What thickness board is better to use for the floor. Floorboard dimensions. Advantages of wooden building materials

Wooden floors are ideal for a country house, city apartment, public spaces. They will make any room attractive and respectable, with proper operation they will last for many years. The basis of such a floor is a floorboard. It is about this universal building material that we will discuss in detail in this article.

It will be about how to choose the right boards for the floor, what types of wood they come from, what sizes and thicknesses. Also at the end of the article there is a detailed instruction for laying floorboards with your own hands.

Floorboards are made from wood of different species: linden, birch, beech, oak, maple, alder, coniferous varieties. The most popular were:

Oak is a practical and expensive material that has gained immense popularity due to its high resistance to temperature extremes and high humidity. With proper care, it will last a very long time.
Aspen, alder are not particularly durable, but they have a healing effect on the human body. Relevant in rooms with low traffic - a nursery, a bedroom.
Larch is practically not subject to decay, it is used for arranging the floor in rooms with high humidity - a bathroom, a bathhouse, a pool. The high concentration of resins significantly extends the service life. This material is ideal for flooring.
Conifers - pine, fir, spruce - a budget option. Due to its low cost, it is widely used for all types of premises, including utility rooms. The low strength of wood is compensated by an increase in the thickness of the board.
Ash is almost identical to oak. It has high strength and durability, quite expensive.

Optimum floorboard thickness

The thickness of the boards is usually 2-4 cm, the width is from 6 to 20, the length can be any, starting from 3 meters.

What thickness of boards will be optimal for a wooden floor? Much here depends on the distance of the wooden logs from each other - the smaller this distance, the thinner the board can be. On average, with a standard distance between the lags of 50 centimeters, the thickness of the floorboards is 30-35 millimeters.

The length of the boards in the construction markets is usually from 3 to 6 meters, so their choice depends on the characteristics of the premises in which the laying will be carried out.

How much does a floorboard cost

The cost of floorboards, as you can understand, will depend on its size, but for clarity, we will indicate the average price of a standard board.

So, a standard grooved larch floorboard measuring 36x135x6000 mm costs on average about 450 rubles apiece.

Do-it-yourself floorboard laying

There are many ways to build a wooden floor. The most suitable option is chosen individually, depending on the purpose of the premises, the expected load, climatic conditions. The boards are laid on a special frame made of logs or beams (about 10 cm high), while good ventilation is a must which will prevent the growth of mold and mildew. On the basement floors, waterproofing is always arranged, and the structure is also insulated.

The floorboard covering combines load-bearing and decorative functions, and its durability depends on how correctly the material is selected and the laying technology is followed. Today, picking up a board will not be difficult, they are divided into two main types:

Grooved are equipped with special mounting elements at the ends - grooves, ridges, chamfers, which guarantees high density and reliability of all connections. Available in thicknesses from 28 to 36 mm.
An ordinary board has even ends, it is laid end-to-end. The thickness can be any.

Before laying, all elements are treated with an antiseptic that increases the life of the wood.

Wooden floors are:

Single layer. Laying is carried out on logs, the thickness of the boards must be at least 28 mm.
Two-layer ones are mounted on a rough base made of inexpensive material - chipboard, plywood and others.

Work begins to be carried out from the wall, making a gap of one and a half centimeters, which will subsequently be closed with a plinth. The first floorboard is fixed with wedges, which will allow the next boards to be laid evenly, eliminating any shifts. Each subsequent part is fixed with pressure to the previous one using nails or self-tapping screws. With a material width of more than 14 cm, it is additionally fixed in the middle, carefully masking the nail head.

After installation, the boards are sanded, primed, painted or varnished. All compounds are applied parallel to the fibers. You can walk on the new surface in a day, and it is recommended to bring in furniture in a week.

Advantages of wooden building materials

Floor boards made of wood differ in hardness and strength, but they all have positive qualities:

Attractive look.
Environmentally friendly floorboard.
Deformation resistance.
High thermal insulation characteristics.
Good soundproofing.
Versatility - fit perfectly into any interior.
Variety of textures and colors.

Experienced builders know that before laying, floorboards must be kept indoors for several days so that they adapt and acquire a stable state. To avoid the feeling of low ceilings, it is better to lay wooden floors in high rooms - at least 3 meters.

The construction market offers a huge variety of building and finishing materials. And flooring is no exception - you can choose for every taste and budget. However, one of the most popular is floor boards. After all, natural materials are always in price, and wood has excellent visual characteristics, strength and durability. Although it is not without flaws, it is important to choose the right material.

floor board

Floorboards are the main element for laying a wooden floor. Unlike a parquet board, which is glued together from separate layers, a floor board is made of solid wood and has all the advantages of wood, since no artificial materials are used in the manufacture.

Batten

Since this is a material for fine finishing, the following requirements are imposed on it:

the tree must be well processed, the surface without knots and flaws;
the wood must be kiln-dried - if you put damp boards on the floor, they will warp and become unusable.

To connect the elements, a tongue-and-groove design is used. A protrusion is made on one side of the wooden plank, and a groove is made on the other. During installation, the material fits tightly, and there are no gaps left. Such a lock is called tongue-and-groove, in addition to ease of installation, it does not allow cracks to form when the planks dry out. The edged board stands out separately, it is supplied without locks.

