Wood is a versatile material used in capital construction, the manufacture of decorative coatings and the production of furniture. There are various forms of wood, differing in structure and method of obtaining. The most durable and aesthetic material, which was used long before the advent of glued and pressed wood masses, are the sawn products of a solid tree trunk.

By longitudinal unraveling of the log into long component parts having at least one flat side (face). Most lumber has two flat edges that are parallel to each other.

Two methods of sawing logs are used - radial and tangential. With a radial approach, the cutting directions are oriented towards the center of the growth rings. The resulting boards or beams have different sizes, and their width is limited by the diameter of the tree to be blossomed.

Tangential sawing is designed to obtain long boards and is directed tangentially to the growth rings. Thus, a large number of fragments with the same size and sectional shape are obtained.

Further processing and giving the appearance depends on. The more work will be carried out to improve the surface and protect it from external influences, the higher the cost of the final product will be.

It is very important to choose high-quality lumber, which you should not buy, you can see on the video:

What are

There are several approaches to the classification of lumber. Allocate directions according to the method of obtaining (preparation), the degree of processing and purpose.

By way of preparation

This approach takes into account the final moisture content of the material. The most common concept is absolute humidity, which is the ratio of the mass of moisture to the mass of dry wood (per unit volume).

According to the magnitude of the absolute water content, there are:

• dry lumber(air-dry or natural humidity) - contain no more than 20% water and are widely used in construction and construction of structures. Obtaining the air-dry state of the tree is preceded by its long stay in the air;
• kiln-dried wood- obtained by drying in a closed box at elevated temperature. The moisture content of the material can be 10-14% or less, depending on the requirements of the consumer. Absolutely dry wood must be treated with protective compounds to prevent moisture absorption.

When stored for a long time in a humid environment, the wood becomes wet (contains 100% or more moisture). Boards made from freshly cut wood have a moisture content of about 50-100%.

By appointment

The following types of lumber are distinguished by size and shape, as well as mechanical properties:

• beam- characterized by a thickness and width of more than 100 mm, is the main load-bearing element of many building structures and is used in the assembly of the base;
• boards– have a thickness of less than 100 mm and their width is more than twice the thickness. Along with beams, boards are the most common lumber and are widely used for industrial, domestic and other purposes. Boards are made by longitudinal sawing of logs and beams;
• bar- It is made of boards, which is the reason for its small size. The thickness of the bar should be no more than 100 mm, and the width should be less than twice the thickness;
• sleepers- short bars used for railway purposes as supports for rails. The sleepers are usually treated with a strong mixture of petroleum or coke-chemical antiseptic, which is highly toxic. The use of impregnated sleepers in everyday life is highly discouraged;
• lagging- is an "unfinished" version of the board, in which only one face is flat. The width of both fields can vary along its length, due to which the longitudinal cut along the sawn plate has a pronounced irregular shape;
• croaker- refers to an intermediate variant between the board and the floor, which has one even surface. The raw surface on the opposite side has a regular cylindrical shape (truncated), therefore, in a longitudinal section, the slab is a rectangle.

Photo of various types of lumber

Beam Boards Bar Sleepers Obapol Slab

According to the degree of processing

The simplest version of lumber has two parallel faces and two raw wane (side faces) of a semicircular shape (external roundness of the tree). Two layers are often not enough to implement a number of construction and design tasks. Wane processing increases the aesthetics of wood and increases its cost.

According to the degree of processing, the following types of lumber are distinguished:

• unedged- have untreated wane, freed from bark and coarse knots;
• edged– wane sawn parallel to each other, giving the transverse profile a rectangular shape;
• planed– the surface of at least one of the faces (plast or wane) is planed to reduce roughness. Such boards or beams are used to create floor and wall surfaces, seats and other outdoor structures.

What trees are lumber made from?

For the production of lumber, coniferous and deciduous wood, including their valuable varieties, is used.

