It is unlikely that anyone would argue with the fact that important part any home is the floor. Coziness and comfort in our home directly depends on what type flooring we will choose: laminate, linoleum, carpet, parquet or solid board. By the way, the last option is very tempting, because it is one of the most prestigious and attractive floor coverings. Wooden floors have always been an indicator of wealth, solidity and excellent taste of the home owner. Solid wood floors have fairly high performance properties. It is resistant to stress, environmentally friendly, durable, has an elegant appearance thanks to the pronounced wood texture and all the possibilities for creating a healthy microclimate in the house.
Oak floor boards - strength and durability
When choosing solid board, you should know that its wear resistance and long service life are determined by the type of wood used. Compared to parquet, solid floor boards are 1.5-2 times thicker, which significantly increases its service life. Since ancient times, oak and ash wood was used to create a reliable floor. , characterized by natural noble color, indispensable when creating an interior in classic style. High aesthetic qualities, durability, excellent thermal insulation properties will bring warmth and tranquility to your home, and will also emphasize your impeccable taste. ideal for floors that will be subject to increased loads; it’s not for nothing that oak is called “eternal long-liver.” The material goes well with interior solutions, gives comfort and a feeling of harmony and unity with nature.
In terms of hardness, this type of wood occupies a leading position. Over the years it only gets stronger, and its natural beauty only intensifies. The natural texture of solid floorboards will add richness to any interior. So it will not leave any connoisseur of natural beauty indifferent.
Solid ash field board - exquisite durability
However, not only oak floor board enjoys overwhelming success. Along with it, many are also attracted. It is often used at all kinds of sports facilities. Properly dried, there are almost no shrinkage dates, it is minimally subject to deformation and pleases its owner for a very long time. And the contrasting pattern with smooth patterns of annual rings makes ash stand out from other species. It looks quite elegant, it does not catch the eye, but at the same time it is very impressive and presentable. Interiors in country, modern, classic, and retro styles will surprisingly benefit from being next to a similar coating, which beautifully plays with reflections in daytime and evening light.
Unpretentious. Changes in temperature and importance do not affect its characteristics and dimensions. The elasticity and hardness of ash allow you to install floor boards quickly and without extra effort. Solid ash floor board - the best choice for those who dream of admiring the beauty and unusualness of their interior for a long time.
Thus, solid and ash wood is a promise of bright decor, luxury and long term services. If a massive board is laid according to all the rules, it will look simply gorgeous.
Before you begin installing solid wood flooring, remove it from its packaging and stack it to allow it to absorb the humidity of the room before laying the floor. Work begins with screeding and waterproofing the floor. Laying is done on dry and level base designed to ensure the durability of the coating. The best base is a subfloor or plywood.
Several ways to lay solid floorboards
There are several methods for laying solid boards; before any of them, prepare the base for laying the covering using self-leveling mixtures or cement-sand screeds. The most commonly used method is laying solid boards using plywood base, this method is the simplest. When installing the floor, the solid board needs to be “pulled”. The board is laid on a prepared base made of moisture-resistant plywood along the screed and secured using two-component glue and self-tapping screws at the side ends.. Keep in mind that between the sheets of plywood themselves a gap of 3 mm must be left, and between the sheets and the walls of the room the gap must be about 10 mm. After laying, the massive board needs to be sanded. Before laying solid floorboards, do not forget to clean the base from dust.
A little effort and patience - and you will be able to show off to your guests a stunning floor that will give the entire interior a unique charm, and you will be in a great mood!
What is better for stairs – oak or ash? The strength, durability, and appearance of the structure depend on the choice. If you are the owner of a multi-storey housing or other property, this article will answer your question. We will consider the advantages and disadvantages of two types of wood, the characteristics of the material, and the possibilities of its use.
Any tree has unique parameters. Quality assessment consists of five parameters:
- hardness;
- life time;
- light, texture;
- susceptibility to rotting;
- price.
Oak and ash are hardwoods. They are durable and wear-resistant. But high hardness means there is a risk of cracking if handled carelessly. In terms of basic parameters, oak outperforms ash. But you need to dwell on each of the breeds separately.
Ash
It is a less expensive alternative to oak. The properties are only slightly worse, but the difference in price is noticeable. The main advantages of ash:
- Expressive texture. Visually, the products resemble their oak counterparts, but the veining is more contrasting and more pronounced.
- Hardness, wear resistance. Even heavy loads on the steps do not cause deformation or cracking for decades. But this same property complicates processing.
