Starting a new condo project - Wood floor - Basic advice required

[canerandagio]

Hi,

 

I want to give my condo a new feel and I am set on doing it with a new wooden floor.

I am quite a beginner, so I need some advice on the matter please. 

Both I and the condo are in Bangkok, but I do not mind travelling anywhere in the country to source the wood, as long as I can get it installed.

 

I have three things in mind and I need to decide on the basis of pros and cons:

- Reclaimed teak

- New solid wood (teak or other)

- Engineered (I am aware of what this is)

 

I need to know the pros and cons of each, please, including whether I should be worried about termites (are they a problem on floor 35 of a Bangkok condo near the river?).

Also, to get an idea of the cost, if my condo is 60sqm, how many sqm of wood would I need to buy?

And finally any recommendation for a seller/fitter with whom there has been a positive experience.

 

Thanks in advance!

[northsouthdevide]

You should definitely use old wood for a number of reasons. 

1. The issue of illegal logging. 

As a buyer, you can end up in trouble if your new wood doesn't have the correct paperwork. 

2. It has less affect on the environment, as its reclaimed. 

3. Its already proved to be termite proof. 

Not just tetmites are attracted to new wood it thailand. 

There are also different varieties of weevils that can be just as destructive and will have no problem flying into your condo to eat and lay eggs. 

 

If you can find some old wood for sale at roadside outlets, you should ask them to supply wood and craftsman, as they deal with them on a daily basis. 

 

Other than that, there are some very nice laminates on the market these days that look good and are a lot less hassle to fit. 

Also you don't have the issue of expansion, which can be a real head ache with wood in this climate, especially if not fitted with it in mind. 

[bankruatsteve]

You might give parquet flooring a look.  Probably easier to source than planks but still $$$.  Bangkok has several companies to install and looks fantastic.  I can't remember who did ours - over 20 years ago.

[eyecatcher]

The advantage of an engineered board is that it should be a uniform size and thickness and the t+g enables very simple fitting.

Reclaimed boards need acertain amount of attention planing edges flat as they are going to be butt jointed. Afterwards you will still need to spend time sanding edges flush. Its a lot of work but worth it

True, the old boards dont expand and shrink noticeably however with mine I have noticed one board joint open up for the first time in 4years which coincided with us installing an aircon recently for the first time.

 

The quantity you need will vary subject to engineered or salvaged. Decide on the way you want lay then look for a board length appropriate.

My room was about 4.2w so  i wanted at least 80% to be 4.2-4.5m, short ones were used where not seen,bed,wardrobes etcs.

New boards are likely not that length anymore and you could be looking at 3m,3.3m, but there is less waste obviously.

But as with most quants for materials you need to add another 10-15% for waste, cuts, defects.

[canopy]

Personally I hate that shiny engineered plastic stuff they use for "wood" floors today. Looks fake and tacky because well, it is. If you are not going to use real wood then consider ceramic tiles that have a wood texture and color and all the advantages of tiling. Below are some example ceramic tiles at global house.

 

 

Edited June 18, 2020 by canopy

[canerandagio]

6 hours ago, canopy said:

Personally I hate that shiny engineered plastic stuff they use for "wood" floors today. Looks fake and tacky because well, it is. If you are not going to use real wood then consider ceramic tiles that have a wood texture and color and all the advantages of tiling. Below are some example ceramic tiles at global house.

 

 

Thanks. I will avoid ceramic, and I know what you mean about engineered.

[canerandagio]

7 hours ago, northsouthdevide said:

You should definitely use old wood for a number of reasons. 

1. The issue of illegal logging. 

As a buyer, you can end up in trouble if your new wood doesn't have the correct paperwork. 

2. It has less affect on the environment, as its reclaimed. 

3. Its already proved to be termite proof. 

Not just tetmites are attracted to new wood it thailand. 

There are also different varieties of weevils that can be just as destructive and will have no problem flying into your condo to eat and lay eggs. 

 

If you can find some old wood for sale at roadside outlets, you should ask them to supply wood and craftsman, as they deal with them on a daily basis. 

 

Other than that, there are some very nice laminates on the market these days that look good and are a lot less hassle to fit. 

Also you don't have the issue of expansion, which can be a real head ache with wood in this climate, especially if not fitted with it in mind. 

 

6 hours ago, eyecatcher said:

The advantage of an engineered board is that it should be a uniform size and thickness and the t+g enables very simple fitting.

Reclaimed boards need acertain amount of attention planing edges flat as they are going to be butt jointed. Afterwards you will still need to spend time sanding edges flush. Its a lot of work but worth it

True, the old boards dont expand and shrink noticeably however with mine I have noticed one board joint open up for the first time in 4years which coincided with us installing an aircon recently for the first time.

 

The quantity you need will vary subject to engineered or salvaged. Decide on the way you want lay then look for a board length appropriate.

My room was about 4.2w so  i wanted at least 80% to be 4.2-4.5m, short ones were used where not seen,bed,wardrobes etcs.

New boards are likely not that length anymore and you could be looking at 3m,3.3m, but there is less waste obviously.

But as with most quants for materials you need to add another 10-15% for waste, cuts, defects.

Thanks to all.

I am conscious of the environmental issue. Regarding laminates, it would be the easiest as the floor already has a laminated parquet, and I want to change it ????.

