How to choose a floorboard?

The modern flooring market offers a wide range for every taste. One of the most popular materials for many years remains the floorboard, despite the relatively high cost. Due to its quality characteristics, durability and noble appearance, the demand for it increases every year. Choosing a floorboard is not an easy task, since it is necessary to take into account several criteria that are crucial.

The parquet board is a type of flooring, which is a multi-layered canvas of wood. Usually it consists of three layers, which are laid perpendicularly. This achieves a high degree of strength and resistance to external influences.

The top layer is made of valuable wear-resistant wood. Usually in the factory it is coated with varnish or parquet oil.The middle layer, as a rule, consists of lamellas made of coniferous wood. Here are the connecting elements of the parquet. The base, or seamy layer is a pine or spruce plywood, which introduces the element of rigidity in the whole structure.

Beautiful parquet board can decorate any interior. Experts identify several of its types:

The most common type of flooring in the form of homogeneous slats. For the production they use mainly ash, oak, bamboo or birch. Parquet board waterproof, durable, fire-resistant, resistant to stress, repairable. Protective agents and impregnations are applied after installation. Piece parquet blends harmoniously into the interiors of living rooms, bedrooms and dining rooms. The structure of the parquet is exquisite and picturesque, aesthetic pleasure for the owners.

A multi-layered version in which the lower layers are usually made of low-quality wood, and the outer decorative layer is made of hard, wear-resistant valuable species. The outer layer is coated with varnish or parquet oil.Manufacturers sell fully finished goods with external coating.

The base consists of square or rectangular sheets of hardboard, which are glued to thin wooden plates. Favorable cost and almost seamless design makes it very popular.

The typesetting structure, made of planks of solid breeds, has a variety of patterns and shades. Manual work assumes the absence of repetitions, each separately executed project is individual. The work with the drawing is usually carried out by the designer-artist.

A unique feature of cork material is its absolute immunity to moisture. Therefore, for laying in the kitchen is ideal. In addition, the cork has a high thermal and noise insulation. The most noticeable disadvantage of such plates is their cost. It should be noted the scarcity of colors and textures.

For the production of parquet used various materials.

The production of a decorative outer layer depends on the designer's idea and the material capabilities of the customer.

Today, the market offers not only European and American wood, but also more exotic from Africa or Asia. The most common species are oak, beech, ash. Not less popular lately have become maple wood, birch and walnut. Exotic and expensive varieties include wenge and merbau. Wealthy homeowners often use mahogany as the top layer.

Consider the types of wood suitable for parquet:

• Oak. Its hardness and durability make it the most popular among all. The stability index is close to the highest, so it will not crumble and deform under the influence of external factors. Oak floor retains its structure for centuries.
• Beech. The material has a calm range of colors, so it is often used in children's interiors. The average level of stability does not allow its application in more aggressive conditions. To increase this indicator, beech boards are thermally treated.
• Cherry. The material pleases the eye with a variety of color palette - from dark brown and coffee to pale pink. Cherry parquet board will be appropriate in all interiors.

• Maple. Wood is characterized by durability and high stability. The beautiful pattern of the fibers will pleasantly surprise with delicate, cream shades.
• Nut. Easy to care that makes it stand out from many. Impeccable performance and bright structure increases its attractiveness. Durability second only to oak.
• Wenge. Recently, the wood of this breed has reached the peak of its popularity. She comes from Africa, has a dark, almost black color. The service life of wenge products is great due to such qualities as moisture resistance, resistance to mechanical damage. Scratch wood is not terrible.

• Merbau Exotic view brought from Indonesia. The wood has a pleasant golden brown color. Absolute hardness eliminates the presence of mold and fungi, but is difficult to process. Resin saturation gives a characteristic odor and ensures moisture resistance.
• Kempas brought from Africa.The color palette is saturated with orange tones with a golden hue. Dense structure contributes to resistance to damage. However, wood is subject to temperature variations.

