I want a wooden floor - what options do I have?
1. Traditional solid timber floors (T&G floorboards like Rimu or Matai)
2. Engineered timber floors (eg. Karelia or Royalplank)
NB. Neither a laminate nor bamboo floor is a wooden floor!
What is Karelia?
Karelia is a pre-finished, engineered timber floor.
What does that mean: "a pre-finished engineered timber floor"?
An engineered timber floor is made out of several layers of timber. The top layer is the actual "wear layer" you use once installed. The key advantage, as opposed to solid timber, is that these cross-glued layers of timber make Karelia more stable. Karelia does not cup or bow and is not as vulnerable when it comes to moisture (eg. change in humidity).
Furthermore, Karelia comes "pre-finished". That means the finish has already been applied in the factory in Scandinavia. There is no sanding, dust, fumes or waiting for polyurethane to dry after Karelia has been installed. No sand dust or smell! Once Karelia is installed you can walk on it straight away!
What is a laminate?
A laminate is a fake timber floor. It is a photograph or print of a wood floor which is pressed/glued on an MDF or HDF (woodchip) base. The surface is then finished with a clear resin to give the appearance of a wood floor. This is the same principle a lot of kitchen units are made of. The print repeats itself on a regular basis, so you get the same board over and over again.
You cannot sand a laminate floor and it has to get installed as a floating floor.
Karelia is an authentic wood floor made of 100% timber. Each floorboard comes from a different part of a tree and therefore each board looks different in pattern and colour.
"Such a thin wear layer - why would I go for that?"
Please note: the wear layer of a traditional solid timber floor - that is what is above the tongue & groove - is thicker (approx. 7mm). However, after sanding a solid timber floor, you end up with approx. 5mm wear layer to start with.
Karelia's wear layer is just less than 4mm, so there is not much of a difference in the wear layer.
Do all products cost the same?
No. Every product has a different price. The price of the flooring depends on:
- Design chosen (Single Plank = dearer; 3-Strip = cheaper)
- Timber species
- Square meterage
- Current exchange rate
Can I re-sand Karelia?
Yes, up to three times.
Will the timber change colour after installation?
All authentic wooden floors age or change colour when exposed to sunlight. Please note that New Zealand has the highest UV light in the world. However, you do not usually notice the colour change when seeing your Karelia floor every day.
We do not recommend covering your Karelia floor with rugs, etc, for the first couple of months though, as this is the time the timber ages the most.
Please note: everything changes colour when exposed to sunlight: curtains, fabrics, carpets, vinyl, etc.
Do the individual boards look different?
Yes, they do. Remember: Karelia is an authentic wooden floor. Every board comes from a different part of a tree.
That means some boards might have knots, and some won't. Some boards take on a stain or oil finish differently to other.
Never make a purchase decision solely based on a small sample. As a service, we can email you installation images of the products we offer. That way you get a better idea about the overall selection/appearance.
What are Medullary Rays?
Medullary rays are an important part of a tree's biology, supply water and nutrients as the tree grows. These large bands of radial cells, or medullary rays, emanate outward from the centre of the log, similar to the spokes of a wheel.
While all trees have medullary rays, they are most pronounced in the oaks, and become a natural part of oak's personality. The quarter sawing process reveals the beautiful and uniquely distinctive appearance of these rays.
1. Traditional solid timber floors (T&G floorboards like Rimu or Matai)
2. Engineered timber floors (eg. Karelia or Royalplank)
NB. Neither a laminate nor bamboo floor is a wooden floor!
What is Karelia?
Karelia is a pre-finished, engineered timber floor.
What does that mean: "a pre-finished engineered timber floor"?
An engineered timber floor is made out of several layers of timber. The top layer is the actual "wear layer" you use once installed. The key advantage, as opposed to solid timber, is that these cross-glued layers of timber make Karelia more stable. Karelia does not cup or bow and is not as vulnerable when it comes to moisture (eg. change in humidity).
Furthermore, Karelia comes "pre-finished". That means the finish has already been applied in the factory in Scandinavia. There is no sanding, dust, fumes or waiting for polyurethane to dry after Karelia has been installed. No sand dust or smell! Once Karelia is installed you can walk on it straight away!
What is a laminate?
A laminate is a fake timber floor. It is a photograph or print of a wood floor which is pressed/glued on an MDF or HDF (woodchip) base. The surface is then finished with a clear resin to give the appearance of a wood floor. This is the same principle a lot of kitchen units are made of. The print repeats itself on a regular basis, so you get the same board over and over again.
You cannot sand a laminate floor and it has to get installed as a floating floor.
Karelia is an authentic wood floor made of 100% timber. Each floorboard comes from a different part of a tree and therefore each board looks different in pattern and colour.
"Such a thin wear layer - why would I go for that?"
Please note: the wear layer of a traditional solid timber floor - that is what is above the tongue & groove - is thicker (approx. 7mm). However, after sanding a solid timber floor, you end up with approx. 5mm wear layer to start with.