The floor board is made from different types of wood, the most popular are:

elm;
ash;
maple;
pine;
larch.

Beech and oak floorboards are dense and heavy, so they place high demands on fasteners and base preparation. These are one of the most expensive breeds. Larch and pine are cheaper, but also softer, so they have a shorter service life. The floors are also made of alder and walnut.

Oak lamellas

Pros and cons of wood flooring

Natural wood flooring has both advantages and disadvantages. And the main advantage is 100% natural origin.

ecological cleanliness;
excellent appearance;
variety of wood textures;
durability and strength;
good additional noise and heat insulation;
material can be restored.

wood is afraid of moisture;
the material is flammable;
installation of floors is laborious;
mold and fungus may appear on the wood.

The board for making the floor from the manufacturer is sold without finishing, so the material needs decorative processing. On the other hand, it can also be called a virtue. After all, as the varnish coating wears off and defects appear on the wood, the surface can be sanded and repainted, in fact, getting new floors.

Important! Wood needs mandatory treatment with moisture protective agents.

Types of boards

This material is divided into several varieties. To understand which board is suitable for the floor, you need to understand them.

terraced;
parquet;
sexual.

Each of these types has its own differences and is designed for use in a specific area of construction.

Terrace board

parquet board

This is a glued lamella, which is made of three layers of wood:

lower - acts as a substrate, made of conifers;
medium - the thickest, provides strength to the material. Made from either high density fibreboard or softwood;
the top layer is a veneer or a solid sheet of valuable wood. Can be made from oak, beech, ash, alder or other types of wood.

The final layer is varnish. It is applied in several layers, a special moisture-proof impregnation is required.

The thickness of the parquet board is from 7 to 25 mm. The thinnest material is rarely used, because it quickly fails, and the small thickness of the top layer of veneer does not allow scraping and restoring the coating.

The most popular material - 15-20 mm thick - for private premises it has the best value for money. A parquet board with a thickness of 25 mm is used for public spaces, where there are increased requirements for the strength of the material.

Parquet

Terrace board

This is the same floor, only intended for use outdoors and in places with high humidity. Its main difference from other types is a wavy front surface. This makes it not so slippery, so flooring near pools is often arranged with this material.

However, due to the ribbed front part, this coating is quite difficult to process, so when buying, you should pay attention to the quality of the wood. Make sure that the lamellas are equipped with ventilation ducts, which are located along the bottom. The thickness of the deck board for the floor can be very different, but the most popular is 35 mm.

Sexual

This type of material is made of solid natural wood with a smooth front surface. The floorboard, as already mentioned, is divided into types:

grooved - equipped with special locks that facilitate installation;
edged - ordinary planed wood.

For a fine finish, it is better to choose grooved material. It's easier to work with and doesn't shrink as much. However, the edged board is cheaper, and it is suitable in those rooms where there are no increased requirements for the tightness of the boards. It is used in baths - such a coating will ensure the free passage of water between the planks. Edged material is used for subflooring.

The floorboard has different sizes, the most popular thickness is 25 mm. When choosing, it is worth paying attention to the quality of the surface, the degree of humidity and the breed. The service life of the coating directly depends on this.

trim strips

Board sizes

This material is available in different sizes. The choice is made based on the following criteria:

dimensions of the room - a wide floor board is suitable for a large room, its massiveness will come in handy;
area of use - residential or utility room;
planned loads.

When choosing, the role and purpose of using the material plays a role. For rough coatings, a 20 mm floorboard is suitable. Moreover, low quality material is used for these purposes.

Thickness

This is one of the main parameters of the material. The thickness is selected based on the expected loads and the design of the lag. The greater their step, the thicker the board is taken.

When laying on beams:

at a step of 60 cm, a 35 mm floorboard is laid;
with a step of 30 cm, a thickness of 25 mm is needed;
with a step of 100 cm - 50 mm.

Important! A thin edged floorboard is cheaper than a thick one, but you will have to lay logs under it more often.

However, the terms of use also need to be taken into account. If heavy loads are expected on the floor, then it is better to choose a thickness with a margin. Therefore, for residential premises, the most popular is a floorboard of 45 and 35 mm. If a rough base is being made, the best option would be to use 25 mm of material.

Board width

The width of the slats is selected based on the geometry and dimensions of the room. The most popular sizes are from 80 to 140 mm. However, there are others, they are just used less often.

The wider the material, the more difficult it is to lay. Such boards are more demanding on the preparation of the base. On the other hand, installation is faster.

However, planks that are too wide are susceptible to deformation from fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Therefore, it is recommended to choose a material with a width of 100-120 mm. The length is also varied - from 3 to 6 meters. When choosing, again, the dimensions of the room and the ability to reduce waste are taken into account.

Wide slat floor

Choice of boards

When deciding which board is better to use for the floor, you must first determine the requirements for the coating and the conditions for its operation. There is also a financial question - not everyone wants to spend money on an oak or beech floor.