To enhance wear resistance and durability, the outer side of the parquet is coated with varnish or oil. The standard protective layer is varnish. According to its texture it is divided into glossy and matte. The parquet board is covered with several varnish layers, which serves as a barrier to dirt, moisture and abrasion.

The method of applying lacquer is hot pressing, followed by drying in special chambers at high temperature and ultraviolet treatment for protection against cracking. Care of the varnished surface is simple and consists in polishing by special means.

Modern designers "love" parquet oil as a coating that emphasizes the naturalness of wood.It does not violate the structure of the array, focusing on the beauty and elegance of the pattern and shades. Oil is an ecoproduct, which is not unimportant for allergy sufferers.

The composition of the oil includes a mixture of various types of wax and resin.

Care in this case more thorough. Once a quarter, the floorboard should be treated with special compounds. In contact with ultraviolet, the period between treatments can be increased.

In the case of an oil-coated restoration, only a separate area can be exposed.

The standard dimensions of the parquet board are as follows: length - from 200 to 250 cm, width - up to 20 cm, thickness - from 0.7 to 2.6 cm.

The main criterion for the choice of floorboard - its thickness. Much depends on it. It determines the height of the installation of door structures, the degree of stability.

Professionals do not recommend choosing a floorboard thinner than 13 mm, since then only 2.5 mm will be needed for the decorative layer. Such parquet is not subject to repair by cycling, it does not serve for long.

For residential premises, it is better to choose options that are thicker than 14 mm with a decorative layer of at least 4 mm. The best option for offices - 20 mm. For public spaces, the best choice is a thick board up to 25 mm.

The thicker the flooring, the warmer and quieter it will be in the room.

The longer the board, the less likely it will squeak further. Less than 180 cm material is better not to lay, because it is fraught with violation of seams. Some domestic companies offer planks from 1 meter for use in low-cost interiors.

The choice of width depends on the preferences of the owner and varies from 10 to 20 cm. The size of the parquet boards for the mosaic depends on the customer. More often it is a square board, the sizes of which vary from 40x40 or 60x60 mm.

The general appearance of the room depends on the color of the wood. It is important that the floor fits into the overall concept of the interior.

Light or white floorboard illuminates the interior, visually expanding it.

Brown shades will fit into any design because they are universal.

Dark or black surface of the floor visually reduces the room. It should be used with caution.

The most original color palette. Mahogany, combined options from different breeds will bring variety and beauty. Some manufacturers offer parquet boards from a material called "American Walnut". It is characterized by beautiful shades, an interesting pattern of fibers, creating a sense of style and solidity.

It is important to know that the color may change during operation, so it is necessary to check with the manufacturer to what extent this may occur. The color can be changed independently in the presence of block parquet, for which special compositions are used.

Natural three-layer parquet board has several varieties:

• Plank board looks like a normal one. Its outer layer is made of a solid array. The floor covered with such a board visually enlarges the room. Most often used by designers for deck styling. As a rule, the most expensive and aesthetically attractive appearance, since it most fully reveals the uniqueness of the tree structure.
• Two way It is characterized by two lamellae, from which the upper layer is made. They are carefully tailored to each other.In length can consist of two or three parts.
• Parquet three-way the board as a part of an external layer has three rows of the lamels located in parallel. Changing their position, you can achieve a different pattern in the form of braids, Christmas trees or deck option. Use in any interior.
• Decorative boards consist of four or more bands that make up a multicolor pattern. The outer layer, consisting of small planochka, is assembled by hand, so the cost of such products is quite high.

You can also sort parquet according to the type of top layer depending on the following criteria.

• Radial. The tree is cut along the axis through the core. The fibers are then parallel to the age rings. With this method of sawing wood deforms less and has a homogeneous structure, but it is characterized by a large amount of waste.
• Tangential the cut allows to receive boards of lower cost, with smaller quantity of marriage. The incision is made through the center of the trunk. The color of the surface is bright, the pattern is interesting and peculiar. The technical quality of the board with this method loses radial.
• Mixed type combines the first two.

