Wooden floor? There is another way to have a nice and warm interior

Wooden floor - a classic that is afraid of water.

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    Traditional parquet, layered boards and engineered boards are synonyms of warmth, elegance and timelessness. A solid wood floor is suitable for any interior. For years, it has been a popular choice among lovers of beautiful interiors. There are many types of wooden floors. They differ not only in the type of wood, but also in the production process and performance properties. The problem, however, is that wooden floors are not very durable and are not waterproof. However, there is a way - vinyl click panels that look like natural wood. Is it possible to enjoy a wooden look and at the same time useful floor in your own home?

    Traditional wooden floors - are they durable?

    Wooden floors have an original charm, grace and elegance. At the same time, they are natural, ecological and never go out of fashion. Each wooden floor is also warm to the touch.

    All this translates into the huge popularity of wood in our homes. Before we decide on wooden floors, however, we must know that this type of flooring has a number of disadvantages that make wooden floors difficult to maintain.

    Wooden floors - durability for years

    It is believed that solid wood floors are susceptible to damage. And that's not a myth.

    Wood has been used in construction for a very long time. We do have many examples of wooden structures that have survived for hundreds of years. But for this to happen, the wood must be properly cared for and maintained. Wooden floors must be protected with oil, stain or dedicated varnish.

    Varnishes are considered the most durable. We should not be afraid of artificial gloss - by using semi-matt varnishes, you can get a natural effect. Every 5-10 years, it is recommended to renovate floors by scraping and re-varnishing or oiling. It is worth remembering that the charm of wooden floors also lies in how they age. We choose oiling most often when preserving exotic wood floors. Over time, the color of the board will change due to light, temperature and daily care.

    Varnished floors require special care. The most important thing is to clean them regularly. Remember that parquet floors should not be exposed to excessive moisture, so cleaning tools should be thoroughly dried.

    You can renew wooden parquet yourself, as there are already quick-drying products on the market, the application of which is simple and the varnishing is not burdensome for the household members. Remember that the wooden floor to be varnished should be sanded, dry, clean and dust-free. The varnish that will be applied to the wooden floor should be carefully mixed.

    In order for the floor to look nice, the manufacturer of wooden floors usually recommends applying 2-3 layers of varnish every 2 hours between painting. Before applying the last layer, it is worth wiping the varnished surface of the board gently with 220-240 sandpaper, then run it over with a damp cloth and let it dry.

    After finishing work, it is good to wait about 72 hours before returning the room to full operation, while the carpet can be laid after 5 days.

    As you can see, this process is tedious, complicated and, most importantly, has to be repeated regularly. However, if we choose vinyl panels with a mineral core for the interior, we will get a similar visual effect without all the troublesome maintenance. The panels have the advantage over wood that they do not require sanding, oiling or varnishing. They are beautiful for years without any additional care treatments.

    Wood classes - what kind of floor board?

    Problems that often arise with keeping wood in good condition most often result from improper care. Only cleaning agents intended for wooden floors should be used for their cleaning.

    Other strong chemicals will not do the job of a wooden floor. It is also impossible to overdo it with the amount of water. Wood, even if properly protected, does not like contact with water and other liquids. For this reason, such floors should not be cleaned with a string mop, and certainly not with a steam mop. Proper maintenance allows you to maintain the technical and visual properties of wood for many years.

    The manufacturers' offer includes floorboards made mainly of oak and ash. Oak boards are available in several quality classes. They are distinguished from the parquet by their dimensions. The board is wider and longer. They have a tongue and groove on four sides. A characteristic v-joint is formed during assembly. Wooden boards are available in several classes.

    • First-class oak boards are distinguished by a beautiful and elegant appearance thanks to their uniform color and practically free of knots.
    • The second class is characterized by a strong grain pattern and fine knots.
    • In the third grade, discoloration and whiteness appear. The jars are also more visible.
    • The fourth class, on the other hand, is distinguished by numerous knots, which together with various types of discoloration and whiteness create an original texture. Such a board is perfect for rustic interiors. The class of wood can be simply distinguished by its texture. Like oak, classic fir comes in different classes.

    The choice of boards depends on our preferences and the style of finishing in your home. Certainly, we should not be guided only by a low price, because you can find a product of lower quality.

    The vinyl panel will also create a pleasantly warm interior.

    Do panels come in different classes, as in the case of boards? Yes, but the different classes in the case of panels mean their durability, not their appearance.

    The utility class of panels is a parameter that comprehensively defines the durability of vinyl floors. One of the elements of determining the utility class is the abrasion test, therefore the utility class gives us a broader and more true picture of what product we are dealing with. As a rule, this parameter tells us in which room and how much we can use a given vinyl panel. In addition to the abrasion test according to EN16511, the utility class also determines the resistance to impact and scratching. In extensive, complex tests, the strength of the locking system is also tested, the thermal stability of the product dimensions, and the so-called castor chair test. The latter is intended only for panels with the highest utility class (32/33). The utility class divides rooms into domestic and public use. There are 6 classes: 21, 22, 23, 31, 32, 33. The first number indicates the type of rooms (2 for domestic and 3 for commercial). Whereas the second degree of traffic intensity: 1 means low, 2 medium, 3 high.