- High resistance to cracking. Even with a strong blow wooden surface maintains integrity.
Additional advantages: low maintenance, good noise and heat insulation, complete environmental friendliness.
The only one important drawback ash – low concentration of tannins. This means that products made from this wood are afraid of moisture. Outdoor use is not permitted. And indoors it is better to avoid direct exposure to water. The situation is partially corrected special compounds for wood processing. But they are not a panacea.
Oak
Oak stairs are installed for decades or even centuries. It is enough to update the coating in a timely manner, and the structure will serve for a very long time. The steps do not sag, do not crack, and withstand the most severe mechanical stress.
Other benefits include:
- flexibility during processing;
- resistance to moisture is an order of magnitude higher than that of ash;
- resistance to insects and rot;
- beneficial effects on the body of resins and essential oils released by wood.
Oak is not afraid not only of moisture, but also of frequent temperature fluctuations. It is noteworthy that over the years, sustainability only grows. Insects do not breed here, mold does not form. Even in bad conditions oak staircase will last at least 50 years.
Two-hundred-year-old oak is considered the best for making stairs. It costs more, but this is compensated by its quality.
Disadvantages of oak:
- Its processing is quite complex. It is impossible to even tighten a self-tapping screw without drilling a hole.
- The density of wood is more than 700 kilograms per cubic meter. Structures based on it are heavy.
- The price is significantly higher than that of the same ash.
If you choose an oak or ash staircase, proceed from the price, conditions of use, and design wishes.
Ash and oak wood sawn into boards are very similar. Sometimes unscrupulous staircase manufacturers take advantage of this, passing off less valuable ash as expensive oak. We suggest considering the main external differences breeds
Oak has clearly defined medullary rays when viewed in a radial section. The material stains well - up to deep dark, almost black shades. Bog oak is difficult to confuse with other species. In the same radial cut, the texture is strongly expressed.
Ash is very similar in appearance, but the wood is noticeably lighter. The difference is especially noticeable in direct comparison. There are no core rays here. This breed is absolutely unsuitable for staining. When you try to stain ash, it acquires an unattractive grayish tint. It may bend a little when steaming, manual processing more difficult than oak.
Which staircase is better - oak or ash?
If your budget allows, choose oak. Optimally - solid wood stairs. Such structures are especially strong and durable. Even in the most unfavorable conditions Without proper care, they last for decades. And with timely maintenance - hundreds of years.
Ash can be considered as a less expensive alternative. With similar qualities, it costs an order of magnitude cheaper. You may have to sacrifice durability and visual sophistication, but you'll pay less.
It is necessary to take into account the interior of the room, stylistic decisions and personal wishes. It would be a good idea to order a preliminary design project with visualization. This way you can see how certain solutions will look in existing interior. This means you can’t make a mistake.
The main parameters by which industrial wood is selected for furniture production: strength, resistance to deformation, wear resistance. All these three qualities are combined into one indicator - wood density, that is, the ratio of the mass of the tree to its volume.
Types of wood depending on density:
A) Soft (up to 540 kg/m3) – spruce, pine, aspen, linden, fir, poplar, chestnut, alder, cedar;
B) Hard (550-740kg/m3) – larch, birch, oak, elm, beech, sycamore, Walnut, maple, apple, ash;
C) Very hard (from 750 kg/m3) – iron birch, rowan, white acacia, hornbeam, dogwood, boxwood, pistachio tree.
Let's consider the breeds most in demand in furniture production:
1. Pine
Wood color– brown, beige-yellow, white with light pink streaks. The best material for making furniture is considered to be pine trees growing on hills with sandy soils or on dry hills. In such wood, the annual layers will be pronounced and narrow, close to each other. Pine grown in an area with high humidity will have a loose structure, and blanks from it will have to be dried for a long time before being put into production. Pine wood is soft, easily scratched and damaged.
Pros:
- flexibility in processing. Pine is easily planed along the grain, but difficult to plan in the transverse direction. When cutting, the opposite is true—a log cuts across easily, but poorly along lengths.
- easy to glue;
- depending on the color and structure of the wood, pine is used both for making furniture with subsequent varnishing, and for frames, and various designs with hardwood veneer veneer;
- like all conifers, it has a pleasant smell and releases phytocindes, which are considered medicinal.
