Wooden Floors Guide

A Guide to Wooden Floors

Laminate or solid, engineered or reclaimed, timber flooring is a classic choice that works in every room of the house. It’s less cold and hard on the feet than stone or tiles, better at repelling stains than carpet and is endlessly good-looking, whether in a period property or a new home.

This reclaimed teak, available in random-width planks, has been repaired and stained.

Woodworks by Ted Todd Rare Finds Dark Colonial Teak, £POA, Ted Todd: 01925 284 496; tedtodd.co.uk.

Preparing for a new timber floor

Timber floors can be fitted anywhere in the house, on solid or suspended floors, although – because wood expands and contracts according to humidity – they’re often not advised for bathrooms or other wet areas. In this case, it’s best to stick to high-quality engineered wood. Insulate the sub-floor before you start, and consider what effect the new flooring will have on your final floor level – which may affect thresholds and require doors to be cut across the bottom so they will open and close. When fixing the boards down, make sure to avoid any pipes and wires that run beneath the existing floor. To keep your final floorcovering pristine, avoid fitting it until all the ‘wet’ or dirty building work is complete.

What type of timber floor?

Floorboards laid in a chevron pattern create a stylish base for a sophisticated room scheme.

Lottie grand sofa in Isla Kingfisher with darkened oak legs, £2,425; Brompton reading floor lamp in brass, £350; Matilda armchair in Imogen Holkham Sand with pale oak legs, £795; Keswick square coffee table, £500; all Neptune: www.neptune.com. Laminate floorboards are usually made from a resinimpregnated decorative paper surface layer (with photographs of real wood), bonded to a thin MDF or chipboard core. With cheap versions it can be easy to spot the pattern repeat , and they’re not especially durable, but more expensive brands are very tough and come with long guarantees.

Solid wood is exactly that – whatever type of wood it is composed of goes all the way through the board, so it looks and feels entirely natural and can be sanded again and again. Engineered wood (sometimes called multi-layer or, confusingly, laminated) is made from layers of solid timber or a veneer of solid timber on top of MDF, plywood, chipboard or softwood, with a balancing veneer beneath. Most are made up of either three or five layers, crossbonded for greater stability. A top layer of at least 5mm allows for limited sanding if necessary. The advantage of engineered boards over solid ones is that they shouldn’t warp, gap, cup or bow. Reclaimed boards have a beautiful patina that simply can’t be replicated, and are the environmentally friendly option. They don’t come cheap, as they often require work to remedy problems such as woodworm, ingrained dirt and stains, dents and splits, variations in thickness or colour, broken tongue and groove, and lots of old nails. When buying, always ask where the wood came from and how it’s been stored since it was reclaimed – timber that has stood outside for any length of time may be useless, and would need to dry out considerably before it could be used again. As a rule of thumb, pine is cheaper than oak, and narrower boards are cheaper than wider ones.

Style and finish

Most timber floors sold in the UK are made from European oak, which has a lovely grain and is very longlasting. There are, however, many other choices, including beech, maple, ash, walnut, merbau, cherry and, of course, pine. As for finishes, options include stains, waxes, oils, varnishes and limewashes, each of which can subtly change the appearance of the final floor. An important consideration is the form and laying pattern of the boards. Both solid and engineered wood flooring is available as boards (in varying widths), strips (less than 10cm wide), smallish blocks (extremely strong) and parquet (like blocks, but thinner). While boards are traditionally laid parallel to one another, designers are increasingly turning to the contemporary effect of chevron and herringbone styles, while parquet has had something of a renaissance in recent years, with intricately patterned squares that look glamorous and dramatic.

A white-oil finish creates a clean, fresh look in this bright entrance hall.

Oak White oiled brushed wood flooring, £72 per square metre, The Natural Wood Floor Company: 020 8871 9771; naturalwoodfloor.co.uk.

