One of the modern floor coverings that combines the beauty and comfort of natural wood and the benefits modern technologies, is parquet board. Different types this flooring(made of light oak, wenge, birch, cherry, American walnut etc.) may differ slightly in performance, beauty and price. The most beautiful and practical among them is single-strip parquet board. This coating very accurately imitates the surface of a solid board so that after laying the material it is almost impossible to distinguish them. That is why different manufacturers produce these types of flooring. Among them we can list the following well-known companies, like Wood Bee, Karelia, Coswick, Barlinek.
Product Features
Any parquet board, one- or three-strip, consists of three layers. The main difference between these two types of coatings is the top layer. In a single-strip product, unlike a three-strip product, it consists of one solid lamella made of solid valuable wood. And three-strip and two-strip elements have a top layer of three or two strips of lamellas glued together. If you answer the question which board is better, then, of course, this is a single-strip product. Although the price for such coverage is higher, it is continuous smooth surface made of solid wood very similar to luxury massive board.
Typically, valuable wood is used to produce the top layer: teak, beech, oak, light maple, cherry, birch. More expensive coating options are made using rare and exotic wood species: American walnut, wenge, merbau, jatoba, light doussia. The choice of material for the top layer depends performance characteristics floor, its wear resistance and durability. The thickness of the top layer is 3-6 mm. But most often the coating is made of solid wood valuable wood made 4 mm high. Sometimes the top layer is made with a chamfer - a 45° cut along the edge of the board. Beveled floors look more natural. Without it, the coating is uniform and smooth. The chamfer allows you to visually hide the gaps between the dies due to drying of the wood. The surface of the element can be tinted, brushed, varnished or oiled.
Many manufacturers (Wood Bee, Karelia, Coswick, Barlinek) use wood to make the middle layer coniferous species(spruce, pine), which is inexpensive. Usually these are HDF boards or slats glued together. To understand which board is better, you need to pay attention not only to the material of the front surface, but also to the quality of the middle layer, because the strength of the entire board depends on this. Typically, the wood fibers in three layers should be located in a mutually perpendicular direction. This will allow you to achieve geometric stability of the coating - the product will not deform when the temperature and humidity conditions in the room change. The thickness of this layer is 8 mm. This is where it is cut lock connection boards
Many manufacturers use whole piece coniferous wood. The fibers of the material should be located at right angles to the direction of the fibers in the middle layer. Typically the thickness of the bottom layer is 1.5-2 mm.
If you want to get a uniform, beautiful floor in a large room, it is better to use single-strip parquet boards. By choosing products coated in American walnut, oak, light beech, cherry, wenge, merbau and other types of wood, you will always find products that suit the style of your interior. Depending on the design, the die can be longer or shorter, lighter or darker, with or without a chamfer.
Classification of single strip boards
Products different manufacturers(Wood Bee, Karelia, Coswick, Barlinek) differs in size, selection, wood species, type of coating and additional processing.
Most of all, the price of a parquet board depends on selection - selection and sorting by appearance. Thus, products made from the same type of wood, for example, American walnut or wenge, may differ in shade (lighter or darker), pattern texture and appearance. For example, the Barlinek and Karelia factories have boards of different selections from the same wood.
When selecting a board, the following factors are taken into account:
- a type of trunk cutting;
- color and pattern (for example, the same American walnut or wenge may have different shades and fiber pattern);
- minor defects in the form of cracks and chips.
The price of the product is directly related to the cutting of the wood, because the strength and beauty of the flooring depends on this. Many manufacturers (Wood Bee, Karelia, Coswick, Barlinek) use solid wood to make single-strip boards best selection. There are several cutting options:
- Radial cut done along the central axis along the length of the trunk. Dies of this type of cut have an even pattern, longitudinal arrangement of fibers, uniform color and good stability of the product. The price of such products is the highest.
- Tangential cut is done tangentially to the annual rings, so each board will have its own unique pattern. The shade of the wood may also differ; it may be lighter or darker. The cost of this cut board is slightly lower.
