Improved types of durable and universal floor coverings are constantly appearing on the modern construction market. One of the latest innovations is an engineering board, which is very popular. This is due to the strength, practicality, attractive appearance and some other advantages of this material.
Not everyone knows what an engineering board is. This is a fairly durable floor covering. It differs from laminate and parquet in a special structure. As a base, inexpensive plywood is used, and its top layer is natural veneer. In addition, natural wood, most often birch, can be used as an additional raw material.
General information
In appearance, after laying, both parquet and engineering boards look almost the same. The difference between them is not very significant. In the production of new items, special technology is used, thanks to which the material has excellent performance. In the manufacture of engineering boards, veneers are first made and then glued to plywood. To combine the two materials, high-quality adhesive with a low level of toxicity is used.
The engineering board is laid on a screed or on plywood. Thanks to a special locking system, the boards are connected easily and quickly. There is no need to use adhesives for this. The boards are covered with several layers of varnish, which acts as the main protective agent against various adverse conditions. Sometimes, instead of varnish, special oils are used.
Installation of an engineering board can be carried out even by a beginner. It is laid in the same way as a laminate. It is absolutely necessary to use a special soft substrate in the process of work, which can hide some unevenness of the coating and extend its operational life.
What layers are made of
For the production of engineering boards use only high-quality and dense varieties of wood. This flooring has a great resemblance to a massive board, but in its production they use not only wood, but also plywood.
What is an engineering board, we figured it out. How many layers does it have? Typically, the material includes two layers - plywood and veneer. Some manufacturers offer customers material in three layers, which is characterized by an increased level of strength.
The veneer must have a high level of quality. For its production using birch, oak and ash. The thickness of the upper layer is usually 1 cm. Plywood is obtained from several species of trees and polymeric substances. It is slightly thicker than the front layer, about 1.5 times. After bonding two materials, an engineering board is formed, the thickness of which does not exceed 2.5 cm.
If desired, an artificial floor covering can be laid in the house, which looks as if it is made of the best types of wood. It's about a vinyl engineering board. It is also made of several layers:
- The first is an ultraviolet coating that protects floors from contamination.
- The second is a polyurethane layer that increases the wear resistance of the material.
- The third is a decorative film that mimics wood.
- The fourth is vinyl. It guarantees a stable geometry under changing environmental temperature conditions.
- The fifth is a polymer composite that provides stiffness to the board.
- The sixth (there is not always) is a very dense polypen foam substrate. It enhances sound insulation.
Dimensions
The engineering board has dimensions convenient for installation, which distinguishes it from other similar materials. With its help, you can carry out repairs both in a large room and in a small room.
The length of one board can range from 50 to 300 cm. Some manufacturers make boards up to 600 cm long, but such a large-scale coating is produced only on an individual order. Most often, this material is used to decorate large industrial premises.
The maximum width of the board is 45 cm. Products with a width of 20-30 cm are most in demand. As for the thickness, usually this figure does not exceed 2.5 cm. On sale you can find especially thin engineering boards with a thickness of 1.2 cm.
Texture, hue and shape
Color depends entirely on which type of wood is used in the production, as well as on how it is processed. The same can be said about the texture. To visually look the engineering board more attractive, it is covered with a special protective varnish, which contains wax.
Thus, a beautiful shine gets an engineering board. Walnut, birch, oak and ash are the main types of wood that can be used to produce this flooring. To give it a specific effect, the outer layer can be artificially aged, fired and scraped.
Unlike laminate and parquet, this flooring can have a different shape. Rectangular boards are mainly produced and used. On sale you can find original curved products, thanks to which you can create a unique and unusual flooring.
The difference between engineering and parquet
Parquet and engineering boards have much in common. The difference between them is also present. Firstly, plywood is used as the bottom layer in the new flooring. Secondly, the design of its surface is more diverse, rather than classic, as is the case with parquet.
In addition, there are other differences:
- In the manufacture of flooring do not use glue, in the case of engineering boards without adhesives can not do.
- The shelf life of an engineering floor is twice as long.
- The process of restoration of the flooring is simple, and the engineering board due to the adhesives is quite complicated.
- Using the new product, it is difficult to install an infrared warm floor system.
- The cost of an engineering board is much higher.
Parquet is more affordable in cost, but engineering flooring has a wider range. Restoring and installing it is more difficult, but it will last much longer.
Pros of an engineering board
It looks great indoors, can fit into almost any interior. Like any other product, an engineering board has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of the material are as follows:
- Unlike parquet, it is less subjected to deformation.
- It can serve a person for about 40 years, while you can cover the floors with varnish many times, cycle.
