When it comes to home design a popular trend these days is to try and create a seamless transition between the interior of the home and the outdoors. It's great to be able to develop a continuous flow by using specific design elements and particular products, in order to bring some of that energy and vibrancy from the outside in. How can you incorporate new timber flooring into this type of approach?
Bringing the Outside in
This technique works particularly well if you have a home with a north or north-easterly exposure, to make the most of the energy from the sun. Convert the wall at this orientation so that it is made up of floor-to-ceiling bifold doors instead. You will then be able to add the maximum amount of airiness and light to your living quarters.
Using the Same Type of Timber Outdoors and Indoors
You should choose a type of hardwood timber that can be used for both the internal and external timber applications. Choose the same dimension of boards indoors as well as outdoors in order to achieve that seamless transition, and a floor solution that is both symmetrical and colour co-ordinated.
The interior floor application should be designed so that it is flush with the sill of the sliding door, where all possible. This will enhance that all-important flow, while still paying attention to weather protection.
Extend your symmetrical timber selection out to the deck, as well as to any adjoining structures, such as a carport, for maximum effect.
Acclimatising the Timber First
Remember, however, that it is important to acclimatise any timber to its new environment before it is installed. This is where the expertise of the installer comes in handy. The product used to lay the floor inside the home should be delivered a couple of weeks ahead of time and stored within the property, to allow it to acclimatise to the moisture content therein. It's best if the flooring is stacked carefully in a spare room to enable a natural flow of air around each and every one of the boards. The boards will naturally absorb some of the moisture, which will cause an element of expansion or contraction. This is important to ensure that any such modifications take place before the board is actually installed. Otherwise, this could lead to imperfections, cracking or a less than perfect result, aesthetically.
Apply the same tactics for the timber that you will be laying externally, as well prior to installation.
Finally, it's also important to ensure a sufficient flow of ventilation to the backyard decking, from underneath and to the sides, in order to facilitate drainage and drying. For more information contact MI Floor Sanding.