2. Spruce
Spruce wood is softer than pine. In addition, there are a large number of knots in the trunk, making it difficult to process the wood for manufacturing. furniture panels. Compared to pine, spruce absorbs moisture better and begins to rot faster. Due to its inexpressive texture and low strength, spruce is most often used for mosaic finishing or in structures that do not experience significant loads during operation.
Pros:
- spruce wood is practically not subject to warping;
- sticks well.
Along with spruce, Siberian fir is also used - these two trees have similar indicators.
3. Larch
The wood of this coniferous tree valued for its unusual reddish-brown hue and high performance indicators. From disadvantages of larch– a large amount of resins, which quickly damages tools and causes difficulties in processing. If improperly dried, internal cracks form on larch wood.
Pros:
- high moisture resistance;
- excellent strength indicators (the best among conifers);
- little subject to warping;
- used for making carved parts.
4. Cedar
Yellowish-white cedar wood is not very strong and dense, so it cannot withstand heavy loads.
Pros:
- resistance to rot and wormhole;
- suitable for carving;
- has a specific woody aroma.
5. Yew
Red-brown with light and dark veins, yew wood is highly durable, but also big amount knots.
Pros:
- not subject to wormhole,
- easy to plan and sand,
- insensitive to atmospheric changes.
6. Oak
On a radial section of an oak trunk, large pith rays and light sapwood are clearly visible. Oak is the most widely used hardwood in the manufacture of solid wood furniture, due to its excellent combination of strength and beautiful texture. If an oak tree lies in water for a long time (several decades), its wood acquires a rare dark purple color with a green tint. Oak wood is difficult to polish and requires equipment with highly hardened cutters.
Pros:
- despite the high viscosity of wood, it is processed quite well;
- bends easily;
- resistant to rotting;
- lends itself well to artificial aging techniques.
7. Ash
Wood for many qualities looks like oak, but lighter and does not have pronounced medullary rays. Ash must be subjected to antiseptic treatment, since in humid conditions the wood is quickly damaged by wormholes. Poorly polished.
Pros:
- bends well after steaming;
- cracks little when dried;
- when bleached, it acquires an unusual shade of gray hair.
8. Beech
Beech wood strength is not inferior to oak, but is highly hygroscopic, so it is not recommended for the manufacture of furniture that will be used in high humidity(bath, kitchen). Poorly polished.
Pros:
- high decorative qualities: beautiful texture both in radial and tangential cuts,
- quick to dry, does not crack;
- easy to process: pricks, saws, cuts, bends;
- It is perfectly bleached and painted using special solutions - it practically does not change the beautiful natural shade when varnishing.
9. Hornbeam
It has hard, dense wood of a grayish-white color. It is often called white beech, but hornbeam has a less pronounced texture and often has a cross-ply structure, which makes the tree difficult to split.
Pros:
- after proper drying, the hornbeam becomes harder than oak;
- not subject to warping;
- lends itself well to etching and finishing.
10. Common birch
Birch wood, despite high density, is not resistant to rotting, therefore it is used mainly for the manufacture of plywood, peeled veneer, and chipboard. It takes a long time and does not dry well, is susceptible to wormholes, cracks badly, and warps.
Pros:
- homogeneous structure and beautiful colour wood;
- bends well;
- in the production of solid wood furniture it is used as an imitation valuable species(stains well when etched).
Karelian birch is distinguished separately, which has higher performance indicators, is known for its unusual texture and pink wood It is expensive, so it is used mainly for veneering solid wood furniture.
11. Maple
Despite the fact that it is dense Maple wood rarely cracks, He not resistant to dampness. Bird's eye and sugar maple are the most prized maples because of their characteristic beautiful structure.
Pros:
- easy to prick, well processed: cut, polished;
- has a homogeneous structure without pronounced fibers;
- when painted, it successfully imitates valuable species;
- Maple wood does not have a pronounced core, so it is easily painted, varnished, and stained.
12. Alder
Soft breed, without a pronounced structure. Alder wood quickly darkens in air, so it is used mainly in painted form (black or mahogany). Feature of alder: susceptible to wormhole in dry places, but resistant to rot in wet conditions.
Pros:
- dries quickly,
- easy to carpenter,
- polishes well
- warps slightly.
13. White acacia
The hardest hardwood, therefore, has high friction resistance and is elastic. In dry form it is difficult to process, so it is used mainly for facing soft rocks.
Pros:
- perfectly polished;
- When exposed to air, the wood darkens, causing the texture to acquire a bright yellow-brown color and expressive texture.
