Processing of solid wood products

When buying solid wood products you like, you always have to think about whether we will be able to take care of them. We, Latsketch Ltd, have already thought about it! We use high-quality, environmentally friendly wood finishing products that will significantly extend the service life of your chosen finishing materials or furniture.

How is processing performed by Latsketch Ltd?

We start by coordinating the treatment with the customer, for example, whether a colorless oil, a stain with a shade, a varnish or some other type of treatment will be chosen. Some customers do not need treatment at all - it depends on the order. For all types of treatment - first the surface must be carefully sanded (after the treatment it is no longer sanded, except for varnishing, then the 1st coat of varnish is lightly sanded). Sanding is mainly done by hand, finishing boards are done industrially using a calibrating sander. All oils and stains should be wiped off after about 10 minutes of application, otherwise the surfaces will remain greasy and can no longer be removed (only by sanding). Staining is in high demand because the result is excellent and the wood texture remains.

Why is it desirable to prime the surface?

When priming, we make sure that the surface is dense after priming and provides particularly good adhesion to the surface and the next coat of paint, and it can be tinted. The primer fills the fiber and this means that the paint will apply perfectly and there will be not even the smallest "hole". Prior to painting, priming will significantly reduce paint consumption, as the paint will not soak into the wood, therefore, it will not be necessary to paint several times.

How is a new surface prepared before painting?

If necessary, the surface is sanded then cleaned. Uneven areas demand spot putty, which are then sanded again so that everything is  in level. Dust is removed repeatedly. Then the surfaces with a suitable primer are primed and sanded again, cleaned. After that You can then start painting with rollers or brushes. Although the primer ensures that a single coat of paint is sufficient, professionals usually paint twice to make sure the result meets the requirements and will last a long time.

How and when is it better to stain wood?

Staining is used to enhance the natural color of the wood, to even out the tone of the wood, if it is different, to smooth out wood defects. When furniture is restored, it is almost always necessary to paint the prosthetic areas. Staining itself is a rather difficult process if a surface is large. Before and during work, the stain must be thoroughly mixed so that the pigment is evenly mixed, then the stain must be applied with a sponge, spray or brush. To avoid differences in tone, the surface must be treated from start to finish without interruption. To obtain a lighter shade, dilute the stain, for example, 1: 1. To obtain a darker shade, apply the stain again after the first coat has soaked. After the stained surface is completely dry, it must be varnished.

Why varnish is usually the best choice?

Many woods (especially hardwood) have beautiful fibers, so it is worth considering choosing a clear or tinted varnish instead of paint. There are several types of varnish - transparent, tinted, glossy, matte, satin (in the middle of matt and glossy). There are some varnishes that are waterproof and will serve without problems in outdoor conditions. Polyurethane varnish is useful for interior and decorative decoration. It forms a glossy coating with extremely high hardness and abrasion resistance. For better results, it is recommended to varnish two to three times. Remember to lightly sand the first coat of varnish and clean it thoroughly with a brush and cloth. It should be noted that the final tone of the surface will depend on several factors: the species of wood, the number of layers of the applied product, the porosity of the surface, the previously prepared layers.

What better way to process wooden floors?

Linseed oil varnish is available, which is designed to significantly increase the wear resistance of wooden floors. These coatings can be easily restored, in addition, it is breathable and effectively protects the surface from moisture.

What are the pros and cons of oils?

Oiled wooden surfaces are pleasant, they create a feeling of "warmth" and make the wood look natural. Compared to other treatments, the oiling of wood process is much easier. If the wood is treated with quality oil, then the wood itself will be protected from moisture, mold and the formation of various microorganisms. Unlike other types of wood coating, which form a film-like layer on the surface, the oil is absorbed into the pores of the wood and practically nothing is visible from the surface. The only downside is that this method must be repeated every year, for example, at the beginning of the summer season. It should also be noted that repeated treatments will require much less oil than the first time, as the wood will already retain oil from previous times.

Why is wood moisture content so important?

Wood is a hygroscopic material, which means that it tends to absorb and release moisture until it is in balance with the environment. Thus, under normal conditions, the moisture content of wood is largely determined by its environment: a warm, dry environment tends to make the wood drier, but a cool, damp environment moistens the wood.

When choosing solid wood products, great attention should be paid to the moisture content of the wood, as this will significantly affect the quality of finishing materials. For example, if solid wood finishes are too dry at the time of installation, they will absorb moisture, which in turn can cause the wood to "swell", not glue and can cause fungus and mold. Otherwise, when the air is too dry, but the wood is damp, it can shrink, decompose and crack.

