Does a solid wood floor look better
than an engineered floor?
No, the hardwood layer is the same
genuine hardwood you have in solid
hardwood floors. The finished look of an engineered floor will look the same as a
solid wood floor. Back to top

Will I need to refinish an
engineered floor?
It depends upon the thickness of your hardwood layer, but it is very rare to require your engineered floor to be refinished. With the high quality finishes that are offered and the extensive process that refinishing a
floor entails, damaged areas are often removed professionally. Back to top

Can engineered wood floors be laid
over a concrete floor?
Concrete is the ideal base for an
engineered wood floor. First you will need a floating floor over a Combi underlay, as this will have a damp proof membrane. Then
the engineered wood floor will be fully glued to the sub floor. Back to top

Do I need to leave an expansion gap with wooden floors?
An expansion gap needs to be left with all wood and laminate flooring that is fitted in your home. Wherever your solid hardwood, engineered wood or laminate floor meets a fixed object such as a skirting rail, door,
pipes etc. you will need to allow a gap of 1.5mm for every metre in length and width.
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What is the best laying direction?
Laminate and hardwood flooring can be laid
in your home either lengthwise or
widthwise. It really does depend on the
room and your own personal choice. We recommend laying the floor in the same direction as the main light source and the main front door. If you have lots of doors
and windows then we will recommend
which direction will look best based on our experience and expertise. Back to top

Can an engineered wood floor be installed in bathrooms or wet areas?
No it is not recommended to install engineered wood flooring in bathrooms or wets areas. Areas such as kitchens or
toilets are fine as long as any spillages of
water are cleaned up as soon as possible.
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How do I remove scuff marks from hardwood floors?
Many scuffmarks will come up if you just
rub them with a soft cloth – we find that a tennis ball as strange as it sounds offers
the ideal surface to clean marks from a hardwood floor, just rub it over the affected area. An eraser can also work in this
instance. For the most stubborn of
scuffmarks that need to be removed from
your hardwood floor, we recommend that
you use a vinegar based solution. First,
spray the mark with your vinegar solution
and then use a light steel wool pad to
clean. If the wax or varnish has faded, don’t worry as you can re-wax or re-varnish that area. If you are unsure give us a call and
we will be happy to advise you on what to
do, and also offer a repair service if you
don’t want to try and rectify your flooring problem yourself. Back to top

Where can I install laminate
wood flooring?
Laminate flooring is an extremely versatile flooring product. It can be installed
in virtually any room of your home, above
or below ground, over wood or concrete. There are several locations that are not recommended for laminate flooring.
Because laminate flooring is a wood
flooring product it is not recommended that laminates be installed in wet locations such
as bathrooms, washrooms, saunas,
enclosed porches or verandas, or
anywhere that may require wet-mopping. Extended exposure to moisture or water
may cause the core of your laminate
flooring to warp or swell. In some instances, with special installation procedures, it is possible to install laminate floors in bathrooms where water will not stand on
the floor for any length of time. For
bathroom installations, it is recommended you apply a light bead of glue to the tongue on the planks to be used in the areas
subject to spills. Also, ensure that all spills
are mopped up and dried straight away.
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What are the advantages of laminate flooring over those of solid
hardwood flooring?
Laminate flooring is typically half the price
of hardwood flooring (and sometimes the savings can be greater), which for some is
an obvious advantage. Laminate flooring is easy to install and can be installed as a DIY
job rather than getting it expertly fitted (although there are many disadvantages to doing this!). Hardwood flooring needs a
level of expertise and skill which many DIY enthusiasts simply don’t have. Laminate flooring can be installed quickly, and
because it’s scratch resistant, fade resistant and the products available are such good quality many customers opt for laminate
over hardwood flooring. Back to top

Why do I need to use a DPM on a concrete subfloor?
There can be a lot of moisture stored in concrete floors that you are unaware of.
You need to make sure that there is no
contact between this moisture and your
new laminate flooring otherwise it will ruin the floor. We recommend installing a moisture barrier over the concrete surface
so that your laminate floor will last.
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Can I use my old carpet underlay with laminate flooring?
No, carpet underlay is specifically designed
to offer comfort underfoot. If you lay a laminate floor over this type of underlay you will put intense pressure on the joints which will result in damage to the laminate.
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Do I need an expansion gap?
Laminate flooring is susceptible to
expansion caused by varying temperatures and humidity levels throughout the year. An expansion gap is therefore imperative and allows for these external influences.
Laminate flooring expands outwards, and leaving a gap means that it will allow for
this and avoids any problems post
installation. Back to top

