The Step & Wall 2019 Collection highlights a sophisticated range of real wood flooring designed with a focus on sustainability and advanced technology. By utilizing a thin natural wood veneer atop a high-density fiberboard (HDF) core and a cork backing, these floors offer superior impact resistance and acoustic insulation while using significantly fewer trees than traditional hardwood.
The catalog details various aesthetic categories, including Natural, Rustic, and Crack, which showcase diverse textures like brushed pores and unique markings. For ease of use, the products feature a patented click installation system and are compatible with underfloor heating. Furthermore, the company maintains high environmental standards, supported by certifications such as FSC, PEFC, and GREENGUARD. Available in extra-large planks and multiple widths, this collection provides versatile, high-quality solutions for both residential and commercial spaces.
Executive Summary
The Step & Wall 2019 Collection represents an advanced approach to real wood flooring, emphasizing ecological efficiency, high-performance technology, and diverse aesthetic collections. By utilizing a thin 0.6 mm real wood veneer over a High-Density Fiberboard (HDF) core and a 2 mm cork backing, Step & Wall achieves superior impact resistance and acoustic performance compared to traditional 3 mm hardwood floors.
Key Strengths
- Resource Efficiency: The manufacturing process uses one tree to produce the same volume of flooring that would require six trees for traditional 3 mm hardwood products.
- Technological Integration: Features include the Unift X “single click” installation system, Wax Sealed Flooring (WSF) for moisture protection, and suitability for radiant underfloor heating up to 27°C.
- Performance Tiers: The collection offers two distinct finishes—Brushed Pore (15-year guarantee) for residential and low-traffic areas, and Protected Pore (20-year guarantee) for general commercial use.
- Sustainability: The product line holds PEFC, GREENGUARD, FSC, and Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emission certifications, ensuring healthy indoor environments and responsible forest management.
Structural Composition and Engineering
Step & Wall flooring is engineered in a multi-layered structure designed to balance the aesthetic of natural wood with modern durability.
Material Layers
- Varnish Layers: Eight coats of varnish provide final surface protection.
- Real Wood Veneer: A 0.6 mm layer of natural wood ensures every plank is unique.
- Primer and Glue: High-quality primer and glue are used to ensure adhesion between the veneer and the core.
- HDF Board: The middle layer consists of High-Density Fiberboard, which provides higher impact resistance and durability than traditional solid hardwood.
- Veneer Backing: A secondary wood veneer layer ensures overall plank stability.
- Cork Layer: A 2 mm cork sheet is attached to the bottom. This sustainable material provides thermal and sound insulation, offering a firm, solid feel underfoot.
Technical Performance Features
- Impact Resistance: Due to the HDF core, the 0.6 mm flooring performs better against impacts than thicker 3 mm hardwood alternatives.
- Acoustic Performance: The “Solid Sound Cork” backing reduces noise from footsteps and enhances walking comfort.
- Moisture Protection: The Wax Sealed Flooring (WSF) system applies a special wax to click unions to protect the most exposed areas from moisture.
- Thermal Conductivity: The flooring is optimized for radiant heating systems, tolerating surface temperatures up to 27°C.
Product Finishes and Guarantees
Step & Wall distinguishes between two primary finishes based on the intended environment and traffic levels.
| Feature | Brushed Pore | Protected Pore |
|---|---|---|
| Aesthetic Effect | Highlights the texture of natural wood with a matt varnish. | High resistance to wear and dirt while maintaining wood appearance. |
| Traffic Suitability | Low traffic: offices and residential common areas. | General commercial: hotels, shops, and offices. |
| Guarantee | 15 Years | 20 Years |
| Commercial Class | Class 31 | Class 32 |
Sustainability and Certifications
The brand emphasizes an “ecologically friendly” footprint by maximizing natural resources and maintaining rigorous emission standards.
- Ecological Optimization: By utilizing a 0.6 mm veneer, the product drastically reduces raw material consumption (1 tree vs. 6 trees).
- PEFC and FSC: Ensures wood originates from sustainably managed, recycled, and controlled sources.
- GREENGUARD: Certifies that the product meets strict chemical emission standards to reduce indoor air pollution.
- VOC Certification: Guarantees control over harmful emissions to ensure the habitability of interior spaces.
Aesthetic Collections and Customization
The 2019 collection offers various styles ranging from clean, modern aesthetics to rustic, reclaimed looks.
Major Aesthetic Lines
- Natural: Includes Superior Oak (warm and elegant), Select Oak (classic/modern blend), and Knotty Oak (country style).
- Rustic: Features shades like Cream, Cinder, and Honey Oak, often incorporating moderate knots to enhance warmth.
- Wild: Designed using “torn wood” from reused beams of old buildings, featuring cracks and bold textures (e.g., Iceberg, Dune, Jungle, and Storm Oak).
- Crack: Highlights natural cracks that appear over time for a stunning, rustic aesthetic (e.g., Savannah Oak).
- Mineral: Focused on light, bright tones such as Quartz Oak for airy interior designs.
- Additional Collections: Vulcano, Ethernal, Dawn, Rock, and Classics.
Design Versatility
Step & Wall allows for the combination of different widths with the same length to create “visual rhythm” and dynamism in flooring layouts. Planks are available in “Extra Large” (XL) formats up to 2420 mm in length.
Technical Specifications: Sizes and Availability
The following dimensions are standard across the 2019 offerings:
| Length (mm) | Length (inches) |
Width (mm) |
Width (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2420 | 95 9/32 | 265 | 10 7/16 |
| 2420 | 95 9/32 | 230 | 9 1/16 |
| 2420 | 95 9/32 | 185 | 7 9/32 |
| 2200 | 86 39/64 | 230 | 9 1/16 |
| 1805 | 71 1/16 | 195 | 7 43/64 |
| 1200 | 47 1/4 | 150 | 5 29/32 |
Installation Method
The Unift X system is the patented installation method used across the collection. It utilizes a single click connection to ensure correct positioning and a quick, easy assembly process.