Taking into account the method of sawing, uniformity of color and nature of the pattern, the board is selected:

• Radial select - the highest grade of parquet. It is characterized by a uniform texture, the absence of knots and other defects. According to GOST, wood belongs to category A. However, uniformity does not please the original pattern or color shades. She looks bored in the interior. Basically, it is used as a shield parquet.
• Select or standard can be attributed to the highest grade. Selection receive thanks to a radial cut. Wood has a clearer pattern, deeper tonal transitions. The material is free from defects and sapwood.

• Natur It turns out as a result of the mixed cut. Parquet refers to the highest grade, but may contain some knots and streaks. This is compensated by a bright difference in colors and patterns.
• Rustik involves the use of boards, sawn both radial and tangential way. The material has a natural pattern, characterized by spectacular transitions from color to color. The class of wood according to GOST corresponds to category B, which implies the presence of knots, sapwood,oblique fibers. This type of board is often used for country style.
• Robust or economy - the cheapest type of parquet. Accordingly, the type of cut, the number of defects, the color quality is determined by the manufacturer.

In addition to the above, parquet can be distinguished by some other characteristics.

For the production of wood flooring using dense wood. Material of different degrees of density will have a different weight. It increases its external lacquer coating, which is applied in several layers.

The lightest option is a thin piece parquet board designed for mosaic ornament. The heaviest is massive multi-layer parquet board.

The determination of the total weight of the coating is reduced to multiplying the density of the material per cubic meter. Usually, reputable manufacturers indicate on packages an approximate weight per square meter.

Professionals classify the floorboard, depending on the purpose and intensity of operation.These indicators are indicated as a two-digit numeric code on the product.

The group of products on "3" is made for public enterprises: schools, shops, medical institutions, class on "2" - for private housing.

For example, parquet class 31 is highly durable, so it is suitable for offices, and 33 is often placed in rooms with a large flow of visitors. Floorboard 23 is designed for apartments with a large family, class 23 - for the bedroom or under-used areas of the dwelling.

The indicator is completely dependent on the type of wood used in the production of parquet. For example, oak and nut boards are the hardest, therefore, their lifespan is longer than the others.

When buying floorboard special attention should be paid to the accessories.

It can be either veneered or made from a solid array.

The most practical solution is to trim the floor with solid oak and beech products or more expensive mahogany and wenge. The plinth from natural materials easily fastens by means of self-tapping screws.The structure of the product allows the use of parquet lacquer, oil, wax as well as the use of various toning methods.

Veneered plinths are cheaper and represent a two-layer structure. The inner part is usually made of inexpensive conifers (pine or spruce), the outer one is lined with good wood veneer. In appearance the product is difficult to distinguish from the plinth, made from a solid array.

Types of fasteners for the plinth:

• Installation clips.
• Liquid Nails.
• Glue.
• Chemicals

When creating floor coverings using contrasting textures, shapes and colors, designers apply decorative elements to help reveal, connect or emphasize one or another detail. Borders, corners, slats, sockets and strips are most often in demand.

In order for the floor covering to comply with the general concept of the interior, one should take into account the wood species, the number of strips, the selection, and the installation method.

Designers recommend using a wenge board to use hi-tech, modern and ethno in interiors in the style. Whereas oak or walnut accentuate the classic interior. The two-lane board looks solemn and luxurious, and its four-band counterpart is very colorful, therefore it is better suited for simple solutions in the spirit of country or low-lit rooms.

Nature is ideal not only for a rustic style, but also for a classic. This is a universal type of selection that fits into any interior.

Select is chosen for the Empire style and minimalism, as well as characteristic of the Japanese interior.

Interior design solutions involve not only the walls, but also the floor. In this regard, a wide variety of ways of laying parquet is offered. The most common - deck, herringbone, "braided".

Deck - the easiest and most understandable method, when the boards are arranged in parallel.