For the right choice, consider the following rules:

For open spaces (verandas or gazebos), the right choice is a terraced lamella. And the best species are oak, ash and larch. They are resistant to temperature extremes and high humidity, so they are suitable for the street. The special corrugated surface prevents the accumulation of water on the floor surface.
if the material is selected for use in residential premises, it is better to take grooved boards. Breeds are suitable for any, but preference should be given to valuable species. Oak or alder floors look rich, they are durable and strong. On the other hand, softwoods are cheaper, and a variety of finishing materials allows you to make high-quality decorative finishes;
If a rough wooden floor is made, then the cheapest material is bought - an unedged coniferous board;
When the material is selected for the bath, do not use pine and other conifers. At high temperatures, such lamellas emit resin, and they are also susceptible to moisture. Therefore, the best choice is larch.

So, what boards are needed for building a floor are determined by the conditions of use.

Tongue-and-groove lamellas

What to look for when buying

When buying wood, there is a risk of running into low-quality material. Therefore, you need to know how to choose the right floorboard, especially since there are not so many criteria for choosing.

What to look for when buying:

Humidity within 15-20%. If a dry floorboard is laid on the floor, it will last a long time and will not deform. If you mount the material with a natural level of humidity - after a while, they will dry out and warp at the same time;
The tongue-and-groove floorboard must have the correct geometry - strips of the same length and width. Another point is the plane of the panels, if they are moved, this will cause problems during installation;
The general appearance must correspond to the material class;
If you buy a tongue-and-groove board, make sure that the lock is easy to assemble, and its parts fit snugly together.

These simple rules will help determine the quality of products. After all, this requires only a thorough visual inspection.

Important! Any wood is afraid of moisture, so when arranging the floors, you will have to take care of waterproofing and make a ventilated subfloor.

Classes of wooden boards

Another important characteristic of the material is the classes of boards or their grade. There are four varieties in total:

The highest grade or extra class is the highest quality material. The premium 36 mm floorboard is free of knots and has a uniform color and pattern. These planks are suitable for clearcoat finishes as they show no visible defects;
The first grade is somewhat worse than the highest. The 28 mm floorboard of this class has small knots. In this case, uneven color is allowed. Such material is also used for finishing coatings, since wood has few defects;
The second grade - here knots are present in large quantities. Cracks and resin inclusions are allowed. It makes sense to use such wood for painting or for flooring;
The third grade - it is used only for rough work, an abundance of defects simply does not allow the use of such wood for finishing.

For each area of construction work, the appropriate type of material is selected.

Second grade wood

wood species

Another characteristic by which the floor material is selected is the breed. After all, each has its own characteristics and the best area of \u200b\u200bapplication.

Which board is better to use for the floor: the choice of material

The floorboard can be used both in residential and non-residential premises. The most popular and suitable material for finishing the floors of living rooms in a private house is oak wood. Less commonly used ash, alder, aspen. These breeds are distinguished by high wear resistance, strength, look expensive and attractive (especially if the coating is treated with varnish, not paint).

There is a wide variety of tree species from which floorboards are made, differing in terms of service life and quality.

To finish the floor, it is better to choose grooved boards that have good cohesion: a non-grooved wooden board is prone to drying out, which can cause significant gaps in the floor.

Solid wood species are distinguished by a fairly high price. A more affordable option would be boards and pines and larches. Pine is pleasant to the touch, has a beautiful milky shade. This material is quite soft, so it is best to choose it for finishing floors in bedrooms. Larch is suitable for finishing other rooms. It is resistant to mechanical stress and high strength. It is highly undesirable to use poplar and linden boards for flooring.

When choosing boards for finishing the floor, one should take into account many other factors, which include the operating conditions of the floor, the type of finish.

So, in order for the floor to last a long time, look stylish and attractive, you must follow these recommendations:

Finishing should be done with a grooved board: due to the processed side surfaces, it is easier to mount such a board.
For interior finishing, choose Europol or dry boards, the humidity of which is not more than 10%.
For laying the subfloor, grade B wood is good, with a moisture content of not more than 15%.
Before laying the boards, the lumber should be adapted to the microclimate (keep it in the room for two weeks). Raw boards, after laying, can change their dimensions, which will lead to the formation of cracks and crevices in the coating.
Before purchasing lumber, you need to calculate the quantity and boards for a specific size (you can do this yourself using the online calculator).
Boards are recommended to be laid along the line of light: so the longitudinal screeds will not be conspicuous.
So that there are no shadows between the boards (which will visually reduce the space and violate the floor geometry), laying should start from sources of natural light or diagonally (from one corner to another).

You need to choose boards for the floor depending on the type of room and its purpose.

In addition, boards for installation must be dry, free of knots, cracks and other defects that can affect not only the appearance of the floor, but also its performance.

Technical Board: Key Benefits

The two-layer technical board for finishing the floor is characterized by high wear resistance and durability. Such performance indicators are achieved due to the fact that the proverb consists of two layers: wood top and bottom, represented by plywood. The wood layer is most often made of durable hardwood (oak, ash, walnut).

In addition, the main advantages of the technical board include:

Such a coating does not require the maintenance of special temperature conditions and a certain level of humidity.
Glued, two-layer timber is less prone to deformation than completely natural wood.
The floor from the technical board can be repeatedly sanded, polished and varnished.
Laying technical boards does not require the organization of plywood flooring or underlayment.
A higher level of sound insulation than when using a conventional board.