The Future of Flooring: 5 Reasons Why Your Next Real Wood Floor Should Only Cost One Tree
1. The Luxury Dilemma: Aesthetics vs. Ethics
In my practice as a consultant, I find that today’s homeowners are no longer satisfied with beauty alone; they demand integrity. We are caught in a luxury dilemma: the desire for the soulful, timeless warmth of real timber versus the heavy environmental guilt of deforestation. For decades, the “prestige” of a floor was measured by the thickness of the plank—a metric that is becoming increasingly obsolete. Step & Wall represents the visionary shift we’ve been waiting for, offering a precision-engineered timber solution that bridges the gap between high-end design and radical sustainability.
2. The 1-to-6 Ratio: Maximum Beauty, Minimum Impact
The most profound shift in Step & Wall’s philosophy is the move from raw volume to resource optimization. By utilizing a high-quality 0.6 mm real wood veneer rather than a traditional 3 mm hardwood layer, the math of flooring changes forever. To floor a standard home with traditional hardwood, you might require six trees; Step & Wall achieves the same aesthetic result using only one.
“We use a thin layer of wood that optimizes natural resources to the maximum.”
The Expert Take: This is where “less is more” transcends being a design cliché and becomes a technical reality. In a world of finite resources, true luxury is defined by the intelligence of the application, not the bulk of the material. This 1-to-6 ratio proves we can cover six times the surface area without compromising on the authentic wood experience.
3. Counter-Intuitive Strength: Why Thinner is Actually Tougher
Top Resistance In the design world, we often have to dismantle the myth that “thicker equals stronger.” In reality, a solid 3 mm wood layer is susceptible to the inherent softness of timber. Step & Wall achieves the highest impact resistance by fusing the 0.6 mm wood veneer to a high-density fiberboard (HDF) core.
Engineered Longevity
- HDF Stability: The HDF core provides a level of hardness and durability that far surpasses traditional hardwood.
- 8 Varnish Layers: Each plank is protected by eight separate coats of varnish, creating a formidable barrier against friction and daily wear.
- Wax Sealed Flooring (WSF): To prevent the common issue of moisture damage at the seams, a specialized wax seal is applied to the click unions.
The Expert Take: I often see clients surprised that a thinner profile can be more resilient. This shifts the conversation from “how much wood is there?” to “how well is the wood protected?” By combining HDF with an 8-layer finish, we are specifying a floor that can handle the high-traffic realities of a modern home with ease.
4. The Hidden Secret Underfoot: Integrated Cork Technology
A floor’s quality is often determined by what you don’t see. Every Step & Wall plank features an integrated 2 mm cork backing. This isn’t just a sustainable add-on; it’s a functional powerhouse that provides:
- Acoustic Performance: Significant sound insulation that eliminates the “hollow” click-clack of cheaper laminates.
- Thermal Comfort: Natural insulation that keeps the surface temperate and inviting.
The Expert Take: This integrated layer ensures the floor feels “firm and solid”—often performing better underfoot than a traditional 3 mm hardwood option. By integrating the underlayment directly into the plank, we simplify the architectural envelope and improve the daily livability of the space from day one.
5. From “Torn” to “Stunning”: The Beauty of the Wild Collection
We are witnessing a major pivot in luxury design: the move away from sterile, “perfect” uniformity toward character-rich authenticity. The Wild and Crack collections are masterclasses in this aesthetic. Rather than hiding the history of the timber, Step & Wall celebrates it.
The Wild collection is particularly evocative, utilizing reused beams from old buildings and preserving the “torn wood” textures and natural cracks that only age can provide.
“Each plank is different from the other creating an effect so difficult to imitate, that only real wood can achieve.”
The Expert Take: Authenticity is the ultimate luxury. When we use materials with a history—like reused beams—we aren’t just installing a floor; we are installing a narrative. These unrepeatable patterns ensure that no two rooms will ever look the same.
6. Breaking the Grid: The Dynamic Rhythm of Mixed Widths
To avoid the “off-the-shelf” look of standard flooring, I always recommend a “Mix and Match” approach. Step & Wall allows us to combine specific widths—150 mm, 185 mm, 195 mm, 230 mm, and 265 mm—within the same installation, all while maintaining the same length. For expansive, open-concept spaces, the technical capability for extra-large planks (up to 2420 mm) is a game-changer.
The Expert Take: Combining widths mimics the organic, bespoke variation found in historical manor floors. It breaks the visual grid and creates an “architectural rhythm” that feels custom-built for the room’s specific proportions, rather than a mass-produced solution.
7. A Healthier Home and Final Thoughts
Beyond the visual and structural, a floor must support the health of the inhabitants. Step & Wall integrates several advanced features for a holistic home environment:
- Radiant Heat Compatibility: Engineered to transmit heat optimally, safe for underfloor heating up to 27°C.
- Indoor Health: GREENGUARD and VOC emission certifications ensure your home remains a sanctuary from chemical pollutants.
- Installation Efficiency: The Unifit X system allows for a quick “click” connection, significantly reducing installation timelines.
- Finish Options: Choose between Brushed Pore for a natural, tactile texture or Protected Pore for high-traffic environments that require even more resistance.
As we design the homes of the future, we have to decide: does true luxury lie in the raw volume of materials we consume, or in the intelligence of the technology that allows us to live beautifully while leaving the forest intact?