The home flooring market is replete with a variety of materials. Wood has been and remains one of the most popular options. Its environmental friendliness and operating features elevate this flooring to the rank of the most popular materials.
The thickness of floorboards and their main characteristics deserve detailed consideration. This will allow you to properly install high-quality flooring. It will serve its owners for many years.
General concept of the material
When studying the question of what thickness should be used when building or renovating a home, you should understand the basic characteristics of the material. This is a profile element of the flooring made of wood. It looks like a milled part. It is made from solid massif wood or several thin layers, connected using special technology. This material differs from parquet in the significant dimensions of its elements.
Their shape after processing has adhesion elements (phases and ridge). If you want to fill your home with the beauty and natural subtle aroma of wood, you should give preference to this type of flooring. A number of its advantages make the material in demand.
Properties
The thickness of which is acceptable for furnishing a living space has a number of features. When choosing, you should pay attention to the quality of the material. The wood must not have any defects. Knots, irregularities, and resin pockets are not acceptable on the board. Cracks or blackening are also unacceptable.
The floorboard is a natural material, not causing allergies and irritation. Oak, pine, ash or larch are best suited for such purposes. These varieties have sufficient hardness. Less commonly used are softer walnuts and aspen. But poplar or linden are absolutely not suitable for flooring.
Advantages
Correctly selected thickness of floorboards gives this type of coating a number of advantages. In addition to environmental friendliness and aesthetic beauty, it is worth noting good thermal insulation characteristics.
This is a “warm” coating. It is comfortable to stand on with bare feet room temperature in room. This material is also durable and strong. Correctly selected one is not afraid of mechanical influences. Therefore, the boards have a long service life.
The material has a beneficial effect on human health. Allergy sufferers can choose it. People suffering from respiratory diseases benefit from breathing air containing esters released by wood.
This material is known for its ability to purify the air from various pathogens. Therefore, it is also a hygienic type of coating.
Flaws
Delving deeper into the question of how thick a floorboard should be, one should take into account a number of its disadvantages. The material is subject to many external influences. He is afraid high humidity. In such conditions, deformations, cracks, and fungus may develop. Also, significant temperature changes lead to changes in the dimensions of the coating elements. Because of this, creaks may appear and gaps may appear between the boards. If the wood from which the covering elements were made was not processed correctly, the moisture content of the material will meet construction requirements.
Therefore, you should purchase material only from a high-quality, trusted manufacturer. Wood that is not strong enough will quickly become covered with scratches, dents, and stains.
Board size
Important in the selection process are the dimensions of the floorboard. Dimensions (thickness, width and length) are selected depending on existing conditions. The reliability and durability of the coating depends on these parameters.
To choose the right thickness of the boards, it is necessary to take into account If each such structural element is located at least 70 cm from its neighbors, preference should be given to thick boards (35 or 40 mm). This coating can withstand significant loads. The width of each board is also very important. This parameter is selected in accordance with the design of the room.
Floorboard thickness in panel houses, private cottages depends on operating conditions. Experts advise not to purchase products thinner than 22 mm. If the thickness does not exceed this level, the board can only be used for cladding walls and ceilings.
Experts advise that before purchasing such a covering, take into account the load that will be placed on the floor. If there will be heavy furniture in the room and a lot of people walking around, you should purchase thick boards.
The most commonly used size for such products is 30-35 mm. This optimal value. They are very suitable for those in which an average amount of distortion and knots is allowed.
For finishing, it is important to purchase boards with a minimum number of defects. The bottom layer (rough) should be thicker than the top (decorative).
Production technology
A modern floorboard, the thickness of which is selected in accordance with the listed parameters, can be manufactured in several ways. Flooring elements can be solid or spliced. Each variety has its own advantages and disadvantages. A jointed board is made by gluing two or more pieces of wood together. For this variety you need to give preference to thick products. They are less durable than solid boards.
However, such products have significant advantage. This production technology allows us to produce boards without knots or irregularities. They are smoother and more suitable for finishing a finished floor.
Solid arrays are more durable. Their thickness may be less than that of spliced varieties. But sometimes they contain knots and small deformations.