The most common species, the trunks of which are used to obtain boards and beams, are:

• larch– resistant to water and practically not damaged by insects and fungi. Even without the additional processing that is required for most other woods, hardwood is resistant to rot and is widely used in wet areas;
• beech- used in the manufacture of furniture, stairs and wooden floors. Due to its high wear resistance, seating for benches in public places is often made from beech lumber;
• pine– differs in the high environmental friendliness supported by the pitches which are its part. Pine wood is less durable than hardwood and is more prone to catching fire and emitting acrid tar smoke. They try not to make benches from pine lumber, so as not to spoil clothes with protruding resins;
• oak- is one of the most popular trees for the construction of houses and structures, has high strength and beautiful texture. Oak products swell slightly with increasing humidity, but are less common due to their high cost;
• ash– has mechanical properties close to oak. The shades of its wood are not always attractive, which is caused by a violation of the integrity of the cellulose fibers as a result of diseases. A high bending tendency and impact resistance are among the main advantages of ash;
• cedar- it is used much less often than other pine species due to its high cost, however, it is distinguished by aesthetics, resistance to decay and the ability to disinfect the air of the room in which it is located. In terms of mechanical properties, cedar is close to pine and has a more pronounced and rich texture;
• deadwood- used to obtain the least quality material from naturally dried wood. Dead wood lumber is usually broken down into small bars and used as ancillary material;
• Linden- has become widespread in the manufacture of quiet and warm floors, as well as walls of warehouse and industrial utility rooms (not damaged by rodents). The relative softness of linden lumber simplifies its processing when assembling composite structures;
• aspen- Most often, aspen lumber is used for the construction of baths and saunas. Low performance reduces the value of solid aspen, a significant part of which is sent to the production of plywood or chipboard;
• Birch- It is used to obtain light and durable lumber. Birch wood is almost free of resin, and its sawn timber has found the greatest use in furniture production due to its beautiful texture and ease of processing.

The video will tell about the varieties of larch lumber:

Let's evaluate lumber, comparing them with stronger and more durable stone materials for construction:

• price - 5. A wide range of wood allows you to choose lumber for any financial opportunity. In addition to expensive wood species, there are their cheaper counterparts. They are inferior in terms of texture, but not performance;
• practicality - 4. Wood is easier to damage than stone building material, so wooden coatings require care and additional processing;
• appearance - 5. The wood surface is considered the most aesthetic. Even artificial surfaces are often disguised as wood to give the room more flavor;
• ease of manufacture - 3. Although the tree is not very difficult to process, its finishing is quite difficult;
• laboriousness when using - 4. It is better to work with wood in pairs to hold structural elements when marking, trimming or fixing;
• environmental friendliness - 5. Wood is one of the most environmentally friendly materials. To increase the safety and durability of wood, treatment with special antiseptic compounds is used.

Based on the name of the type of edged board, you can clearly understand that the board is used for the floor, which is why it must be environmentally friendly.
The floorboard is fastened, as well as the lining with the help of combs, which allows one to fit snugly against the other. The main advantages of the floorboard are: long-term operation, good strength and elasticity, as well as this flooring has excellent heat and sound insulation.

Beech plank

In itself, such a tree species as beech is a valuable tree species, in which there is a fine texture, as well as light natural tones predominate in the color scheme of this tree. It should also be noted that beech lends itself perfectly to painting in any desired color.
Tables and chairs are often made from beech boards. And also due to its flexible properties, this type of board is suitable for creating wooden figures for interior decoration.

Oak board

At all times and centuries, the oak is considered the king of all trees. Oak is the most favorite material for all carpenters and woodworkers. Oak boards are used for the production of elite and most durable furniture, as well as this type of boards is used when laying flooring or when covering the roof.
Oak boards are distinguished by their magnificent appearance and appearance and the highest aesthetic qualities.

In the woodworking industry, there are scrupulously drawn up instructions according to which types of lumber are sorted. The complexity of this system is that the gradation is carried out according to:

• type of wood;
• processing method;
• Dimensions and geometric parameters of finished products.

That is, for the complete identification of lumber, it is required to bind it to all three criteria. And the lumber itself is a product of the woodworking industry that meets certain parameters and in which there are at least two flat parallel surfaces.

There are two types of commercial wood:

• Deciduous;
• Coniferous.