- Rustic cut can be performed at any angle. As a result, a parquet board made of oak, ash, American walnut, merbau or wenge will have a non-uniform color and different pattern. Such products are usually made with a chamfer. A brushed board of this type creates the effect of an aged floor.
Types of selection:
- From radial cut receive select sorting dies. Many manufacturers (Wood Bee, Karelia, Coswick, Barlinek) use this selection of material for high-quality single-strip parquet boards. Solid wood lamellas are distinguished by their smooth surface, uniform color, clear pattern, and absence of defects. The price of this product is the highest.
- Sorting types are selected from radial and tangential sawn boards. Products made from wenge, oak, American walnut, maple, cherry, etc. can have a variety of patterns and bright color transitions. There should be no defects, with the exception of knots small size. The price of such dies is slightly lower.
- Rustic sorting is not selected by type of cut, but elements are selected by color and quality. The flooring made from such a board will be the brightest and most vibrant. The presence of small defects is allowed, creating the feeling of an untreated wooden floor. Such boards have the most low price. Often products are produced with a chamfered and brushed surface in order to maximize the naturalness of the material. Brushed boards of wenge, oak, ash, maple or American walnut will fit perfectly into the interior country house in chalet or country style.
Single strip plank covering
Single-strip parquet product such famous manufacturers, like Wood Bee, Karelia, Coswick, Barlinek, can be sold with varnish coating or oil impregnation. The varnish is applied in several layers, creating a durable protective layer on a surface. Oil impregnation does not protect the surface as much as it is absorbed into the wood.
Typically, varnish is applied to wood products made from oak, cherry, American walnut, alder, maple, wenge, beech, and merbau. Oil impregnation is more suitable for oily wood of exotic species. Most often, products with a chamfer and brushed surface can be treated with oil in order to preserve as much as possible the beauty of the texture and relief of the surface of the board.
For varnishing, special UV-hardening varnishes are used. They are applied using special equipment in several layers. Special technology of hardening under influence ultraviolet radiation allows you to obtain a durable wear-resistant coating. Manufacturers can use varnishes that provide a matte, glossy or semi-finished finish. matte surface. However, it is more difficult to repair such floors, because it will not be possible to apply varnish to a separate worn-out area of the floor. You will need to sand the entire surface and re-varnish the entire floor.
Oil impregnation of a die is not as durable as varnish and requires systematic renewal (once a year). However, a brushed or smooth surface of a board impregnated with oil is easier to repair locally. You can apply the impregnation to a separate area of the floor, and the areas with oil will not be noticeable. The price of oil-impregnated products is slightly lower than that of varnished coatings.
In addition, factories use varnishes and oils with a tinting effect. Thus, almost white wood can acquire a persistent caramel or brown tint. Usually the brushed surface of the board can be tinted to enhance the effect of the “aged surface”.
Manufacturers
Most well-known manufacturers of parquet flooring have created separate collections of single-strip boards. Among them it is worth noting Wood Bee, Karelia, Coswick, Barlinek. Their products have different price ranges and performance characteristics.
Barlinek plant
Single-strip boards from the Polish manufacturer Barlinek are included in the Pure Line collection. This is a high quality flooring with Seger interlocking connection. The products are available in a wide range of wood colors. Almost all products have a chamfer along the perimeter of the board, while many European manufacturers have it only along the long side. Single-strip products from the Barlinek plant can have different wood grades (select, natural, rustic). The Barlinek Pure Line collection features products made from oak and walnut wood in various tones. The price of dies ranges from 50 to 70 $/m².
Coswick products
This manufacturer makes three-layer and two-layer single-strip parquet boards. Mainly solid oak and ash are used. Oil and varnish are used as coating. All Coswick products are connected using the tongue-and-groove principle using a CosLoc lock.
The thickness of the two-layer parquet board from this manufacturer is 12.7 mm and the width is 82 mm. The length ranges from 30 cm to 1.5 meters. The thickness of the top lamella made of valuable wood from Coswick products is 4 mm, which allows for repeated sanding of the floor. The base of the board is high-strength birch plywood.
