Frequently Asked Questions
Browse through some of our most commonly answered questions below regarding our products and services, helping you make informed decisions for your home or project. If we do not answer your question below, please contact us directly and so we can assist.
Floor care and maintenance
What is the best way to protect flooring after installation?
We recommend using felt pads on the base of furniture to protect the floor from excessive scratching.
Which protection oil is best for maintaining my flooring?
Depending on the level of weathering apply 1 coat of Osmo UV Protection Oil Extra after approximately 3-4 years on the cleaned and intact finish. In general, one has to take a shorter renovation time into account when surfaces are exposed to extreme weathering and surfaces where water cannot drain (horizontal surfaces such as deckings, post caps, windowsill and garden chairs). However, if the greying process has already begun, revive the surface with the Osmo Wood Reviver and re-apply 2 coats of the Osmo UV-Protection-Oil Extra.
Should I regularly clean my flooring?
Yes, it is very important to regularly keep wooden surfaces clean. Dust, dirt and grit should be regularly removed using a damp cloth, microfibre mop or a vacuum cleaner with a soft attachment. If allowed to build up, dust, dirt or grit can act like sandpaper, scratching and dulling your finish.
What product is best to clean my floor with?
If your surface looks dull, clean using Treatex Spray On Floor & Surface Cleaner or Treatex Floor Care. Spray On Floor & Surface Cleaner is a convenient ready diluted spray which is designed to quickly clean and maintain surfaces treated with Treatex Hardwax Oil. This PH neutral product contains Vegetable oils and Carnauba wax, which means that as your surface is cleaned, a thin replenishing and protective layer of wax is also applied. Simply spray the surface lightly with Spray On Floor & Surface Cleaner and wipe with a cloth or mop. If you are using Treatex Floor Care in its concentrate form, begin by diluting 25-50ml in 5 litres of water. Clean the floor with this solution using a mop, ensuring that the mop is only damp and never wet, or a slow buffing machine with a white pad. Care must be taken to mix the product to the correct ratio – making it repeatedly stronger can turn the floor slightly slippery, if this happens wash with only water 2-3 times which will correct the wax level.
What product is best to clean a worn flooring surface?
Worn surfaces can be easily renovated using Treatex Preparation Cleaner or Treatex Wax Polish.
Underfloor heating
Is your flooring compatible with underfloor heating?
All of our oak flooring is fully compatible with underfloor heating. Please ensure underfloor heating systems are commissioned and running for at least 2 weeks prior to the flooring installation process, with the flow temperature of the water running through the pipes not exceeding 50 degrees centigrade.
Site conditions
Does the condition of the site matter before installation?
The condition of the proposed flooring area is extremely important. The overall fabric (walls, floor, timber etc. of the building should be thoroughly dried out so there are no visible signs of moisture or condensation. All wet work (concrete, plastering etc.) must be complete and dry before the flooring can be delivered. Dehumidifying a newly built/extended environment is crucial. This can either be achieved by running the heating system for a prolonged period, with good ventilation or alternatively using a dehumidifier.
Should under floor concrete slabs be dried beforehand?
All under floor concrete slabs should be dried to 2% moisture content and this normally takes at least one month per 25mm thickness of slab.
Will the timber expand or contract?
Seasonal variations and levels of heating may cause the timber to expand and contract. Small gaps may appear during winter when the heating is turned up, but these will close up again during the summer months.
What if my existing flooring is damp?
Existing flooring, timber joists, plywood or MDF sub floors should be in good structural condition, level, free from rot and fungus and most importantly dry.We cannot be responsible for any movement in our flooring after installation due to damp conditions within the building.
Will I need to move all the furniture before installation?
To enable our carpenters to start work it is necessary to remove all the furniture from the proposed flooring area. Please note we will take every care to minimise any dust exposure which may occur as part of the installation process but please expect a small amount of dust to the area(s) undertaken.
Payment
Will you require a deposit?
Our standard payment terms require a 30-50% deposit with further payments due as work progresses, specific terms will be agreed depending on the scale of the project. Goods remain the property of The West Sussex Antique Timber Company Ltd until payment is received in full.
Once again, I wanted to thank you all for a really great service. Everyone from the back office to the guys who came to fit the floor has been a real pleasure to deal with. The floors are absolutely amazing. They look so beautiful. Transformational.
An excellent job, we are really pleased. We would also like to mention the team of craftsmen should be applauded not only for their work, but for the caring and helpful way they executed their endeavours, explained what they were doing, and generally pleasant to be around.
I have used West Sussex Antique Timber on two separate occasions and was hugely impressed both times. WSA timber fitted solid wood plank flooring and engineered wood parquet flooring in my home, both types of flooring being of excellent quality. The craftsmanship of the fitters is commendable and the finish is flawless. I would not hesitate to recommend the company for an outstanding product and service.
The door looks amazing, in no small part due to the care and attention lavished upon it by your carpenter, Ricky. He’s done a truly excellent job!
Please accept our thanks for the fantastic job your team has done on our floor, it has greatly exceeded our expectations and looks absolutely amazing. Not cheap but worth every penny, a testament to the saying “you get what you pay for”.
I would like to say how pleased I am with the restoration of the Parque floors. They look really lovely, such a difference from what was hidden underneath the old fitted carpet. Dave and Martin did a superb job and were a pleasure to have working here. We would have no hesitation in recommending your company to anyone else.