It is customary to consider hardwoods to be hard, and conifers to be soft. But in fact, linden, aspen or alder, although deciduous trees, have soft wood. But larch, yew or cedar, on the contrary, are extremely hard.

To a greater extent, they differ in the presence of resinous substances in the wood thickness. It is for this reason that coniferous wood boards are not used in rooms where a microclimate is created that favors the release of resin to the surface.

The steam room and showers are not finished with softwood just because of this.

But here there is an exception - yew. Although yew boards are not so often represented on the building materials markets, its wood is not considered valuable.

Special category

It is impossible to find products from it in wide use. Sometimes it is used as an inlay, or veneer is made from it to decorate pieces of furniture.

Such wood almost always has a unique combination of different properties that make it original and truly valuable.

saw cut tree

For example, rosewood, which grows only in Brazil and Paraguay, exudes the aroma of roses for several decades. In addition, she has a beautiful textured pattern and yellow-pink color. But the price of a 6-meter board 3 cm thick and 9 cm wide exceeds $2,000.

Drawing and texture

These parameters show the ontological qualities of wood. The ability of the fibers to intertwine or follow strict parallel courses, to be curly or oblique, is present to one degree or another in every tree species. But they are combined in an extremely narrow profile combination, which helps to accurately determine the type of wood.

Moreover, the place where the tree grows and the concentration of certain elements in the soil has a special effect on the texture of wood. In particular, the presence of iron-containing minerals in the soil increases the cross-layering of some tree species.

Greater importance is attached to the pattern and texture of wood if these types of lumber are intended for finishing work.

But in this case, some wood defects, which exclude it from the category of structural materials, increase the value of the product from such a blank. For example, pilosity sharply reduces the strength characteristics of lumber, but with skillful processing and sawing, it is possible to manufacture finishing boards with an exclusive pattern. For this property, birch and elm are valued.

The color palette also characterizes the type of wood, but in some cases it may change during processing or operation. At the same time, these changes may indicate the onset of destruction, for example, rotting. But changes in the shade of wood may be due to a change in the physicochemical parameters of lignin and oily or resinous fractions, which sometimes, on the contrary, increases the performance of the product. For example, larch heartwood has a resin with a unique quality composition. Upon contact with water, this resin polymerizes and the larch wood material can no longer be damaged or processed. It is easier to grind it with a file.

Strength characteristics

These parameters also have a lot of gradations that are rarely known to the average consumer. For example, strength is measured by the following criteria:

• For compression;
• For bend:

1. Static;
2. Dynamic;
3. Tangential;
4. Longitudinal.

• Tensile;
• For break:

1. Along the fibers
2. across the fibers;

• For twisting;
• On a chip;

Plus, the hardness of the wood is also measured.

In household practice, boards made of oak, hornbeam, larch, beech are considered durable lumber. But they, with the exception of larch, are almost always used in interior decoration or carpentry.

As a structural material, lumber from coniferous trees is almost always used.

Soft wood from linden, poplar, aspen. It weakly resists the damaging effects of atmospheric factors, being outdoors, therefore, these types of lumber are used in interior decoration and artistic creativity.

Processing methods

Gradation, although complex, is more systematized.

lumber elements

Depending on the surface treatment, lumber can be:

• Trimmed;
• Uncut;
• edged;
• unedged;
• One-sided cropped;
• planed;

At the same time, depending on the grade, some flaws are allowed in the finished product, for example, wane.

According to the orientation of the lumber in the workpiece, there are two main options:

• Radial;
• Tangential.

The remaining options, to one degree or another, rely on these two.

Log cutting options

The difference in output when sawing a log in different ways does not differ much, and significantly affects the output of the beam. To a much greater extent, this affects the manifestation of certain characteristics of the boards.

Scheme of the dependence of the yield of finished products on the type of sawing logs

In particular, it is possible to achieve a more pronounced manifestation of the pattern, or an increase in the strength characteristics for a longitudinal fracture of the beam.

Classification by size and shape

In this gradation, the sequence is quite simple:

But when sawing logs, by-products are also formed, such as slab and obapol.

Although they are similar, there is a difference between them. If the slope of the log was above the norm, then at the first cut, both fields are removed. This is such a woodworking product that has only one face.