Technical boards are great for storage areas

Caring for an engineering (technical) board is quite simple: most models have a smooth coating without pores (into which dirt and dust are very easily clogged). The disadvantages of the coating can only be attributed to its high cost, in comparison with an ordinary wooden board. But the repair of such a floor will not be needed soon.

Floor board size

The main characteristics of the floorboard, which should be considered when choosing a material, are the length and width of the floorboard. Today, in construction stores you can find lumber with a width of 800 mm to 150 mm and a length of 3 to 6 meters.

In domestic construction, boards with a width of 150 mm are most popular: they look attractive in any interior and have high performance.

The choice of lumber width depends on the design of the room. So, for small rooms, you should not choose too wide floor elements. A board with a width of 800 mm is good for small rooms. Wide lumber in spacious rooms will emphasize the advantageous size of the room.

It should be borne in mind that the fewer longitudinal joints a board has, the easier it is to install a plank floor and keep the intended geometry.

The length of the lumber must meet two requirements: wooden strips must have a minimum number of joints during installation, and the laying itself must be as waste-free as possible. You can reduce waste for trimming lumber by choosing a euroboard that comes with a length of 2 meters.

Floorboard thickness

The quality and durability of the coating depends on the thickness of the board. So, thick boards will be less affected by moisture and temperature, will last longer without losing their attractive appearance and characteristics. Do not forget about the ratio of thickness to width of the board: too wide, thin board will be subject to deformation.

The thickness of the floorboard determines its service life and strength.

The choice of wood for finishing the floor in thickness is determined by the loads that the coating will experience.

What thickness to choose for finishing the finishing floor? Today, lumber vendors offer boards with a thickness of 2 to 7 cm. For bedroom rooms, it is better to use a board with a thickness in the range of 3.5-4 cm. For rooms with high traffic (for example, corridors, hallways, living rooms), lumber with a greater thickness is needed. .

The minimum thickness of the floorboard in residential premises should not be less than 2.2 cm. Permissible deviations from the nominal dimensions of the elements are determined by the state standard 8242-88.

When choosing boards by thickness, the distance between the base lags should also be taken into account. If the distance between the elements is 0.6 m, then a thickness in the region of 3-3.5 cm will be sufficient for a high-quality coating. If the distance between the lags exceeds 0.6 m, then it is recommended to use boards with a width of 4-4.5 cm.

When choosing boards by thickness, it should be borne in mind that the larger this indicator, the higher the cost of lumber.

Therefore, the choice of boards by thickness should be appropriate. You should not buy thick materials for finishing dressing rooms, pantries, etc. The thickness of the boards will not have any effect on the life of a wooden floor in these rooms, and from the financial side, such a finish will hit your pocket.

How to install a floor board (video)

Plank flooring is stylish, environmentally friendly and durable. But such a coating can only be if the lumber is selected taking into account the intensity of operation, the purpose of the room and the finish. Choosing floorboards suitable for the interior of the room, today, will not be difficult. The main thing is to select lumber, taking into account the ratio of their width and thickness, the length and length of the room. And then, you will receive a coverage that fully meets your expectations!

Today, a huge number of floor coverings are presented in hardware stores - this is laminate, and linoleum, and parquet, and carpet, and tile or ceramic tiles. But a special place in a residential building on the floor from time immemorial has been occupied by a board.

What it is?

A floorboard is a device made from solid wood, as opposed to laminate or parquet. In this regard, its surface can be cycled several times and the product will not lose its commercial qualities.

The fixing of the floorboards is carried out thanks to the groove and the ridge.

To relieve tension between the rows and to prevent warpage caused by changes in humidity and temperature in the room, a notch is located on the inside of the board. Some models are equipped with a quarter protrusion.

For the manufacture of massive boards, hard and soft woods are used. Only poplar and linden products are not suitable for flooring.

Soft wood species from coniferous families need a mandatory protective coating. For these purposes, varnish or paint is suitable.

Peculiarities

Before buying a floorboard, it is important to know its pros and cons. The advantages of this building material include the fact that it has good wear resistance and strength, perfectly retains heat in the room, and is made from environmentally friendly materials. Besides, massive board does not emit substances harmful to humans, unlike glued floor coverings, has good antistatic properties.

Among the shortcomings can be noted poor sound insulation, exactingness for constant care. The building material must never be waterlogged. otherwise the floor will swell and the board will start to rot. There may be scratches on the surface that need to be masked.

Heavy household appliances and large-sized furniture are recommended to be equipped with rubber inserts in order to prevent dents.

Another significant disadvantage is the annual renewal of the protective coating. Periodically, the floor must either be varnished or painted.. The tree itself is combustible, it is subject to the colonization of fungi and insects, which means that fire, antifungal and sanitation will be carried out in the room.

The floorboard can be destroyed by mice or rats - this is especially important to consider in the private sector. Wood deteriorates from changes in temperature and humidity, and plank flooring can fade, swell, or crack. Some types of floorboards are expensive.