14. Walnut
The older the tree, the more valuable and darker its wood. The most expensive variety is American black walnut.
Pros:
- a wide variety of shades;
- dense but malleable wood;
- easy to paint, thanks to the high content of tannins (from tinting under ebony until smooth white).
15. Linden
It is used in production for the production of figured turned elements. It contains little tannins, so it practically does not stain, but it can be stained very well (with the correct concentration of the solution, linden wood can be given the appearance of more valuable wood species). Needs to antiseptic impregnation, as it is highly susceptible to wormholes.
Pros:
- resists moisture well,
- wood is durable and plastic,
- has a beautiful white and creamy hue.
As you can see, each wood has its own advantages and disadvantages, based on which you can choose a certain type for making furniture from solid wood.
An important element of any interior is the floor. Both the aesthetics and convenience, as well as the coziness and comfort of the room, depend on the type of flooring. Modern manufacturers offer a wide range of flooring: linoleum, carpet, laminate, tiles, porcelain stoneware, parquet, solid or parquet boards. Parquet flooring, as the most prestigious and attractive, is widely popular due to its excellent aesthetic qualities and high performance characteristics. In addition, it is an indicator of excellent taste, solidity and prosperity of the owner of the house. The most common flooring option is parquet board ash or oak. To give preference to one of them, you should study the qualities of the wood and compare them.
Oak or ash: growth features
Oak is a member of the beech family and has a wide growing area. Today there are about 600 various types this tree. The height of an oak tree can reach up to 50 meters, and its diameter can be up to 2 meters. The lifespan of an oak tree with slow growth (about 20 cm per year) is up to 1000 years.
Ash is considered the second most popular tree. It belongs to the olive family and grows much faster than oak. The height of an ash tree can reach 40 meters, while the trunk remains slender. The maximum lifespan of an ash tree is 250-300 years.
Oak or ash: qualities of wood
These tree species are widely popular among manufacturers and are of high value in the production of parquet boards. Despite all the similarities, each species has a whole set of qualities that are taken into account in the process of wood processing and flooring production.
The high aesthetic and performance qualities of oak and ash have been valued since time immemorial. The wood of these species is considered the hardest and heaviest, has high strength, elasticity and viscosity. Oak wood wears out little and resists rot and microorganisms. It is highly resistant to moisture. On the contrary, under the influence of water, wood acquires characteristic dark shades. This type of oak is called bog oak. Oak wood occupies a leading position in hardness, which increases over the years.
Unlike oak wood, ash wood is relatively short-lived, which is due to the peculiarity of its structure. It also has increased resistance to fungi, mold and other microorganisms, and does not change its properties with temperature and humidity changes. However, ash wood wears out faster, so its surface needs additional processing when producing parquet.
Due to their dense structure, oak and ash wood lends itself well to processing. It is used in the manufacture of not only flooring, but also tools, sports equipment, furniture, doors, stairs, and thresholds.
Oak parquet: beauty and durability
To create an interior in a classic style, oak parquet boards are an indispensable attribute. Its surface is characterized by natural noble shades. Wealth color range from light yellow to dark brown, almost black, due to the growing conditions of the tree. Thanks to its excellent aesthetic qualities, heat and sound insulation properties, parquet boards will help create a discreet and exquisitely elegant interior, while providing an atmosphere of homely warmth and cozy tranquility.
Recommended for high-traffic areas, since its surface can withstand critically increased loads. It is also recommended for use in residential and office premises, since the surface has a varied texture that adds richness and nobility to any interior. Oak parquet boards harmoniously combine with any interior design, providing comfort and naturalness.
Ash parquet: sophistication and stability
It is the second most popular floor covering. This is due to the stability of the floor and aesthetic appeal. A properly processed board does not shrink, does not deform, and provides high resistance to abrasion. Therefore, it is recommended to use it in high-traffic areas, as well as at sports facilities.
The light color of the wood, and all its shades determine the character of the interior where it will be used. this material. IN finished form The ash floor impresses with its lightness and discreet sophistication; its discreet beauty allows you to create spectacular and presentable interiors in the style of classic, modern, retro and even country.
Ash or oak parquet: which is better?
To determine which is better: ash or oak parquet boards, you need to know that oak and ash wood acquires richness and depth over time. Both materials have a similar texture, however, ash has a more pronounced natural pattern than oak, whose grain pattern has a calm restraint. Oak wood is used to create classic flooring, and ash wood is used to make mosaic parquet.