What do I do if my floor develops gaps?
Wood based flooring products expand and contract with moisture and temperature,
and during the summer months the joints in your wooden floor will be more noticeable and gaps might appear. Most gaps are seasonal, showing in drier months and
closing in humidity. This is perfectly normal, however if the problem with your flooring persists or simply doesn’t look right then please give us a call for some advice – and
you may find that a humidifier to control the humidity levels may help. Back to top

What do I do if my flooring has marks?
Natural wood or wood based flooring
products may mark, dent or scratch over
time with general ‘wear and tear’. Wood is resilient and a great floor covering, but will need to be taken care of. Dropping heavy objects, walking with sharp heels, stones caught in the soles of your shoes, dogs with sharp nails, furniture being dragged - these can all cause damage to your floor. Take
extra care not to wear high heels regularly inside, lift rather than drag furniture, use furniture casters and wipe your shoes on a
mat and remember to trim your dog’s nails! However, if you do find yourself with a stubborn problem follow the advice in these pages or simply give us a call. Back to top

What can I do if my floor is making noises when I walk on it?
Squeaky or noisy floors are usually due to
an uneven subfloor or even the expansion
and contraction of your hardwood or
laminate flooring. Try sprinkling talcum powder onto the board that’s causing the noise as this will reduce friction. Otherwise you need to find out the reason behind the noise and this could mean taking up part of your floor and look at the root cause. We will be happy to talk to you about any
concerns so give us a call. Back to top

My wooden floor doesn't match from one board to another, what should I do?
By its very nature, colouring of real wooden flooring is unique, as no two planks are the same and it is therefore impossible to guarantee an absolute colour match - in
fact, it is part of the charm and character of having a real wooden floor. If you want to
have less variation with your product, you need to consider purchasing a stained product, which generally makes the product more uniform. Additionally look for prime grade products, which are chosen for exhibiting less of the natural characteristics such as mineral streaking, knots, and
colour variation. Back to top

Can a laminate floor scratch?
Melamine makes up the surface of laminate flooring, it’s scratch resistant but isn’t
scratch proof. Sharp objects can scratch
the floor and it isn’t indestructible so make sure you take precautions. Make sure you wipe your shoes to avoid sharp stones, lift rather than drag furniture, use furniture casters, trim dog’s nails and try not to drop
any sharp heavy objects onto your floor.
When using a vacuum cleaner make sure that the wheels and brush are in working order and don’t drag on the floor. Finally don’t leave water or wet substances on the laminate flooring surface without cleaning them up straight away. Back to top

What is laminate flooring?
Laminate flooring is made from a watertight and glued fibreboard which is covered with
a wood design surface, which not only
provides protection from wear and tear but also gives it the appearance of hardwood.
This upper design layer is a photograph printed on paper (usually of hardwood but
you can buy laminate in many other
designs including ceramic tiles), which is
then submerged in melamine resin and covered with a very strong transparent protective surface. This Melamine layer is incredibly hard wearing as it’s pressed on
the fibreboard under intense pressure and temperature.

Because the printing technique is so
refined, the photograph of the wood is very realistic, providing look of hardwood with
the durability of laminate. Laminate flooring
is easy to maintain, and is suitable for all rooms and areas in a modern home. They
are also suitable for commercial use.
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Which areas of Glasgow do you cover?
We offer hardwood and laminate flooring services in Glasgow City Centre, Giffnock, Newton Mearns, Shawlands, Newlands, Bearsden, Milngavie, Paisley, East Kilbride, Cumbernauld, West End, Langside,
Cathcart, Rutherglen, Kings Park, Queens
Park, Mount Florida, Pollokshields,
Braidbar, Renfrew, Johnston, Clydebank, Springburn, Maryhill, Drumchapel, Easterhouse, Shettleston, Baillieston,
Govan, Partick. We will bring laminate and hardwood flooring samples to your home to help you choose the most suitable flooring product for you, and will offer our advice
and expertise. Back to top

Do you offer flooring services outside of Glasgow and its surrounding areas?
We are willing to work in any area that is commutable by car so if you live further
away give us a call and we will do our best to serve your area. Back to top

What are the advantages of Plusfloor's Vinyl Uniclic system?
Plusfloor doesn’t need a subfloor, it uses
the clic system to ensure tight and
consistent joints between every board, it comes in a range of finishes including True Grain which is indistinguishable from an authentic floor, the material is completely stable and scratch resistant, it is long
lasting and incredibly durable, it is scratch, stain and fire resistant, it’s immune to the sun’s rays, it’s warm, quiet and easy on the
feet and is very easy to fit so keeping fitting costs to a minimum. For more information
and to see samples, call us today. Back to top

