New hybrid wood flooring constructions are the hard-wearing natural alternative to synthetic reproductions.
Despite its organic beauty and natural ability to sequester carbon as it grows, wood has been in long term decline as a floor finish in commercial projects. In recent decades, it has been squeezed out at the expense of reproductions like LVT (luxury vinyl tile) and laminates.
These synthetic alternatives had the advantage of durability, especially in busy public spaces. Traditional wood flooring wasn't robust enough and required ongoing maintenance to maintain its appearance.
Growing concerns about the carbon footprint and environmental impacts of synthetic materials - particularly those derived from oil like LVT - are driving a quest for flooring that combines the commercial performance of vinyl with the look and environmental benefits of natural wood.
It's a challenging brief but recent advances in technology have led to a new generation of wood floor hybrids that provide great solutions to the challenge of bringing wood to commercial floors.
Hardened Wood
The patented technology at the heart of this innovation fuses a thin layer of wood with a high-density core. This uses 90% less timber than traditional engineered wood and delivers a high-performing floor in any commercial environment.
Engineered for heavy-duty commercial application
3 times harder than traditional wood
Very stable construction allows XXL planks (up to 2.4 m)
Fast-track floating floor installation (up to 625 m2 with expansion joint)
Commercial safety performance (high slip resistance PTV 36+, B fire rated)
Highly water resistant
De-constructable and reusable
Learn more about Hardened Wood in our Library.
Wood Composite Board
This multi-oriented strand board with three bonded layers of long wood fibres, arranged at right angles to each other, providing excellent dimensional stability. The floor designs are highly authentic recreations of heritage floors, like The Old War Office in London.
Engineered for heavy-duty commercial application
Very stable construction allows XL planks and tiles
Commercial safety performance (high slip resistance PTV 30)
Fast-track floating floor installation
Carbon negative (absorbs 12 kg CO2/m2)
Recyclable & biodegradable
Fibre Floor
This award-winning composite is made from 100% renewable content - wood, cork, natural fibres, natural gums and other natural materials - and it offers advantages that make it a better solution than vinyl for busy commercial projects.
Engineered for heavy-duty commercial application
Very stable construction allows XL planks (up to 1.8 m)
Fast-track floating floor installation (up to 600 m2 with expansion joint)
Commercial safety performance (fire & slip resistance)
Great on acoustics - 17 dB sound absorption
100% waterproof construction
De-constructable and reusable (Second Life)
Learn more about Fibre Floor in our Library.
Reasons to go Plastic-Free
Implementing initiatives like the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge and the UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard requires significant and consistent reductions in construction-related carbon emissions. Plastic flooring - like LVT - has the highest carbon footprint of almost all flooring types. So, switching to renewable materials like these is a contributor to a carbon reduction strategy.
PVC - the main ingredient in vinyl flooring - is designated a "worst in class" building material that should be phased out because it's a known human carcinogen and a persistent organic pollutant.
It's time to make the transition from oil-based plastics to renewable alternatives.