Kinds

The board for the floor can be engineering, shipboard, edged, terraced and spliced. Below we will consider each type separately, its pros and cons.

The engineering board is found only in Russian construction stores; the usual name for it is a two-layer parquet board. Judging by the name, it is easy to guess that such a floor covering consists of two layers. For the front layer, hardwoods are often used - it can be oak, larch, ash. Moreover, the thickness of the top layer usually does not exceed 25-30% of the total, glued plywood sheets are used as the basis. The number of sheets can vary from 7 to 9 pieces, almost all manufacturing plants use birch to create its base.

Despite the fact that plywood sheets are attached perpendicular to each other, this does not save it from warping, therefore this type of flooring is not suitable for a "floating" floor. In addition, the engineering board is laid using an adhesive composition.

The advantage of this building material is that it suits most rooms, styles and designs. The board is less prone to deformation due to the large number of perpendicularly glued plywood sheets. You can cycle it without fear of damaging the coating, but after that it is desirable to treat the product with varnish.

Some manufacturers produce thin products that go well with the underfloor heating system. Such a floor covering does not crack from high temperatures, while the service life is not reduced. In addition, thanks to moisture-resistant plywood, the engineered board is also suitable for rooms with high levels of humidity - bathrooms, kitchens, swimming pools.

The main feature of this flooring is considered to be the thickness, as it may differ. Even in rooms with large differences, you can lay a flat floor, for this you only need to choose the building material of the desired thickness.

Unlike other varieties, when laying an engineering board, a plywood substrate is not required. Installation can be done with herringbone, tiles, diagonally. Many manufacturers perform tinting of the product for a fee.

Since the fixation is carried out with the use of glue, there are no cold bridges between the boards, through which extraneous noise can also enter. No special temperature regime for the room is needed, there is no need to maintain constant humidity.

The main disadvantages are considered to be the high cost of the product, while the floor cannot be disassembled and laid in another place, such as, for example, a laminate. If any lamella is damaged, in order to replace it, you will have to tinker, and besides, it will most likely not work out by color, because not only the color, but also the wood pattern will differ.

Installation of an engineering board is quite complicated, not all specialists take up laying such a floor covering.

Keep in mind that there are a large number of fakes on the markets, there is a high probability of buying a cheap low-quality analogue at the price of an engineering board.

For additional sound insulation, experts recommend buying an acoustic substrate, which has special slots where glue is poured in a dosed manner. This significantly saves time spent on installation, since the adhesive is not applied to the entire surface and, accordingly, money.

Like laminate with parquet board, after purchase, this building material must be held in the room in which the repair is to be carried out. In a few days, the tree will get used to the temperature conditions and the humidity of the room.

A ship or deck board is used not only for laying the floor on ships, but also in rooms with high humidity. This is due to the fact that the deck board has good wear resistance and moisture resistance. In addition to kitchens and bathrooms, it is bought for installing floors on loggias, saunas, gazebos and pools. It is suitable for both the veranda and the terrace.

Often it is made from hardwoods, namely larch. It is a well-known fact that larch can last up to 30 years, of course, with proper care. Other types of wood are also used - this is both the South American tiger and Indian teak.

Other advantages of this flooring include ease of maintenance and resistance to the environment. The material does not deteriorate from high humidity, low temperatures, does not fade under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. The disadvantages include the undemocratic cost of exotic wood species.

Installation is carried out either on logs or on a cleaned concrete base. Fastening can be carried out in an open and hidden way. The first is carried out using a screwdriver and special screws. Moreover, the holes are drilled in advance to prevent damage to the product. The second method involves the use of special fasteners and a lamellar cut, with its help a shallow cut is made.

Keep in mind that there should be a gap of 10-12 mm between the boards.

A terraced or composite board, unlike a deck board, is made not only from wood, but also from a wood-polymer composite. Most often, this is a combination of fiberglass, sawdust, shavings or flour with plastic - in other words, from production waste. Thanks to this, the lamellas can be both small and large. In this regard, this type of flooring can be mounted quite quickly.

Wide and thin plastic is more prone to deformation than narrow and thick. Although some manufacturers guarantee that their product is capable of withstanding a mechanical load of 350-400 kg per square meter.

Wood plastic does not fade in direct sunlight, does not change its color and does not crack. And from this it follows that this flooring will last for decades.

The advantages of such a board include the fact that its edges are rounded, due to which the likelihood of injury is reduced. Neither moisture nor frost is terrible for high-quality plastic, so laying can be done not only in residential premises, but also in the open air. But at the same time, it is important not to forget about a slight slope - this will ensure the removal of moisture.

The plastic surface does not have a sliding effect, which means that it will not work to slip either after rain or in frost. Even small children can run on such a floor covering.

Easy to care for plastic, just wash off the dirt with a wet cloth or use cleaning products. By the way, a good plastic product does not deteriorate when interacting with household chemicals. But it is strictly forbidden to perform the cleansing procedure with a hard brush.

Terrace boards are laid on logs. The step between the lags will depend on the load on the flooring - the larger it is, the smaller the distance between the bars should be. Fastening, like a deck board, is carried out either in an open or hidden way. Do not forget to leave a small distance between the lamellas for thermal expansion.

