented recruiters will contact you to discuss your CV, talk a bit about our company, and chat about your work experience. This should take around 20 minutes. If there’s a match, we’ll invite you to an in-person interview.

3. Invitation to in-person interview

Only successful candidates will be invited to take part in our interview process. During the process a number of things will happen:

•A face-face interview with our HR or relevant manager (approx. 25 – 30 mins)

•An opportunity for you to ask any questions and gain a better understanding about the role and company.

4. Post Interview

After the interview process, we’ll be in regular contact until a decision is made. Sometimes this can take a couple of weeks but we aim to get an answer to you as quickly as possible.

Welcome to the team!

You’ll officially be a part of the Flanagan's Family. You’re manager will keep in touch before your start date and make sure you’re feeling well prepared for the next step in your career. A big congrats and welcome!