Affordable and high-quality boards
When deciding what thickness of floorboard will be optimal for a room, you cannot ignore the cost of the material. It depends on many parameters. The thicker the flooring elements, the more expensive the installation will be. Therefore, you should purchase a suitable type of material.
When purchasing, you need to pay attention to the moisture content of the wood. Its level should be no more than 14%. If this indicator is high, the material will deform over time. There is no need to skimp on this feature. Resinous wood species (pine, spruce) have good resistance to such negative phenomena. They are affordable. Therefore, the presented breeds are ideal for flooring.
Oak and ash are also resistant to changes in temperature and humidity. This is a durable, mechanically resistant wood. But their cost is more expensive than previous varieties of material.
How to correctly calculate the quantity
The thickness of the floorboards is taken into account when calculating the amount of material upon purchase. In this case, the coating is sold in cubic meters. Some manufacturers package boards marked in square meters.
In both approaches, it is important to pay attention to what area the seller takes into account when selling. Unscrupulous sellers may count the board along with its fasteners. For example, working surface product is 36 by 135 mm. But together with the grooves, the same part will have dimensions of 37 by 141 mm. If such floor boards are sold in cubic meters, then this figure reaches an unreasonably high value of 41 by 149 mm.
In this case, the buyer overpays a significant amount. It happens that the seller generally rounds up the dimensions of the floor covering elements. The cost of the floor is much more than what the manufacturer envisaged. To avoid deception, you should pay attention to the actual size of the flooring elements. It is better to check the actual size using a ruler yourself.
Having familiarized yourself with such characteristics as the thickness of the floorboards, you can choose the optimal covering elements in all respects. This guarantees the quality and durability of the floor material. The correctly selected thickness of each coating element will lead to the correct distribution of the load. By checking the quality of materials when purchasing, as well as paying attention to other nuances, you can purchase truly high-quality boards.
Wood floors are ideal for country house, city apartment, public premises. They will make any room attractive and respectable, with correct operation will last long years. The basis of such a floor is a floorboard. It is about this universal building material we will explain in detail in this article.
We will talk about how to choose the right floor boards, what types of wood they come from, what sizes and thickness. Also at the end of the article is posted detailed instructions on laying floorboards with your own hands.
Floorboards are made from wood different breeds: 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 changes and high humidity. At proper care will last a very long time.
- Aspen and alder are not particularly durable, but they have a healing effect on human body. Relevant in rooms with little traffic – children’s room, bedroom.
- Larch is practically not subject to rotting, and is used for arranging floors in rooms with high humidity - bathrooms, bathhouses, swimming pools. 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 increasing the thickness of the board.
- Ash is almost identical to oak. It has high strength and durability, and is quite expensive.
Optimal thickness of floorboards
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 board thickness is optimal for a wooden floor? Here a lot 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 joists of 50 centimeters, the thickness of the floorboards is chosen to be 30-35 millimeters.
Length of boards construction markets usually from 3 to 6 meters, so their choice depends on the characteristics of the premises in which the installation will be carried out.
How much does a floorboard cost?
The cost of flooring boards, 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 tongue-and-groove floorboard with dimensions 36x135x6000 mm made of larch costs on average about 450 rubles per piece.
Laying floorboards with your own hands
There are many ways to install a wooden floor. Most suitable option are chosen individually, depending on the purpose of the room, the expected load, and climatic conditions. The boards are laid on a special frame made of logs or beams (height about 10 cm), while good ventilation is a must which will prevent the appearance of fungus and mold. On ground floors Waterproofing is always installed, and the structure is also insulated.
Floorboard covering combines load-bearing and decorative functions, and its durability depends on how correctly the material is selected and the installation technology is followed. Today it will not be possible to pick up a board special labor, they are divided into two main types:
- The grooved ones 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.
- A regular board has straight ends and is laid end to end. The thickness can be any.
Before installation, all elements are treated with an antiseptic, which increases the service life of the wood.
Wooden floors are:
- Single layer. Laying is done on logs; the thickness of the boards must be at least 28 mm.
- Double-layer ones are mounted on a rough base made of inexpensive material– Chipboard, plywood and others.