Sawing pattern

Next cut if slab. With this product, one of the layers will have only partial processing.

Further cuts give, depending on the thickness and width, the following types of lumber: timber, bar or boards. According to the depth of processing, they can be edged or unedged.

There is another type of lumber that is included in this classification, but is aloof, these are sleepers.

The scope of their intended use is very limited, and their dimensions and strength characteristics are regulated by the internal documents of Russian Railways.

Other building materials made of wood, such as: lath, plank, bead, etc., are already made from lumber.

Scope of application

The area of ​​use of lumber is limited to two areas:

1. Industrial and construction direction;
2. Furniture and finishing direction.

But these two categories include almost all human activities. At the same time, in the production of furniture and decorative finishing, a much deeper processing of lumber is carried out.

In addition to planing and grinding, can be used:

• Thread;
• pickling;
• fringing boards;
• Coloring;
• Lacquering, etc.

Separately, I would like to mention the work on giving plasticity to lumber. This is necessary for the formation of products of unusual shapes.

With the right selection of lumber, even such fantastic designs can be made.

These technologies are very time-consuming and require good technological equipment. In principle, this is reminiscent of heating in a huge microwave oven operating in a special mode.

What attracts in this technology is the ability to re-process lumber using this technique - if you don’t like the shape, then you can change it.

Wood is the oldest building material. Even after the appearance of a large number of modern building products, wood continues to maintain its position in the market. Such popularity is due to the environmental friendliness and practicality of products. The most common type of lumber is boards. They are used almost everywhere for basic and auxiliary work, for fine and rough finishing, for load-bearing structures and battens.

In this article, we will look at the main questions that arise when choosing boards.

Technological subtleties and main types of boards

Board is defined by GOSTs as lumber, the thickness of which does not exceed 100 mm, and the width cannot exceed double the thickness. It turns out a board as a result of the procedure for sawing timber. There are two main ways to cut a log: tangential or radial. With a tangential cut, it goes at a right angle, and with a radial cut, it goes to the center. In the first case, a beam is obtained from the central part. Depending on their location inside the log, the boards are divided into core, central and side.

The core of a log varies in color and density, and it can crumble when it dries, so core lumber is not usually classified as first-class or selected. Products from the side parts may have a wane (within acceptable limits), also due to the proximity of the bark, these places of the tree are often subject to the penetration of wood borers. The highest quality building materials are obtained from the central boards.

The sawn plane of the board with the largest area is called the plane, the surfaces perpendicular to the planes are called the edges.

Also, the boards differ depending on the method of processing into unedged, edged, planed and profiled, as separate varieties, slab and obapol can be distinguished.

• Unedged- material, the edges of which are not sawn or sawn partially. The amount of wane (lateral rounding of the log with bark residue) exceeds the allowable area for edged material. Boards with one sawn edge are called one-sided edged. Filing the edges allows you to get an edged board from an unedged board.

Unedged board with bark on the edges

• - the most common type of boards, they have a rectangular section, both edges and both faces are sawn off. Wane may be present on some products if its quantity does not exceed the norms established by GOSTs. The edges, however, do not always have ideal parallel surfaces and sometimes need to be reworked.

• - this is a board that is obtained from the side of the log. Obapol can be plank and slab, both varieties have one sawn face, the second face of the plank is sawn completely or more than half, the slab is either not sawn, or less than half of the wane is cut down. This type of board is used for rough work or for the construction of temporary structures.

Using obapol will require a lot of additional work

• has one sawn face, the second is not sawn or less than half the length is sawn.

The slab is used only for auxiliary work

• Planed- edged boards, which additionally undergo a planing procedure. With this treatment, the top layer of wood is removed, as a result, the surface becomes even and smooth. Such a board is used for finishing work or for the construction of structural elements that are in plain sight.

The degree of planing can be coarse or fine. With rough planing, the surface of the board is only leveled. Thin - relieves the surface of roughness, making it smooth.

• - boards made according to specially specified dimensions, having a certain section depending on the purpose. Some of these products are molded. The edges go through a tongue-and-groove process, when a tongue and groove are cut into them for better joining. The board usually has a face and a back face. On the back, special grooves are made to relieve mechanical stress from the structure. Profiled products include various types of skins (,).