Under the terrace board, you can mount a warm floor. In this case, it is necessary to look at the labeling of the product - usually manufacturers print special icons or inscriptions on the packaging that indicate the combination of the board with the heating system.

Additional processing or painting of the board is not required, since mold, insects and microorganisms do not populate this floor covering. In this regard, you can significantly save on annual prevention and protection.

At the edged board, in contrast to the non-edged and semi-edged varieties, all sides are cut off - both front and end. Thanks to this, the floor covering is perfectly flat.

In hardware stores there are several varieties of edged boards. The highest grade is almost impossible to find on the market, since this reference product is exported to other countries. Yes, and it is produced according to European or American standards, which are alien to the domestic consumer.

As a floor covering, either a board of the first grade or the second is used. In order to save money, experts recommend buying the second grade. There are slight differences in quality and strength, but in general for residential premises this is considered an ideal option.

The board is selected and depending on the load. It can be either coniferous or hardwood products. As noted earlier, larch will last longer, but it also costs more.

It's important to know that GOST clearly regulates the quality of edged boards. So, for example, in products of the first and second grade there should not be any cracks, chips, knots. The tree must certainly be dry, otherwise the building material will quickly become unusable.

Since such boards do not have a lock connection, fastening is carried out using hardware. It can be nails, then a hammer is used to hammer them, or self-tapping screws or anchor bolts, then installation is performed using a screwdriver.

Many manufacturing plants have learned to recycle production waste. Thanks to this, such a floor covering as a spliced board was born. It is a strong building material made by splicing coniferous wood. Such lamellas are perfect for residential premises, and for country paths or for terraces.

Usually, either pine, or oak, or ash is used in production. There are no cracks or chips on the surface of such building material. as well as knots or resin pockets, which are often found on edged boards. The base is even, uniformity is preserved both in color and in structural content.

At the production stage, a lock connection is created. The fastening of such a board is carried out along the width. The length of the product can be 40-80 cm.

There are four grades of spliced board in total. Class D1 is suitable for ordinary rooms, class D2 is often used for flooring in kitchens, D3 for bathrooms, and D4 for rooms with high humidity.

The spliced board is sold at an affordable price, suitable for universal use, easy to paint and process with varnishes or impregnations. It can be looped up to 5-7 times. It has a high thermal conductivity.

The main feature of this type of flooring is the ability to individually cut the dice to the desired size. Any manufacturer will produce a board with the required dimensions for a fee.

Material

As has been repeatedly noted, in order to make a wooden floor, you need a floorboard. Most often it is made from saw cuts of a tree. So, for example, edged boards are made from soft or hard woods.

Softwoods include pine, spruce and other needles. Linden and alder have average indicators of hardness. Well, the standard for interior and exterior decoration is larch, since it does not deteriorate at sub-zero and at high temperatures. By the way, lining is most often made from these types of wood.

Pine board is suitable for rooms with low humidity and constant temperature, which should not exceed +30 degrees Celsius. Linden board is suitable for wet rooms - bathrooms, toilets and baths, as it can withstand temperatures over 100 degrees.

After the removal of the Iron Curtain, products from exotic tree species began to enter the domestic market. Many of them have a high price tag and not everyone can afford, but there are also affordable copies. One of them is bamboo flooring.

Bamboo is a building material that is resistant to physical stress and has a long service life. It, like all wooden floorboards, is an environmentally friendly material. Due to the fact that its wood matures in a short time - 4-5 years, there is no shortage of this product, this significantly affects competition and allows you to reduce the price of products.

In addition, the bamboo board is suitable for many interiors and is easy to care for. Some manufacturing plants impregnate their products with special compounds, because of this, the board becomes waterproof. It can be used for floors in bathrooms and kitchens.

But keep in mind that some manufacturers use cheap impregnating resins. A floor made of such boards can be harmful to the health of not only young children or allergy sufferers, but also adults.

Scratches can remain on the surface of the bamboo, so sanding the base will be required to give the floor its former beauty. In this regard, experts do not recommend a bamboo plank as a floor covering for corridors and hallways.

Despite the fact that this building material can be mounted in rooms with high humidity, it is necessary to periodically monitor the protective layer. If worn, a new coat will be required. Keep in mind that painted boards have less wear resistance.

Bamboo can be laid on a concrete, reinforced concrete or wooden base. In the first and second options, the surface must be leveled using a reinforcing mesh. And for the third option, you need to fix the lags.

Some factories in order to make the boards less rot, they are fired at the production stage. In the fired lamellae, acetic acid and binder resins are formed, which makes the product more resistant to environmental changes.

This technology first appeared in Japan. There, houses were built from burnt boards, which not only did not rot and were not inhabited by pests, but were also considered fire resistant. At the same time, their service life increased to 80-90 years. In Russia, this technology was called "smoking". In addition, this technology allows even cheap wood to be modified.

The dark finishing material is perfect for both old styles and new trends. It is also important that under the influence of sunlight the board does not change its color.

Terrace or wood-polymer board (WPC) is made from PVC, wood flour and water. To create a specific shade, color pigment is added. The combination is carried out in a certain proportion, due to which the product is moisture resistant, resistant to temperature changes, decay.