The thickness of the three-layer Coswick parquet board is 15 mm, width 160 and 127 mm. The length of the boards is from 30 cm to 1.85 m. There is a micro-bevel along the perimeter of the board. The thickness of the lamellas made of valuable wood is also 0.4 cm. The middle layer of boards is transversely laid slats made of solid birch 8 mm thick. The price of products is from 35 to 50 $/m².
Wood Bee Products
Single-lane parquet flooring This manufacturer is represented by the Classic and Antik story collections. In the first collection, the products are made from different breeds wood: traditional light oak, beech, ash and exotic species of merbau, wenge, American walnut, doussia. The dies even from the same wood in the Wood Bee collection can differ in shade, which makes it easier to implement any design ideas.
Single-strip, two-strip or three-strip parquet boards. How to understand this and what are they?
Today we will consider these questions. Let's get started.
Three-strip parquet board.
Three-strip parquet board, the most popular and inexpensive type. It is equally suitable for both large and small spaces. It imitates classic parquet laid in a spread pattern.
P consists of three rows of dies of the same width, but can be of different lengths.
All dies are offset along the length and resemble brickwork. Since it consists of many parts, the variety of shades in it is greater than, for example, in 2-strip and single-strip boards. Although there is one point - selection.
Two-way
Let me emphasize one point, in addition to two-way, three-way and single-way species parquet board, occur and are not standard, four-way And multi-band. But they are less common, this is at the request of buyers. Or it just suits the interior better multi-strip or 4-lane. As they say, there is no comrade according to taste!
Next criterion by which you can choose a parquet board -
Parquet board is a floor covering that combines the respectability of natural wood and the ease of laying laminate flooring. The main advantage over solid boards is affordable price, and artificial materials are inferior to parquet boards in environmental and aesthetic parameters. Manufacturers offer a wide selection of parquet boards, when choosing which you need to pay attention not only to the exterior, but also to the technical characteristics.
Design features of parquet boards
Before you begin to analyze the main criteria for choosing a parquet board, you need to familiarize yourself with its design.
This flooring consists of three layers located perpendicular to each other. Upper layer- decorative, its thickness is from 0.5 to 6 mm. This is natural wood of valuable species, subjected to certain processing and protected with varnish or wax. It can be brushed, heat-treated, bleached, or have chamfers. It is natural wood that is responsible for the aesthetics and durability of the material, determines its resistance to abrasion and other technical characteristics.
The middle layer consists of coniferous wood bars and has a thickness of 8-10 mm. In this part of the parquet board, a tongue-and-groove or lock joint is cut, ensuring ease of installation. Some manufacturers use HDF boards in this layer, which are characterized by high strength and moisture resistance.
The bottom layer has a thickness of 2-3 mm and is a veneer of coniferous wood - pine or spruce. Its function is to stabilize the entire structure. Thus, 75-95% of the parquet board consists of inexpensive wood, which can significantly reduce the cost of the flooring. At the same time, the exterior of the material is worthy of the most sophisticated interiors.
Selecting the thickness of the parquet board
Manufacturers offer a wide selection of materials of different thicknesses. Which collection should you choose? Familiarization with the design of the floor covering allows you to understand that the greater the overall thickness of the plank, the greater the thickness of the decorative layer. Based on this, the following recommendations can be made:
- 7 mm - parquet boards of this thickness have decorative layer in 0.5 mm. It cannot be scraped and can only be used in rooms with minimal load on the flooring - in bedrooms;
- 10 mm - the decorative layer has a thickness of 2.5 mm; such parquet boards are not recommended for use where there is a high probability of mechanical damage. The best option uses - home cinemas, offices;
- 13-16 mm - the thickness of the decorative layer of this parquet board is 4 mm, it can be used in any residential premises;
- 20-22 mm - ideal flooring for respectable offices, restaurants, hotels.
A number of manufacturers offer flooring with lamella thicknesses of more than 24 mm. Such parquet boards can be laid on joists and are the best choice when renovating old houses.
Which board is better - single-strip or multi-strip?
