Article Number : 4907 |
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| Date | 9/30/2009 8:46:23 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=4907 |
| Abstract | There are two types of hardwood floors: solid and engineered. Both are comprised of 100% real wood. Both are offered with a factory finish or can be finished on the job site. And both can be refinished. But that’s where... |
| Article | There are two types of hardwood floors: solid and engineered. Both are comprised of 100% real wood. Both are offered with a factory finish or can be finished on the job site. And both can be refinished. But that’s where their similarities end. Solid wood When a manufacturer talks about a solid floor, they are referring to a 3/4-inch thick piece of solid wood. Although solid floors are available with a factory finish, they can also be finished on the job site. They can be installed on or above grade, but not on a slab. The wood is generally nailed to a plywood subfloor. One thing to keep in mind: Solid floors may not perform well in areas of high humidity or areas with large temperature changes. Because solid flooring is a 3/4-inch- thick section of a tree, it responds to water and moisture like a tree. If the air is hot and humid, the floor will soak up that moisture, causing it to swell. When the air dries out, the floor will shrink, leaving gaps in between the boards. The wider the boards the bigger the gaps and the more likely it will “cup,” so most solid wood floors are either 21/4 inches wide or 31/4 inches wide. For this reason, solid flooring is most common in areas with low humidity such as the Northeast and Midwest. One reason why people like solid hardwood floors is because they are traditional and can be sanded many times. If they are finished on the job site, they are relatively easy to sand and refinish. And it is possible to achieve a “true square edge” profile with a “sand and finish” floor. On the downside, if a solid wood floor is finished on site, it can be difficult to show your customer a “true color” sample. In addition, installation can take a long time as each layer of finish must dry before the next coat is applied. Engineered wood The PT boats that were used in World War II were actually constructed out of several layers of wood, with each layer’s graining facing in the opposite direction of the layer above or below it. It was this concept that gave birth to engineered flooring. To better understand this concept of “cross plied” wood, let’s look at the basics. A tree uses its roots to take water from the ground and deliver it to the leaves using straw-like cells to move the water up the trunk. These cells get plumper when they are full of water and shrink when they are dry. Just as these cells change with moisture in a tree, they will also change with moisture within a floor. By stacking veneers with these cells facing in opposing directions, no one layer can grow or shrink too much in any direction. Because engineered floors can handle a certain amount of moisture from the subfloor, they can be installed anywhere in the house; on, above or below grade, on concrete or plywood subfloors with glue, nails or even by floating. Most engineered floors are finished at the factory, so they generally have aluminum oxide in the finish. Aluminum oxide is the hardest manmade crystal in the world and therefore adds years to the finish warranty. As for sanding and refinishing, an engineered floor can be sanded about twice depending on the thickness of the wearlayer. The aluminum oxide, however, makes it very difficult to actually sand the finish off. |