In the modern construction market, improved types of durable and versatile flooring are constantly appearing. One of the latest innovations is the engineering board, which is very popular. This is due to the strength, practicality, attractive appearance and some other advantages of this material.
Not everyone knows what an engineering board is. This is a fairly durable flooring. It differs from laminate and parquet in its special structure. Inexpensive plywood is used as the base, and its top layer is natural veneer. In addition, natural wood, most often birch, can be used as an additional raw material.
General information
In appearance, after laying, both parquet and engineered boards look almost the same. The difference between them is not very significant. In the production of new items, a special technology is used, thanks to which the material has excellent performance.quality. In the production of an engineered board, veneer is first made, and then it is glued to plywood. A high quality, low toxicity adhesive is used to join the two materials.
An engineering board is laid on a screed or on plywood. Thanks to a special locking system, the boards are connected easily and quickly. There is no need to use adhesives for this. The boards are covered with several layers of varnish, which acts as the main protective agent against various adverse conditions. Sometimes special oils are used instead of varnish.
Even a beginner can install an engineering board. It is installed in the same way as laminate. Be sure to use a special soft substrate in the process of work, which can hide some of the unevenness of the coating and extend its service life.
What layers are made of
For the production of engineering boards, only high-quality and dense varieties of wood are used. This flooring is very similar to a massive board, but in its production not only wood is used, but also plywood.
What is an engineering board, we figured it out. How many layers does it have? Usually the material includes two layers - plywood and veneer. Some manufacturers offer customers a material with three layers, which has an increased level of strength.
Veneer must have a high level of quality. For its production, birch, oak and ash are used. The thickness of the top layer is usuallyis 1 cm. Plywood is obtained from several tree species and polymeric substances. It is slightly thicker than the front layer, about 1.5 times. After bonding the two materials, an engineering board is formed, the thickness of which does not exceed 2.5 cm.
If desired, artificial flooring can be laid in the house, which looks like it is made from the finest woods. This is a vinyl engineered board. It is also made of several layers:
- The first is a UV coating that protects floors from dirt.
- The second is a polyurethane layer that increases the wear resistance of the material.
- The third is a decorative film imitating wood.
- Fourth - vinyl. It guarantees a stable geometry when the temperature conditions of the environment change.
- Fifth is a polymer composite that provides rigidity to the board.
- The sixth (not always available) - a very dense polysfoam substrate. It improves sound insulation.
Sizes
The engineered board has dimensions that are convenient for installation, which distinguishes it from other similar materials. With its help, you can carry out repair work both in a large room and in a small room.
The length of one board can be from 50 to 300 cm. Some manufacturers make boards up to 600 cm long, but such a large-scale coating is only made to order. Most often, this material is used for finishing large industrial premises.
The maximum width of the board is 45 cm. The most popular products are 20-30 cm wide. WhatAs for the thickness, this figure usually does not exceed 2.5 cm. On sale you can find especially thin engineering boards with a thickness of 1.2 cm.
Texture, shade and shape
The color completely depends on what type of wood is used in production, as well as on how it is processed. The same can be said for texture. To make the engineering board visually more attractive, it is covered with a special protective varnish, which contains wax.
Thus, an engineering board acquires a beautiful shine. Walnut, birch, oak and ash are the main types of wood that can be used for this flooring. To give it a specific effect, the outer layer can be artificially aged, fired and scraped.
Unlike laminate and parquet, this flooring can have a different shape. Rectangular boards are mainly produced and used. On sale you can find original curvilinear products, thanks to which you can create a unique and unusual floor covering.
Difference between engineering and parquet boards
Parquet and engineered boards have many similarities. There is also a difference between them. Firstly, plywood is used as the bottom layer in the new flooring. Secondly, the design of its surface is more diverse, and not classic, as is the case with parquet.
Besides this, there are other differences:
- In productionparquet flooring does not use glue; in the case of engineered boards, adhesives are indispensable.
- Engineered floor lasts twice as long.
- The process of restoring a parquet is simple, but an engineered board is rather complicated due to adhesives.
- Using a novelty, it is difficult to install an infrared floor heating system.
- The cost of an engineering board is much higher.
Parquet is more affordable, but engineered flooring has a wider range. Restoring and laying it is more difficult, but it will last much longer.
Pros of engineering board
It looks great indoors, can fit into almost any interior. Like any other product, an engineering board also has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of the material are as follows:
- Unlike parquet, less warpable.
- It can serve a person for about 40 years, while you can varnish the floors many times, scrape.
