The use of wood for the formation of various kinds of floor coverings justifies itself both in terms of financial costs and in terms of operational returns. Of course, not in every case it turns out to be just such an option, but in the conditions of garden and summer cottages it should be considered at least. Moreover, there are different techniques for solving this problem, each of which is useful in one or another case. In particular, do-it-yourself wooden flooring in the country, the photo of which is presented below, can be considered as universal. But there are other methods of arranging coatings made of natural material that also deserve attention.
What is wood flooring?
In essence, this is a lining that is performed using lumber. In this case, the flooring configuration itself and the parameters of the materials used may be different. A traditional coating of this type is considered to be a stacked board. Logs can also be attributed to this category of flooring, which are characterized by increased wear resistance and fulfill the task of the base, on which other decorative coatings are further laid. Obviously, wood flooring is significantly inferior to tile, concrete, metal and even some plastic materials in terms of durability and reliability. Therefore, its use justifies itself only where surface loads are minimal. Solid state coatings, for example, may well withstand regular walking in street shoes, but even it is not practical to lay them on platforms operated for transport.
Decking Tool
In work activities for laying wooden flooring, carpentry tools will be required, the set of which depends on the tasks. Initially, it should be divided into several categories. At a minimum, these will be groups for processing wood material, taking measurements and installing individual elements. Processing can be performed using a circular saw or a jigsaw - the choice of tool depends on the size of the work. So, wooden flooring for the street is more likely to be formed from a massive thick board. In this case, it is better to provide a circular saw, which will quickly and efficiently allow trimming of the material. For marking you will need a set that includes a ruler, tape measure, level, pencil and rope. As for the tool for direct installation, here a lot depends on the nature of the installation. If you choose the fastening method by hammering, then you can not do without a hammer, and the facilitated fixation of thin boards is often performed with a carpenter's gun or an assembly stapler.
Flooring material
Laying of floor coverings is rarely implemented using pure wood. Often, this task is performed using a combined chipboard material, which makes it possible to significantly save while maintaining optimal technical and operational qualities. For example, laminated panels are durable, moisture resistant and original texture. But the use of such panels for summer residence is justified only in the premises themselves. For the street, a terrace board or decking is more suitable. As practice shows, a wooden flooring in the country in this design can be safely performed even in the open air - the coating does not deform under the influence of precipitation, does not lose its tint from ultraviolet radiation in the summer, and retains mechanical resistance. It will also be useful to provide for the presence of an anti-slip coating on the board, if we are talking about the operation of the flooring in severe frosts.
Which wood species should I prefer?
Pure natural lumber is used by connoisseurs of natural texture, for which environmental safety is also important. But an ordinary board is not suitable for such purposes, especially if it is planned to equip street squares. It is best to refer to special breeds with special qualities. For example, IPE wood is characterized by high density and wear resistance. Its structure counteracts the negative biological processes of destruction, so such a board can be laid directly on the ground. To obtain an unusual aesthetic effect, it is worth using the bangkirai breed. In this case, the wooden flooring is distinguished by an exquisite light shade and high strength. Distributed in the domestic market and finely porous Kumaru wood. This board is characterized by an original golden hue, medium density and natural protection against fungus, provided by special resins.
Wood deck classifications
There are floorings according to the method of placement, the place of laying, the method of fixation, etc. Classic flooring is mounted on a screed. In this case, a damping substrate is laid between the plank surface and the rough base. Another method of placement, which is often used in summer cottages, involves mounting on bare ground. This solution is rare, but if the coating will be used infrequently, then this option will pay off. Platforms, floor coverings for gazebos and terraces are more often equipped with the use of lathing. Especially street types of wooden flooring are recommended to be carried out with a foundation in the form of parallel-running battens. As for the varieties of fastening methods, mechanical fixation using screws, nails and self-tapping screws is still the most common. Less common are fastening techniques using adhesive compounds. The terrace board mentioned above, like laminated panels, is usually mounted according to the principle of locking with grooves.
Preparation of wood for installation
If the choice fell on ordinary lumber without special treatment, it is important to carry out troubleshooting with the selection of high-quality material. For the device of the flooring, boards in which there are knots, serious bends, chips and dents are not suitable. It is important not to forget that the wood will have to remain resistant to dynamic loads, not to mention the possible chemical and thermal effects. The presence of even minor damage can further stimulate the destruction of the structure. Moreover, it is recommended to use special protective agents for processing the material in order to increase the period that the wooden flooring in the country will serve. With your own hands, such protection can be provided with the help of enamels and paints and varnishes. For wood, manufacturers offer special series with the effects of moisture resistance, mechanical protection, frost resistance, etc.