LOOKING AFTER A WOODEN FLOOR

Wood floors don’t need a great deal of special treatment. The main thing to remember is not to let them get too wet, to install a good doormat and take off stilettos, which will punch small holes everywhere. Remove dust and grit regularly by vacuuming or cleaning with a soft broom. Mop occasionally, but don’t soak the wood or leave water sitting on it – wring the mop head as much as possible, then wipe over again with a dry mop. Using a proprietary cleaning product will make your floor look better and last longer – ask your retailer for advice. And don’t forget that a new wooden floor will naturally become darker or lighter as it matures.

Give your home the Timber treatment

Wood has always been a reliable, durable and functional choice for home furnishings, and recently it has had a bit of a design rejuvenation; forget dated and drab flatpack furniture, modern timber is all about showcasing its many other features, including style and versatility. Local business, Funky Timber, based in Wharton Street in St Helens, is a perfect example of how sleek, neat, timber finishes can add a warming earthy tone to your home. And with over 50 years of trade experience under their belts, you’re in safe hands! Funky Timber is a family run business, established in July 2019 by Daniel Slater and partner Lauren Wareing. Since then, the business has continued to grow and they now employ a team of dedicated staff, including joiners and fabricators, to offer customers the finest bespoke furniture, timber cladding and home accessories.

Daniel told Local Life, “We offer our clients a wide range of products from internal and external timber cladding with various colour and design options, to bespoke Funky Timber branded furniture and a fabrication unit where all aspects of steelwork can be offered. Every piece of furniture is handcrafted in house meaning each single item is individual to that customer.”

Mismatched cladding may sound like a questionable style for a feature wall, but as this portfolio shows, it’s certainly effective. The selection or new timber or reclaimed timber creates an eye-catching update, brimming with coolness and character, it even caught the eye of designers from DIY SOS and the Funky Timber team were called in to help on a recent project. Daniel has over 18 years of carpentry experience, and he prides himself on being able to offer quality products to transform any room at competitive prices. Daniel added, “We source top quality materials with wood and steel, and every item is prepared in our warehouse. We also offer a full fitting service for all our products and all our work is carried out to the highest standards. We offer all aspects of joinery for home and commercial jobs including shop fitting. “We will provide a free quote on request, all you need to do is send over your measurements, address and what colours you are thinking of, and our team will send over your quote as soon as possible.” Alternatively, customers can come to our unit and go through their designs or bespoke requests. Funky Timber is a vibrant company serving all corners of the UK with their stunning designs; so, whether you’re looking to revamp your home, garden or business premises with a stunning wooden wall or bespoke furniture, you can rest assured that Funky Timber will offer that to you and much more! Pop into the showroom and see how the team can make your designs come to life.

Main Office - 01744 747 787 Lauren - 07800 580 532 sales@funkytimber.co.uk Funky Timber, Unit 17b, Wharton St, St Helens, WA9 5AA www.funkytimber.co.uk

10% OFF

AIM for flexibility in Inheritance Tax planning

As Benjamin Franklin said, “In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” Inheritance tax sums this up perfectly. There is also a quote from Roy Jenkins, “Inheritance tax is a voluntary tax paid by those who distrust their heirs more than they dislike the Inland Revenue.”

Inheritance tax (IHT) when first introduced was intended to affect only the very wealthy, but over recent decades more families have found themselves caught in the net, mainly due to big rises in property prices and investments. In the last six tax years, over £30bn was paid in IHT, with the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasting 30,400 estates will be liable for IHT in 2020/21. With both the Nil Rate Band and the Residential Nil Rate Band frozen for a further five years, IHT receipts are forecast to rise to £6.6bn in 2025/26.

Therefore, the need for financial advice on estate planning, and inheritance tax planning, has become ever greater. Events of the past eighteen months have brought mortality fully into focus and the need to plan to avoid IHT has become more important. IHT is levied on estates more than £325,000 for an individual and £650,000 for those married or in a civil partnership. There is also a residence nil rate band of an additional £175,000 per person should they leave their property to their direct descendants. There are several well-established tax planning solutions to mitigate IHT, each with their own pros and cons. These include gifting, the use of Trusts and life assurance. Another solution, which has been growing in popularity in recent years, is the use of Business Relief by investing in the shares of companies listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM).

