FAQ

Here, we present answers to questions about wood flooring we are frequently asked by our customers when visiting our showroom.

FAQ

Is your question not featured here, or would you like to know more? Please contact us via email at info@uipkes.nl or call us at +31-172-477355.

 Is it possible to install wood flooring on top of underfloor heating?
Yes, it is and we have been doing it for years. Underlfoor heating is best combined with engineered flooring (layered boards). It is of great import to implement a fairly easy, one-time heating protocol prior to and during the installation of the flooring, allowing for gradual heating of both the subfloor and the flooring.

Engineered flooring can also be glued onto the subfloor, provided that the latter is smooth enough. Otherwise, we install floating floors using a special underfloor heating foil named alu-heat. We do not recommend underfloor heating as main source of heating in combination with solid wood flooring as solid wood provides thick insulation and the heat may cause it to shrink. Due to its glued and pressed layers engineered boards are less prone to shrinking and expanding, although the effect is also influenced by the humidity of the room. 

 Can I order wood flooring in any color I want?
We can supply dozens of colours from stock as well as mix your desired color. We have been creating our own colors for over 15 years and no matter what your desire, we will always find a suitable solution. Our oil finishing brings out the structure of the wood and gives off a warm, natural sheen. Oak flooring can also be smoked or colored with pigmented oils, varying in colour from chalk white to deep dark brown, adding unique characteristics to your floor.

 Is it possible to have wood flooring installed in my kitchen? 
Our supplied boards and finishings are of such quality and strength that our wood flooring can be installed in your kitchen. The boards are resistant to spills, although they should be cleaned up as soon as possible. As one of the most-used rooms in the home, the kitchen flooring usually is more prone to wear and tear than other flooring, especially near the counter tops. Therefore, it is important to provide proper maintenance to your flooring more frequently than in other rooms. 

Can I get wood flooring in any desired width?
Wood flooring can be manufactured in every width up to 38 cm.  For instance,we supply engineered boards in 22, 24, 26, 28 or 30 cm wide. Of course, we can also provide different widths for herringbone or chevron patterns, creating dozens of variations in our patterns allowing us to create the flooring desired by each of our customers.

How come there are differences in price between suppliers?
Some products are specifically designed to be manufactured in a way that is as cheap at possible, eliminating almost all characteristics of the product except for its cheapness. Uipkes (and various other suppliers) prefer their products to be durable in every sense of the word, made within the Netherlands, to your custom design and lasting for years. Products that can be fitted over underfloor heating without problem and delivered to you in your desired quality, colour, shape and size. Uipkes can supply your with flooring that will last a lifetime. Read more about the cost of wood flooring.

Will I receive a warranty upon purchase?
Uipkes Wood Flooring is a member of the CBW (Union) and provides you with a 5 year warranty on both your flooring and its installation within The Netherlands. Please, call or email us if you live outside The Netherlands for more information about warranty. Uipkes does not require any advance payments upon ordering a floor; payment is instead required upon delivery.

Do you give out samples?
We have samples of most wood flooring in stock and will gladly send you one by mail, or present you with a free sample in our showroom. We also have a variety of "test-flooring", which measures 60 x 120 cm and is available upon request. Test-flooring can be picked up at our showroom, so that you can decide whether or not you are making the right choice at your leisure. Please contact us at (0031) 172-477355 to find out whether we have your desired test-flooring in stock.

 How thick would solid wood flooring be? 
The thickness of the solid wood boards is 20 mm, with a subfloor of 14 mm thick, for a total thickness of 34 mm. Please keep this in mind when placing a new kitchen in a new house or when remodeling. We advice you to have your kitchen place 3.5 cm higher in order to avoid back problems. 

How thick are engineered boards? 
We supply engineered boards with a top layer of 3 mm thick and a total thickness of 10 mm (Floor), a top layer of 4 mm thick and a total thickness of 16 mm (Vincent), as well as layered boards with a top layer of 6 mm thick and a total thickness of 20 mm (Robin). In case of glued laying the thickness of the glue is can be disregarded. A subfloor would add about 3 mm of height if placed on foil.

How long would each board be? 
The length of our solid wood boards varies between 150 and 250 cm, depending on your chosen type of wood. It is possible for shorter boards to occur, which can be used to finish or start a 'row'. We advise installing a floor in a 'staggered' manner, which is to say, with an offset op approximately 40 cm. Boards are between 10 and 38 cm in width, depending on the type of wood. 

 What is a V-groove? 
A V-groove is a slanted edge that runs in an angle of 45 degrees along the length of a board. The V-grove seam accentuates the boards, creating the look of seamed boards. We can supply boards without a V-groove, which create one smooth surface when installed. 

