Wooden floors in the apartment: to do or not to do + choose the best option
From the point of view of the microclimate in the apartment, wooden floors are ahead of any other coating. Natural materials always look more attractive. Wooden floors in the apartment are always relevant and are a sign of good taste. The environmental friendliness of this material allows you to use it in the design of any room, even a children's room.
What is good wood floor?
Advantages of wooden floors:
- Undoubtedly, wood is the most environmentally friendly material for flooring currently existing. Due to its hypoallergenic and antistatic properties, it can be laid even in bedrooms and children's rooms;
- Wood is a universal material. The wood flooring will organically fit into both the classic design and the Empire style;
- Being an excellent heat insulator, wood creates a comfortable atmosphere in the room. It’s nice to walk barefoot on such a surface.
Disadvantages of wooden floors:
- Due to humidity in the room, the tree “swells” in the summer, and on the contrary, “swells” in winter. This leads to deformation of the floor covering;
- The tree is subject to damage by insects;
- Excessive humidity in the apartment leads to rotting of wooden boards.
Do not be afraid of such problems. They can be combated by treating wood from pests and negative factors.
Comparison of the 4 most popular options for a wooden floor
The material used for wooden floors is quite diverse. Different price categories and processing methods allow you to choose the best option.
Solid floor
Solid wood boards are used for solid wood floors. At the end of the product, you can see strips of annual rings. Boards 25-57 mm thick are called strips, thicker than 57 mm - batten.
Note! Sometimes the edges of the boards are left as is - flat. This gives the flooring a “rustic” look.
The hardest types of wood for the manufacture of massive boards are white oak, North American maple, pecans, and geeks. Red oak, white ash, black walnut and beech are slightly inferior to them in softness. Mahogany and cherry will be a bit softer. These wood species are also suitable for chic, durable floors. What can not be said about the pine. Its wood is softer and wears out quickly.
Glued wood floor
Boards for such floors have several layers. Usually use from three to five layers. Boards are glued together at high pressure and high temperatures. In this case, the fibers of two adjacent boards are perpendicular to each other. This gives greater stability to the boards when changing the temperature-humidity balance in the apartment. Such properties allow the glued board to be laid in places with high humidity and on top of concrete.
Parquet floor
Parquet also has a multilayer structure. The upper and lower layers of parquet are made from solid boards. And the middle of the small planks stacked across the first two. In the manufacturing process, parquet boards are coated with a protective layer. This shortens the installation process of the floor covering.
Laminate
The top layer of the laminate may look like a wooden board. But this is only an image of wood applied to the top layer.Typically, a laminate has four layers: the lower one is stabilizing, the middle one is water-resistant from fiberboard, the decorative one and the upper one is water-repellent from melamine plastic.
Having a small thickness, the laminate can be laid in apartments with a low ceiling, directly on a concrete base. Its upper layer withstands the onslaught of the heels and claws of animals. Therefore, the laminate can be laid in the hallway. A damaged board cannot be restored. But it can be easily replaced.
We make a choice depending on the room
Each room in the apartment has its own purpose and is used differently. Depending on the purpose, you can choose one or another wooden coating.
Kitchen room
In the kitchen, floors are exposed to moisture, a high degree of abrasion. The massive board and parquet will quickly become worthless. For a wooden floor in the kitchen it is better to use a laminate. He is more seasoned. When cracks and defects appear, a special putty must be used. And once every three years to update the protective coating.
Hallway
In the hallway a high degree of patency. Therefore, it is better to use a laminate above the 32nd class as a wooden coating.
Living rooms
In living quarters, wooden floors are the most ideal flooring. Here, if funds allow, you can lay a coating of a solid array. Parquet or laminate flooring will also come in handy.
The nuances of installing and caring for a wooden coating
Here's what you need to take note of when installing it yourself:
- The best period for arranging a wooden floor is considered the end of the heating season. This allows the boards to dry better before laying;
- The installation process must be carried out at a room temperature of at least 8 ° C and humidity not exceeding 60 ° C;
- The thickness of the boards is selected according to the size of the room. The larger the area, the wider the boards can be used;
- If after the first year of operation of the board dry out, it is necessary to unite the floors;
In the past, when the only way to care for wooden floors was to wax them. Now the industry produces various drugs that can help preserve the beauty of the wooden coating for a long time. To delay the repair time of wooden floors, several rules must be observed:
- To prevent abrasive particles from falling onto a wooden surface, it is necessary to lay a rug at the entrance to the apartment;
- When using a vacuum cleaner, you can not use the nozzle without bristles - it can scratch the coating;
- It is advisable to remove liquids and other contaminants immediately.
- In rooms with heavy traffic (kitchens, hallways), it is advisable to renew the protective coating every three to five years.
Wooden flooring is not a luxury item. Thanks to modern production, everyone can afford a wooden coating. Moreover, the durability of such products depends on proper installation and care. And this is in your hands.
Elena 
buggaggan 
Kovalenko Julia
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