Which Construction is Best?

Monday, August 01, 2011

Hardwood Flooring Construction

The question should be, “Which construction is right for me?” The fact is, they’re all good – but perhaps one could technically work, or fit, better than another in your home or office.

The success or failure of a wood floor is not so much dependent upon the thickness of the wood, or the thickness of the wear-layer, but of the quality of the product and finish – as well as the specific characteristics of the species you are choosing. Of course, there are exceptions to that statement.

Take a look at the picture above – can you tell how it’s made? Solid ¾”? Multi-ply “Engineered”? Exactly! No one can. So if the product you choose (A) looks great to you, and (B) will last as long as or longer than you need it, which is information that might require professional assistance – then it doesn’t matter what type of construction it is.

This is how most wood floors are made:

Style of Construction	Attributes
Solid: 5/16" thru 3/4" thick by random lengths and a variety of widths	Intended to be nailed to a wood subfloor Can be resanded but *only* down to the level of the tongue - 2/3 of the board is wasted Very susceptible to changes in humidity, and known to shrink and squeak during dry seasons Available pre-finished, or unfinished to sand onsite Not environmentally sensitive, i.e. uses more of the slow-growth trees Gluing some solid woods directly to the subfloor is now an approved method in some instances.
Engineered: Multiple cross-grain layers of wood veneers, usually 3/8", 1/2", or 5/8" thick by random lengths and a variety of widths	Can be glued directly to most subfloors, nailed, stapled, and in some cases also floated* Cross-grain layering is far stronger than solid wood, i.e. resists warping, shrinking, or buckling Can be sanded and refinished (see note) Most typically available pre-finished Environmentally friendly, uses about 1/2 the amount of slow-growth trees
Engineered Longstrip: Cross-grain layers as above. Short veneer-boards, called fillets, are resin-adhered to a wider (usually about 7" wide) and longer board (usually about 7' long). When each "Longstrip" board is installed in random fashion, the end result is a natural look. Below is a diagram of the "3-strip", and some manufacturers also have a "2-strip" style, where the fillets are wider.	Tongue & Groove boards are most often locked together and floated* over a special cushion (see note) Cross-grain layering is far stronger than solid wood, i.e. resists warping, shrinking, or buckling Can be sanded and refinished (see note) Most typically available pre-finished Very easy to replace Environmentally friendly, uses about 1/2 the amount of slow-growth trees

*Note - Sanding & Finishing: Because recent technology has made the urethane coatings far more abrasion resistant, the thickness of the wood surface is not as critical. There are two basic types: re-sanding and finishing, and screening and re-finishing.

Screening & Refinishing: The top coat of the existing finish (NOT the actual wood) are abraded with a fine sanding disk, and then the new coating (s) is applied.
Sand & Refinish: When the wood surface is severely damaged in a large area the finish and part of the wood top layer is sanded and new coatings are applied. You should never have to sand into your wood layer with normal traffic. If only a few boards are severely scratched or gouged, they can be replaced with new boards rather than re-sanding the entire floor.

*Note - Floating Floors: An effective installation technique where the longer & wider boards rest on a sound absorptive cushion. The boards lock with each other and are stable, but the wood flooring is not attached to the subfloor. The weight of the wood keeps it in place. Because the wood is cross-grain layered it does not warp or lift up. This product is especially effective for use over existing ceramic tile floors, or vinyl that might contain asbestos where the owner does not want to go to the extent of having an asbestos abatement contractor remove that material.

Allfloors Carpet One
"We can do it - you can relax..."

Which Construction is Best?

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