The work begins 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 subsequent boards to be laid evenly and eliminate any shifts. Each subsequent part is secured with pressure to the previous one using nails or self-tapping screws. If the material is more than 14 cm wide, it is additionally secured 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 within a day, and it is recommended to move furniture in after a week.
Advantages of wooden building materials
Floor boards made of wood differ in hardness and strength, but they all have positive qualities:
- Attractive view.
- Eco-friendly floorboards.
- Resistant to deformation.
- High thermal insulation characteristics.
- Good sound insulation.
- Versatility - fits perfectly into any interior.
- A 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 low ceilings, wooden floors are best laid in high rooms– at least 3 meters.
Planks can be used to make practical and beautiful flooring. Wooden floors are coming back into fashion. This is due to a change in guidelines in the decoration of residential premises towards environmental friendliness and safety. And wood, as we know, fully satisfies these requirements. At the same time, the plank floor has an attractive appearance. Ah, thanks wide choice lumber in color, pattern and texture, this coating matches the design of almost any interior. What characteristics should be taken into account when choosing a floor board in order to get a beautiful and durable floor that will last for several decades - read below.
Which board is best to use for the floor: choice of material
The floorboard can be used in both residential and non-residential premises. The most popular and suitable material for finishing floors living rooms in a private house - oak wood. Less commonly used are ash, alder, and aspen. These rocks are characterized by high wear resistance, durability, look expensive and attractive (especially if the coating is treated with varnish rather than paint).
There is a wide variety of tree species from which floor boards are made, differing in durability and quality
For finishing the floor, it is better to choose tongue-and-groove boards that have good cohesion: a non-groove wooden board is susceptible to drying out, which can cause significant gaps to form in the floor.
Hard wood species are distinguished by a fairly high price. More affordable option there will be boards and pine and larches. Pine is pleasant to the touch and has a beautiful milky tint. 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 has high strength. It is highly undesirable to use poplar and linden boards for flooring.
When choosing boards for finishing the floor, you should take into account many other factors, which include the operating conditions of the floor and the type of finish.
So, in order for the floor to last a long time, look stylish and attractive, you must follow these recommendations:
- The finishing should be done with a tongue and groove board: due to the treated side surfaces, it is easier to install such a board.
- For finishing indoors, choose Eurofloor or dry boards, the humidity of which is no more than 10%.
- For laying subfloors, grade B wood is good, with a moisture content of no more than 15%.
- Before laying the boards, you should adapt the lumber to the microclimate (keep it in the room for two weeks). Damp 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 an online calculator).
- It is recommended to lay the boards along the line of light: this way the longitudinal ties will not be noticeable.
- To avoid shadows between the boards (which will visually reduce the space and disrupt the geometry of the floor), installation should begin from the sources natural lighting or diagonally (from one corner to another).
You need to choose floorboards depending on the type of room and its purpose.
In addition, boards for installation must be dry, free from knots, cracks and other defects that can affect not only appearance gender, but also its performance characteristics.
Technical board: main advantages
The two-layer technical board for floor finishing is characterized by high wear resistance and durability. Such performance indicators are achieved due to the fact that the proverb consists of two layers: an upper wood layer and a lower one, represented by plywood. The wood layer is most often made from durable hardwood (oak, ash, walnut).
In addition, the main advantages of the technical board include:
- This coating does not require maintaining special temperature conditions and a certain level of humidity.
- Laminated, two-layer timber is less susceptible to deformation than completely natural wood.
- A technical board floor can be repeatedly sanded, polished and varnished.
- Laying technical boards does not require the organization of plywood flooring or underlay.
- More high level sound insulation than when using a regular board.
Technical boards are great for warehouses
Caring for engineered (technical) boards is quite simple: most models have a smooth coating without pores (which easily get clogged with dirt and dust). The disadvantages of the coating include its high cost, compared to an ordinary wooden board. But repairs to such a floor will not be needed soon.
Floor board size
The main characteristics of the floorboard that should be taken into account when choosing a material include the length and width of the floorboard. Today, in construction stores you can find lumber with a width from 800 mm to 150 mm and a length from 3 to 6 meters.
In domestic construction, it is most popular to purchase boards with a width of 150 mm: they look attractive in any interior and have high performance indicators.