You can diversify the drawing with several types of styling:

• Chaotic - the panels are stacked randomly.
• With a shift of half.
• Diagonal
• Alternation of boards from different wood.

The parquet board laid out by a fur-tree implies laying of panels perpendicularly each other. Technology is straight or diagonal.

Artistic styling allows you to create unique outdoor paintings.

The texture of "braids" is achieved by combining plates of different colors, laid out in the form of binding.

Since some breeds are able to fade under sunlight, you need to consult with experts before processing.

Sometimes they use a brushing method. The outer layer is polished with special brushes that remove the soft outer fibers. As a result, the surface of the board becomes relief, small dents disappear. The floor becomes pleasant to the touch, there is almost no chance of scaling the leg.

Very popular lately is aged parquet.

There are several ways to achieve this effect:

• Brushing technology is used more often than others.
• Toning involves the use of special chemical compounds that change the shade of wood.
• Craquelure. A craquelure lacquer paint is applied to the surface of the board, which after drying is covered with a grid of cracks, as if the wood had cracked from old age.
• Patinated. Coloring occurs so that the shade of the upper layer is different from the color of cracks and pores.

Designers use complex patterns in the flooring only in cases where the parquet is placed in large rooms with a small amount of furniture. Drawing on the floor itself is a design element.

Experts select the floorboard either based on the existing interior, or subsequently the interior is adjusted to the floor covering.

Designers combine maple floorboards with tiles, stone and marble,because this wood is in harmony with any materials and fits into any style - from classic and gothic to modern.

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Modern design ideas require a variety not only in materials, color and processing, but also in texture, texture and design. The latest technologies allow to expand the boundaries and get new decorative parquet elements.

In absentia to choose the floorboard is impossible. Parquet is better to buy in the daytime with natural light. Please note that light boards are made from higher quality wood to eliminate visible defects in the form of knots.

When choosing it is important to pay attention to the appearance of the floorboard. For example, dark-colored parquet floor looks luxurious and noble, but not practical, since it requires more thorough care. It shows all the scratches and dusty stripes. If the interior solution requires laying such a coating, you should choose a matte varnish or oil for surface treatment,and also use boards with contrasting patterns or color differences, which visually hides small defects and dust.

It is important that the wood from which the boards are made is properly dried. The drying process is quite long, so poor quality parquet is usually not finished.

Usually the layers in the floorboard are glued with white glue. It is environmentally friendly and odorless, but expensive. Unscrupulous manufacturers reduce its quantity or replace it with cheaper ones, which may affect the quality of the product or cause allergies.

An important role when buying is the thickness. A suitable option for an apartment is the height of the outer layer of not less than 4 mm. For public crowded spaces, it is better to choose parquet up to 24 mm in thickness with a working outer surface of more than 4 mm. For floors that require large mechanical loads, it is better to install heavy-duty parquet boards with a thickness of over 25 mm.

If you do not plan to install the floor on your own, then it is necessary to clarify what additional elements are supposed to be: powders, baseboards, stairs. The cost of laying services may depend on this.

Advantages of parquet:

• Naturalness and environmental friendliness.
• High degree of noise insulation with a sufficient thickness of the product.
• Aesthetic appearance.
• Does not accumulate static electricity.
• Simplicity of laying thanks to castle connections.
• Quality material that is not deformed.

Disadvantages:

• Careful care, protection from excessive moisture, thermal and chemical effects.
• The outer thin layer of veneer does not tolerate mechanical loads. Recovery is possible, but troublesome.
• Artistic styling requires skill and time, and if you lay the floor without a pattern, the coating looks monotonous.
• The high cost of quality coverage.

Caring for floors covered with floorboard is not complicated, but requires regularity. For wood flooring, a relative humidity of no more than 60 percent is assumed. Therefore, floor cleaning should be neat, without excessive sputum. Ventilation is welcomed in rooms with parquet.The service life can be increased by treating the boards with polish or other rubbing materials.

