We tell about the design of the engineering board, its advantages and disadvantages and give useful tips on the choice of floor covering.
Outdoor coating of natural wood is beautiful, practical, but very expensive and capriciously in operation. Manufacturers produce finishing materials that preserve all the advantages of the array and the disadvantages leveling, such as the engineering board. We will analyze the pros and cons of the engineering board for the floor and tell how to choose high-quality material.
All about the engineering board
Features of the coatingPros and cons
Criterias of choice
- The foundation
- Dimensions
- type of veneer
- Protective covering
- Method of laying
Engineering board: Composition and design material
The engineer as it is called the masters belongs to the category of multilayer coatings. The upper layer is made of valuable wood: nut, ash, oak, etc. Its thickness - from 4 mm and more. It is covered with varnish or butter. There are models without finishing, they need to be bored and covered with varnish after installation.
The base is made of moisture-resistant birch plywood. Sheets are superimposed on each other so that the direction of the fibers alternated. In this form, they glued together. It turns out a solid foundation well resisting deformations.
Sometimes high-strength HDF-slab is used as a base. It is not sensitive to moisture and temperature drops, has a high thermal conductivity. Therefore, it can be used as a finish finish for a warm floor. The use of plywood sheets makes it possible to reduce the price of the material, while its quality does not suffer. On average, the engineer is several times cheaper than the classic parquet. For the price, it wins the parquet three-layer board, which is used as a basis cheap wood of coniferous rocks.
Pros and minuses of flooring
Engineering board has many advantages. We will analyze them in more detail.pros
- Aesthetic and attractive view by using wood of valuable breeds for the top layer of lamellae. Each bar is a unique natural pattern.
- Stable geometry lamella with changes in humidity or temperature. This allows you to lay an engineering on a warm floor or in moderately humid premises.
- High resistance to loads, ultraviolet, moisture. With proper care, the finish does not lose an attractive view of the entire service life.
- Good insulating characteristics. Massive wood keeps heat and extinguishes noise. They can "noise" the planks based on the HDF-slab. But if you correctly put them on a special substrate, there will be no extra noise.
- The possibility of self restoration. Like the floor of the array, the engineering can be grinding, removing the top layer. Considering the thickness of the veneer, such a procedure can be made four or five times in all the time of the finish service. After cycling, the floor is covered with varnish either oil. He acquires the appearance of a new one.
- Subject to proper installation and competent departure, the material will last 45-50 years, sometimes more.
Minuses
- Complex installation on glue. It requires a certain skill, so it is not always possible to put the material independently.
- High price compared to other popular linoleum or laminate veneers. At the same time it is necessary to take into account that during the adhesive method of installation to the price of the material it is necessary to add the cost of non-housing glue.
Criteria for selection of finishing material
So that the cladding served for a long time and pleased with his impeccable look, you need to know how to choose an engineering board for home. We offer a list of moments to pay attention to.1. Type of foundation
Options can be two. The classic engineering is made on a plywood basis. This is a high-strength plywood from birch, sufficiently resistant to moisture and to temperature drops. It is undesirable to lay in rooms with high humidity. The finish based on the HDF-slab practically does not have restrictions on the use. The base is made of a mixture of wood flour and inorganic resins, so it easily transfers the effects of moisture and temperature differences.
2. Sizes of lamelles
The finish simulates an array, so its length is not regulated. It is in the range from 40 cm to 2.5-3 m. And in one package, the length of the lamella can be a bit different. This emphasizes the natural origin of the facility. In addition, such strips are easier to cut when laying. The width of the boards is also different: from 7 and up to 40 cm. The choice is large, you can choose options for different types of laying.
The board is produced with a thickness of 12 to 21 mm. An important characteristic is the height of the upper layer. It is this moment that it is necessary to specify, finding out which thickness of the engineering board. The thickness of the veneer, the more time it can be bored and closed. That is, restore the initial type of coating. With a veneer thickness of 4-5 mm, four such restorations are possible. The thin decorative layer reduces the service life of the finish.
3. Breed of wood
The top layer is made of natural wood. Its characteristics affect the operational properties of the finish. Briefly describe the three most common options.- Nut. Attracts with a special caramel tinge adding the interior of heat. Wood drawing clear and bright. The material is durable and solid, in leaving unpretentious.
- Ash. It is distinguished by wide contrasting stripes of wood pattern. Wearness, durable and elastic. Special care does not require.
- Oak. Very durable, wear-resistant and solid. Structural lines are soft and smooth. Well tolerate temperature and humidity drops.
4. Variety of protective coating
Lacquer or oil is applied to the lamel. The lacquered surface is distinguished by wear resistance, does not need additional painting, processing or special care. Depending on the choice of varnish, the appearance is different. The matte compositions give a very weak shine, satin varnishes enhance this effect. Glossy mixtures give a pronounced gloss effect. The composition of the varnish is also important. The best choice is water based remedy. This is the most eco-friendly and safe option. Alto, unlike varnish, completely naturally. It penetrates the wood, but does not interfere with it to "breathe." Therefore, such a coating is considered more environmentally friendly. It is imposed on top painted or no coated veneer. Careful for the board under the oil is more difficult. It requires regular processing and special care. True, restoring it easier if necessary. It is possible to do this point. It is necessary to make the appropriate option with the conditions in which the lamellas will be operated and the possibilities for them to care for them.
5. Method of laying
The panels of two types are produced: for mounting a floating manner and gluing. In the first case, the planks are equipped with a "groove-spike" type locks. When laying, they are snapped by forming a one-piece surface. It is important to leave the perimeter of the room small compensation gaps so that the wooden surface can expand and shrink when the moisture or temperature changes.
The advantage of floating laying is considered fast and easy installation. In addition, no additional costs for glue and work masters are not needed. But it will take a special substrate under the panel. It is believed that the engineer stacked by a floating way will last less, because over time, the locks under load will be broken and started to disperse. Another minus - restored the floating floor is impossible.
The adhesive module is more complex. The planks are glued onto a smooth dried tie or on the preceded base from plywood. For high-quality laying, special primer and glue are needed. Laminers can be laid out in different ways. There are no technological features when working on large areas. The glued finish can be restored several times. True, to disassemble and put in a new place, as they do with the castle, it is already impossible.
There are other criteria. So, for example, an engineer can be brash. This is a special processing that elames the texture of the coating. On the technical characteristics of the board, it is not reflected in any way, but the appearance becomes more attractive. Some models are produced from the chamfer. It, as it were, eats each bull, emphasizes the texture of the floor. The chamfer performs not only decorative functions. It levels the expansion of the lamella during fluctuations in temperature and humidity.
