Natural building and finishing materials have been valued at all times. In modern interiors, they are also actively used for cladding walls, floors, structures, as they have high aesthetic properties. But, along with beauty, wood products have unique technical characteristics that make their use convenient and practical. A massive board on the floor successfully replaces modern coating materials. In terms of functional and aesthetic properties, it bypasses even the most advanced developments.
General information
A massive board is a piece element for flooring, equipped with a tongue-and-groove lock. In terms of external qualities, it resembles parquet, but has an increased size of one product:
- Width – 10…20 mm;
- Thickness – 18…22 mm;
- Length - 1…2.5 m, sometimes up to 6 meters.
Massive floor board is made from solid timber without the inclusion of additional layers, which makes it an environmentally friendly material.
Production
Manufacture of boards is carried out on special machines by sawing timber beams, after which grooves and spikes are cut out on the workpiece, then the surface is treated. In some cases, there may not be locking connections, such elements are mounted using self-tapping screws or glue, but this method is used extremely rarely.
Different production methods allow you to create products of a certain type:
- A radial board is obtained by means of a radial cut. Such wood has a pleasant homogeneous structure with the smallest gaps between the rings. High wear resistance, the ability to maintain its characteristics over time and low product yield (13-15%) make the cost of such an element high.
- Through a tangential cut, a select board is obtained. It is distinguished by the presence of a wavy pattern with a small number of small knots of the same color. Semi-tangentially produced solid board on the floor is prone to swelling.
- Product type "nature" resembles raw wood. It is produced in different ways: radial, semi-radial, tangential. Such a board is uniform in color, but slight tone differences and inclusions of knots are allowed that do not violate the integrity of the product.
- Rustic is the most uncomplicated type of massiveboards. It may include significant color differences, large knots, small cracks. Only mechanical damage is unacceptable, which cannot be eliminated by grinding, puttying. Such a massive board on the floor looks as natural as possible, but does not last long.
Material
For production, larch, oak, maple, ash, teak, merbau wood is used. In Russia, the most common items are from breeds growing in our regions.
Massive oak floor boards are distinguished by a recognizable pleasant color palette, high strength and minimal wear resistance. Such a coating can last more than 100 years with proper care.
Massive larch floor board is affordable, so it is very common among consumers. In addition, it has an attractive color and texture, the moisture resistance of the breed allows it to be used in rooms with high humidity. With proper care and timely processing, larch coating lasts for a long time - up to 100 years or more.
Processing methods
Massive board on the floor is laid in draft form. In production, after the sawing stage, it is processed and decorated in various ways:
- Traditional polishing. This method of finishing allows you to get rid of surface roughness, the board is perfectly smooth with a natural color and pattern.
- The effect of aged wood is achievedby scraping the upper fibers, the structure of the natural material is enhanced. For safety, such a board is covered with a finishing varnish or special oils.
- Toning the surface of the product helps to make the color of the rock deeper or brighter. The color scheme can have a rainbow hue, then the product will be green, red, blue, etc. Often, wood species traditional for our latitudes are given the color of expensive imported varieties, which allows you to save on purchases.
- Coating with bronze, brass allows you to achieve an unusual metallic effect for a natural board in different shades. Such solutions are suitable for design interiors in modern and high-tech style.
- Brushing with a special brush highlights the texture of the upper layers of wood. Unlike an aged one, such a board has a more pronounced surface and relief.
Pros and cons
Massive board for the floor has pros and cons, of course, like any building material. Benefits include:
- Absolute ecological purity. The board is a piece of natural wood without additional chemical treatment, therefore it is completely harmless to human he alth and the environment.
- Long service life with proper care.
- Effect of underfloor heating without electric heating.
- Repairable. The board can be replaced if necessary, and the floor surface can be renewed 5-6 times.
- Exceptional aesthetic appeal with a variety of patterns, textures and shades.
Flaws:
- The ability to deform from a change in humidity is in every tree species. In the dry summer and winter season, the board has a minimum size; in the wet off-season, it swells.
- Installation of flooring is not easy - there are many nuances. In addition, the dimensions of the products can create additional difficulties. The work should be entrusted to a professional master.
You should take into account all the advantages and disadvantages that a massive floor board has. Pros and cons determine the rules for styling and caring for products. Adhering to them, you can successfully emphasize the features of the material and minimize unpleasant consequences.
Solid board or parquet?
Often these types of flooring are confused with each other.
Parquet board is a complex element glued together from 3 layers:
1. Upper - a type of wood, often valuable, 3-4 mm.
2. Medium - HDF boards or thin softwood boards.
3. The lower one is softwood.
As it was said, a massive floor board consists of a solid saw cut. This is the fundamental difference between these products.
Besides, massive, parquet floor boards differ in cost: a composite product is much cheaper. True, its service life is lower and the possibility of updating the surface is only 2-3 times.
The most noble yet looks massive board for the floor. Photos clearly demonstrate this.
Featuresstyling
In order for a massive board on the floor to serve for a long time and reliably, it is necessary to lay it correctly. This process is very troublesome, it is better to entrust the work to a professional. If you still decide to make repairs yourself, you should consider some subtleties:
- The surface to be coated must be perfectly flat.
- Regardless of the design and composition of the floor, there is a need for waterproofing the base and the installation of a rough flooring made of plywood or a log system.
- The room should have humidity above 60% and air temperature within 10…30 0C.
- The first board should be spiked against the wall.
- A compensation gap must be left along the wall so that the floor does not swell when the boards expand.
These are the main features of laying the floor. All the nuances and technologies are available only to experienced craftsmen, who are still worth contacting, because the service life of such a floor depends on the quality of installation.
Protection
After laying, the solid board is sanded with fine sandpaper to eliminate minor bumps and snags. If minor damage occurs, they must be puttied and cleaned after drying.
An important step is to cover the floor with polyurethane-acrylic varnish. It will give the board a mirror finish and a finished look. It should be noted that the composition is water-soluble and does not have harmful volatile substances. When the coating dries, another layer should be applied. After a week, furniture can be placed in the room.
In addition to varnish, special oils are used for surface treatment. They don't giveglossy mirror effect, but give the surface a sheen and natural radiance.
Care
Wood is a capricious material, sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity. Therefore, it requires special care to extend the service life and preserve the aesthetic properties:
- Indoors, it is necessary to maintain a constant humidity of 50-60% so that the floor does not dry out and swell.
- The optimum air temperature for the board is 18…25 0С. It should not change drastically in a short period of time.
- The protective layer needs to be updated periodically. Worn coating (made with varnish or oil) is sanded as necessary and the boards are re-treated.
- Use special solid wood floor care products.
- To avoid scratches from furniture and sand, soft materials are placed under the legs of heavy objects, and the center of the room is covered with hard-based carpets.
- A vacuum cleaner is used to clean the floor from debris. It is allowed to wipe the boards with a damp cloth, but contact with water in large quantities is completely excluded.
If you follow these simple rules, you can enjoy solid wood flooring for years to come.