Noise isolation is one of the criteria for installing wooden floors at home. However, if they do not follow the rules of care, they may themselves cause inconvenience, for example, creaking.

The modern flooring market is filled with various brands that allow you to choose models for every taste and wealth.

World-famous firms - German Haro and swedish Kahrs. Their products are recognized by both professionals and ordinary users, because using various methods of processing and finishing, they get an excellent product.

Kahrs for the production of wood uses oak, beech, ash, poplar, cherry and birch, an array of maple, walnut and hickory, as well as exotic in the form of Yarra and Copalwood. Among the advantages can be noted the extensive range, environmental friendliness of materials, the variety of colors used,the possibility of individual orders, a 12-year guarantee is given even for products of the budget line up to 7 mm and 30 years for better ones.

For the Russian market, the only disadvantage is the high cost.

The Haro brand has been producing flooring for over 150 years. The main difference is the ability to combine ancient ways of woodworking and technological innovations. For its products, it mainly uses hardwood, characterized by the beauty of the fiber pattern.

The company produces boards for the blind, equipped with embossed indicators. Parquet flooring - non-toxic varnish with UV protection. For each released collection offers additional items in the form of baseboards and sills. Only one minus - the high cost.

• Finnish company Karelia. To date, the brand has joined the company Karelia-Upofloor. Plants of this manufacturer produce parquet boards of any quality from carefully selected and properly dried wood.Various ways of surface treatment of the board: staining, brushing, thermo, allow to get interesting textured solutions. The quality control of the products guarantees flawless parquet for many years.
• German Parador. The company produces not only the floorboard, but also other types of flooring. The range is rich, prices are average.
• Belarusian Coswick with Canadian capital. The factory represents a closed cycle of timber processing. European quality, affordable prices. The product line is extensive: from the floorboard and block parquet to sports floors, ceiling and wall panels and decking.

Czech company Magnum produces parquet boards that can compete with well-known manufacturers. The factory provides a warranty of up to 25 years, which allows us to speak of good quality and a high degree of strength of products. To stabilize the wood using a method of processing steam under pressure. Boards are varnished in 5 layers. For the manufacture of parquet company uses 30 species of trees. At the finish boards have a good and aesthetically pleasing appearance. Among the shortcomings can be identified limited size range,since only 2200x205 mm panels are produced, as well as a small range.

Among European companies can be noted Befag (Hungary), Waldkrone (Germany).

Russian-made parquet boards are mainly produced in joint ventures.

For example, one of the popular brands is Polarwood Concern Karelia-Upofloor. Products are manufactured using durable rocks. Kempas or walnut are often used for external veneer, as they give an unusual structure of the pattern on the cut. According to consumer reviews, flooring attracts with its beautiful appearance and reasonable price. However, it is noted that the quality depends on the party. Some come across flawless, free of defects, others - a flaw on the flaw, half defective.

Tarkett Sinteros - Swedish brand, producing flooring together with Serbia and Russia. The Tarkett series is focused on the production of premium products in Europe. Unfortunately, the reviews of Russian buyers are unambiguous - not the best quality reaches the domestic market.The Sinteros series is characterized by budget options and a small assortment. The cost is not much higher than the price of laminate, dealers solve problems with the return or replacement of defective boards, which increases the interest of buyers.

Upofloor - Russian-Finnish enterprise located in Karelia. Now the brand has been bought by Kahrs and produces certified Euro sample products. Ecological lumber is used in production: birch, walnut and oak wood, solid beech and ash. The outer layer is treated with matt varnish or oil. To enhance the stability of the materials are processed in the following ways: brush, steaming under pressure, staining. Warranty period is usually up to 20 years. The range of the plant is quite large, which allows you to choose boards of different sizes, designs and quality.

Every self-respecting company has the most successful collections of parquet. This is reflected in the demand not only among amateurs, but also among professionals.For example, the Tarkett brand boasts a budget series “Sinteros”, and the pride of Haro can be considered an elite hand-made parquet.

For more interior options using floorboards, see this video.