How long will delivery take? 
If you decide to leave the installment of your flooring to us, delivery takes 3 to 8 weeks. within The Netherlands. Please check this with us, so that we can decide upon the moment of delivery and installment together. You can contact us via email at info@uipkes.nl or call us at (0031) 172-477355. The date of delivery and installment may be changed up to 4 weeks in advance. For complete flooring of 30 m² or more, costs of transport and delivery is included within The Netherlands. We deliver our floors free of charge throughout The Netherlands, with the exception of the Wadden Sea Islands. Please contact us for more information about delivery and installation costs if you live outside The Netherlands, since other laws and regulations might apply. Some types of wood are available upon special request, ask about our delivery times at info@uipkes.nl

Is it possible to install the flooring myself? 
It is possible to install your flooring yourself with the use of our (Dutch) manual. Here you will find a detailed instruction of all aspects that are important in installing flooring. If you decide to install your flooring yourself, a 3 year warranty is issued within The Netherlands. We will conduct a first inspection four weeks prior to the installment of the flooring, even if you decide to install it yourself.

 How is the flooring installed?
Engineered flooring such as Vincent, Floor or Ruby are usually installed using glue on a prepped subfloor, making them suitable for underfloor heating. 

Engineered wood flooring can also be installed using a floating technique and a foil subfloor. Using this technique results in a sound reduction of 11 dB. 

Your wood flooring can be installed in a variety of ways. The most common techniques for installing a floor are: floating on battens, floating on foam underlay, floating on alu-heat (suitable for underfloor heating), glued on particle board and glued directly onto subfloor.

A floating floor is placed over a damp-proof foil that has been laid over the existing subfloor. Seams are closed using tinfoil tape. The pinewood joists are then placed on the foil in right angles to the length of the boards. The space between joists is filled with sound-absorbing material. Once the subfloor is placed, the solid part in the board's  'knife' is locked into position on the joist beneath it under an angle of 45° using a staple, after which the flooring can be finished.

Before flooring can be glued to a concrete subfloor, a layer of chipboard is glued onto the concrete. If the subloor is made out of a material other than concrete, or if it is too wet, the subfloor must be treated with a primer. It is possible to install glued flooring on a wood subfloor. A layer of rubber is placed on the wood subfloor, after which chipboard panels of 125 x 82.5 cm are screwed into place onto the wood subfloor. 

Which way of installing is better? 
Both the floating installment as the glued method can be used in small and larger rooms. A floating floor comes with an 11 dB sound reduction, which makes it a preferable method in apartments. Glued flooring produces a more solid sound than floating flooring, which is why some may deem floating flooring to feel more like 'real' wood flooring. 

Is it possible to fit wood flooring in my apartment?
It has become more and more common for the floating techniques to be considered during the construction of buildings, allowing for direct floating installment of a floor rather than having to apply a floating technique again.

Not all buildings are constructed with a hard type of flooring in mind. Often, in laying wood flooring in apartment buildings you are bound to noise regulations set by the committee of house owners. We always install floating flooring in apartment buildings, as a floating floor allows for a 11 dB sound reduction. Should this prove to be insufficient, we can install a subfloor which allows for 21 dB of noise reduction.

How long does installing wood flooring take? 
Depending on variables such as the total suface area, the floor plan of your home and possible extra proceedings such as shortening doors or placing solid plinths, installment can take more or less time. Prior to delivery, we perform an inspection in which we take a look at the rooms we will be working in. We can give an indication of the time required based on our observations. The installment of ready-made, finished flooring takes about a day. 

How often would I have to perform maintenance on my wood flooring? 
In order to enjoy your wood flooring for as long as possible, we advice you to regularly clean it with the products provided in the maintenance kit Uipkes Wood Flooring presents you with upon installation. If you provide your flooring with the proper care and maintenace, the durability of the finish is increased. Applying the provided maintenance product is important, especially after the first month. Flooring with an oil finish can be mopped and mildly lathered with a mix of water and Clien-Z. The layer of oil can best be maintained by applying a thin layer of maintenance oil to places that show more wear than others. 

Is it possible that flooring shrinks or expands? 
Flooring boards are manufactured out of dried wood, as drying helps to maintain the quality of the wood in the (Dutch) climate. Fluctuations in humidity through summer and winter can cause the boards to shrink and expand due to absorption and release of moisture. If the humidity drops to less than 40%, one should humidify the air in the home using a humidifier. The humidity can be measured using a hygrometer. If the humidity is maintained at or around 40%, the boards will retain their shape. 

