Craftsmanship of yesteryear

In a world where time is money – things are generally done the quickest way. That said, when things are done quickly the final result isn’t always as durable, reliable or as beautiful as they could be if a little bit more time is spent achieving best practise.

And that’s exactly what Freedom Flooring’s Phil Rowe says of the solid and engineered timber flooring industry. “We believe in doing things both traditionally and innovatively and as far as I know we’re the only people in New Zealand that can still lay floors like they used to be laid, without nails.”

For anyone who has had a floor or timber feature wall or ceiling installed by Rowe’s team, they’ll be able to articulate the aesthetic difference that the more traditional methodology creates.

“Instead of using nails, we use water weights to secure the floor. We grind and seal the concrete sub floor and then glue the timber down. Weights are then placed to ensure the flooring is attached securely to the sub floor. What it means is you’ve got a beautiful, flawless timber floor without hundreds of nails through it and without the risk of perforation of the moisture barrier”. On a ply subfloor the process is the same – no nail holes” Rowe says.

While Rowe is passionate about this process, Freedom Flooring isn’t all about this time honoured method. The company has an extensive history and experience with solid timber flooring but has developed its range to include engineered timber, a very modern product which, Rowe says, has many benefits.

“Compared to solid timber, engineered timber is available at a lower price point, and it looks fantastic. It’s stronger than solid timber and there is less movement with engineered boards.”

The engineered timbers Freedom Flooring works with are all very high quality products that will give the customer the same benefits. There are finished products available, and unfinished.

The standard unfinished product is unique in that it is a 20mm thick board with no coating. This is made up of a birch ply backing and a 6mm wear layer of solid sandable Russian Oak.

The unfinished nature of the product allows the client the freedom to choose any colour finish to match their decor.

After time has passed if the client should wish to – this product could be sanded four to six times, allowing the customer to match a new renovation or on trend décor. On the surface it is virtually indistinguishable from solid timber.

Freedom Flooring offers a range of water-based stains with 15 colour options and oil finishes. “Applying the colour is another area where we believe in the traditional method – it’s all done by hand once the flooring is laid. Doing it by hand means a better finish can be achieved, and our team are the experts” Rowe says.

But engineered and solid timber flooring isn’t just growing in popularity for floors, it’s developing quickly into a popular option for feature walls and ceilings. “Using timber for these sorts of applications creates stunning results. The amount of craftsmanship that goes into these sorts of projects is huge but the overall effect is unrivalled. It’s a beautiful way to add a really spectacular feature to a home.”

If you’re after a flooring solution that’s achieved with a dream team of skilled craftsmen, get in touch with Freedom Flooring here to explore the options available for your next project.