The floorboards are connected to each other using a tongue-and-groove system.

How much water should be in the board

The issue of humidity is one of the key when choosing a board. Disputes on this topic have not subsided so far. The determining factor is the scope of the board. It is one thing to build a gazebo and quite another to build a residential structure that should not be blown by all the winds, for this reason it is important to avoid the appearance of cracks, especially in places where window and door frames are placed. Why can gaps appear in the house if during construction all the elements were adjusted strictly according to the level? The reason lies in shrinkage, wood is a “living” material, so changes in geometry can occur even in the finished structure.

Changes occur as a result of shrinkage of the material. The higher the moisture content of the wood material, the more unpredictable shrinkage occurs. The tree trunk is permeated with conductive channels through which nutrients dissolved in water are transported to the leaves and branches. If the board is made of timber and immediately goes on sale, then the moisture content of such a product will be natural. If the lumber has passed the drying procedure at the enterprise, then the boards are called dry.

• Products- usually such boards have a moisture level above 22%, therefore, according to GOST, they are considered raw. The use of boards of natural humidity in construction involves a certain risk, since shrinkage can occur quite unpredictably. In this case, lumber obtained from logs harvested in the winter is more often chosen.

In winter, the flow of juices in the trunks stops, so the moisture content of the wood is noticeably reduced. Winter lumber of natural moisture contains less water.

Boards of natural moisture are usually stored outdoors, so you have to dry them on your own. Whether to use lumber of natural moisture in the construction of buildings, the question to which everyone gives an answer. If the construction takes place for a long time, some of the products will have time to dry. A house made of raw material must be allowed to dry before roofing.

Another important point worth paying attention to is the purchase of “live” trees (“green forest”) or dead wood. As it is not difficult to guess, the “green forest” is obtained as a result of sawing “living” trees, the dead forest became a victim of pests and died, so it was put into lumber. Although the humidity of products made from non-living trees is lower, the quality of such boards often leaves much to be desired: they are infected with barbel beetle larvae and woodworms, dark rot is often found on them.

Dead wood has a more gray tint, and the weight of products from such a forest is noticeably lower.

• a board is considered, the humidity level of which does not exceed 22%. Drying is natural and chamber. Natural drying is carried out not only at enterprises, but also directly at construction sites. For this purpose, the boards are stacked in piles, with the help of bars between the rows, air gaps are made for air circulation. From above the stack is closed from precipitation. Chamber drying is carried out in a closed space where the wood is heated. This procedure requires specialized equipment and high energy costs, so the final product is more expensive, while the moisture level is reduced to 10 - 12%. The use of chamber drying boards in the construction of frames in the open does not always justify itself, as the tree begins to absorb moisture from the air.

wood species

All tree species from which boards are made are divided into deciduous and coniferous.

• conifers contain resins that have an antiseptic effect, they prevent the spread of rot. Due to this property, conifers are more often used in conditions where the wood is constantly exposed to moisture. Pine is considered the most accessible breed. It is durable and tolerates moisture well. Spruce boards are also used, they are less durable, but at the same time they tolerate the effects of water well. Compared to pine, cedar is highly resistant to decay and durable, but it is less common (Siberian cedar is the most common in Russia). Larch surpasses most conifers in density and at the same time is highly resistant to the development of fungal diseases.
• hardwood they tolerate moisture worse, so they are most often used for interior finishing work or in places where water exposure is minimal (rafters under the roof). In terms of strength characteristics, varieties such as oak, hornbeam, ash, beech and birch are superior to most conifers. Hardwoods are often chosen for their beautiful texture.

We select a variety

Softwood boards are divided into five grades, hardwood products come in only three grades. The number of defects on the material depends on the variety. Even with first-class products, part of the batch must be carefully examined. Microcracks are of particular danger, they have a short length, due to which the products are classified as 1-3 grades. However, when drying, the crack can go deep and break the structure of the wood. Particular attention should be paid to the presence of rot and mold on the surface of the wood.

