While solid timber is made from harvested trees or similar natural sources, manufactured boards are a man-made product built from gluing or pressing plywood or fibers together. Manufactured boards are often produced from small pieces of wood or waste wood.
Unlike solid timber which is made from solid dimensional lumbers, manufactured or engineered flooring can be made from small trees or waste wood. It means that engineering wood is green and help our prized forests conserve. Manufactured boards are designed and manufactured in a special way to resist humidity and thermal changes. Therefore, they can be installed everywhere a solid board is usually installed plus somewhere using a solid timber is not practical.
For example, a solid flooring should not be used in a damp underground floor or laundry room, whereas an engineered floor can be installed on any floor level including basement and underground. Since they better tolerate humidity and temperature fluctuations, engineered boards are better suited for dry or humid regions of the country. Manufactured boards are generally cheaper than solid timber. Some low-quality manufactured boards don’t look as good as real wood.
However, a high-quality manufactured board is usually covered with a high-quality solid wood skin called veneer skin or wear layer making it difficult to distinguish from a natural board. A protective coat (polyurethane or oil) is usually applied on top of the veneer layer to reduce wear and tear and make the floor scratch and water resistance. A manufactured floorboard is lighter and more flexible than a solid board. Manufactured floorboards are very versatile and available in a variety of colours, patterns, and species. Most of manufactured board are pre-finished in the factory and equipped with a tongue and groove system at the outer layer. Hence, they can be installed easily and quickly with minimal tools.
Although both solid and manufactured floorings can be installed over radiant heat, because manufactured boards are thinner and transmit the heat better, manufactured boards are a better choice in the case. There are some main types of manufactured board depending on the materials and manufacturing process. MDF (medium density fiberboards) are made by gluing wood fibers together using heat and pressure. The boards are soft and strong and resistant to wrapping.
The surface is smooth and even and be easily machined, painted or stained. Some MDF types are also water or fire resistance. Plywood is constructed by gluing thin layers of wood together at 90 degrees of each other. It can be used in damp or even wet regions. Chipboard is built by gluing softwood chips together. It is a very chip product and usually covered with a laminate or melamine layer. Other manufactured wood types include blockboard and hardboard. Engineered boards are made of plywood layers and precisely designed and engineered for the floorboard.
How is solid timber made?
Solid timber flooring or hardwood flooring is constructed from solid timber or hardwood. Solid wood is commonly used to distinguish trees with no hollow spaces. Trees that solid wood material harvests from are usually big and grow slower ending up in a denser and stronger wood. It means that solid timber is more durable and requires less maintenance. Since the wood surface is hard enough it can be sanded and refinished several times. In contrast, a softwood flooring is made from softer and more abundant tree species such as Pine, Fir, and Cedar. They tend to grow faster and but the harvested wood is less dense and therefore less durable, making it susceptible to dents and scratches.
How to maintain a solid timber flooring?
Timber floors benefit greatly from regular care. Proper maintenance not only keeps them looking great, but it is essential to preserve their longevity and durability. Here we summarised some key tips for cleaning and maintenance of a solid flooring:
1- Cleaning Timber Floorings
The best tip for maintaining a timber flooring is to dust the floor every day with a microfiber mop or Swiffer. Daily sweeping is the best strategy to prevent scratches and surface damages. It is also recommended that you vacuum clean the floor at least once a week. A vacuum cleaner deep removes dust and debris from the boards. It is also better to clean a timber flooring with a hardwood cleaner liquid once a month
2- Maintaining Timber Floorings
As mentioned before, regular cleaning and sweeping is the primary factor to keep a timber flooring in the shape. Besides, you should polish the floor every two or three months to repair microscopic scratches and renew its appearance and restore the shine. Because the heat and UV rays from sunlight can gradually fade and damage floorboards, it is better to cover windows and use rugs to protect the wood from excessive heat. When a routine cleaning and polishing no longer restores the floor shine, it’s time to sand and refinish the timber flooring. You should consider refinishing the timber floor every 3 to 5 years or when it has deep scratches, visible gouges, discolouration, and other significant damage. Another professional tip for floor maintenance is that you should clean spills on the floor as soon as they occur.
The price range for solid timber flooring
The price of timber flooring can vary significantly with species, quality, and location. Some timber species are cheaper while others are more expensive species offering a better visual appearance and quality. As it is said:” You get what you pay for”. Reputable companies are going to charge you more at the time of flooring installation but the products they offer are more durable.
Nonetheless, it is a wise investment because a properly maintained timber flooring can last for generations. The price range for timber flooring is between $1 per square foot to $10 per square foot. In addition, you should consider initial installation and labor costs. Installation costs generally depend on the company and where you live. If you live in a large municipal city you should pay more for installation and finishing a timber floor.
Suppliers of solid timber floor?
Top three timber floor suppliers in Melbourne are:1- LiveTimberFlooring:
2- Connollys Timber and Flooring:
3- WOODCUT Premium Engineered Timber Flooring:
Although timber floorings are expensive, they are the choice for a luxurious space. We answered every question may you encounter about timber flooring and how it is made and maintained.
References:
2- dalamas
3- thespruce
5- mr-dt.com
7- the-warren
8- wikipedia
9- wikihow
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