When someone told me that wood is a living product even after it has been used for manufacturing, I wanted to know a few more things about it, so I read a few articles and found some interesting facts and attributes of real wood.
Because wood is both fibrous and porous, it is an organic material, meaning that it absorbs moisture and also releases it. Wood is also a renewable resource making it a versatile product.
Every year, billions of cubic meters of wood are harvested and used for furniture, flooring and building construction.
“Wood is a porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic material – a natural composite of cellulose fibres that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin that resists compression. Wood is sometimes defined as only the secondary xylem in the stems of trees, or it is defined more broadly to include the same type of tissue elsewhere such as in the roots of trees or shrubs. In a living tree, it performs a support function, enabling woody plants to grow large or to stand up by themselves. It also conveys water and nutrients between the leaves, other growing tissues, and the roots. Wood may also refer to other plant materials with comparable properties, and to material engineered from wood, or wood chips or fibre.” (source: Wikipedia)
Attributes.
Wood has many attributes, for example, texture, colour, moisture, swelling, warping, density, cracking and a few others.
Solid wood is usually made up of hardwood species such as Oak, Walnut or Maple and because of its thickness it can be repurposed again and again once it has been sanded.
So, how can I be sure it is real?
We borrowed this quote from Finfloor
Wood is a living material that swells if its moisture or humidity levels are raised & also shrinks if its moisture or humidity is lowered. These not only show that this is a natural product but can also lead to some irreversible deformation of the floor in the event that the room climate & humidity is left too high or low for an extended period of time. This can particularly happen if e.g. – in the wintertime – the humidity (RH) in a heated room goes below the specified 45%. In this case, you should install an Air Humidifier in order to prevent damages to your floor. The same may also be necessary with an Air-Conditioned room.
Hardwood floors are different to Artificial floors such as Laminates. Hardwood is less scratch resistant than that of Laminate because of the protective coating on Laminates which prevents denting and scratching.
Hardwood requires different maintenance too, meaning you may need to restore it during the years that it is in use.
The grain of hardwood is never repeated giving it an appeal that artificial wood does not have, it may also have dents and scratches in it, giving a rustic feel to your space.
Maintenance of solid wood flooring.
Solid wood requires a thorough clean once a week, so in between your everyday sweeping or mopping make sure to use the product that is recommended by your Supplier. This liquid soap is especially manufactured for your hardwood floor. Once you have swept or vacuumed the floor add the soap to 5 litres of warm water and use a soft mop that has been wrung out and mop your floor, making sure the mop is not too wet.
Another product that will also benefit in keeping your hardwood floor beautiful for years to come is an oil refresher. This is only suggested to use once a year and it will keep the floor protected. It can be purchased from your supplier.
What is the manufacturing process?
A single piece of timber is milled and air dried before being cut into the desired planks. The solid wood is cut into various dimensions, packed and ready for the factory, being either finished, unfinished or ready for installation. If your floor is unfinished this means it is natural or in their raw state. It is up to you then on how you want to finish it.
Whether you purchase pre-finished, untreated, unstained, or pre-stained flooring, the choice is yours and you can pick what’s best suited to the area you intend flooring. Your supplier will be able to advise you and help you make the correct decision.
There are varying textures of a hardwood floor, such as smooth or rough. Depending on the look you are going for will depend on what texture you choose.
Real hardwood flooring is an age-old flooring beauty! Lasting for hundreds of years if maintained correctly and bringing durability, style and a natural look to any home. It is both eco-friendly and sustainable meaning it can be repurposed.
As discussed earlier and saying that real wood is living, it needs to be understood that solid wood will contract and expand depending on the moisture content of your home and environment. It is therefore important to establish with your supplier whether or not solid wood would be an option for your home considering the initial expense of this type of flooring.
REAL WOOD FLOOR FACTS:
- Hardwood flooring is as unique as the tree it was cut from so you will never get any plank with the same texture, grain or colour.
- Improved air quality is what you will get with hardwood flooring as it is sealed making sure no allergens, dust mites, and mold can get into it.
- Hardwood has wonderful acoustic qualities.
- Hardwood adds value to your home because of its natural and rustic look as well as adding class to your home.
- Hardwood is one of the best flooring options for underfloor heating.
- Hardwood can be refinished should it be heavily damaged making it like new again.