As a basis, the DLK can have a substrate made of wooden planks or a plastic lattice. In the first case, the floor is hard, and in the second - soft and less resistant to stress.

Dimensions

When buying a floorboard, you need to build on its purpose. The board can be used for finishing and for rough finishing. Often the thickness of the board varies from 20 mm to 70 mm. Experts advise choosing a board of such a length that there will be a minimum amount of waste. Keep in mind that the fewer joints on the surface, the more beautiful the flooring looks. Some products are available in lengths up to 6 meters.

The floor needs to be cycled periodically, which means that the width and thickness of the board must be appropriate for this operation. Thin boards are almost impossible to sand. On sale you can find a board with a width of 80-135 mm.

For city apartments and for country cottages, a lamella with a thickness of 35-50 mm is considered an ideal board, for commercial use - 50-70 mm. The width must be 100 mm.

The dimensions of the wood-polymer board are slightly different. So, its width is 160 mm, length - 2-6 m, and an average thickness of 25 mm. Due to the fact that the product is made of plastic, the weight of the final product is several times less compared to a wooden board.

Colors

The composite board is distinguished by a huge selection of shades. Since any color pigment can be added at the production stage, accordingly, the final product can be a familiar or exotic color. In this case, the shade can be adjusted by tinting. Due to the fact that the paint is applied inside the product, it does not fade and does not fade during operation.

Coloring is monophonic or with a pattern that imitates a wood structure. Modern technology allows you to imitate not only the pattern of the tree, but also the roughness. When touching the surface, it is very difficult to distinguish whether it is a natural product or its high-quality analogue.

As for natural wood, each variety has its own color. So, for example, ash has a light yellowish tint, and alder is white. And oak can darken during operation.

Manufacturers bleach, burn and tint their products. Each of these processes can emphasize the texture and structure of wood, endow it with a certain color - white or black, respectively.

Type of flooring

It has already been mentioned in passing that if the floor is heated, then it requires a special floor covering that can withstand high temperatures. Many boards will quickly become unusable, lose their appearance and can even become a source of injury for households.

Remember that if the apartment has an old plank floor, some of its elements that have failed can be replaced. This will significantly save both time and money. Installation is carried out on the beams using self-tapping screws and a screwdriver.

For a subfloor, it is recommended to buy a board made of softwood, since the strength indicator is important for the base, and not scratch resistance. The lamellas should not be damp or damp, infested with fungi or pests, uneven or cracked. And also the draft floor should not have cracks. Boards are necessarily treated with antifungal compounds. Particular attention is paid to the soil if the repair is done in a private house. If the installation is carried out on a concrete base, it must be degreased and treated with a primer.

Style and design

Each wood has its own pattern texture. It depends not only on the name or species of the tree, but also on its age. The older the tree, the more circles you see when cut. But, unfortunately, this feature can play a cruel joke. Suppose, in the case of replacing one board, it will be problematic to choose a pattern or background.

Some manufacturers specifically make changes to their products - add scuffs, chamfers, cracks or wormholes so that the board fits the classic style.

As noted earlier, the edged board is fired, after which it becomes black. This flooring goes well with elegant black furniture, gilding, mirrors and chrome inserts. Suitable for rooms decorated in hi-tech and loft style.

Which is better to choose?

Being in a hardware store or at a construction market, you need to pay attention to the moisture content of the board. This figure should not exceed 20 percent. Raw wood weighs more. A well-dried floorboard will last longer.

The board must correspond to the required class, have no defects, including at the lock joint. In the store, it is advisable to insert one board into another and carefully look at the connection. Certain difficulties may arise with the connection of six-meter boards; here you will need to use the help of a sales assistant.

It is important that decking, engineering and ship boards do not have scratches on the surface. If the protective layer is damaged, then moldy fungi, microorganisms and pests will begin to colonize the product through cracks.

Composite lamellas made of high-quality plastic will last for several decades. No need to buy wide planks. As a rule, they are less resistant to stress, which means they deform faster.

Important nuances

Remember, the step between the lags will depend on the load on the flooring. If the load is large, then the logs are laid after a short distance. This technology will remove the load on the boards, which means that the lamella will not break from the weight of heavy furniture or a person.

The tree has the ability to expand and contract due to changes in humidity and temperature. Therefore, a small gap is left between the boards - this is a kind of ventilation. When the plank increases, it will not harm the "neighbor" and the flooring will remain unchanged. If this is not done, then the floor will “stand up like a house”.

Do not forget about the waterproofing layer, it will not allow moisture and steam to negatively affect the properties of the wooden floor. In addition, insulation and a sound insulator can be laid between the lags, thanks to which cold air and extraneous noise will not enter the room.

It is important to use not only antifungal drugs, but also paint and varnish coatings to protect the floor. With their help, you can avoid damage to building materials, extend its service life. The painted floor will fit into any interior.

The choice of materials for the installation and finishing of the floor is quite wide. But only a plank floor combines both load-bearing and decorative qualities. The only exception is an engineered floor board, which is a type of parquet. Not only the aesthetics of the future coating, but also the service life depends on how correctly the boards are chosen, how they were prepared for laying, and on compliance with the flooring technology.