The choice of lumber width depends on the design of the room. Yes, for small rooms You should not choose floor elements that are too wide. 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 taken into account that the fewer longitudinal joints the board has, the easier it is to install the plank floor and maintain the intended geometry.
The length of the lumber must meet two requirements: the wooden strips must have a minimum number of joints during installation, and the installation itself must be as waste-free as possible. You can reduce the waste of cutting lumber by choosing a Euro board, which comes with a length of 2 meters.
Floorboard thickness
The quality and durability of the coating depends on the thickness of the board. Thus, thick boards will be less susceptible to moisture and temperature, will last longer without losing their attractive appearance and characteristics. Don’t forget about the ratio of the thickness to the width of the board: too wide, too thin a 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 thickness is determined by the loads that the coating will experience.
What thickness should I choose for finishing the floor? Today, lumber sellers offer boards with a thickness of 2 to 7 cm. For bedrooms, it is better to use a board with a thickness 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 state standard 8242-88.
When choosing board thickness, you should also take into account the distance between the base joists. If the distance between the elements is 0.6 m, then for high-quality coating a thickness of around 3-3.5 cm will be sufficient. If the distance between the logs exceeds 0.6 m, then it is recommended to use boards with a width of 4-4.5 cm.
When choosing boards by thickness, you should take into account that the larger this indicator, the higher the cost of lumber.
Therefore, the choice of boards based on thickness should be appropriate. You should not buy thick materials for finishing dressing rooms, storerooms, etc. The thickness of the boards will not have any effect on the service life of the wooden floor in these rooms, and from the financial side, such finishing will hit your pocket.
How to install a floor board (video)
Plank flooring is a stylish, environmentally friendly and durable covering. But such a coating can only be if the lumber is selected taking into account the intensity of use, the purpose of the room and finishing. Today, choosing floorboards suitable for the interior of a room will not be difficult. The main thing is to select lumber taking into account the ratio of their width and thickness, the length and extent of the room. And then you will receive coverage that fully meets your expectations!
The coatings industry has come a long way. Many new construction and finishing materials. But many of them can hardly be called environmentally friendly.
Moreover, some of them generally have a very definite service life, and then simply disintegrate with all the ensuing consequences. And floorboards, by definition, are one hundred percent environmentally friendly. In addition, its dimensions can vary widely.
Even a strict, minimalist hi-tech style fits perfectly with a floor made of natural floorboards. And for country-style rooms, this is simply a must-have attribute.
The benefits of floorboards have been known for a long time. These are naturalness, good thermal insulation properties, tactile sensations, noise insulation, ease of use and beautiful appearance.
Of course, there are also disadvantages. These include: high maintenance requirements, a tendency to abrasion, possible changes in geometry under the influence of moisture and temperature changes.
How to choose the right floorboard
Choice wooden board for covering floors comes down to ensuring that it does not spoil the aesthetic appearance of the room and fulfills its purpose during the planned period.
Which board is best to use for the floor - selection factors
1. Wood species and wood structure
Available on the market big choice lumber from both domestic (for example, Arkhangelsk, Kirov, Kostroma) and foreign manufacturers, offering boards of different grades and species.
Of course, when talking about wood, the first thing that comes to mind is the pattern, the structure of the tree. All breeds have their own unique pattern. However, the rock also affects the strength, possible thickness of the material and service life.
Floor boards - photo examples of wood species
Maple floor board
Oak floorboard
Birch floor board
Cherry floor board
Material prepared for the website www.site
2. Density of wood species
Deciduous species: beech, maple, oak have a high wood density, coniferous species: larch, pine, spruce - less dense. At the same time, the latter are more popular. This is due to the fact that wood with a lower density, lighter weight, places fewer demands on fasteners (screws, hardware, nails).
If you plan to install the floorboard yourself, then working with pine is much easier. And the most important thing - coniferous wood cheaper.
3. Floorboard dimensions
Dimensions, technical parameters:
Floorboard thickness
Along with the density of wood, the thickness of the floorboard is another indicator characterizing the possible duration of use. There are boards with a thickness of 20-70 mm on the market.
How thick should the floorboard be?