When choosing finishing materials for interiors, the company's employees recommend choosing solid wood products with wood moisture content of 8-12%, because the room has a more constant temperature and drier air. On the other hand, when choosing finishing materials for outdoor conditions, the recommended wood humidity is 18-20%, because in outdoor conditions there are greater temperature fluctuations and finishing materials are subject to different precipitation.

Although undried timber is significantly cheaper, Latsketch Ltd does not work with such wood, as it is subject to various deformations during operation, there is a high probability that fungi or mold will form on it, as well as it is more difficult to process mechanically.

Adequate humidity must be ensured, for example, so that no cracks appear in the floors and the facades do not rot, deform or become a home for pests. The company's representatives emphasize that by choosing the right wood moisture for the right situation, the customer noticeably prolongs the service life of finishing materials and furniture, as well as ensures that they visually look as planned.

There are many different types of wood available, but how do You find the one that best suits your needs?

Latsketch Ltd professionals usually use the division "soft wood and hardwood" in their work and recommend their clients to look at this section first, because the lifespan of wood will depend on this choice. It may seem that a tree with soft wood is soft and a tree with hard wood is hard, but it is not.

There is a physical difference between hardwood and softwood, but it is not in the density of the wood. The classification of wood as hard or soft depends on the seeds, leaves that the tree gives. Hardwood trees usually have very wide leaves (maples, oaks), while softwood trees have cones and needles (spruces, pines). There is also a difference at the microscopic level - hardwood trees have pores that allow water to be transported through the wood to keep it healthy.

Hardwood is often denser, which is why it is better to use it for flooring and other high-quality solid wood products. Soft wood will be useful in making various moldings, shelves and other solid wood products that are not subjected to heavy loads on a daily basis.

Oak (hardwood)

Oak is more expensive in terms of price, but as you know, it is a big tree and it is always worth paying for quality. It is often used in the construction of buildings because it does not rot and is wear-resistant. The company's professionals also emphasize that over the years, solid oak products will wear out slightly and will be easily restored. This hardwood is often used to make floor, tables and cabinets, as their surface is difficult to scratch or damage. It can be painted, but Latsketch Ltd would not recommend it, because the oak pattern is unique and attractive.

Ash (hardwood)

Ash is equivalent to oak in its strength and properties, but usually has a better price. It can be used for various types of projects, but it should be taken into account that the wood is easily soiled, so it is recommended to treat it with wood treatment products that repel dirt. The wood perfectly withstands shocks and is not easy to tear. Latsketch Ltd recommends using this wood in the production of floor or solid wood furniture.

Birch (hardwood)

Birch is very strong, flexible and can be used in the production of almost all solid wood products. Many people use it as a cheaper alternative to oak. One thing to know about birch wood is that it, like ash, can be easily soiled, and staining can sometimes result in stains that look uneven. From the birch professionals recommend producing beautiful shelves, tables or interior decoration boards. Birch is often used in nurseries because this tree is light, associated with purity and is easy to match other colours.

Aspen (hardwood)

One of the specialized uses of aspen wood is the construction of saunas. Wood does not conduct heat and can tolerate moisture well. This feature makes aspen good for drawers and other things that are damp and moving. Aspen has no specific smell and taste, as well as no resin, so it is ideal for the production of kitchen utensils.

Black alder (hardwood)

Black alder has a similar properties to a birch. Black alder wood is useful for products that need to stay in moisture for a long time, such as barrels or tubs. It is easy to handle, so it is often used in carpentry, for example, in the production of finishing boards.

Pine (soft wood)

The first thing that Latsketch customers usually notice is the natural, fresh smell of pine and its beautiful light brown or yellow colour. It is the most common wood and usually also the cheapest. It is often used both for interior work, such as window sills or door frames, and for outdoor work, such as trim boards. When using pine wood for outdoor work - it should be painted and, if possible, treated with wood chemicals to prolong its service life.

Spruce (soft wood)

Spruce has an average amount of resin, it has a high resistance to cracking. The wood itself is light yellowish brown, light, medium density. Most often, window frames, fence boards and also finishing boards are produced from spruce. The company's professionals recommend painting or treating this wood with other wood finishes to improve its service life.

Although there are many different materials available on the market that can be used in construction and carpentry, Latsketch Ltd recommends the use of natural finishing materials. The use of natural finishing materials reduces the negative impact on the environment and human health.

Finely sawn surface

Wood is a material that slightly resizes depending on environmental conditions. In order to get a long-lasting result, it is important to choose the right finishing materials and their coating must adhere well to the wood surface and be able to keep up with the change in wood size.

Therefore, Latsketch Ltd offers its customers finishing materials with a "finely sawn surface". The surfaces of finely sawn finishing boards are rough, with high coating durability. Materials treated in this way increase the color fastness due to the increased area for coating application. Finishing materials with a finely sawn surface have proven their durability in Nordic conditions.

