A beautiful veranda or terrace will look even more harmonious if it is covered with a special board. However, one should take into account the specifics of the material of manufacture - ordinary wooden floorboards are not suitable for this. Experienced craftsmen will say that you need a special terrace board. Reviews about it can be read on any specialized construction portal.
Destination
To equip a summer playground near a house or a pool area, wooden materials are increasingly being used. However, it should be understood that exposure to moisture and sudden temperature changes adversely affect the condition of the product. You can reduce the influence of these factors in such ways as:
- The use of expensive wood, the board of which will not change its configuration under the influence of moisture or temperature.
- Application of manufacturing technology of wood-polymer composite (WPC). This is a relatively new production method, resulting in a high-quality composite deck board. Reviews of its operational properties are good, which affects the ever-increasing demand.
It is noteworthy that products from KDP externally completely imitate the structure of a tree. The scope completely depends on the installation site. On the terraces with a protective roof, you can install floorboards from various varieties of wood. But at pools or decorative dams it is recommended to use boards from KDP.
Parameters and specifications
What to look for when choosing a particular model? First of all, the technical properties of the material. The composite terrace board has good performance. Reviews speak of resistance to mechanical stress, maintaining the original color and ease of installation.
The main characteristics of a terrace board can be divided into 2 categories: technical and aesthetic.
Technical:
- Dimensions. Depends on this cutting material, the amount of substandard residue.
- The thickness of the product. It characterizes the maximum load that the board is able to withstand.
- Resistance to moisture and temperature conditions.
Aesthetic:
- Color. It is selected according to the developed design.
- Texture. Even if a WPC board is used, they try to find models with an imitation of a wooden coating.
But the main parameter is the source material of manufacture. It directly affects all of the above characteristics.
Materials of manufacture
Until recently, only wooden products were used. But the emergence of a new technology for the application of WPC has made significant adjustments to the product range. Due to the affordable cost and a large number of models, a plastic terrace board is increasingly being installed. Reviews about it are mostly positive.
Wooden terrace board is made of valuable wood species that are resistant to precipitation. This affects the cost of the product - not everyone can afford expensive models. However, they have undoubted advantages. First of all, it is a natural material that during operation does not emit harmful components. It can also be surface treated for repair and restoration work.
Wooden plank
Most often, a larch terrace board is made, reviews of which can be found on specialized construction portals. A complex technological scheme is used for the manufacture of products.
At the first stage, blanks are rejected. After cutting, the surface condition, the absence of knots and cracks in its structure are checked. Then the material is sent for drying in special chambers. Since the% moisture content in wood can be up to 60%, it is necessary to reduce this figure to 15%. Otherwise, the finished product may be deformed due to uneven swelling of the fibers.
Then the workpieces are processed by milling machines and oil for the terrace board is applied to their surface. Reviews of such products indicate the appropriateness of the use of treatment with protective compounds. This limits the access of moisture to the structure of the material, which affects its service life.
WPC board
The modern method of manufacturing boards from WPC is the integrated application of polymer manufacturing technology. PVC is used as the main material. Wood shavings are added to its composition, and then granules are formed by heat treatment.
They are subsequently used in extrusion technology. Granules are poured into the filling hopper, and they are heated as they move along the line. After the formation of the plastic mass, it under high pressure enters the extruder. Passing through the form (die), the final product is formed - a terrace board. Reviews about it are positive, since with a professional approach to the production process, the occurrence of marriage is almost completely eliminated.
To create a texture that mimics a tree, immediately after passing through the die on the front side of the product, a film is applied. Then, by diffusion, it forms together with the base a single structure.
Mounting
Installation technology depends on the type of source material. If it is necessary to install paths near the pool, a terrace board from the KDP is selected . Reviews of such designs depend on compliance with the technology.
First you need to make a steel frame on which the products will subsequently be installed. Its surface is treated with protective materials that will prevent the appearance of rust. It is best to use stainless steel square tubes. The connection of individual floorboards is performed using grooves located at the end of the product. During installation, the absence of gaps between them and the compliance with the level are checked.
Care
Another advantage of WPC floorboards is their durability and minimal maintenance. A completely different situation for the wood material from which the terrace board is made. Reviews indicate the need for periodic grinding of the surface. Over time, the material may change color or cause defects. To eliminate these shortcomings, special grinders are used. After removing the top layer, the surface of the boards is treated with oil.
The frequency of these works depends on external factors - the amount of precipitation, the time of direct exposure to sunlight, the degree of temperature difference. For high-quality floorboards, restoration work is carried out once every 5-6 years.
Selection tips
How to choose the optimal coating model? To do this, it is recommended to use simple tips:
- Invite a specialist. He will immediately determine how good this particular terrace board is, reviews about which can be mixed.
- Calculation of the optimal number of products. To do this, a terrace plan is drawn up, and according to its size, boards with optimal dimensions are selected.
- Cost. Cheap products often have low mechanical strength and short life. Therefore, it is recommended to choose models of the middle price category.
It is important that the installation is carried out by a specialist. There are many nuances of installing terrace boards, ignorance of which can affect not only the appearance, but also the life of the unit.