Depends on the pitch of the lag under floorboard, if the distance between the floor joists is 60 cm, then a thickness of 30-35 mm is sufficient, if more than 60 cm, for example, 80, then it is optimal to use a board with a thickness of 40-45 mm. It would be correct to include the intensity of traffic in the room into the calculation; the higher it is, the thicker the board should be.
For a living room, a board with a thickness of 35-40 mm is used. For rooms with high load, for example, hallway, living room or in commercial premises, gyms, the thickness of the board should be higher. When choosing thickness, it is important to achieve the optimal price/thickness ratio. After all, the thicker the board, the more expensive it is.
Floorboard width
The market offers floor boards with a width of 80-135 (140) mm. This indicator determines the number of longitudinal joints. The fewer there are, the easier it is to install a plank floor and maintain the geometry of the board. At the same time, styling wide board more hard work(subjective opinion, because it depends on the carpenter and the quality of the lumber, in particular, its moisture content and geometry are important).
Plus, it should be taken into account that the proportions of the board (width-thickness) directly affect the stability of the floor covering, since a wide floorboard is more susceptible to warping (due to changes in humidity).
In private construction, boards with a width of 100-105 mm and a thickness of 30-36 mm have become most popular.
Floorboard length
There are sizes from 3,000 to 6,000 mm. The length is chosen based on two requirements - minimum joints and minimum waste.
Unlike the usual one, the euroboard comes in sizes 2-3-4-6 meters. Thanks to this, you can reduce cutting waste by selecting the desired length.
4. Types of floorboards and manufacturing methods
The floor board can be made in two versions: solid board and spliced (glued). The first is made from solid wood. The second is made from spliced (glued) pieces. And each option has its own advantages.
It is also divided into tongue-and-groove (has protrusions - tongues, tongue and groove) and non-tongue.
There is a regular board and a Euroboard for flooring (special production technology, equipment and quality of raw materials). The latter is more expensive, but has undeniable advantages (low humidity, ideal geometry, absence of defects (blue spots, holes, cores and rotten knots), smooth surface, lint does not rise during varnishing).
Solid board on the floor: pros and cons
Advantages: natural wood;
Flaws: possible presence of knots, resin pockets, which reduce the quality of the board.
note. High-quality solid Euroboard (Europol) has ventilation grooves (the same as on Eurolining). They allow you to preserve wood longer. Prevents the development of fungi. In addition, they help distribute the load on the board and prevent warping of the wood.
Spliced floorboards: pros and cons
Advantages:
- high strength;
- absence of knots;
- perfect geometry.
Flaws:
- presence of adhesive composition;
- increased requirements for laying logs (installation step 400 mm).
5. Surface quality
The evenness of the geometry of the logs, boards and subfloor is ideal - the guarantee that the plank floor will be laid without problems.
The knots that add natural beauty to the board should sit tightly.
6. Floorboard moisture
The permissible humidity level is no more than 12-14%. Otherwise, the board will not last long.
No matter how good the wood is, its characteristics must be taken into account. The fact is that various breeds have different coefficients of linear expansion from moisture. Moreover, in two directions - longitudinal and transverse, they also differ from each other. In the longitudinal direction this coefficient is much greater. Oak has the lowest coefficient of expansion, followed by ash and teak.
Different types of wood have different percentages of their own resins, oils and tannins. The more there are, the less the wood is susceptible to deformation from moisture. Therefore, wood is harvested in the cold season (autumn-winter), when the movement of tree sap stops.
Advice. When purchasing a board, it is better to check the moisture content of the board yourself using a wood moisture meter. Also, you should not hope that it will dry out by the time it needs to be laid (more likely, by that time it will be twisted).
If “handicraft” drying is done incorrectly, the purchased board may be destroyed, and there will be no one to file a claim with. So buy right away quality lumber, which has undergone chamber drying.
7. Packing of floor boards
A regular board is supplied in plastic packaging, and Europol (Euroboard) is supplied in shrink film. Shrink packaging PVC film prevents air from entering between the film and the board and, as a result, the lumber does not absorb moisture during storage (provided there is good ventilation).
How do these types of packaging differ in practice?