- It can be used in a room where there is either a high or a low level of importance, for example, in the kitchen.
- You can choose any size of the board in width, thickness and length.
- No need to pre-lay plywood on the floor. You can install directly on the screed.
- You can lay the boards not only in the classical way, but also in squares, at an angle, using various decorative inserts.
- It has a high level of sound insulation.
- It can be operated even in adverse conditions.
- It is not required to maintain a certain level of humidity and temperature conditions.
- There is the possibility of decorative tinting in the factory for an individual order.
disadvantages
The disadvantages of the engineering board are as follows:
- High price.
- Some types of boards are difficult to disassemble and reassemble.
- There is no way to carry out installation by floating method.
- Sometimes it’s difficult to select the same shade boards.
- If there is no castle joint system, then installing such a floor covering without the help of specialists is very problematic. In addition, in this case you have to spend money on glue.
- The presence on the construction market of a large number of fakes. Do not buy engineering boards if the veneer thickness is less than 3 mm.
How to produce
To understand what an engineering board is, you need to know how this product is made. The whole process takes place in several stages using high-tech equipment:
- First, wood processing is carried out. Using a machine, the material must be cut into thin lamellas of a certain thickness.
- Plywood must first pass a quality control, and then it is prepared for further work.
- Using special glue, veneer and plywood are glued together. Under the influence of the press, the layers are tightly fastened to each other. As a result, the board will not delaminate and deform.
- If the elements will have a locking joint system, then after gluing it is necessary to cut the joint of this type.
- At the final stage, the material is varnished, while the number of layers should not be less than five. In some cases, special oils or wax-based substances can be used instead of varnish.
How to lay
Installation of an engineering board can be done in several ways. Much depends on what type of material is used. For example, it is much simpler to lay boards with a castle connection system, even a beginner can handle this. Elements are quickly and easily connected.
The work is complicated if you need to use special adhesives for installation. In this case, it is better to entrust the matter to professionals. In addition, it is difficult to lay large engineering boards, the length of which is 5-6 m.
The material can be laid directly on the screed or on plywood. If the room has a high level of humidity, it is better to install directly on the screed. First, you will definitely need to lay a special soft substrate. The floor needs to be leveled, waterproofed, if necessary.
An engineering board is laid much easier on plywood. The coating is perfectly smooth. Boards can be attached to plywood with self-tapping screws. The work is complicated if you need to lay the boards at an angle, squares, "herringbone". In this case, you must first make a small drawing, and the calculation of the required number of boards is complicated.
American board
What it is? Do not think that this flooring is delivered to us from far abroad. An American engineering board is a material that is made using special wood. Usually use an American nut. This breed of wood has a structure with decorative patterns.
In general, wood has an attractive chocolate hue. The older she is, the more beautiful she looks in the interior. When drying, the material may slightly change its shade. In this case, drying can be carried out in special furnaces or in natural conditions.
The main properties of the American board
This type of wood is one of the most exotic in the production of flooring. Such boards look exquisite indoors. The material is expensive, but it is durable and incredibly durable, can be used in aggressive conditions.
What is an American engineering board is now clear. We add that the material has the following properties:
- Low level of porosity.
- High density and reliability.
- Good flexible. This indicator is achieved due to the low level of rigidity.
This material is easy to process. Boards can be easily glued to each other or connected using special fasteners. In addition, if desired, they can be painted without much difficulty.
The advantages of an American board
This material has many advantages, including:
- It does not undergo deformation; there are no cracks on it.
- You can choose from many shades and sizes of boards.
- The material is laid quickly and simply, has a long service life.
- The coating is environmentally friendly, durable and reliable.
When laying such an engineering board, you need to remember that each element can slightly differ in shade. In the future, it is impossible to correct this with any varnishes with dyes. This feature should be considered when buying flooring.
How to choose engineering boards you need
When buying, you need to build on the design of the room, selecting material according to the type of wood and its shade. You can take large boards and quickly carry out installation in a large area. You can also purchase small planks and lay them in an unusual way.
The most important thing is to pay attention to the thickness of the veneer, which cannot be less than 3 mm. If you need to finish a public institution with high traffic, it is better to choose a three-layer material. It has a high level of strength. To finish an apartment or a private house, it is enough to purchase a standard material of two layers. It should not have chips and cracks, acrid unpleasant odor.
Conclusion
An engineering board is a high-quality modern coating that can last a person for more than a dozen years. Its cost is quite high, and during the installation process various difficulties may arise. However, it is difficult to find a more durable, reliable and wear-resistant coating, which has an attractive and presentable appearance.