Yes – We recommend you let your Orkney floor acclimatise for 3 to 4 days before installing. This needs to be in the same room that it will be installed in, and it needs to remain within the sealed packaging. The sealed packaging helps ensure the floor doesn’t warp with the change of temperature from different environments. Do not store the flooring outdoors, in an outbuilding, or anywhere with damp or condensation problems.

The surface immediately beneath a Woodpecker natural wood floor must be in good structural condition, free from damp rot, fungal or insect infestation, and contaminating residues. It must be flat with uneven areas not exceeding 3mm over a 2m area. Naturally, the surface should be vacuumed and totally free of debris before fitting begins. Hot pipes should be well insulated to prevent localised hotspots, which can cause wood flooring to warp or shrink.

Orkney flooring is 15mm thick with a 4mm wear layer of oak.

Orkney has tongue and groove joints.

We generally wouldn’t recommend using engineered flooring in a bathroom.

This means that at least one plank within your pack will be cut in half. This is intentional as it will help spread the joints out across your floor, thus helping prevent weakening. The other planks will be the same length.

Yes – Orkney is suitable for underfloor heating but only if it is fully stuck down.

We generally recommend 10% wastage, however, this can be impacted by the room shape, laying style and other factors so always check with your installer first.

Orkney flooring can either be floated, secret nailed or glued.

As wood is a natural substance, it will expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity. That’s why when a wood floor is fitted, expansion gaps need to be left wherever the boards meet a wall, structural support, stairs, breakfast bar, fireplace, central heating pipe…etc. Gaps must also be considered at doorways to allow for the differing expansion between rooms. Place spacers at regular intervals when fitting and then remove them before skirting boards, beading or trims are put in place. Allow a 2mm gap for every metre span of the floor with a minimum of 10-15mm gap regardless. For areas over 5m in width, extra provisions should be made for expansion.

To clean this Orkney lacquered floor, simply use our specially formulated cleaning liquid for lacquered floors. Alternatively, use a well-wrung mop (water only). We do not recommend using a steam mop or any other solutions on our floors.

Colour variation is the natural beauty and variations in colour that occur in real wood.  To ensure the overall effect has a good balance of colour and details, take care to blend planks from several packs across the entire room.