There is a temperature difference between day and night, i.e. The boards heat up during the day and cool down at night, as a result of which condensation collects on the film, which is absorbed by the wood. This happens with regular polyethylene packaging. And shrink film neutralizes (eliminates) this effect and condensation can only appear on outside(outside the package).
8. Cost of the floorboard
Coniferous wood is more common and accessible, and is also easier to process industrially. Therefore, more low price pine and spruce prove to be a significant selling point when purchasing.
How do sellers consider floor boards?
When selling floorboards, the volume can be calculated (unit of measurement) in cubes (cubic meters) or in m2 ( square meters). This is where you need to be more careful, because... There are not very decent sellers who, in addition to counting the dirty (total) area of the board, i.e. taking into account the tongue and groove, they are also rounded (designed as a blank). As a result, there will not be enough lumber to cover the expected area.
For example, the working area of the board (width-length) is 36x135, with grooves - 37x141 mm, and if you also count it as a workpiece (when sold in cubic meters), then it will be 41x149 mm. Multiply the two values by the cost (clean-dirty volume) and see what the difference in the amount will be.
8. Floorboard in the interior
Wood is a material that can be processed well. Its structure can be artificially aged or, conversely, the clarity of the lines can be emphasized (with impregnations, stains). A floorboard allows you to lay a plank covering with your own hands, which will create a unique atmosphere in your home and organically fit into any interior design style.
To tightly connect the boards, longitudinal grooves and projections (tongues) are used, running along the entire side surface.
They come in two types: rectangular and trapezoidal. The latter are more practical and therefore preferable to use.
The technology of laying floorboards requires compliance with a number of rules, the implementation of which guarantees the quality and long service life of the plank floor.
Rule one - microclimate
The room and board must be dry, especially during installation. The humidity of the board should not exceed 14%, and the air in the room should not exceed 60%. Before laying, the board adapts to the temperature and humidity of the room, that is, it must simply lie in it for at least 3 days. For the same reason, between a wooden floor and concrete base Waterproofing must be done.
Rule two - consistency
Laying the boards on the floor is done last. Before this, the walls and floor must be completely leveled.
Rule three - proper installation of floorboards
The boards are laid on wooden joists or waterproof plywood. Screws are used for fastening.
The location of the boards should be from front door along, and the log, respectively, across. The logs must be leveled in height, otherwise the boards will protrude, which is unacceptable.
The boards are attached to the joists using screws running from the side surface of the board at an angle. A through hole is drilled for them.
With the help of two clamps and wooden blocks, which prevent damage to the surface, adjacent boards are pre-attached to each other in order to prevent the formation of cracks.
A gap of about 5 mm in the transverse direction and 7-8 mm in the longitudinal direction of the boards on each side is left between the wall and the floor in both directions. This is done based on the considerations that if it gets wet in an emergency, the board will begin to swell, and if there are no gaps, the floor will simply swell.
The fourth rule is processing
After installation, the floor must be treated. To do this, you can simply paint it, or better yet, varnish it. The boards are pre-impregnated with drying oil. This completes the construction of the plank floor. All that remains is to lay the baseboard around the edges.
Conclusion
Now you know exactly what to look for when choosing a floorboard, as well as in what sizes (dimensions) it is produced and what parameters it has. Using this knowledge, you will be able to choose the right good lumber, and the floor laid from it will last at least 40-50 years. At the same time, it will be warm, beautiful and environmentally friendly.
Gender is one of important elements the buildings. There is a wide variety of finishing flooring, one of which is floorboard; it is made in different sizes.
You need to select the material depending on functional purpose premises and traffic flow.
Optimal thickness floorboards for private housing construction from 35 to 45 mm depending on the load on the floor. Let's look at how to choose the right floorboard sizes and wood type for installing a high-quality coating.
Batten
A regular board is wetter than the Euro version This is a wood material intended for roughing and finishing flooring. Made from solid wood or by gluing together several boards, it visually looks like a milled board.
Regular and Euroboards are produced, produced using special technology on European equipment.
Euro material has more low humidity, higher demands are placed on it: there should be no blue spots, rotten knots, cores, or holes.
The material produced using European technology has smooth surface, well polished, due to its advantages it has a higher cost.