Floor preparation
You can lay the flooring on the ground, on the screed, on the crate and on other bases. In each case, a certain set of preparatory operations is assumed. When it comes to soil preparation, the vegetation layer is first of all eliminated, after which a flat area should be formed. To give the soil rigidity and stability, it is possible to perform tamping with the addition of sand. If it is planned to lay the wooden flooring on a concrete base, then the rough surface is formed from the substrate. It can be cork or felt filling, which will not be superfluous to supplement with insulators. And special attention is required to the technique of building a crate, which should be considered separately.
Installation of lathing for wood flooring
Builders recommend using two technologies of the device of the battens for flooring. In the first case, it is planned to install a reinforced columnar structure, and in the second, the creation of a basic low base on the ground. A column-shaped structure is formed on bearing rods that integrate into the ground. At a minimum, you need to install four columns in the corners of the site. Next, the binding is made on the sides of the plot using beams that connect the rods. In the space between the beams, rails with a certain step are also mounted. In this case, it is important to initially calculate the size of the elements from which the wooden flooring will be realized. The thickness of the usual coating is 3-4 cm. In this case, the strapping elements can have a similar thickness, but if a larger format is used, then the load will have to be compensated by reducing the step when installing the base laths of the battens.
The second version of the foundation device dispenses with pillars and involves the installation of load-bearing boards directly with ribs in the ground. The platform is also cleared, after which each carrier is integrated into the ground by 5-7 cm. A stable strapping of the box and an increase in the frequency of laying of the crate elements, which will be fixed on top of the base boards, will guarantee stability in this case.
The device of flooring in the country house
Most often, the installation of wooden flooring in the premises is carried out on the same crate, only performed using a different technology. In a wooden house, the function of the supporting support can also be performed by slats protruding from the logs of the initial masonry. From them, the central beams of the crate are installed, and then, depending on the expected loads, the transverse rails are laid. After that, you can also lay the flooring in a wooden house using self-tapping screws or nails. The difficulty of installing such a coating in a small country house is that the crate will reduce the height of the room, so you should either use logs of small thickness, or minimize the size of the beams.
Flooring for the street: installation features
In the installation of street flooring, it is important to consider several nuances. First of all, the design must be protected from external influences. If we are not talking about free paths, then with a greater degree of probability the coating will mate with the upper tiers. It can be a roof of a pergola or a typical arbor, or a bunch with the design of the cottage itself, if we are talking about the terrace. In such cases, a wooden flooring for the street is designed with the expectation of using supporting pillars that do not end on the crate, but go higher and become elements of the trim on the upper level. In the same arbors, such rods can act as supports for rough logs on the crate, as well as hold the roofing array.
Tent flooring
Tents and tents also sometimes require the organization of a reliable, rigid foundation. Wood copes with this function better than other materials. However, in capital construction, it makes no sense to do with the crate in this case. You can prepare in advance a kind of portable island, which will be a small crate coated with decorative thin boards. As a rule, a wooden flooring in a summer house with your own hands in a tent is made from the same decking, only of small sizes. This technique allows you to do without traditional fasteners - fixing elements is carried out according to the type of lock, which allows you to disassemble and assemble the flooring, depending on the need.
Styling configurations
Conventional flooring is carried out according to a typical scheme in the form of parallel-running boards in one direction. This option should be used if the work is carried out on a small site. In other cases, it is advisable to use non-standard techniques for the location of styling elements. So, you can make a wooden flooring at an angle, with a diagonal, a ladder and even with rounding. But the layout should be calculated at the stage of creating the crate. For example, the same diagonal configuration will be possible only if there is a diagonally running log.
Conclusion
Wood flooring, of course, plays a practical role in the suburban area. But along with this, it is also an object of decorative designation. Coverage acts as a platform for the implementation of a variety of ideas, allowing to reveal the aesthetic advantages of the area. Directly wooden flooring can be provided with railings, balusters, elegant transition elements, etc. The terrace rarely does without green space, which can stand in vases and pots on the surface of the coating, and can be launched into the structure in the form of climbing plants. In this context, the texture of the wood material will also prove itself, so the decorative value of the flooring should be calculated even before the development of the general scheme of the object.