The return of raw wood in the home

Raw wood is coming back everywhere: on ceilings, on floors, in joinery and in furniture. It brings warmth, ages well and suits an old house just as well as a contemporary extension.

Uncovering existing beams

In many older houses, handsome beams are hidden behind a suspended ceiling.

“Bringing them back into view completely changes the atmosphere of a room.”

Before deciding, their condition is checked: signs of insects, damp, soundness. A treatment, sometimes reinforcement, is often necessary. Then the finish is chosen: brushed or waxed wood, or simply cleaned to keep its patina.

Solid and engineered wood flooring

Solid wood flooring can be sanded several times over its lifetime: it is a lasting investment. Engineered wood flooring, which is more stable, is better suited to underfloor heating. Chevron and herringbone patterns are returning to living areas, while wide boards give a more contemporary look.

With underfloor heating, the surface temperature of the finished floor must not exceed 28 °C, and the flooring must be declared compatible by its manufacturer, with a low thermal resistance so that the heat can pass through. In every case, the moisture content of the screed is measured before laying: wood laid on a substrate that is still damp swells and warps.

Termites and insects: a real issue in the Gironde

The whole of the Gironde has been classified as a termite monitoring and control area by a prefectoral order of 2001. Before exposing a roof structure or beams, the condition of the wood is therefore examined closely: galleries, wood that sounds hollow, small earth tubes along the walls. House longhorn beetles and woodworm, whose larvae bore into the wood, also attack old timber.

A suitable treatment, carried out by a specialist contractor, is done before the finishes are applied, never after.

Bespoke joinery and furniture

Internal doors, staircases, bookcases, cupboards: bespoke woodwork makes it possible to make use of every corner and gives the house a sense of unity. Combined with black steel, it creates the workshop style found in glazed partitions and balustrades.

An example of a living room redesigned around wood

To give a concrete idea, imagine a 1930s house in the Libourne area, whose 30 m² living room has a suspended ceiling of boards and tired floor tiles. An exploratory opening reveals wooden joists under the suspended ceiling. The programme could be as follows:

1. The ceiling: removal of the suspended ceiling, survey of the joists, treatment if necessary, brushing and a clear oil; if there is a loft above, it is insulated from above so that the joists remain visible.
2. The floor: solid oak flooring, or engineered flooring if underfloor heating is being installed.
3. The furniture: a bespoke bookcase on either side of the fireplace.

Three interventions on the wood, and the room takes on a new character. The order matters: the ceiling is treated and finished before the floor is laid, so as not to damage it.

Which species to choose?

For outdoor use, the use class of the wood is checked (standard NF EN 335), which ranges from 1, wood indoors in dry conditions, to 5, wood in contact with seawater. The PEFC and FSC labels guarantee that the wood comes from sustainably managed forests.

Looking after wood

Oiled wood needs feeding once or twice a year in busy rooms; varnished wood mainly needs gentle cleaning. Outdoors, a wood stain or a penetrating oil protects against UV and damp. In wet rooms, choose a suitable species and a water-resistant finish.

Mistakes to avoid

• Sanding or sandblasting old beams without protection: dust from the wood and from old treatment products is harmful. Extract it at source and protect the house, or opt for brushing.
• Laying flooring on a damp screed: this is the main reason boards lift.
• Varnishing wood that lives outdoors: varnish flakes in the sun, whereas a wood stain or a penetrating oil is simple to maintain.
• Using too many species: two wood tones in a room are enough; beyond that, the whole looks disjointed.

During a renovation, we help you decide what to keep, what to restore and what to replace, so that old and new blend seamlessly.

Sources : Arrêté préfectoral de la Gironde du 12 février 2001 (département classé en zone de surveillance et de lutte contre les termites) · Code de la construction et de l’habitation, article L. 126-4 (déclaration en mairie de la présence de termites) · Norme NF EN 335 (classes d’emploi du bois) · ecologie.gouv.fr