TECHNICAL DATA SHEET- COMMERCIAL HARDWOOD AND ENGINEERED

GWC markets antique reproduction hard-wax oil wood floors using artistic methods perfected by our European master-craftsmen.

With a production philosophy to create textured hardwood floors that showcase the natural changing grain patterns of the wood to characterize true artistic design, our hardwood floors are designed to reflect the styles found in Europe from centuries ago as we create the same time worn look that showcases the character and longevity of a true vintage hardwood floor.

Core values at GWC are to make use of environmentally friendly methods and renewable forest resources to offer products that are consistently of the highest quality and to ensure excellence in customer care. We offer our clients great and assured opportunities for growth with our commitment to developing hard-wax oiled wood flooring products benefitting from the latest advances in styling, technology and innovation as we secure our position firmly at the forefront of the design industry.

At GWC Floors, we SOURCE top quality, wide planked hardwood floors using a wide variety of natural processes including distressing, hard-wax oil finish, hand scraping and hand sculpting, smoking, brushing, and carbonization to achieve a truly vintage look.

Distressing

Distressing a new floor means that the floor maintains its perfect fit, but takes on the look and character of a vintage floor. There are several methods for distressing floors, the most commonly used and most accepted is hand scraping. Hand scraping hardwood flooring, if done by an artisan craftsman as it was done in Europe centuries ago, will improve the look and feel of the floor as well as add much desired character. GWC Floors takes hand scraping to the next level with hand sculpting – a process that creates natural distressing around raised knots to enhance the wood’s organic contours. All GWC flooring is hand scraped or hand sculpted by master craftsmen.

Hard-Wax Oil Finish

All GWC Floors are finished with Rubio Monocoat Hard-Wax Oil. Rubio Monocoat Hard-Wax Oil finish is an ALL NATURAL, non-pollutant, non-toxic, ultra-low VOC product with no biocides, no preservatives, and is benzene-free. It is produced from natural materials such as vegetable oil and natural waxes made from purified renewable natural raw resources. Its open grain structure allows the floor to breathe which has a regulatory effect on moisture, ensuring a healthy room climate. The special features of this finish allow the oils to penetrate deeply into the wood pores to enhance, while the wax remains on the surface to maintain a beautiful natural matte finish and create a protective layer, offering a resistant and lasting finish. By finishing the wood with Hard-Wax Oil the ultimate color of the floor will flourish.

Smoking

When smoking a floor, the tannins in the oak wood reacts to the burn, thereby giving the floor a darker and grey appearance, the extent of this depends on the duration of the treatment. Since not every part of the floor will contain the same amount of tannins, one section could appear darker than the other. The result is a rustic and authentic look.

Brushing

Certain styles of GWC Floors are brushed to give them an extra accent. Brushing removes the soft wood from the floor and brings out its texture, making it more durable, and impact resistant. Minor scratches and damages become less apparent and give the wood flooring a slightly rustic look. Combined with Hard-Wax Oil, brushing can give the floor a unique and characteristic appearance. Brushed floors can be maintained using the same methods as a floor that has not been brushed.

Carbonization

Carbonization is a process that exposes the wood to extreme heat and freezing temperatures. As a result of these extreme temperature treatments, the wood is strengthened while creating a unique and aged effect.

Select Grade Wood: Select grade wood features a smooth and clear, modern surface with minimal natural knots and cracks.

Character Grade Wood: Character grade features the wood’s natural free-forming grain patterns, knots and cracks reminiscent of a vintage floor.

Hard-Wax Oil finish

It has been a long-standing European tradition to use oils and wax to create natural wood flooring surfaces. All GWC Floors are finished with Rubio Monocoat Hard-Wax Oil to make our oil floors. Rubio Monocoat Hard-Wax Oil finish is an ALL NATURAL non-pollutant, non-toxic, ultra-low VOC product with no biocides, no preservatives, and is benzene-free. It has the most environmentally friendly benefits as a wood finish and contributes to a healthy living environment as it is produced from natural materials such as vegetable oil and natural waxes made from purified, renewable, natural, raw resources. Its open grain structure allows the floor to breathe which has a regulatory effect on moisture ensuring a healthy room climate. The special features of this finish allow the oils to penetrate deeply into the wood pores to enhance the natural beauty while the wax remains on the surface to maintain a natural matte finish and create a protective layer offering a resistant and lasting finish. Hard-Wax Oil is extremely water repellent and resistant to watermarks. It will not crack, flake, peel, or blister and is micro porous allowing the floor to breathe. Rubio Monocoat Hard-Wax Oil is stain-resistant against wine, beer, cola, coffee, tea, fruit juices and milk. By finishing the wood with Hard-Wax Oil, the ultimate color of the floor will flourish. Oiling the floor will partly retain its open structure making it relatively easy to maintain.

• European Norm Standard Practices EN113 & EN152

• Anti-slip properties, R9 according to DIN 51130

• Suitable for application on children’s toys according to DIN EN 71T.3

• Resistance to saliva and perspiration according to DIN 53160 T. 1 + 2