Category Archives: Timber

Tips for Choosing Timber Flooring for Home/Office (Wood Flooring)

Differentiation between Laminate Wooden Flooring & Solid Wooden Flooring

People are often confused between the laminate wood floors and the solid wood floors. The fact is that there is fine line of difference between these two types of flooring, and the choice of using either of these will depend on user itself. The laminate wood flooring has a fine layered construction and this for the durability purpose. This flooring comes in variety of motifs, patterns and textures, simply captivating the looks.  Some of the prominent examples of laminate woods include Saw Mark, Afzelia, Aged Cherry, American Apple, Antique Oak, Autumn Mahogany, Barrel Oak, Brazilian Zatoba, Canyon Slate, and Caramel Birch etcetera.

Solid wooden flooring on the other hand is a natural wooden material and gives an effect of timelessness.  The solid wooden flooring is solid and durable and designed from different types of selective timbers. The floors are made using the planks custom cut from single timber piece. The solid wooden flooring has thicker wearing surface, and can therefore be sanded and wear several number of times to give a finishing touch. Oak, TropicalAcacia, Walnut Acacia, etc. are some of the woods used in solid hardwood flooring.

Benefits of Laminate Wooden Flooring

  • You get flooring within the budget
  • The sheen of laminated wooden floors is at par with the solid wooden floors
  • Fast and Easy to Install as No Adhesives or Nails are used
  • Flooring can be used in the moisture-prone basements as well as bathrooms
  • Smooth and Great Shining Texture

 Benefits of Solid Wooden Flooring

  • Hardwood flooring lasts for centuries
  • Very high durability  and immense sheen
  • Solid Wooden flooring is more natural and hygienic too
  • Solid wood floors are value for money and life

What choice do you wish to make? Is it Laminate wooden flooring or solid wooden flooring?

Which Wood We Can Use in Exterior?

Thermo-treated wood is the best form of wood that is used in exterior, and there are several reasons too. Hardwoods such as the Oak, IPE, Marbou and many more, are thermo treated before these could be used in the exteriors. The ultra modern thermo-treatment method is a process of heating the wood to the temperatures of roughly 410-450° F in special heat chambers that have been made from the stainless steel. The heat treatment is done under anoxic conditions. The purpose behind using anoxic conditions as the wood combustion starts at temperature of over 300° F, and the reaction inside the wood will begin in temperatures somewhere 380° F and 400° F respectively.

The heat treatment process would just require plain heating and no pre or post chemical treatment is required. The thermal treatment of wood is environmental friendly as well as it is wood friendly. The longevity of thermo treated wood can be enhanced if you apply the coating on it. Studies show that it takes approximately 21 days to develop the crack in an uncoated wood. Coating also protects the wood from the harsh weather conditions.  There is a special purpose water-based primer with two coats applied on wood. The primer is resistant to harmful UV rays. Besides the application of coatings, for enhancing the longevity of wood, it is good idea to use many oflow VOC-penetrating products.

Quality of Thermo Treated Wood

  • Thermo quality wood is resistant to biological decay. The frequency of biological resistance increases by as high as 20 to 25 times more than the non thermo treated wood.
  • Less retention of moisture at the molecular levels
  • Very high dimension stability of thermo treated wood

With all these things in your mind, you now have the sound reason to use the thermo treated wood for all your exteriors. It is all about giving exuberance and style and of course high end durability.

Wood and Its Strength Assessment

Wood is the greatest gift of nature to mankind. It has created the revolution in the lifestyle and living. Wood is durable and its strength and durability varies at different levels. There are several factors which directly or indirectly affect wood strength. These factors are differentiated as:

  • Biological Factors
  • Environmental Factors
  • Natural Defects & Irregularities
  • Dry Rot
  • Wood Worm
  • Knots

These factors play crucial and decisive role in the assessment of wood. Besides, the strength of wood is also determined using three-point bend test. In this type of strength test, the height and width of given wood sample will be measured by placing it in a specially constructed three-point bend testing apparatus.

Increase in the temperature strength affects the strength of wood. On very high temperatures, the strength of wood is decreased substantially, and it crosses the threshold value. Heat reduces the strength, and the effect is very high in steam or moist air than in dry air.

Another significant factor to consider while discussing strength of wood is duration of loading. With the flux of time, there are good chances of appearance of creeps and this will reduce the wood strengths of time duration.

Furthermore, important factors like the wood grain, color, stability, strength, finish, etc. are also quite relevant points that one should keep in his/her mind while buying the wood. Buying best quality wood for your home or office is not a difficult task, once you become fully aware of the factors associated with quality of wood. Finally, make sure that you check the wood species. This would help you in finding the best quality wood that will match your requirements.

 Wood is solid building foundation that makes an integral part of construction. With high quality wood, you have reasons to add strength to your home and/or office.