From the array
The tongue and groove create a strong connection during installation They are joined together in a locking connection: there is a ridge on one side, and a groove on the other. This connection gives the coating additional strength; even slightly dry boards will have a beautiful appearance.
The optimal comb shape is a cone; such a lock is easy to work with, even if the material is used long length 5-6 m.
If the tenon is made in the shape of a rectangle, even with a slight curvature of the material, it is problematic to fit it into the groove so that the boards lie close to each other.
Pieces look less aesthetically pleasing than whole boards Sometimes it is necessary to cut boards to lengths of less than 3 m in order to connect them. Flooring, assembled from pieces, looks much worse than from solid parts.
Another type of interlocking joint is the quarter-joint material: one board is cut ½ width at the top, the other at the bottom. A floor made from this material looks beautiful and is the easiest to install.
More rarely, material with edges beveled at an angle of 45 degrees is used, although this coating looks no worse than other types and is quite easy to install.
For rough coating, a regular one is suitable. edged board, it is laid end to end and fastened with nails. In bathhouses it is used to create a finished floor.
According to the standard, solid wood boards may contain knots, bluish spots and resin. Euroboards have ventilation grooves, which extend the life of the wood.
Glued board
Glued board does not lose integrity for a long time It is produced by gluing together several boards under pressure, their fibers are positioned so that the material does not lose its geometry throughout long term operation.
This material is guaranteed not to dry out and the floor will remain level. The manufacturing technology is labor-intensive, due to which laminated wood has a high cost.
Laying of logs under jointed wood should be carried out in increments of 400 mm.
Terrace board
It has a wavy top surface. Most often used in rooms where the floor is often wet: baths, rooms with bathrooms and swimming pools.
It is more difficult to slip on a textured wet surface than on a flat board.
The board is selected depending on whether it will be used for rough or finishing coating. Before you go shopping, you need to decide which type of wood is most suitable for this type of work, and what dimensions the floorboard should have.
From the right choice The life of the floorboard and its size will depend on the service life of the coating, because it bears the bulk of the load.
Board selection scheme:
| Board thickness, mm | Distance between lags, mm | Section of timber for logs, mm | Room length, m |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 300 | 110x60 | 2 |
| 25 | 400 | 150x80 | 3 |
| 30 | 500 | 180x100 | 4 |
| 35 | 600 | 200x150 | 5 |
| 40 | 700 | 220x180 | 6 |
| 45 | 800 | ||
| 50 | 900 |
The length must be selected based on the minimum number of joints and waste in the form of scraps of material.
The thickness of the board for a country house should be at least 35 - 50mm The optimal thickness of boards for flooring in country house 35-50 mm, a floor board with a thickness of 50 to 70 mm will be the best option for flooring in gyms and rooms with high traffic volumes.
The width of the floorboard must be taken with a margin, taking into account the fact that the floor is periodically sanded to update its appearance.
Wide boards tend to lose their shape faster than narrower materials.
Board quality
Wood, depending on quality requirements, is divided into the following classes:
| № | Class | Quality requirements |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Extra | It has a smooth front surface without defects or knots. |
| 2 | A | It has a smooth surface without a core, fallen knots, cracks, or chips. It is allowed to contain knots located no more than every 150 cm, small blue spots, 2 small surface cracks and the presence of resin. |
| 3 | IN | It is acceptable to have 4 knots per 150 cm, 2 surface cracks, minor surface damage and the presence of resin. |
| 4 | WITH | Belongs to the lowest class, may contain 2 knots, surface cracks, contrasting stripes, blue stains, and mechanical damage. |
Wood species
Before purchasing material for flooring made of natural material, you need to study its properties and select the material that is optimally suited to the operating conditions.