    Which wooden floor to choose?

    Preferably one that looks beautiful and is durable and practical at the same time. Vinyl floors are available in many colorings. The most popular are types of domestic wood, such as oak, pine, beech and ash.

    In the case of vinyl flooring, the color of the wood does not determine the durability of the floor. Regardless of the color, these products are durable, resistant to moisture and scratching.

    Not every board is the same

    Parquet is always elegant, stylish and timeless. Parquet is a wooden floor made of oak, walnut or beech wood, arranged in a herringbone pattern, bricks or squares. Such patterns reigned in the past in manors and palaces.

    Later, it was also popular in old tenement houses.

    Durable solid boards - check the Amaron Superiore collection

    The solid board is made entirely of one piece of precious wood, e.g. oak, ash or exotic species. For this reason, it is often considered more noble. The uniform structure makes the board more sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, e.g. seasonal.
    The beauty of solid boards can also be found in vinyl floor products. There are panels from the Superiore collection, which with their size refer to huge layered boards. They are so close to nature visually that many people have a problem with separating them from real wood.

    Layered floor - a popular solution from the market

    The popular "board" is made up of two or three layers. Only the top layer is made of noble wood species, the other bottom layers are made of cheaper native species.

    This solution makes the boards not only cheaper, but also better respond to changes in temperature and humidity. It is also worth adding that the board is factory-oiled or varnished.

    Floorboards of a new era - Amaron collection from Arbiton

    Beautiful and durable, this is how you can describe floorboards and wooden floors made of them in a nutshell. Natural floor boards are a great setting for any home or apartment. It is best to choose noble types of wood, such as oak, ash or American walnut.

    An excellent alternative for them is vinyl click panels with a HD Mineral Core. Their structure perfectly reflects the beauty of natural wood and at the same time they have several advantages that wood cannot boast of. Vinyl panels are completely waterproof, which makes them suitable not only in such a place as a living room or guest room, but even in a kitchen or bathroom. In addition, it is a type of product that is perfect for underfloor heating.

    Floors made of various types of wood (e.g. oak or classic fir), unfortunately, are less recommended for underfloor heating. It has to do with the coefficient of thermal resistance. Vinyl click panels or ceramic tiles will work much better on underfloor heating. Lack of water resistance is the second serious disadvantage of the board. Therefore, a floorboard, despite its many advantages, also has disadvantages.
     

    Installation and wooden floor

    The layered board is easy to install. It is usually factory oiled. Installation services are performed by specialized teams, but if we are skilled DIY enthusiasts, laying boards should not be a problem for us. Installation services in the case of products such as parquet or boards are much more popular thread in the case of panels. The installation is difficult, and its quality determines the comfort of using the floor. A natural plank floor is much more difficult to lay than a vinyl floor. The high quality of vinyl locks makes the assembly easy and everyone can handle it.

    Wooden floors - a bit of plank history

    The history of solid boards and solid wood flooring is a long one. Wooden floors have been present in our homes for several hundred years. Parquet floors gained the greatest popularity in the 19th century, when the first industrial factories producing floorboards were established.

    Since then, only the dimensions of wooden floors have changed. However, it is natural wood floors that are considered to be one of the best surfaces for living quarters. Oak floors were the most popular in Europe. The ones made of exotic wood appeared in showrooms later.

    And today, this product is gradually being replaced by practical vinyl panels, which look like wood and with their usability - stoneware. It is the perfect balance between design and practicality.

    Wooden floor - why is it not worth it?

    The list of advantages of wooden floors is quite long. Good thermal insulation and soundproofing properties are one of the basic advantages of the boards. A wooden floor creates a pleasant atmosphere and warms the room. If we choose thicker floorboards, they will also soundproof them. But we must not forget that no species of wood can guarantee us water resistance. Even a hard species of wood will be susceptible to damage to our guests' heels. Finally, the topic of underfloor heating - a solid plank floor can hardly be called suitable for this type of heating.

    Floor heating and wooden floor

    But this solution will not work if we have underfloor heating. Many people say that floor boards are suitable for underfloor heating. This means nothing less than the information that the floor will not be harmed by this type of heating. It does not mean, however, that wooden boards will be an effective system. Mineral core floors are up to five times better than wooden planks! This means that their thermal resistance parameter is correspondingly lower.

    However, you need to be careful about dents and accidental damage, as compared to other types of flooring, wood can be susceptible to scratching. Wooden floors can withstand heavy loads.

    The floorboards are universal and are perfect for most rooms. A properly laid floor will serve us for many years. A thicker floorboard will give us the possibility of more frequent sanding during renovation. This is a major advantage over panels that can be replaced when damaged.

    The floor board, regardless of whether we choose a solid or layered board, will surely be a beautiful background for our arrangements. However, it is worth considering other benefits resulting mainly in the comfort of use. If this is a case, choose the Arbiton brand that offer vinyl click floors with a HD Mineral Core that will delight with their natural beauty and innovative technology.

    Boards and parquet floors are available in specialized stores and DIY stores throughout Poland. We can check the prices in the web browser. Regardless of whether we choose solid boards or, for example, laminates or vinyl click floors, we should choose good, recognized manufacturers.

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