Know your hard and soft woods, claims flooring expert

Hardwoods and softwoods may sound different but one flooring expert has claimed they may provide similar results in terms of how long they last.

In response to a reader's query in his Telegraph column, home improvement guru Jeff Howell set out the differences between wood types.

A reader wrote that their partner would be replacing the floorboards in his Victorian house, changing from fascia to iroko hardwood and wished to know the optimal paint to use.

Mr Howell stated his belief that hardwoods were often difficult to paint due to their oily surface and questioned the choice of the expensive iroko wood.

He claimed that the contrast between softwood and hardwood was purely botanical and that they would not provide much difference in durability.

Mr Howell's top tip for replacing fascia boards with an eye to maintaining the flooring would be to use a treated softwood.

His comments follow a similar query from a reader of his column earlier in the month in which he advised people with Victorian houses to use wood flooring, if damp was an issue.

By David Steel
 

Date : 27/08/2010
Category: Solid Wood flooring news