Frequently Asked Questions

 

Can the floor material be installed immediately after delivery? Do I need to open the packages the day before installation?

The floor temperature must be roughly the same as the air temperature in the installation area. Achieving the desired floor temperature usually takes 1–2 days during the warmer season and 2–4 days during the colder season (when the outdoor temperature is below zero). The flooring material must be allowed to reach the indoor temperature in the closed packages, which are to be opened as the installation progresses. In other words, the packages must not be opened before installation.

What is the possible darkening at the bottom of the parquet board?

It is a dye used in our glue, which we use to monitor the success of gluing in production. The porosity of the base veneer varies, so the dye may be present in the base in places or not at all. Dye-induced darkening may also appear at the edges of twig holes. Traces of dye are part of the product and are completely harmless. The product can be installed without any worries.

What is the correct installation direction?

Since wooden floor boards expand and shrink less in the longitudinal than the lateral direction, we recommend installing the floor boards parallel to the longest wall in the room. You can, however, install the floor boards in any direction you want as long as you leave sufficient expansion joints. The same applies to installation in the direction of light; it is a visual, not a technical, matter.

Can I cover the wooden floor?

Wooden floors should not be covered for a longer period than necessary (max one week) to prevent any undesired changes, such as the discolouration of wood. The maximum time varies depending on wood species and surface treatment. If necessary, ask a specialist for more information.

Can I attach tape to the surface of the wooden floor?

Do not attach tape to the wooden floor under any circumstances.

Can fixtures be installed on the wooden floor? Can the wooden floor boards be installed under refrigeration equipment or a dishwasher?

No, they cannot, but a unified separate plate can be made from the wooden floor boards, to be placed under fixtures and refrigeration equipment. An expansion joint of the required length can be created behind the socle, so that there is a separate floating wooden floor structure under the fixtures or equipment. If the fixtures or equipment have adjustable feet, it is also possible to drill a sufficiently large hole in the wooden floor so that the fixture or item of equipment rests on the subfloor.

Can adhesive be applied to a locking tongue and groove? Why some of the products (e.g, Polar and Antarctis) require gluing even though they are equipped with a locking tongue and groove?

Adhesive can be applied to locking tongues and grooves. More detailed information is available on our website. In connection with certain tones (the so-called opaque tones, such as Polar, Coal, and Antarctis) we recommend gluing, since opaque pigment can produce a friction sound in the tongue and groove, which can be eliminated with adhesive.

On how large an area can Timberwise flooring be installed as a floating structure?

As a rule of thumb, in the lateral direction of the board approx. 8 m, and in the lengthwise direction, approx. 10 m. For floors larger than that, an expansion joint must be made. When installing the flooring, an at least 10-mm allowance for moving must be left at the edges. When the floor is wider than 6 metres, a 1.5 mm allowance for each additional metre must be added. In different room spaces, the flooring should be installed as separate plates. For instance, in an L-shaped space, as two separate plates, so that the flooring has enough allowance for natural movement. If you wish to avoid expansion joints between room spaces, gluing the flooring to the underlay is recommended.

How should trims and ramp profiles be fastened? Our windows extend almost all the way to the floor, so how should we install a wooden floor?

Trims and ramp profiles must always be fastened to the subfloor and never to the wooden floor. In the case of windows that almost extend to the floor surface, the installation must be carried out using an angle moulding, which has been permanently fastened to the subfloor, or by gluing the wooden floor to the subfloor.

Can the Timberwise flooring be installed with underfloor heating?

The Timberwise products are well suited for installation with underfloor heating. Read the installation instructions carefully, and take particularly the following matters into account:

  • Floor temperature may not, under any circumstances, rise above +27 °C.
  • Floor temperature may not regularly fluctuate more than +2 °C (night electricity).
  • It is recommended that the underfloor heating cables or mat are installed at least a 30-mm distance from the Timberwise product. There may be either an air gap (timber-framed floor) or a filler layer (concrete floor) in between.
  • Larch is not recommended for installation with underfloor heating, unless a relative humidity between 40–60 RH can be constantly guaranteed. In drier conditions, cracks may appear in the wood material in question.

In other respects, please read the Timberwise Installation Instructions.

Where can I get maintenance instructions?

Maintenance instructions are provided at the end of the installation instructions. The installation instructions are included in the flooring package. On the Timberwise website, brief maintenance instructions are available for wax oiled floor materials here and matte lacquered floor materials here.

How should the wax oiled floor be taken care of?

By vacuum-cleaning loose dirt, and wiping regularly with a damp mop. Timberwise wax oiled floors are UV-hardened and do not require constant maintenance. The maintenance recommendation for wax oiled supplier is approximately every 2-5 years. For the cleaning agent, we recommend Osmo Color Oil Soap or Pallmann- Clean detergent. Avoid excessive use of water and detergent. If necessary, the floor can also be machine washed. You can find more instructions from our website.

Should the Timberwise floor be treated after installation?

Our floor materials are UV-cured and immediately ready for use. However, wax oiled floors can still be oiled after the installation to ensure that joints are also protected. In addition, we recommend that wooden floors in kitchens and hallways be oiled after installation, due to the increased wear and tear such floors are subjected to. Wooden floors installed in public spaces must be oil-treated after installation.

Why does a wax oiled surface feel coarse sometimes? Is there enough surface treatment material on it?

Timberwise products use more wax oil than what is customary, which may make their surface feel coarser. The surface will, however, become smoother with wear and washing.

Which underlay materials can be used under the Timberwise flooring?

We recommend that you use the Timberwise underlay material, which insulates against both sound and moisture, so that you can be certain that the underlay material is sturdy enough and not too flexible. If there is moisture in the underlay (e.g., concrete), then a moisture-proof material must be chosen. If you choose an underlay material other than the Timberwise underlay material, we recommend that you check the compatibility of the underlay material with the Timberwise parquet from your retailer or the factory.

Is larch well suited for a flooring material?

Larch is a valued softwood species, and a popular interior decoration material. The surface hardness of larch is the highest of all softwood, and therefore it is excellently suited for a flooring material. Larch is not recommended for installation with underfloor heating, unless a relative humidity between 40–60 RH can be constantly guaranteed. In drier conditions, cracks may appear in the wood material in question.

Will there be cracks in the Timberwise floor in the winter?

During a dry time, small cracks may appear in the joints of the floor. They will not, however, usually be clearly visible, due to the bevels at the corners of the boards. The lateral shrinkage of Timberwise flooring is only 1/6 compared to regular plank flooring.

Small cracks have appeared on the floor. Why?

Small cracks may appear in wood if the relative humidity in the room drops below 30%. This is more likely to happen in winter.

Is Timberwise really Finnish?

Despite its name, Timberwise is an entirely Finnish company. It is privately owned by Finns, and its production takes place in Loimaa, Southwest Finland. At first, our company was completely export-oriented, and even nowadays it exports products around the world, hence the English name.

Where do the raw materials for the Timberwise products come from?

Timberwise uses mainly PEFC and FSC-certified raw materials. In the base and middle layer structures, we use Finnish spruce and birch plywood. The surface materials (Oak, Ash and Larch) always come mainly from Central Europe.

Why does my wooden floor delivery include several different lengths?

Sustainable development is one of the most important values for our company. We make an effort to manufacture our products in an eco-friendly way and save natural resources in everything we do. Planks of different lengths help us utilise the raw material to the greatest possible extent and reduce waste generated during production.