By choosing finishing materials with a finely sawn surface, the customer gets not only the original texture and material with high color fastness, but also the finishing material, which is popular in Scandinavia.

Currently,  Latsketch Ltd offers several types of exterior finishing board profiles, which can be purchased with both a planed surface and a finely sawn surface. Also, the customer has the opportunity to order finishing boards with a profile of their choice, a historical profile, or a profile specified in the binding regulations of the municipality.

Frequently asked questions about curvilinear floors

1.      What are the differences when installing curvilinear wood flooring compared to conventional flooring? Is specific knowledge required when installing curvilinear wood flooring?

Laying of curvilinear wooden floor  is not complicated and floor coverings will be able to be laid by any expert who is engaged in laying wooden floor. All you have to do is observe the position of the floor elements specified in the modules. The main precondition for high-quality flooring is the proper subfloor. The installation instructions for curvilinear wood flooring, which are given together with the order or upon prior request, describe how it is necessary to install the floor coverings, but, if necessary, we also provide free remote consultations.

2.     Are floor coverings made with hand tools and do you only make one curve of a certain shape according to the template?

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that curvilinear wood floorings are created using high-precision digital program control equipment, which is designed for the creation of this product. We have developed a specific technological process, so we can change both the product design and various parameters. We use modern equipment and solutions, so the connections of the elements will be precise and we can ensure high product quality.

3.     What are the criteria for dividing products and floor into quality classes?

The quality and conformity of the products are determined by the declaration of performance and technical indicators, which are given together with the order. We do not divide floor into quality classes, but assign one of the highest quality classes. We make products to order, therefore we perform quality control in each of the production processes. We use high-quality raw materials and agree with the customer on various nuances before placing an order.

4.     Do you only make only curvilinear wood floorings or other products as well?

We make various wooden products. Our challenge is to make non-standard products. We can produce various finishing materials with a curvilinear design - floor coverings, wall coverings or other interior design products. We will realize various customer wishes from wood - call or write to us and we will find the best solution.

5.     Does the floor  need to be sanded and treated with any treatment agents after installation?

For excellent results, we recommend sanding the floor coverings after installation. After installation, the floor coverings must be treated with varnish or oil according to the customer's wishes. We offer to buy already pre-polished floor covering elements.

6.     What rooms are curvilinear wood flooring coverings for?

Curvilinear wood floorings are designed for any room. Depending on the purpose of use of the premises, we select suitable tree species - in rooms with high occupancy and in public buildings we recommend ash or oak, but in private houses and apartments we recommend pine. The customer is responsible for creating a floor covering on heated floors or in rooms with high humidity, such as a kitchen or bathroom.

7.      Various floor coverings are available on the market (also cheaper). Why choose curvilinear wood flooring?

The biggest advantage of wooden floors is its ecological nature, easy care and the possibility to renew it as new over time. Cheap materials are also available on the market, but when calculating the long-term investment, the creation of wooden floors will pay off, as it can be renewed after years, but cheaper materials will wear out faster and will have to be replaced. Our floors are unique, which meets the high quality requirements of our customers. 

Curvilinear wood floorings- description

By applying a specific technological process, it is possible to create irregularly shaped elements, the joints of which are formed by a curve or curved line of any shape, which accentuates the natural feel of wood materials. As a high-precision digital program control device is used, it is possible to create elements of the required shape with precise connections. The result is an innovative design wood flooring.

The modular system is based on the principle that each module can be placed next to each other. Each element in the module is unique and has a certain position, but the elements are the same between the modules. The module consists of eight different elements with a thickness of 20 mm, length 1,400 mm, covering width 110 - 140 mm. The total covering area of one module is 1,414 m2. The elements are ground, but not treated with varnish or oil. The final treatment is planned to be performed after installing the floor. In addition to the eight-element module, it is possible to purchase a two-element module.

The elements of the curvilinear wood flooring are connected to each other by means of a plunger and a groove. A small v-shaped groove is formed at the joints of the elements, which highlights the shape of the elements. Longitudinal grooves are formed at the bottom of the elements, which removes internal stress in the material and improves the dimensional stability of solid wood flooring elements, which depends on the microclimate of the room. The floor covering must be laid on a suitable subfloor.

When preparing an individually designed project, customer requirements, peculiarities of the premises, complexity of the project, used raw materials, other criteria are taken into account, therefore the prices of an individually developed project are determined individually. In case of an individual project, a floor installation scheme is made for each room and it is coordinated with the client. Thus, before making the floor, the customer will have an idea of what the final result will look like. It is also possible to make other types of modules by individual order (different number of elements in the module, different shapes of floor elements, different choice of tree species for floor).