Optimal parameters of a quality board

Choosing boards for the floor is necessary based on several parameters. First of all, this is the design of the board itself. There are grooved and regular boards. A distinctive feature of the first are locking joints at the ends. That is, in the right end you will see a groove, and in the left a spike of the same size. When laying the boards, the spike is inserted into the groove, which guarantees a secure connection and prevents cracks.

A regular or technical floor board has even ends and is laid end-to-end. Of course, the cost of a tongue-and-groove board is somewhat higher. But after all, a good wooden floor and operation can last you a lifetime. So is it worth saving? You have probably seen a still strong wooden floor, the appearance of which is far from perfect: the center of the board has sagged, the edges have risen, and cracks have appeared between the boards. This can only happen with a non-grooved board. The conclusion suggests itself, such material can only be used as a subfloor.

Important! The only exception to this rule is the oak floorboard. Due to the hardness of the wood, such boards do not “lead” over time, and you can safely use non-grooved material.

Wood species - the basis of the foundations

So we come close to choosing the type of wood for your floor. Let's look at the most common ones:

Oak- it is certainly expensive, but very beautiful and practical. Having spent money on such a board, you can be sure that you will not have to change the floor, and with proper care, it will also serve your grandchildren. So, when deciding which boards are needed for the floor in your home, think about whether you want to change them in a couple of decades or are you ready to pay once for quality.
Siberian larch- also quite expensive wood. On average, its cost exceeds the price of pine by 2-3 times. However, due to its special hardness and high resin content, larch flooring practically does not rot or wear off. It is great for wet areas or for homes where the owners do not live all year round.
Alder and aspen- they are not very durable, but they have a number of other advantages. First of all, the enzymes secreted by these wood species have an excellent effect on human health, especially on the children's body. So most of these breeds are produced in children's rooms and bedrooms, where the load on the coating is not great, and healing abilities can manifest themselves most fully.
The most common boards for the floor are made of coniferous wood - fir, spruce, pine. For residential areas where it is not customary to walk in street shoes, this floor is quite suitable. We can say that this is the most budget option. Having opted for pine lumber, give preference to tongue and groove board. Only in this case, you can expect that in a few years your floor will not go in “waves”.

Wood moisture

The wood must be well dried. Otherwise, having made the floor from the boards with your own hands, in just a couple of weeks you may be surprised to find that some of its fragments have twisted with a “screw”, so much so that the self-tapping screws have been torn out of the floor. Naturally, such a floor will have to be redone, and this is an additional cost of time, effort and money. The optimal humidity of the floorboard is 8-10%, maximum - 12%.

Board thickness

The thickness of the board for the floor also depends on the selected type of wood. So, you can use oak boards with a thickness of 20 mm. For pine, the ideal thickness is 40 mm. The grooved board is produced according to slightly different standards. Its thickness ranges from 28 to 36 mm. When choosing, you need to proceed from how much load on the floor is planned: the greater the load, the thicker the board is needed.

Using a grooved board will allow you to be sure that the floor will not "lead" in a few years

Board width

Few people know that the durability of a wooden floor largely depends on the width of the board. This is especially true for non-grooved material. The width, in turn, is selected depending on the moisture content of the wood: the greater the moisture content, the more you need to take the board. The optimal width is 100mm, but if you are sure that the tree is properly dried, you can use a board with a width of 180-200mm.

Acclimatization stage

Before you make a floor from the boards, you need to let the material get used to the temperature and humidity of the room. To do this, just fold it in the room and leave it for a few days.

Important! In order to save money, sometimes the floor is installed from boards of high humidity - up to 20%. In this case, it is recommended to lay them immediately after delivery, without acclimatization. However, this option is very risky. It is difficult to predict how the board will behave when it dries.

What should be the basis?

The base for a wooden floor can be almost anything. The main thing is that it is strong enough to withstand the additional load. It can be:

concrete floors;
lags;
floor beams;
old wooden floor;
plywood base on a screed.

Methods for attaching boards to the base

The method of fastening the boards depends on their type. So, a non-groove board is attached to the joists with nails or self-tapping screws at an angle of 90 degrees to the base.

Fastening a tongue-and-groove board with self-tapping screws through a spike allows you to leave the floor surface absolutely smooth

The tongue-and-groove board can also be fixed, or it can be laid, hiding the screws. The algorithm of actions in this case is as follows:

We fix the first board through the front surface at a distance of 7-10 mm from the wall with a groove to it.
In the next board, from the side of the spike, we drill a hole at an angle of 45-50 degrees.
We install the second board so that the tongue and groove coincide, leaving no gap between the boards. To do this, you can gently hit the end of the board with a hammer several times through a wooden block.
When the board has taken its place, we fasten it with self-tapping screws through the prepared hole.
We also fasten the last board through the front surface.

Important! With a board width of more than 140 mm, it is advisable to additionally fix it in the middle, sinking the screw head into the array and closing the hole with a dowel.

That's actually all. Paul is ready. It remains only to apply a protective coating and you can enjoy a beautiful, durable and environmentally friendly floor for many years.