The Florence laminate flooring range is a small but exclusive range of high-quality laminate flooring products, offering a variety of attractive wood-effect planking products that come with a 20-year warranty, this lengthy duration reflecting the fact that many these floors are made of AC4 grade laminate. This is a tough material that is well-suited to environments like commercial premises with a significant amount of foot traffic. Others are made from AC3, which is designed for home use in all areas except bathrooms.
Florence range laminates come in thicknesses of seven, eight, ten or 12 mm, while the planking is mostly either 188 or 193 mm wide, depending on the product.
The majority of the wood effect laminates in the range are oak, reflecting the popularity of this style, but those seeking something different can also find a dark grey coloured Pine and a rich, dark brown Wenge and Walnut, which features a mix of distinctive dark and light wood markings.
The Florence engineered wood flooring range is mostly made of oak, although walnut, ash, maple and beech are also available. There are 32 products in all and these come in a variety of styles, tones and finishes. For instance, items such as the Brush Matt Lacquered oak offers a smart lacquer finish. It has beveled edges, which produce pronounced joints along all its sides to give the wood greater definition. It also comes in a relatively pale wood, but with distinct markings and a textured finish.
Those seeking contrasts with all of these elements can find them in the range. They can be unfinished or oiled, select grade rather than a textured finish, or in both darker (including very dark) and lighter shades. Examples of this include the very light Engineered White Oak and Black Oak Flooring, which are in fact very pale and very dark browns respectively. Those looking for multi-tone varieties could choose walnut, which offers lacquered 3 strip flooring with a dark hue that is deliberately faded in places with lighter patches, or European ash with its mixture of pale and very pale banding.
The prominence of the markings can vary as well. While some may go for beveled edges, the alternative smooth style is also readily available, with this being produced by having smooth-edged planks that make the joins much less noticeable. Other variations include a choice of planking styles. These can include a 3 strip pattern, where groups of three thin strips overlap each other like bricks in a wall, with this pattern continuing across the floor. Alternatively, wide plank arrangements are available in 130, 150, 180 and 189 mm.
Florence solid wood flooring range consists of 29 solid oak floor products, which come in a variety of colours, styles and finishes. In terms of colour, the palest of these are its American White Oak and European White Oak products, each of which are a very pale shade with few markings. The former has 140 mm wide planking while the latter is 210 mm wide. Both come with beveled edges, a textured finish, plank thickness of 19.5 mm and a 20-year warranty.
All of these are features from which other items in the range differ. There are 30-year warranties on three matt lacquer finish products and as well as lacquer, oiled finishes are also available.
The product range also offers variations of width and thickness, as well as medium and dark tones, with the darkest being the fumed oak varieties. While some may like beveled edges, which mean there are pronounced joins between the planks that give the floor greater definition, others may prefer the smooth surface produced by flat-edged planking, which gives a nearly seamless appearance.
Another variation is that of natural features, with products such as White Oak having very few markings, while others have prominent lines, bands and knots. With both American and European oak being used, the slight differences in markings between these offer other little variations on the theme. As a result of these selections, those looking for Florence solid wood flooring should find something to their taste.