- Can be used in high or low importance areas such as the kitchen.
- You can choose any board size in terms of width, thickness and length.
- No need to pre-lay plywood on the floor. Can be mounted directly on the screed.
- You can lay boards not only in the classic way, but also in squares, at an angle, using various decorative inserts.
- Highly soundproof.
- Can be used even in adverse conditions.
- Notit is required to maintain a certain level of humidity and temperature conditions.
- There is the possibility of decorative tinting in the factory on an individual order.
Flaws
Cons of the engineering board are as follows:
- High price.
- Some boards are difficult to take apart and put back together.
- No floating mounting option.
- Sometimes it's hard to match boards with the same color.
- If there is no locking connection system, then it is very problematic to install such a floor covering without the help of specialists. In addition, in this case, you will have to spend money on glue.
- The presence of a large number of fakes on the construction market. Do not buy engineering boards if the veneer thickness is less than 3 mm.
How it is produced
To understand what an engineering board is, you need to know exactly how this product is made. The whole process takes place in several stages using high-tech equipment:
- First, wood processing is carried out. Using a machine, the material must be cut into thin lamellas of a certain thickness.
- Pre-plywood must pass a quality check, and then it is prepared for further work.
- With the help of special glue, veneer and plywood are glued together. Under the influence of the press, the layers are tightly fastened to each other. As a result, the board will not delaminate and deform.
- If the elements will havelocking system of the connection, then after gluing it is necessary to cut out the connection of this type.
- At the final stage, the material is varnished, while the number of its layers should not be less than five. In some cases, special oils or wax-based substances may be used instead of varnish.
How to style
Installation of an engineering board can be done in several ways. Much depends on what type of material is used. For example, laying boards with a locking joint system is much easier, even a beginner can handle it. The elements connect easily and quickly.
The work becomes more complicated if you need to use special adhesives for installation. In this case, it is better to entrust the matter to professionals. In addition, it is difficult to lay large engineering boards, the length of which is 5-6 m.
Material can be laid directly on the screed or on the plywood. If there is a high level of humidity in the room, it is better to install directly on the screed. First, you will need to lay a special soft substrate. The floor needs to be leveled, waterproofed, if necessary.
It is much easier to lay an engineering board on plywood. The coverage is perfectly even. Boards can be attached to plywood with self-tapping screws. The work becomes more complicated if you need to lay the boards at an angle, squares, herringbone. In this case, you need to first make a small drawing, and the calculation of the required number of boards becomes more complicated.
American Board
What is this? Do not think that this flooring is delivered to us from far abroad. American engineered board is a material that is made using special wood. As a rule, American walnut is used. This type of wood has a structure with decorative patterns.
In general, the wood has an attractive chocolate tone. The older it is, the more beautiful it looks in the interior. When dried, the material may slightly change its shade. In this case, drying can be carried out in special ovens or in natural conditions.
The main properties of the American board
This type of wood is one of the most exotic in the production of flooring. These boards look elegant in the room. The material is expensive, but it is durable and incredibly strong, can be used in aggressive conditions.
What is an American engineering board is now clear. Let's add that the material has the following properties:
- Low porosity.
- High density and reliability.
- Good flexible. This indicator is achieved due to the low level of rigidity.
This material is easy to process. Boards can be easily glued to each other or connected using special fasteners. In addition, they can be painted if desired without much difficulty.
Advantages of the American board
This material has many advantages, amongwhich:
- It does not warp or crack.
- Many colors and board sizes to choose from.
- Material is installed quickly and easily and has a long service life.
- The coating is environmentally friendly, durable and reliable.
When laying such an engineering board, you need to remember that each element may slightly differ in shade. In the future, no varnishes with dyes can not be corrected. This feature should be considered when buying flooring.
How to choose engineering boards you need
When buying, you need to start from the design of the room, choosing the material according to the type of wood and its shade. You can take large boards and quickly carry out installation in a large room. You can also purchase small boards and lay them in an unusual way.
The most important thing is to pay attention to the thickness of the veneer, which cannot be less than 3 mm. If you need to finish a public institution with high traffic, it is better to choose a three-layer material. It has a high level of strength. To finish an apartment or a private house, it is enough to purchase a standard material of two layers. It should not have chips and cracks, a pungent unpleasant odor.
Conclusion
Engineering board is a high-quality modern coating that can serve a person for decades. Its cost is quite high, and various difficulties may arise during the installation process. However, it is difficultfind a more durable, reliable and wear-resistant coating that has an attractive and presentable appearance.