Types of wood:
| № | Wood type | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coniferous trees | Most in demand because they have best ratio according to the price-quality criterion. Pine and spruce contain a large amount of resins, which protect the material from destruction under the influence of humidity and protect against the formation of mold, as they are a natural antiseptic. Fir requires treatment with antiseptic agents, as it contains an insufficient amount of resin. Conifers emit a pleasant smell into the air, which has a beneficial effect on the human respiratory system. This material has good vapor permeability, which allows you to maintain a normal level of humidity in the room. |
| 2 | Aspen and alder | They do not have a significant service life and have insufficient strength. But they have a positive effect on human health, as they release beneficial tannins. Most often they are used for installing floors in children's rooms, baths and private saunas. Not suitable for installation in rooms with high traffic and high loads. |
| 3 | Linden | Requires treatment with an antiseptic, since the wood has insufficient strength and is susceptible to the formation of fungi and rotting. It is inexpensive, retains heat well in the room, emits a fragrant smell, and has a beautiful structure. |
| 4 | Cedar | It has a very beautiful structure, is highly durable and resistant to high humidity. In addition, wood constituents essential oils have a beneficial effect on health and help maintain a healthy indoor microclimate. This type of wood has a high cost, but pays off due to its unique qualities. |
| 5 | Siberian larch | It comes in 12 shades and is highly durable and durable. Larch is resistant to moisture and is not susceptible to rotting or mold. Releases aromas into the air that have antiseptic properties, thereby maintaining a healthy climate in the house. |
| 6 | Oak | It has long been famous for its strength and long service life. The material does not lose its properties under the influence of moisture and is not subject to putrefactive processes and the formation of fungal infections. It has high rates of heat saving and sound insulation. It has a high cost, but due to its durability it pays for itself during use. |
Determine how many boards there are per 1 cube
When buying floor boards, take extra material All lumber is sold in cubes. To calculate the amount of material per 1 cubic meter, you need to calculate the volume of one board. To do this, you need to multiply the dimensions of the purchased lumber: width * thickness * length.
Let's say we use material 35 X 100 X 6000 mm. We convert the data into meters: 35 mm = 0.35 m, 100 mm = 0.1 m, 6000 mm = 6 m.
Find the volume of the board: 0.035 * 0.1 * 6 = 0.021 cubic meters. m.
We determine how much material is in a cube: 1 cube: 0.021 cube = 47.62 pcs.
Table of the quantity of standard lumber in 1 cube:
| Size | Volume of one board | Number of pieces per cube with a length of 6 m |
|---|---|---|
| 25 x 100 | 0,015 | 66,6 |
| 25 x 150 | 0,0225 | 44,4 |
| 25 x 200 | 0,03 | 33,3 |
| 40 x 100 | 0,024 | 41,6 |
| 40 x 150 | 0,036 | 27,7 |
| 40 x 200 | 0,048 | 20,8 |
| 50 x 50 | 0,015 | 66,6 |
Usually, when shipping, the number of boards per cube is rounded down. It is recommended to purchase material with a reserve of 15-30%, since some amount of material may be rejected.
In addition, over time it may be necessary to replace some boards, and material from another batch may not be suitable.
Undried material will begin to crack and warp. The humidity for floorboards in the house should be no more than 12-14%. Boards for use in a bath can be purchased with an average humidity level of 20-25%.
If you use well-dried lumber in a room with high humidity, it may begin to swell in conditions of high humidity, which will lead to warping of the floor covering.
You should not buy wet lumber in the hope that it will dry out before installation. Improper drying leads to wood deformation. Drying must be carried out in special chambers subject to a certain temperature and drying time.
The best quality will be material collected in the autumn-winter period. The more resin and tannins in the composition, the less susceptible the material is to deformation. To learn how to determine the moisture content of wood, watch this video:
You can check the humidity level yourself using a wood moisture meter.
What to look for when choosing
When purchasing, check the evenness of the edges of the board. Floor installation is an important stage in construction, so the choice of material must be approached responsibly.
How to choose the right board:
- First you need to check the compliance of the geometric parameters: the edges must be smooth and the thickness along the entire length must be the same.
- On tongue-and-groove lumber, we pay attention to high-quality elements of the interlocking connection: the groove should be deeper than the ridge in height. If the tongue is larger than the groove, it will be impossible to join the floor boards without creating gaps. To learn how to choose a floorboard, watch this video:
By looking at the end part of the material, you can immediately notice whether there are any shortcomings. Before purchasing, it is recommended to randomly check several boards for high-quality joining with each other.
Correctly selected material guarantees the service life of a wooden floor for 30-50 years.