Do Plusfloor Vinyl Uniclic flooring planks need a subfloor?
No, that’s what’s so great about this
innovative new product. It is a floating floor, and the existing subfloor doesn’t need to be perfect. If it is damp or powdery, we will simply lay a damp proof membrane. It also needs no drying time after the floor is laid,
and will be perfectly flat and even,
regardless of whether there is some movement on the subfloor. Back to top

How do I maintain my new hardwood floor? Lacquered:
Hardwood lacquered flooring is really easy
to maintain, and it will look beautiful for
years to come. Lacquered hardwood floors consist of a very hardwearing surface, and lacquer used is made from polyurethane so
all you should need to do to maintain your hardwood floor is vacuum or clean with water. You can also use mild detergents for daily cleaning but make sure that you don’t leave any water or dampness on the floor.

Oiled: For daily maintenance of your oiled hardwood floor simply vacuum the area or
use water and mild detergent. If your floor becomes more difficult to clean, then you
may need to re-oil the surface. Usually,
oiled hardwood flooring will need to be
re-oiled twice in the first year and then once per year thereafter.

Unfinished: If you have had an unfinished hardwood floor fitted, then maintenance will depend on the finish you have applied. If
you don’t do this then your floor is more
likely to get stained or marked, and will still need some protection from daily wear.
There are preventative measures you will need to take to help keep your floor as beautiful as the day it was installed. If you follow these steps you will find that our floor will last for many years, and like any quality product it does require some looking after. Back to top

How do I maintain my new
laminate floor?
Laminate flooring really is one of the
easiest flooring types to care for. It’s
incredibly resilient and can be fitted in any room for a stunning finish that will last for many, many years. We recently re-fitted
some 8-year old flooring in a customer’s home. They wanted to change the living
areas to hardwood and as the laminate was
as good as the day it was fitted we replaced the carpet in the main bedroom with their unwanted laminate at their request, and it looked as good as when we installed it new.
To maintain your laminate floor we advise
our Glasgow customers’ vacuum them regularly and use a damp – not wet – cloth
to clean up any spillages. Make sure that
you don’t use too much water or cleaning detergents to clean your laminate floor. The best method for cleaning is to vacuum or sweep your laminate flooring first to clear
any loose dust or grit. Then spray a fine
mist of water over the floor in manageable sections, and then wipe them dry making
sure you don’t use a non-abrasive, clean
cloth.

It’s advisable that to prevent damaging
areas of heavy use, such as next to the
front and back door you use a natural fibre door mat or rug. This will prevent any grit or dirt being brought in on your shoes. It’s also
a good idea to use furniture castors on
dining tables and chairs. Never drag
furniture across the floor, instead make
sure you lift everything otherwise you may end up with scuff marks that are tough to
get rid of on a laminate surface. Visit our Advice Centre on the First Floors website
for troubleshooting advice if you have any marks or stains that you need to remove.
First Floors will be happy to come to your home with samples for a free no obligation quote. We work in Glasgow and its surrounding areas. Back to top

Can I use underfloor heating with
wooden floors?
At First Floors we only advise that people
use underfloor heating with either
engineered or laminate flooring, and not
with hardwood floors. Many people believe that underfloor heating is really good to use with wooden floors because it can keep an even temperature on the surface of your wooden floor. It’s imperative that wooden floor doesn’t warp, so the floor needs to be kiln-dried before installation. Even then, we would only ever lay out the floor in the room it’s going to be installed in to give it time to acclimatise. However, wooden flooring combined with underfloor heating can be inefficient. Wood is an excellent insulator
and as a result it will insulate your room
from the heating system below it. This
means the system has to work harder to heat your room, reducing its efficiency and making it a lot more expensive and less eco-friendly to run. We recommend that you call us for a flooring quote, and look at samples to decide what wooden flooring you would like in your room and following this consult a professional in underfloor heating to find out if they are compatible. Back to top

Is Plusfloor a good alternative to solid hardwood or engineered wood?
One of the great features of the Plusfloor Vinyl Uniclic flooring planks is that it is available in a True Grain range. This range is a textured finish and follows the grain pattern precisely, making it virtually indistinguishable from an authentic wood floor. Back to top

Can a laminate floor be laid over carpet?
No, all carpet and underlay should be
removed completely prior to installation.
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