Beautifully restored wood burning stove. © 2016 ramsay photography
Example of a country brick floor living room design in San Francisco with brown walls, a wood stove and a brick fireplace

Powder room - mid-sized traditional gray tile powder room idea in New York with furniture-like cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble countertops and a one-piece toilet

Stairs in honed Pietra d'Avola and wall in Raw texture from Salvatori Pepe Fotografia
Staircase - contemporary staircase idea in Turin

One of the most popular hardwood floor finishing which offers Tom & Peter Flooring is provided by WOCA. If you’ve decided that you want a natural looking wooden floor that is lacquer-free, then the likelihood is that you’ve chosen oil as your way of protecting your wood and making your floor look great at the same time. WOCA for wood flooring comes in various forms and is a great way of making sure that your wood is protected, but at the same time looks natural. A highly popular as well as effective way of treating wood floors, oils effectively penetrate into the wood and in some cases harden into the surface of the floor to stop damage and to maintain the wood in its optimum condition. WOCA Oil finish hardwood flooring has taken the United States market by in 2014 and shows no signs of slowing down in 2016 and now. Here are some of the most common questions we have regarding this type of finish which we will I’m to answer in today’s my blog: Is oil finish as durable as traditional factory urethane finishes with aluminum oxide? When it comes to durability, oil finish flooring tackles the issue with a completely different method. The penetrating oil serves as protection from moisture and wear while allowing the user to feel the wood grains in their bare feet. If compared directly to factory finished aluminum oxide finish, the oil finish flooring will not perform as well to abrasion and impact. However, the beauty of this finish is the fact that it will camouflage any scratches which will inevitably accumulate over time. Will this finish evaporate over time and will this be harmful for indoor air quality? Another concern for oil finished floors its effect on indoor air quality. For on-site applications, some varieties suggest several coats which typically require the residents to be out of the home due to mild odors. However, there are factory finished UV-cured or single coat applications which lessen the downtime. Despite the odors produced during the drying process, oil finish floors rank amongst the lowest for VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions. Certain brands even boast true zero VOC. This fact alone makes oil finished floors one of the best options for green building solutions. “WOCA products are certified by independent laboratories, the German Institute for Biological Building Materials, and are in accordance with DIN–Norm 53–160. WOCA WoodCare Denmark products meet or exceed the most stringent U.S. standards for volatile organic compounds.” –WOCA Oil Finish Manufacture Does this type of finish require additional maintenance which I am not familiar with? For weekly cleaning, oiled floors use a special cleaner which contains an oil and soap mixture. After a period of 12-18 months some oil may evaporate causing the wood grains to appear dry. An additional layer of oil can be reapplied to keep the floor looking fresh. Although oil finished floors require more involvement in periodic maintenance in high traffic areas, this maintenance can be done much easier than the equivalent of an onsite sand and refinish. WOCA Master Color Oil contains pigment, which provides a single-step hardwood floor staining process. Laying down the stain and the finish in one step. This product comes 14 different colors, from Black to Extra White, and you can mix them freely to create various color palettes that will meet the demands of any job. Below are some pictures of the finished job…

Laminates having pre-attached padding can also be installed over an underlayment. When doing so, Lumber Liquidators recommends the use of Bellawood Platinum, Bellawood Premium, Quiet Walk or the Eco Silent Sound underlayment. These quality underlayments offer best joint/seam support while ensuring superior thermal sound reduction qualities, these properties are highly recommended for use with condominium associations, project planners and building specifiers.

Interior Design: Pamela Pennington Studios. Photo Credit: Eric Zepeda
Inspiration for a contemporary hallway remodel in San Francisco

Jewett Farms + Co’s Reclaimed Antique Heart of Pine Old Original Face flooring is more than just timber, it is a piece of US history. Old original face refers to the face of the timbers that have not been altered by modern cutting devices. The resulting planks provide a truly original and historic floor. These planks have a rough appearance and many cracks, nail holes and knots. Old Original Face Heart of Pine floor boards tend to have a darker hue and a lot of character. Jewett Farms + Co’s Reclaimed Heart of Pine Old Original Face flooring is available to be shipped throughout the United States from our New England headquarters.

A mixed evergreen hedge along with an elegant fieldstone wall mark the entry to this driveway courtyard
Example of a transitional entryway design in Boston

Inspiration for a cottage staircase remodel in Calgary

Mid-sized elegant living room photo in Denver

Powder room - small contemporary powder room idea in Madrid with a pedestal sink

Design by Young Home These by-pass rings allow the panels to be opened and closed over the brackets on a large slider door. Provided by The Fabricsmith.

Traditional Black Fir Shou Sugi Ban siding offers a unique texture for interior and exterior applications.
Industrial black wood house exterior idea

Reclaimed weathered barn siding wall paneling perfectly terminates into the grey limestone floor without the need of baseboards.
Small tuscan 3/4 gray tile and stone tile limestone floor bathroom photo with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, marble countertops, a two-piece toilet and white walls

Outdoor water fountain with tile
Design ideas for a small craftsman partial sun backyard stone water fountain landscape in Denver for summer.

This ski-in, ski-out condo features a strong Arts and Crafts influence. The interiors feature reclaimed oak floors, mortise-and-tenon carpentry, stone, and custom period details.

Example of a classic home design design in Cleveland

Arts and crafts exterior home photo in Houston

Modern compact design features full length concealed handles to open double doors. Constructed from solid hard maple and maple plywood (unit 40”w X 33”d X 93”h). Interior with single clothes rod and four pull out trays to hold up to 40 pairs of shoes and boots.