The AIM market celebrated its 25th anniversary last year and has been a major success story for the UK, helping nearly 4,000 smaller companies raise capital to fund growth and development. Familiar names include ASOS, Boohoo, Fever Tree and Jet2. Subject to qualification rules, some AIM company shares may qualify for 100% Business Relief. If an investor holds the shares for at least two years, and held them at death, qualifying shares will not be subject to IHT. Although as with any form of tax planning there is always the risk that tax rules may change in future. Aside from IHT planning, AIM investment also offers the prospect for capital growth over the longer term, although this represents a much higher risk investment for people nearing/in retirement. AIM investment for Business Relief offers a wide range of IHT planning options that can help clients in several ways. • In contrast to making a gift and having to survive seven years, the two-year survival requirement may be attractive to those facing the prospect of a reduced life expectancy, or who are in later life with inadequate protection from IHT.

• The investor retains access to their capital. Keeping control may appeal to clients reluctant to gift assets and who wish to make capital withdrawals when required.

• Most ISA investors are familiar with the benefits of taxfree income and growth, but less well known is that after death their ISA will be included in their estate.

With many having accumulated substantial ISA pots over the years, the prospect of a large IHT bill may come as a shock. AIM investment is permissible in an

ISA, so switching or transferring ISA holdings into an

AIM IHT portfolio adds the prospect of IHT relief to the favourable tax advantages already available. Whilst it won’t be right for everyone, the versatility and flexibility of AIM investment for inheritance tax planning makes it an appropriate solution for a number of client scenarios.

Andrew Platt

CFPTM Chartered MCSI

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Rainford Hall | Crank Road | St Helens | WA11 7RP 01744 881421 www.callistowealth.co.uk enquiries@callistowealth.co.uk

52 Money Matters

TEACHING KIDS TO BE SAVVY SAVERS

Most of us have made mistakes with money at some point. Help your children to avoid the same financial pitfalls by giving them the knowledge and skills to build on in the future.

Teach them the value of money

Rather than buying your children sweets each week, give them pocket money, some of which they can use to buy sweets and some of which they can save for a bigger treat. It’s good for children to earn at least part of their pocket money by doing chores. They’ll learn that money doesn’t come for nothing and be less likely to waste it. To make life easier, you could use an app and debit card like RoosterMoney or Go Henry, which were created to help children get to grips with their finances and earn money through chores.

Help them to budget

Encourage children to save up for something they really want rather than just waiting for Christmas or their birthday. You could start by explaining how much they’d need to save each week to achieve their goal. Younger children tend to need quicker results, so start with a small goal that can be achieved in a few weeks rather than months. Part of appreciating the value of money is learning through mistakes. It’s tempting to step in and stop your child from spending their pocket money on things that you know they will quickly discard. Offer advice but let them make their own decisions on low-value items. They may well then think twice next time they want to buy a blind bag or an expensive T-shirt. When older children are ready, you could give them more responsibility for budgeting for the things they need by giving them an allowance for clothes, school dinners, travel expenses, toiletries, days out and so on, and helping them to work out a monthly budget. Again, they can earn more through chores if they want to save up for high-value items.

Discuss money

Don’t be afraid to talk about money with your children. You could share how much you’re setting aside each month for next year’s holiday for example, and talk about your own experiences with money. You can also help your child to see that, while it’s good to shop around for the best price, cheap doesn’t always mean best value. However, try not to make your child worried about family finances. It’s fine to talk about not being able to afford something or how you’re saving up for a big purchase, but you don’t want your child to lose sleep worrying that you won’t be able to pay the bills.

Learn from the experts

Make the most of children’s love for online games. MyBnk is a UK charity on a mission to help children build good money habits. It has created a series of fun online courses for ages 5 to 21. You can access them for free at learning. mybnk.org/our-courses.