Adding Life to your lifestyle

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14 September 2021

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4 min read

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Few flooring products compare to wood when it comes to creating impact and warmth, however, wood floors often require a lot of care to keep them looking at their best. Now, there’s a product that combines the aesthetics of wood with the durability of vinyl.

In the hierarchy of flooring products, wooden floors will always rank near the top for their classic good looks and overall ability to set the tone for an entire interior scheme. If they have a downside, it’s that they can be quite labour intensive to keep in tip top shape.

In the 1960s, engineered wood flooring was developed as an alternative to natural wood floors as it offered the look of wood with a few advantages—it was highly durable and it could be laid over concrete substrates more easily than its natural counterpart.

Move forward another 60 years and the evolution of wood flooring continues with the latest offering from renowned Swedish flooring manufacturer, Kährs.

“Founded in 1857, Kährs is one of the oldest flooring companies in the world, establishing itself as a global market leader with sales in 70 countries, offering a wide range of flooring products,” says Erin Denny, Co-director of The Wooden Floor Company.

“Kährs has always innovated and its latest range—Kährs Life—continues that tradition, bridging the gap between traditional 15mm wooden flooring and vinyl.”

Faded Black Wide, from the Life Collection, is a single-strip stained oak floor with few knots and an authentic look and feel. The matt lacquer finish eliminates glare while protecting the wood from daily wear.

Kährs Life: the power of wood

Combining the best of both worlds—the authentic look of a wooden floor with properties close to vinyl flooring—Life perfectly balances naturally beautiful aesthetics and performance, says The Wooden Flooring Company Co-director, Jon Denny.

“Life offers a thinner profile—just 7.2mm—comprising a high density core with wood backing and either an oak or walnut veneer top and is available in 10 colours; eight stained oak finishes, one natural oak finish and one walnut finish.

“The matte lacquer finish is scratch, dirt, impact and water-resistant, making Life an ideal product for homes with pets. Not only that, Life’s HDF core is Class 33 for hydro-resistance, the highest standard attainable. Additionally, the 5G joint locking system makes it suitable for either floating or fixed applications and it is also suitable for use with underfloor heating systems.”

Jon says Life can be laid directly over existing hard surface flooring, meaning it’s well suited to residential and commercial applications such as hospitality and multi-unit developments.

“Life is a cost-effective option for people looking for aesthetics and durability, whatever their need. Yes, because of its thinner veneer layer, Life is unsuited to sanding, but, that said, thanks to its highly durable surface it shouldn’t need to be.”

Life is available in three options and The Wooden Floor Company will stock the wide board option—1810mm x 150mm—as standard. The 1225mm x 118mm board profile and a two-strip option (1225mm x 193), will be available via indent.

Kährs Life: designed for real life

“At the moment there aren’t too many hold ups on product coming from Sweden and we’re experiencing a 12–14-week turnaround on delivery,” says Erin.

“A real bonus for customers is that as Life comes pre-finished, it is ready to lay the second it arrives. Similarly, thanks to its slimline profile, it fits in easily with most existing thresholds and doors, saving you time and money when renovating or out-fitting a commercial premises.

“With such an established history in the industry, Kährs has a highly sustainable focus on all its products and operations and along with several global sustainability accreditation, has made an environmental declaration for all of its products, which customers can read on the website.”

Life, which comes with a 15-year warranty, is exclusive to The Wooden Floor Company and can be ordered directly from them on a supply and install or supply only basis. The Wooden Floor Company offers nationwide delivery.

Learn more about the suite of Kährs Life products available for your next residential or commercial project.