Is it possible to install wood flooring over a tiled subfloor? 
If you have a tiled subfoor it is possible to install wood flooring after the right preparations. The width of the seam between tiles is an important factor in deciding the right course of action, as is the surface of the tile. For tiling with a sufficiently small seam and a smooth surface it is possible to install either floating as glued flooring. If you decide on glued flooring, the tiling should be cleaned with a mixture of water and ammonia prior to adding a primer.

We have a timber based subfloor rather than a concrete one. Would it still be possible to install wood flooring?
Yes, it is possible to install solid wood flooring over a timber subfloor. Flooring can be installed using both the floating and the glued technique, although the chipwood subfloor is screwed into place rather than glued in the latter. 

Is it possible to install wood flooring in my bathroom? 
It is possible to install engineered wood flooring in your bathroom, provided that some extra care is taken. We do not advice installing solid wood flooring in you bathroom, as the big changes in humidity before and after showering, as well as water spills cause this type of flooring to shrink and expand. Even though wood flooring in these rooms must be glued, it is possible for moisture to seep into the creases between boards, affecting the quality of your wood flooring. Shampoo and soap can also affect the finish of your flooring. When flooring is installed, a 15 to 20 mm margin is maintained to allow for expansion. Usually, this margin is covered, but it cannot be waterproofed, allowing for water to seep into the boards even further. 

When would be the best time to install wood flooring in my kitchen? 
Installing flooring in the kitchen depends on the way your kitchen is installed. If your kitchen comes with a cross plinth, the kitchen can be installed prior to the installation of the flooring. We kindly remind you to have the kitchen placed at your desired height, taking the thickness of the flooring into account (35 mm for solid flooring, 18 ot 23 mm for engineered flooring). If you do not take the thickness of the flooring into account, the difference in height before and after installation of the flooring may cause back pains. Additionally, having the kitchen installed prior to the installation of the flooring may prevent damage to the flooring caused placing the kitchen over it.

If your kitchen is placed on legs, it must be installed after installation of the flooring. Please note that the oil applied to the boards must dry for 48 hours. This does not apply to pre-treated floors. If possible, we advice you to have the kitchen installed 14 days after the flooring, as the oil must hardens over that period. The flooring should not be covered during this time, as it should be allowed to 'breathe'. We also advice you to instruct your fitter(s) to be extra cautious when moving cabinets; clear agreements benefit all parties in this matter.   

Is it possible to re-finish my waxed or lacquered flooring with oil? 
Yes, it is possible to re-finish wood flooring that has been finished with wax with an oil finsih. Empty the room, sand down the floor (including V-groves) and remove cover strips. After this, you can finish your flooring with oil. 

How much would it cost to sand and re-finish my flooring? 
The average costs for sanding down and finishing already installed wood flooring are approximately € 20,00 to € 24,00 per m², excluding additional material such as oil, sanding attributes, costs for call-out, additional installments (for example after remodeling) and cover strips. 

Is it possible to move my solid wood flooring to a new home? 
Wood flooring cannot be moved into a new home. Both floating and glued flooring have been nailed to their subfloor. Removing the flooring will destroy both the knife and the staple used to attach it to the subfloor. If you wish to move the flooring into you new home,  the remaining boards must me re-planed, leaving a board that is 2 mm thinner and 2 cmm narrower, which leaves you with roughly 60% of your original surface. We can rework the remaining boards and fit these into your new flooring.

How does plastering a wall affect the humidity of my flooring? 
As decorative plaster contains little water, its influence on the rooms humidity is negligible. Other types of plaster contain more water and will release more moisture into the air while drying, temporarily raising the humidity. If your room is properly ventilated and with the use of heating the humidity will go down in approximately 7 days. 

Would it be possible to install wood flooring in my newly constructed house? 
Yes it is. It is a misconception that newly constructed homes are too humid for the installation of wood flooring. On average, newly constructed houses are wind- and waterproof 3 months before completion. Thanks to their natural ventilation their subfloors are rarely too wet for the installation of wood flooring. During our inspection in advance we check the humidity of the subfloor. Should your flooring be too humid, there may still be the possibility of drying the room using heaters. If your subfloor is too humid because its cover has been laid to recently, it is better to wait a few weeks before installing wood flooring. If waiting is not possible, the subfloor can be covered with a DPM. 

What does 'smoking' flooring entail? 
Oak is a type of wood that typically can be 'smoked'. Smoking is done by placing containers filled with ammonia in the same room in which the flooring will be installed. The ammonia vapours react with the tannic acids in the oak, darkening its natural color and bringing out the wood's grain. The entire process takes 2 to 8 hours, depending on the desired level of discoloration. The level of discoloration depends on the percentage of tannic acid present in the oak. After the flooring has been smoked, it can be finished with oil, either natural oil or oil containing colored pigments. Please make sure your flooring has been properly sanded down and dust-free before working or finishing your flooring.