Regardless of the width of the parquet board, its decorative layer can be solid or consist of several dies. A single-strip board allows you to enjoy the natural beauty of wood, its texture and play of shades. A two-strip board consists of two parallel tiles connected at random. It has a pronounced texture, and carefully selected contrasting shades of the dies make the design less monotonous.
Three-strip board is the most popular, as its cost is noticeably cheaper. The dies can be arranged in parallel with an offset or imitate piece parquet laid in a herringbone or wicker pattern. Multi-strip board is designed for bright interiors, its surface is of impeccable quality, and its design is rich in color.
Parquet board drawing
The texture pattern of a parquet board made of the same wood can differ significantly. It all depends on how the trunk was cut in relation to the length of the trunk. If parallel, then all the fibers are located along the lamella, due to which the board has an even, uniform pattern. This type of cut is called radial. If the cut was made at an angle, the pattern will be more rich and textured. This type of cut is called rustic. The tangential cut goes tangentially to the annual rings, thanks to which each die has its own unique pattern.
The process of selecting dies for a parquet board depending on the cut and the number of knots is called selection. Manufacturers offer the following types of parquet boards depending on selection:
- Rustic - tangential and radial cutting dies are used, the presence of knots and small flaws is allowed. This the best choice for interiors in country style;
- Select - radial cut dies are used, the exterior is characterized by uniformity and color stability. Recommended for interiors in classic style;
- Natural - when creating, dies of radial and tangential cutting were used, but with a minimum number of knots;
This variety of flooring allows you to create optimal choice depending on your own taste preferences.
Type of wood for parquet boards
In terms of the variety of wood species offered, parquet boards are not inferior to solid wood. When choosing flooring for public premises and hallways you need to choose hardwoods - oak, Canadian maple, ash. Species that react sharply to temperature changes, such as beech, jatoba, and European maple, should not be used in a “warm floor” system. Exotic species such as merbau, jatoba, mahogany, rosewood - attract with their uniqueness color range, but you need to be prepared for the variety of shades and diversity of the floor.
When choosing a parquet board, buyers, as a rule, pay attention to such characteristics as the size of the floorboard, the grade and selection of wood, the quality and type of finishing coating. However, an important indicator is also the number of decorative strips on one floorboard.
Manufacturers offer one-, two-, three- and multi-band versions of these products. Each of them has its own characteristics, so buyers often ask the question: which is better - single-strip or three-strip parquet boards? Any type of parquet board is made from natural wood, but comparing them with each other, you can notice distinctive features.
Single strip parquet board
This type of floor looks like a solid board, since it is not divided, like other types, into separate segments. Decorative front layer made of solid veneer, so the richness and beauty of the wood structure is most clearly visible on its surface. The single strip board has a noble and respectable appearance, and in ready-made version most clearly demonstrates the visual advantages of natural flooring.
The width of each floorboard ranges from 180-210 mm, but there are more on sale narrow options. different in its segment at a high price, which is due to the complexity and labor-intensive process of its production. However, it has a more affordable price compared to solid wood boards. Other advantages of the single-lane option include:
- high wear resistance;
- original design;
- rich visual appeal;
- ease of installation.
A special feature of single-strip parquet boards is the presence of chamfers at the corners, which imitate the seam between the floorboards. This allows you to use the deck installation option during the installation process. A single-strip board is ideal for large spacious rooms, and will lose in small rooms.
Three-strip parquet board
Three-strip parquet boards represent the most common and most commonly used flooring option. It is an excellent and more affordable alternative piece parquet. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that the front decorative layer consists of three rows of veneer strips, each of which is offset in length. Visually it repeats the pattern natural parquet. On sale you can find the following varieties: wicker, classic herringbone and the most common deck pattern.
It is distinguished by its attractive price affordability, which is explained by the simplicity of its production technology. It is suitable for installation indoors various sizes, since it will look equally attractive both in small rooms and in spacious halls.
Distinctive features
To determine which is better - a single-strip or three-strip parquet board, it is enough to compare its characteristics.
Manufacturers produce a wide range of parquet boards, which do not differ in quality, so the final choice of flooring for the home remains with the buyer.