• 18 x 130mm NATURAL GRADE
• Random lengths 300 - 1200mm
• Lacquered finish
• 1.248m2 per pack

The elka solid range is now more appealing that ever with a wide choice of products and finishes

The natural warmth of elka solid range can turn your home into a stunning home with finishes to suit every taste; tradiitonal or contemporary.  Range from the classical 130mm Rustic Oak, in either lacq or brushed and oiled, to the aged and handfinished products for that lived in look.  Elka flooring will add beauty and elegance to your interior.

• Always work from 3 to 4 packs at a time mixing boards to achieve the appearance you require, taking into consideration the texture of the wood and the natural change in colours. Each floor, even each board is an individual piece of nature, which is guaranteed to make your home a place of beauty. Note: Keep a record of all your readings for later reference and warranty enquires. We strongly recommend you keep a record of your moisture and humidity readings prior to installation and in order to accurately determine acclimatisation. These measurements “will be” required by the manufacturer or supplier if there are any future problems.

Failure to do this could cause ongoing behavioural problems with the floor and will invalidate the warranty. The building should be fully enclosed including doors and windows. Heating should be operational. All wet work must have been completed otherwise the moisture will transfer from walls floors and ceilings to the hardwood flooring. The delivered flooring must be left in the packaging with polythene wrapping intact. The flooring should be stacked horizontally no more than 2 to 3 packs high or wide. Break up stacked cartons with battens to increase air circulation. The use of gas or paraffin heaters should be avoided. Do not store next to radiators. The flooring must be left in situ, for 3-7 days before installation. Further checks must be undertaken by the installer to confirm the solid wood flooring is in equilibrium with the site it to be installed.

A new installation site needs to dry out before wood flooring is delivered. There is nearly always excessive moisture on either new construction sites or major refurbishment contracts. In these instances the wood will absorb the excess moisture; resulting in stress issues such as cupping, expanding and later contraction. Always protect against excessive moisture ingression, where it helps use dehumidification equipment to stabilise the site conditions. ‘’Explanation of why the flooring should be one of the last jobs to be undertaken on site; Other trades can damage an excellent installation if care is not taken to safeguard against moisture ingression in hard wood floors. In new building projects moisture is introduced into the fabric throughout the construction process. Example; Under BS882 a concrete mix of (1:2:4) one cubic metre of concrete will contain 187 litres of water. This will have to dry out to below 4% moisture content before your flooring is installed. This may take up to a day per 1mm thickness of concrete to dry out, therefore you must always take a new moisture reading of the concrete sub floor before proceeding with the installation.

Under Floor Heating Please note: This product is “not” guaranteed for use with under floor heating due to the general movement characteristics associated with wood when rapid temperature changes occur. Installing this product over under floor heating “will” invalidate the warranty.

Sub base: When fitting to a sub base other than battens (Screed, ply, chipboard) the sub base must conform to BS 8204: Part 1 1987, which states that it must not deviate by more than + or - 3mm under a 3m straight edge in any one direction. Wooden sub structures must be sound and securely fixed. They must be a minimum of 18mm in depth in order to be supportive. (This applies to Ply or Chipboard also) Always show a preference for Ply to be used as opposed to Chipboard. Ply will offer a better nail fix, there is a good possibility that the nail will work free from Chipboard. Furthermore Chipboard when damp will become less resilient if moisture is introduced. Screed / Concrete subfloors must be under 4% moisture content using Tramex / Other none destructive moisture meter (2.5% CM test / Din Standard), above this will cause excessive dimensional change in the wood flooring resulting in problems such as cupping not covered by the guarantee.

Expansion All solid wood floors will react to changes in the presence of moisture within the boards. In the winter months when central heating is present, moisture leaves the wood causing the floor to contract which will leave slight gaps between each plank. In the summer months when the humidity is higher the wood will expand and the gaps will disappear. This needs to be allowed for during the fitting process. Therefore it is important when installing a solid floor to leave the proper expansion area around the perimeter and to ensure the flooring is fully acclimatised prior to installation. An expansion gap of 15mm must be in place around the “FULL” perimeter of the room. looring must “NOT” be run through doorways in to other rooms, instead it should be broken in the doorway again allowing 15mm; this gap is covered by a profile (such as the Elka 3 in 1 system) that is not fixed to the new flooring. Please note with a large area (lengths in excess of 10 m) the floor must be divided with an expansion gap provided on both length and width. On completion, this gap is again covered by a profile that is not fixed to the new flooring.

There are 2 methods to install your Solid Wood Flooring: Nailing on to Wooden Sub-Floor: • Before you start make sure the subfloor is in good shape. Bouncy, squeaky or uneven areas must be repaired. Note 18mm plywood, solid wood or battens hold porta-nails better than mdf or chipboard. If fitting over an existing floor, install at a right angle to floorboards, if this is not possible - fit plywood so that the direction can be changed. The floor will be stiffer and less prone to joints separating if plywood is used. • Securing can be done by using a porta-nailer or other form of secret nailing with nail lengths to be suitable for 18mm solid wood floor installation. The porta-nailer will fire a nail at a 45º angle through the tongue in to the batten or ply substructure. Secret nailing should be spaced at 150 - 200mm intervals. Even small panels must be secured in a minimum 2 locations. • For some extremely hard wood species, it may be necessary to pre-drill nail holes. Gluing on to Wooden or concrete Sub-Floor: • You must use a water-free, alcohol or polyurethane glue, specially formulated for use with wood looring. Installation can be by either the traditional trowel method or by applying a glue batten system (such as Elka Bond), in all cases follow the instructions of the adhesive manufacturer. • With this method, you adhere direct to the sub floor and you do not need to apply glue to the tongue and groove. • Any surplus glue that may seep out on to the surface of the wood must be removed immediately with a damp cloth. • Flooring straps can be used to pull the boards together and hold them firm whilst the glue sets.

  W ood floor care guide: Wood floors are a lifetime investment, and decisions concerning them should not be taken lightly. Routine maintenance should include protecting the surface finish from moisture and heavy wear which creates scratches. Our recommended Elka maintenance program requires more than sweeping and vacuuming. Consumer Expectations: Wood floors are NOT impervious to the day to day impact of grit, food, spills, and water. Preventive maintenance like area rugs, floor protectors (on ALL furniture on your wood floors), and routine maintenance with proper hardwood floor cleaner (such as Elka Clean) should always be exercised (improper products can contribute to additional wear, may VOID your warranty, and cause failure when recoating.