Karelia's wear layer is just less than 4mm, so there is not much of a difference in the wear layer.
Do all products cost the same?
No. Every product has a different price. The price of the flooring depends on:
- Design chosen (Single Plank = dearer; 3-Strip = cheaper)
- Timber species
- Square meterage
- Current exchange rate
Can I re-sand Karelia?
Yes, up to three times.
Will the timber change colour after installation?
All authentic wooden floors age or change colour when exposed to sunlight. Please note that New Zealand has the highest UV light in the world. However, you do not usually notice the colour change when seeing your Karelia floor every day.
We do not recommend covering your Karelia floor with rugs, etc, for the first couple of months though, as this is the time the timber ages the most.
Please note: everything changes colour when exposed to sunlight: curtains, fabrics, carpets, vinyl, etc.
Do the individual boards look different?
Yes, they do. Remember: Karelia is an authentic wooden floor. Every board comes from a different part of a tree.
That means some boards might have knots, and some won't. Some boards take on a stain or oil finish differently to other.
Never make a purchase decision solely based on a small sample. As a service, we can email you installation images of the products we offer. That way you get a better idea about the overall selection/appearance.
What are Medullary Rays?
Medullary rays are an important part of a tree's biology, supply water and nutrients as the tree grows. These large bands of radial cells, or medullary rays, emanate outward from the centre of the log, similar to the spokes of a wheel.
While all trees have medullary rays, they are most pronounced in the oaks, and become a natural part of oak's personality. The quarter sawing process reveals the beautiful and uniquely distinctive appearance of these rays.
Does Karelia mark and scratch?
Yes, every authentic timber floor does. This is part of the character of a wooden floor and makes it authentic.
Please read our Maintenance Guide for tips on minimizing scratches.
Do you offer installation?
Yes we do!
Due to our experience, and the fact that we've been around for a long time, we have a wide installer network throughout New Zealand.
Please note: we only work together with professional installation partners, as we can't justify getting a top notch product installed by a cowboy.
Can I install Karelia myself and save money?
Of course you can!
Well, minimum skills are required, but we have had people working in IT install Karelia themselves, so it can't be that hard, can it? ;-)
Have a look at our Installation Guide and judge for yourself.
We promise we will support you as best as we can with full technical support, advice on the right accessories, and tips & tricks on the installation, so you get a stunning result.
Can I glue down Karelia?
Yes, you can. Karelia can get installed as a floating floor installation or glued direct onto the substrate.
Quality Floors' recommended installation method is glue down, especially in larger, open plan areas.
Please call 09 443 0747 and we will explain this to you in detail.
Can I install Karelia over vinyl or tiles?
Yes, Karelia can be installed as a floating floor over vinyl or tiles (over foam underlay), but the subfloor must be level to industry standard.
What is the warranty?
Quality Floors Ltd offers a 30 year residential warranty for Karelia in New Zealand. Please see our warranty here.
We further offer commercial warranties for Karelia, however these depend on the application. Please enquire specifically.
What about the environment?
All timbers Karelia uses are from sustainable sources (PEFC certified). For further information please see Environment & Sustainability.
Is Karelia suitable for underfloor heating?
Yes! As a matter of fact, Karelia is actually designed for underfloor heating due to its special construction.
An exceptionally comfortable environment is achieved when Karelia is combined with underfloor heating, since wood flooring distributes the heat evenly into the air of the room across the entire surface of the flooring.
Karelia is suitable for underfloor heating with both installation methods (glue down or floating floor).
Please see our Underfloor Heating sheet.
Is Karelia suitable for wet areas?
No! Karelia wood floors are not suitable for wet areas such as bathrooms and laundries, where there is condensation and higher levels of humidity and dampness.
Karelia is suitable for kitchens providing extra care is taken:
- Wipe up spills straight away
- Use professional plumbers to fit appliances
- Most important of all, buy quality appliances
What is the thickness and wear layer?
The total thickness of the Karelia pre-finished hardwood floor is 14mm. The wear/top layer is European norm: 3.5mm +/-10% tolerance (hardwood layer of your choice). Middle (8mm) and bottom (2mm) layers are cross glued and made of Finish spruce (softwood similar to pine).
How do I clean my Karelia floor?
The main rules are:
- Do not use excessive water!
- Never ever use a steam mop!
- Vacuum or dry mop the floor whenever needed. The floor should be dry after 1 minute
Please read our Maintenance Guide. We recommend special cleaning kits for your Karelia floor - please enquire.
Do you offer solid timber floors as well?
Yes and No...
Not a traditional solid timber floor as such, but an unfinished European oak engineered timber floor (Royalplank) with a total thickness of 21mm and a wear layer of 6mm. Please see www.royalplank.co.nz for further information.
Pros & Cons: Engineered vs Solid vs Laminates vs Bamboo