• selected- boards of this grade are only hardwood, some minor defects are strictly standardized, and critical flaws such as mold, rot and end cracks are not allowed.
• First grade- differs in requirements for deciduous and coniferous species. Germination, browning, blueness is normalized or not allowed. Cracks may be present, but their length should not exceed the allowable limits.
• Second grade- various small defects are allowed, most of them are normalized.
• Third grade- fungal infections and various stains may be present on hardwood boards. Some of the defects are not standardized.
• fourth grade occurs only in coniferous products. Most defects are not standardized, so the batch must be carefully inspected before purchase.

Applications

The board is used in construction almost everywhere.

• frame houses- frame construction has recently become widespread. The main advantages are the simplicity and speed of construction of such houses. And you can’t do without a board when building frame racks. In this area, almost any type of boards is used (planed, edged, dry and raw). It all depends on the financial capabilities of the owner and the timing of construction. If there is a lot of time, then the boards of natural moisture can be dried on their own. The most commonly used boards are 50 - 60 mm thick and 100 - 200 mm wide.

Building a frame house

• Floor- the design usually includes logs, rough and finish coating. Logs play the role of the main support, so they use boards with a thickness of 50 mm. Since the flooring is exposed to moisture, it is better to choose coniferous trees (spruce or pine). Without fail, products must undergo an antiseptic procedure to prevent the process of decay. The width of the boards for the log depends on the step (150 or 200 mm). For a rough coating, the appearance of the boards themselves does not matter, so simple products are suitable, but profiled ones can also be used. For these purposes, a material with a thickness of 25 - 35 mm is usually used; for floor coverings that experience high loads (floor in the gym), it is better to take thicker boards.

Overlapping of the first floor from boards

• Roof- boards are used in the design of the truss system. For the rafters and lintels themselves, boards with a section thickness of 50 mm are used. Materials should be purchased with a margin, since products must be processed to be used as rafters. Another important element of the roof is the crate on which the roof is attached. Depending on the type of roof (soft, hard), a certain crate is used: sparse or solid. The thickness of the boards for the crate should be 25 - 35 mm.

Rafter system from boards

• - for pouring the foundation or any other concrete elements, the boards can be used as formwork. Lumber is suitable for this, under the influence of moisture it can lead, but reuse for other purposes after disassembly is still possible.

Formwork for pouring a strip foundation

Other buildings- boards can be used for the production of furniture, outbuildings, baths, gazebos. For works where the texture of the material is important, it is recommended to use boards. To use edged products as seats, the board must first be planed.

Using a board to build a gazebo

Conclusion

The board is widely used for a variety of types of work. When choosing, you need to focus on financial capabilities. The most budget option is considered to be an edged board of natural moisture from pine. Drying of such material must be carried out on their own. Dry planed products are more expensive, but the surface quality of these materials is higher.

Building yard

How to choose a board

The construction market offers a huge variety of building and finishing materials. And flooring is no exception - you can choose for every taste and budget. However, one of the most popular is floor boards. After all, natural materials are always in price, and wood has excellent visual characteristics, strength and durability. Although it is not without flaws, it is important to choose the right material.

floor board

Floorboards are the main element for laying a wooden floor. Unlike a parquet board, which is glued together from separate layers, a floor board is made of solid wood and has all the advantages of wood, since no artificial materials are used in the manufacture.

Batten

Since this is a material for fine finishing, the following requirements are imposed on it:

• the tree must be well processed, the surface without knots and flaws;
• the wood must be kiln-dried - if you put damp boards on the floor, they will warp and become unusable.

To connect the elements, a tongue-and-groove design is used. A protrusion is made on one side of the wooden plank, and a groove is made on the other. During installation, the material fits tightly, and there are no gaps left. Such a lock is called tongue-and-groove, in addition to ease of installation, it does not allow cracks to form when the planks dry out. The edged board stands out separately, it is supplied without locks.

The floor board is made from different types of wood, the most popular are:

• elm;
• ash;
• maple;
• pine;
• larch.

Beech and oak floorboards are dense and heavy, so they place high demands on fasteners and base preparation. These are one of the most expensive breeds. Larch and pine are cheaper, but also softer, so they have a shorter service life. The floors are also made of alder and walnut.