 

Regarding termites and roadside stalls:
If I stop at a roadside stall, what am I looking for? Reclaimed wooden floor or reclaimed wood which they would make into floorboards for me?

And...would they need to treat it for termites and should I expect them to varnish it?

Sorry for the silly question, but the treating, varnishing and coating would it need to be done before or after fitting? And on both sides or just the visible side?

Thanks!

[sometimewoodworker]

8 hours ago, canerandagio said:

 

Thanks to all.

I am conscious of the environmental issue. Regarding laminates, it would be the easiest as the floor already has a laminated parquet, and I want to change it ????.

 

Regarding termites and roadside stalls:
If I stop at a roadside stall, what am I looking for? Reclaimed wooden floor or reclaimed wood which they would make into floorboards for me?

And...would they need to treat it for termites and should I expect them to varnish it?

Sorry for the silly question, but the treating, varnishing and coating would it need to be done before or after fitting? And on both sides or just the visible side?

Thanks!

Laminate In a variety of kinds is available from HardwereHouse Bangna they almost certainly have ceramic tile as well.
 

With your skill set I would not be looking at recycled wood, as it will be difficult to process, it’s going to be various thicknesses that will need to be machined, the top surface will not be flat either, and it will be considerably more expensive than anything else, and that is before it gets machined or treated in any way. The place you buy the wood will not do anything other than sell wood it’s the up to you to get it turned into floor boards that suit you. 
 

Termite treatment of the underside is done before fitting the topside is done after the floor is down. 

 

[canerandagio]

19 minutes ago, sometimewoodworker said:

Laminate In a variety of kinds is available from HardwereHouse Bangna they almost certainly have ceramic tile as well.
 

With your skill set I would not be looking at recycled wood, as it will be difficult to process, it’s going to be various thicknesses that will need to be machined, the top surface will not be flat either, and it will be considerably more expensive than anything else, and that is before it gets machined or treated in any way. The place you buy the wood will not do anything other than sell wood it’s the up to you to get it turned into floor boards that suit you. 
 

Termite treatment of the underside is done before fitting the topside is done after the floor is down. 

 

Thanks! I like the bit 'with your skillset' ???? you got it.

[bankruatsteve]

10 hours ago, canerandagio said:

I am conscious of the environmental issue. Regarding laminates, it would be the easiest as the floor already has a laminated parquet, and I want to change it ????.

If you didn't know... There is a big difference between real wood parquet and laminated or engineered parquet.  Again, it is much easier to source and install.  Cheers.

[northstarthai]

Please send me a message on [email protected]

We have been in the wooden floor business for over 10 years here in Thailand and can certainly help you.

Thank you

[Airalee]

I’m considering the same thing here in BKK so just following the thread to see where it goes.  I installed bamboo flooring in a home of mine back in the US and will never make that mistake again.  I was sold on the “it’s harder than maple” line, but because it’s fibrous, when you drop something on it, you run the risk of “breaking” the fiber and it subsequently peels away.  I didn’t use the “cheap” stuff either.

 

Looking online recently, the few places that I saw were asking between 3,000(ish) to over 5,000 per sqm (not including install costs which I have no idea what they’d want).  The 3k stuff was the engineered wood which depending on the quality level isn’t able to be refinished as many times as the solid 3/4” T&G hardwoods (5k/sqm).  I have rented condos with some of the cheaper engineered hardwood floors and the floors were in terrible condition for the age so I know that ultimately, I wouldn’t be happy with it in the long run.

 

At the prices asked for the good stuff, I think I’ll just stick with the laminate that came in my condo (which isn’t that bad) and buy a nice antique Serapi/Bijar rug or two and still have money left over to console myself.

[natway09]

Be careful laying wood directly to the floor in particular in the tropics where condensation can

become a major problem. And then it stinks,

Contend with air con in apartment below, your aircon on & off over the course of a day etc.

Some suggest batons below the flooring for this reason, but in an apartment maybe not possible.

Talk to a specialist & let a Company do it to ensure a good warranty.

Some of the great what we used to call "lino" out of Japan now would be what I would use.

Superb, & soft & great to walk on ,,,,about 900 Bht m2 laid so not cheap

 

[digger70]

On 6/18/2020 at 3:33 PM, bankruatsteve said:

You might give parquet flooring a look.  Probably easier to source than planks but still $$$.  Bangkok has several companies to install and looks fantastic.  I can't remember who did ours - over 20 years ago.

Yea Parquet is much better and looks Great .Must be done Right doh.I have seen a couple Bad ones.

Edited June 19, 2020 by digger70

[zoltannyc]

Sorry but it appears that some posters are mixing up laminate flooring and engineered wood flooring.

 

Laminate flooring is made by gluing a decorative top layer to a solid core of pressed wood fibers. The top decorative layer is actually a photograph of various materials. As well as it contains aluminum oxide and difficult to cut with regular tools. 

 

Engineered hardwood flooring has a similar construction as laminate except the top decorative layer is a thick veneer of real wood protected by a coating of clear acrylic. It really looks like natural the problem is that the upper layer of is around 1/4" (6mm?) and can't be sanded unlike real wood.

Doublefloor co th has a selection of both types of flooring.

 

You may try to search the web for:

พื้นไม้ (Solid Wood Flooring) พื้นไม้เอ็นจิเนียร์ (Engineering Wood Flooring) พื้นไม้ลามิเนต (Laminate Wood Flooring)