The Finishing Lab
Every Project has it’s own vision
The finishing Lab is our dedicated studio where your vision is transformed into reality - a place where tones, textures, and bespoke finishes are crafted to match your exact brief. From subtle shades to bold statements, we give you the freedom to design flooring that’s as individual as your project.
Brushing levels
Brushing has a significant impact on overall appearance, wear and texture. Brushing removes softer material, exposing the harder structure and relief. A brushed floor is less likely to show signs of wear as the softer material that scratches the easiest has been removed.
Heavily brushed floors are valued in interior design - especially in rustic and vintage styles as they emphasise character and history. Whilst smoother surface floors are generally used in modern and more sophisticated interior schemes.
Surface textures
Hand scraping - a traditional technique used to create an uneven surface giving the timber an aged, time worn appearance.
Band sawing - a machining process used to recreate the visible saw marks associated with traditional milling.
Light Bandsawn
Heavy Bandsawn
Tumbling / distressing
Creating an aged or "distressed" look by tumbling the wood in a large drum with solid objects. Random imperfections such as dents and scrapes mimic a heritage floor.
Edges and Bevels
Bevels are the angled edges on wood flooring that create a slight "V" groove where two boards meet. This provides a more defined look to each individual piece. Bevelled edges are common in pre finished flooring as they make installation easier on less than perfect subfloors. Options range from subtle "micro-bevels" for a more seamless appearance to deeper hand eased edges for a traditional country feel. Square edge is common with site finished floors as gaps can be filled prior to finishing.
Smoked/fumed floors
Oak is high in a naturally occurring compound called Tannin. Smoking/fuming is a process that involves exposing timber to high levels of ammonia in a sealed chamber. A chemical reaction takes place which changes the chemical structure of the Tannin and darkens the timber. The longer the exposure, the darker the timber, with hues ranging from dark browns to rich hazelnuts. A smoked floor looks particularly rich and interesting.
Becoming an integral part of the wood, the resulting colour runs through the timber. Deeper scratches and marks will be less visible than a simple surface finish. Variation in tone and colour are typically high, with smoked floors chosen for their richer tones and characterful appearance.
Finish types
UV oils, Hard wax and Lacquers. We offer finishing solutions suitable for any installation type with various sheen levels to choose from.
Each finish type will differ in terms of durability, wear resistance and maintenance requirements. If you are unsure what to select for your installation then please discuss this with us.
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UV Oil
Natural oil cured instantly under UV light. Penetrates the woods surface providing a highly durable finish. Not as durable as lacquer but very easy to maintain with quick drying refresher products. Ideal for residential and light commercial installations.
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Hard wax
A blend of natural oil and waxes that form a protective layer on the surface of the timber. The most natural looking of the finishes but can dull overtime. Hard waxes are easy to repair and maintenance is manageable. Recommended for residential use.
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Lacquer
The hardest wearing of the finishes. Lacquers form a hard protective film over the surface of the wood. Damaged or heavily worn surfaces may require the floor to be sanded back and re finished. Maintenance is manageable with refresher coats. Most typically used in high traffic environments such as retail and hospitality.
We stock a huge range of styles, sizes and grades ready to create your perfect floor. However, if our standard offerings are not what you are looking for, please let us know. We can manufacture to any dimension. There is no uplift in cost for producing bespoke products.
Special projects
For when something truly unique is required we welcome you to contact us and discuss your individual project requirements.
We can source and manufacture products from a range of timber species including Douglas fir, Ash and Larch.
Past projects have seen us manufacture European Oak plank at 35mm thick (10mm Oak).
We can also manufacture super wide and extra-long length planks up to 460mm in width and 7 meters in length.
Quarter and rift sawn European Oak is available to special order.