Oak lamellas

Pros and cons of wood flooring

Natural wood flooring has both advantages and disadvantages. And the main advantage is 100% natural origin.

• ecological cleanliness;
• excellent appearance;
• variety of wood textures;
• durability and strength;
• good additional noise and heat insulation;
• material can be restored.

• wood is afraid of moisture;
• the material is flammable;
• installation of floors is laborious;
• mold and fungus may appear on the wood.

The board for making the floor from the manufacturer is sold without finishing, so the material needs decorative processing. On the other hand, it can also be called a virtue. After all, as the varnish coating wears off and defects appear on the wood, the surface can be sanded and repainted, in fact, getting new floors.

Important! Wood needs mandatory treatment with moisture protective agents.

Types of boards

This material is divided into several varieties. To understand which board is suitable for the floor, you need to understand them.

• terraced;
• parquet;
• sexual.

Each of these types has its own differences and is designed for use in a specific area of ​​construction.

Terrace board

parquet board

This is a glued lamella, which is made of three layers of wood:

• lower - acts as a substrate, made of conifers;
• medium - the thickest, provides strength to the material. Made from either high density fibreboard or softwood;
• the top layer is a veneer or a solid sheet of valuable wood. Can be made from oak, beech, ash, alder or other types of wood.

The final layer is varnish. It is applied in several layers, a special moisture-proof impregnation is required.

The thickness of the parquet board is from 7 to 25 mm. The thinnest material is rarely used, because it quickly fails, and the small thickness of the top layer of veneer does not allow scraping and restoring the coating.

The most popular material - 15-20 mm thick - for private premises it has the best value for money. A parquet board with a thickness of 25 mm is used for public spaces, in which there are increased requirements for the strength of the material.

Parquet

Terrace board

This is the same floor, only intended for use outdoors and in places with high humidity. Its main difference from other types is a wavy front surface. This makes it not so slippery, so flooring near pools is often arranged with this material.

However, due to the ribbed front part, this coating is quite difficult to process, so when buying, you should pay attention to the quality of the wood. Make sure that the lamellas are equipped with ventilation ducts, which are located along the bottom. The thickness of the deck board for the floor can be very different, but the most popular is 35 mm.

Sexual

This type of material is made of solid natural wood with a smooth front surface. The floorboard, as already mentioned, is divided into types:

• grooved - equipped with special locks that facilitate installation;
• edged - ordinary planed wood.

For a fine finish, it is better to choose grooved material. It's easier to work with and doesn't shrink as much. However, the edged board is cheaper, and it is suitable in those rooms where there are no increased requirements for the tightness of the boards. It is used in baths - such a coating will ensure the free passage of water between the planks. Edged material is used for subflooring.

The floorboard has different sizes, the most popular thickness is 25 mm. When choosing, it is worth paying attention to the quality of the surface, the degree of humidity and the breed. The service life of the coating directly depends on this.

trim strips

Board sizes

This material is available in different sizes. The choice is made based on the following criteria:

• dimensions of the room - a wide floor board is suitable for a large room, its massiveness will come in handy;
• area of ​​​​use - residential or utility room;
• planned loads.

When choosing, the role and purpose of using the material plays a role. For rough coatings, a 20 mm floorboard is suitable. Moreover, low quality material is used for these purposes.

Thickness

This is one of the main parameters of the material. The thickness is selected based on the expected loads and the design of the lag. The greater their step, the thicker the board is taken.

When laying on beams:

• at a step of 60 cm, a 35 mm floorboard is laid;
• with a step of 30 cm, a thickness of 25 mm is needed;
• with a step of 100 cm - 50 mm.

Important! A thin edged floorboard is cheaper than a thick one, but you will have to lay logs under it more often.

However, the terms of use also need to be taken into account. If heavy loads are expected on the floor, then it is better to choose a thickness with a margin. Therefore, for residential premises, the most popular is a floorboard of 45 and 35 mm. If a rough base is being made, the best option would be to use 25 mm of material.

Board width

The width of the slats is selected based on the geometry and dimensions of the room. The most popular sizes are from 80 to 140 mm. However, there are others, they are just used less often.

