Grooved floorboards: characteristics and features

The floor is an important component of each house, on which the heat insulation of a room largely depends. One of the most popular materials for its decoration is a tree that is environmentally friendly and durable. Groovy floorboard is a versatile material that allows you to create a smooth and warm surface.

Wood planks have been used as flooring for a very long time. A variation of this lumber is a grooved product.

This type of board has several differences from the classic ones:

• The presence of compounds at the ends of the board. They are made in the form of a symmetrical spike and groove, with which you can easily attach the panels to each other. The tongue shapes may vary depending on the board production technology used.Often, such elements are present only on long ends, but there are also canvases that have grooves along the entire perimeter. This simplifies the installation and docking boards.
• Ventilation recesses. These designs are small longitudinal grooves, which are located at the bottom. Their main purpose is to maintain optimal air exchange. This process will help eliminate the severe deformation of the element.
• The upper surface of the board is carefully polished.It has a smooth structure.

Grooved or tongue-and-groove products are distinguished by several positive qualities:

• Durability and strength. These indicators are obtained through the use of special grooves that reduce the load on the base of the floor. Production of products involves the complete drying of wood, with the result that it can not be deformed in the future.
• The presence of the lower grooves creates optimal conditions for the operation of models. This greatly reduces the risk of fungus and other wood-affecting diseases.

• Installation speed Achieved by the presence of locks, which are carefully fitted.After laying, the surface is almost seamless, which eliminates the risk of moisture penetration under the base, and also gives the coating a unique decorative pattern. When installing it is extremely important to tightly join the elements together.
• The wood is easy to sand. If desired, the top layer of the board can be restored using a grinding machine. Perform this procedure is allowed several times, as the thickness of the product is impressive. It should be noted that the polishing of classic parquet can be performed only up to 7 times.
• A variety of designs. Timber is made from various wood species. This allows you to choose the surface structure for the basic style of a particular room. Also, the appearance can be easily changed using various stains, varnishes and oils.

Wood is not a versatile material, as it has several important disadvantages:

• The high cost of the board. This is due to the fact that for the manufacture of this material are used only natural substances that are completely safe for humans. To get a similar structure, use complex machines with several types of cutters.
• Low resistance to moisture. Grooved board quickly absorbs moisture, which causes it to swell and rot. To minimize this effect, products should be periodically covered with protective varnishes that will prevent water from entering the wood structure.

One of the parameters that affects the popularity and price of a grooved board is its appearance and condition.

This allows you to divide the products into several varieties:

• Extra. Products of this class are distinguished by the absence of almost any defects: there are no knots or other decorative defects on the surface.
• BUT. The board of this variety is very similar to the previous type, but on the surface of class A models there may be small spots.
• AT. Materials of this type are the most common and popular. In the structure of the board you can see some heterogeneity, knots and other decorative features. It should be understood that the presence of rot and other physical damage is unacceptable.
• WITH. This board grade is the cheapest. For its production, wood is used, on the surface of which there are through spots from knots, and in the structure there are many irregularities and other shortcomings.

Grooved board can be used to solve various problems, since manufacturers produce products in a wide range of sizes:

• Thickness boards varies from 15 to 35 mm. Often use products that are 21-25 mm in thickness. To ensure the high strength of the base, some manufacturers produce products with a thickness of 50 mm, but they are often made only on order, as they do not correspond to standard dimensions.
• Width. This characteristic varies in the region of 80-200 mm, which allows you to combine several sizes, getting the original surface with a minimum amount of board trimming.
• Length. Boards of standard type have a length of 4 meters, but some manufacturers produce products for which this parameter can reach 6 meters. Atypical products are placed in long rooms to minimize waste.

In theory, any kind of wood can be used to make a rabbit board, but today only a few of the most popular species are used:

• Pine and spruce. The material is soft, so when walking on such a floor it is easy to damage the heel. When a large load on the base formed the so-called grooves. Minimizing adverse effects is easy if you use varnish. To do this, they cover the boards in several layers to form a protective layer.
• Larch. The board from this breed differs in good wear resistance and durability. The tree does not rot under the influence of high humidity, which allows its use even without a varnish coating. In order to give the material a unique appearance, it is additionally protected, it is covered with special oil formulations, while a solid film does not form on the surface, which allows the tree to “breathe”.

• Ash and oak. These rocks are almost identical in strength. Tongue-and-groove boards are usually not coated with varnish, as the surface is perfectly resistant to physical exercise. Another advantage of these types of wood is their durability.If the humidity and temperature conditions are observed, the floor can last for more than 50 years. It all depends on the operating conditions and the quality of the base on which the board is located.

The production of grooved boards is a complicated procedure, which involves compliance with all the standards prescribed in GOST.

To purchase quality products, it is important to pay attention to its features:

• Wood species The best option - boards from ash or oak. They are not only durable, but also very beautiful. If you plan to furnish a draft floor, then you can use products from softer wood.
• Product humidity. The optimum humidity is 10-15%. The dry board will not shrink further, as it has completely dried out during the drying phase. When buying material, it is also important to pay attention to the packaging and storage method. If the wood is kept open outdoors after drying, this will lead to an increase in the humidity level and a decrease in quality characteristics.
• Geometry. This includes the quality of the processing of the upper layer and the accuracy of the docking of the slots. Grooved floorboards must be absolutely smooth, which is checked only by hand. If roughness is present on it, it indicates poor-quality polishing of the material. It is necessary to additionally process the upper layer with cycling, which will entail financial and temporary losses.

• Dimensions. It is important to pay attention to the thickness of the product. The best indicator will be a value of 28 mm, since such a board is able to withstand significant loads. The width and length is selected depending on the geometric features of the room and the chosen method of installation. It is important to calculate the amount of materials in such a way as to minimize the number of scrap, waste. If desired, you can combine several sizes, creating an original drawing.
• Manufacturer. This feature is one of the most important. Experts recommend to give preference to products of those companies that have been operating in the market for a long time and enjoy a well-deserved trust.If you risk and purchase products of dubious brand, no one guarantees that they will be of high quality and will last for a long time.

Grooved boards are a unique material. According to user reviews, they are much better than the classic edging modifications. Many owners claim that such floors have been serving for several decades without cracks or other defects appearing on them.

It is advised to use plywood as a base for such floors. Docking boards made on logs, which allows to obtain a flat surface. Some users claim that the floor, fixed with screws, will crack, so they recommend using ordinary nails instead of screws.

The wooden floor in the apartment or house is traditionally, beautiful and eco-friendly. That is why many owners of apartments or houses choose a grooved board as a floor covering.

• A huge bedroom with a minimum of furniture does not look empty and uninhabited due to an interesting floor. All the wooden décor present here is stylish, and the objects are organically combined with each other.

• The grooved board is good in the kitchen with nice cream colored furniture and doors. The interior looks very bright and cozy, it is pleasant to the eye.
• The image shows an example of the Scandinavian style in white. The decor is extremely simple, but even the lack of curtains on the windows organically fit into the style. The curtains would only prevent the ensemble of flooring, furniture and decor from creating the right atmosphere in the room.

See the following video for tips on laying the floorboard.