The wider the material, the more difficult it is to lay. Such boards are more demanding on the preparation of the base. On the other hand, installation is faster.

However, planks that are too wide are susceptible to deformation from fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Therefore, it is recommended to choose a material with a width of 100-120 mm. The length is also varied - from 3 to 6 meters. When choosing, again, the dimensions of the room and the ability to reduce waste are taken into account.

Wide slat floor

Choice of boards

When deciding which board is better to use for the floor, you must first determine the requirements for the coating and the conditions for its operation. There is also a financial question - not everyone wants to spend money on an oak or beech floor.

For the right choice, consider the following rules:

• For open spaces (verandas or gazebos), the right choice is a terraced lamella. And the best species are oak, ash and larch. They are resistant to temperature extremes and high humidity, so they are suitable for the street. The special corrugated surface prevents the accumulation of water on the floor surface.
• if the material is selected for use in residential premises, it is better to take grooved boards. Breeds are suitable for any, but preference should be given to valuable species. Oak or alder floors look rich, they are durable and strong. On the other hand, softwoods are cheaper, and a variety of finishing materials allows you to make high-quality decorative finishes;
• If a rough wooden floor is made, then the cheapest material is bought - an unedged coniferous board;
• When the material is selected for the bath, do not use pine and other conifers. At high temperatures, such lamellas emit resin, and they are also susceptible to moisture. Therefore, the best choice is larch.

So, what boards are needed for building a floor are determined by the conditions of use.

Tongue-and-groove lamellas

What to look for when buying

When buying wood, there is a risk of running into low-quality material. Therefore, you need to know how to choose the right floorboard, especially since there are not so many criteria for choosing.

What to look for when buying:

• Humidity within 15-20%. If a dry floorboard is laid on the floor, it will last a long time and will not deform. If you mount the material with a natural level of humidity - after a while, they will dry out and warp at the same time;
• The tongue-and-groove floorboard must have the correct geometry - strips of the same length and width. Another point is the plane of the panels, if they are moved, this will cause problems during installation;
• The general appearance must correspond to the material class;
• If you buy a tongue-and-groove board, make sure that the lock is easy to assemble, and its parts fit snugly together.

These simple rules will help determine the quality of products. After all, this requires only a thorough visual inspection.

Important! Any wood is afraid of moisture, so when arranging the floors, you will have to take care of waterproofing and make a ventilated subfloor.

Classes of wooden boards

Another important characteristic of the material is the classes of boards or their grade. There are four varieties in total:

• The highest grade or extra class is the highest quality material. The premium 36 mm floorboard is free of knots and has a uniform color and pattern. These planks are suitable for clearcoat finishes as they show no visible defects;
• The first grade is somewhat worse than the highest. The 28 mm floorboard of this class has small knots. In this case, uneven color is allowed. Such material is also used for finishing coatings, since wood has few defects;
• The second grade - here knots are present in large quantities. Cracks and resin inclusions are allowed. It makes sense to use such wood for painting or for flooring;
• The third grade - it is used only for rough work, an abundance of defects simply does not allow the use of such wood for finishing.

For each area of ​​construction work, the appropriate type of material is selected.

Second grade wood

wood species

Another characteristic by which the floor material is selected is the breed. After all, each has its own characteristics and the best area of ​​\u200b\u200bapplication.

Most popular breeds:

• Oak is one of the most durable species. An oak board 44 mm in strength exceeds a coniferous sixty. It is durable, strong and resistant to moisture. Wood 44 mm has a beautiful color and pattern. Oak is a valuable species, so the purchase of this material will be expensive. However, the service life compensates for such a cost;
• Conifers are the most common. They are characterized by low cost with good quality. Used at all stages of construction - from roughing to finishing;
• Alder is a soft breed, however, an interesting pattern and saturation with natural antiseptics make alder in demand for finishing baths, dining rooms and children's rooms.

In addition to these, other species are also used: linden, aspen, beech, ash. Therefore, there are plenty to choose from. When buying, it is important to focus on the scope of the material, for example, it is better not to make alder floors on the street.