Essentials of Specifying Wood Flooring.AIA.CES
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Transcript of Essentials of Specifying Wood Flooring.AIA.CES
Wood Floor Resource Group is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to CES Records for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for non-AIA members are available on request.
This program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.
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Essentials of Essentials of Specifying Specifying Wood Wood FlooringFlooring
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Copyright Materials
This presentation is protected by US and International copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, display and
use of the presentation without written permission of the speaker is prohibited.
Wood Floor Resource Group 2007
www.woodfloorrg.com
Learning Objectives
Understand the fundamental characteristics of wood as a material: sources, types, hardness, stability, etc.
Understand the essentials of wood flooring: species, formats, performance issues, common pitfalls, etc.
Understand the pros and cons of solid vs. engineered wood flooring
Where Wood Comes From – Recycled/Salvaged/ReclaimedWhere Wood Comes From – Recycled/Salvaged/Reclaimed
< Salvaged
Logs
Examples: Urban Forest, Agriculture, Waterways, Deadwood
< Reclaimed
Previously manufactured wood products
Example: Building deconstruction
< Recycled(Pre-Consumer/Post-Industrial)
Wood pieces or fiber that are manufacturing by-products
Example: Sawdust
Some well-managed, some not
Teak plantation Natural forest
Where Wood Comes From – Forests & PlantationsWhere Wood Comes From – Forests & Plantations
Want to know more?
“Wood Flooring for Green Building”
Hardwoods vs. SoftwoodsHardwoods vs. Softwoods
Hardwoods come from broad-leaf trees
deciduous
Softwoods come from needle-bearing trees
coniferous
Most hardwoods are harder than most softwoods, but there are soft hardwoods and hard softwoods.
the Janka hardness of balsa (a hardwood) is 75
the Janka hardness of red oak (a hardwood) is 1290
the Janka hardness of Australian Cypress (a softwood) is 1375 !
How Trees GrowHow Trees Grow
Medullary rays
Growth RingsGrowth Rings
Early Wood
Late Wood Fast Growth
Slower Growth
Heartwood vs. SapwoodHeartwood vs. Sapwood
HeartwoodHardened and stiffened dead cells – no longer conducting sap
Species where heartwood is desirable:Cherry, Mahogany, Teak
SapwoodSap conduction
Species where sapwood is desirable:Maple, Birch
Lumber & Veneer – Plain Sawing/SlicingLumber & Veneer – Plain Sawing/Slicing
Plain sawing = the most efficient way to convert a round log into rectangular pieces of lumber
Plain slicing
Lumber & Veneer – Quarter Sawing/SlicingLumber & Veneer – Quarter Sawing/Slicing
Quarter sawing
Quarter slicing
Lumber and Veneer – Rift Sawing/SlicingLumber and Veneer – Rift Sawing/Slicing
Rift sawing
Rift slicing
Quarter- vs Rift-Sawn - AppearanceQuarter- vs Rift-Sawn - Appearance
Quarter-sawn
Rift-sawn
Only species with pronounced medullary rays (oaks, maples, sycamores, lacewood) present this difference.
Plain vs. Quarter-Sawn/Sliced -- Plain vs. Quarter-Sawn/Sliced -- AppearanceAppearance
Plain sawnQuarter sawn
Quarter sawn synonyms:
• Vertical grain/VG• Straight grain• Comb grain
Plain sawn synonyms:• Flat sawn• Flat grain
Only species with pronounced growth rings will present this appearance
Rotary Peeling – Process & AppearanceRotary Peeling – Process & Appearance
The log is peeled by a blade and is worked around the log toward the center, creating a wood veneer.
A sample of veneer produced by rotary peeling.
Wood HardnessWood Hardness
All wood will dent if sufficient force is applied
High heels will dent even the hardest woods
115 lb woman exerts about 2500 lbs of force via a high heel
Hardness TestingHardness Testing
Wood hardness is measured by the Janka hardness test
Comparative Hardness GraphComparative Hardness Graph
Industry Standard
The Structure of WoodThe Structure of Wood
The cellular structure of wood: a big bundle of “straws”
Notice how it looks very much like a sponge
Why Wood MovesWhy Wood Moves
• All wood gains and loses moisture
• The MC of wood will always equalize w/ ambient humidity
• When it does, all wood expands and contracts
Dry Sponge
Wet Sponge
Differential ShrinkageDifferential Shrinkage
Two main dimensions on which wood moves:
1. Radially
2. Tangentially (twice as much)
R = Radial
T = Tangential
L = Longitudinal
A
B
lumber
A = bark face, or sap faceB = heart face
Large shrinkage in the tangential direction
Small shrinkage in the radial direction
Shrinkage: Different Amounts & DirectionsShrinkage: Different Amounts & Directions
Plain-Sawn Lumber More Prone to CuppingPlain-Sawn Lumber More Prone to Cupping
Quarter sawn cross-section
Plain sawn cross-section
Quarter-Sawn Lumber is More StableQuarter-Sawn Lumber is More Stable
Plain-sawn lumberQuarter-sawn lumber
Arrow thickness denotes movement amount
Some Species are More Stable than OthersSome Species are More Stable than Others
Species TangentialShrinkage
RadialShrinkage
Hard Maple 9.9% 4.8%
Red Oak 8.6% 4.0%
Brazilian Cherry
8.5% 4.5%
Teak 5.8% 2.5%
Values are percentage of shrinkage from green to oven dry
Tangential Shrinkage
This 6” wide piece of Maple will shrink 10% (3/4”) in width.
What does all this mean for wood flooring?What does all this mean for wood flooring?
Water & wood do not mix well• Wet concrete slabs or other subfloors• Wet mopping• Flooding
What does all this mean for wood flooring?What does all this mean for wood flooring?
Big changes in relative humidity also a problem
Wood flooring performs best in RH ranges of 35% - 65% (typical of house interiors)
What does all this mean for wood flooring?What does all this mean for wood flooring?
Solid Wood Flooring: Wood properties = performance
What does all this mean for wood flooring?What does all this mean for wood flooring?
In conditions of fluctuating moisture, care must be taken when using wood flooring in the following:
• Solid formats• Plain sawn• Wide widths• Less stable species
What does all this mean for wood flooring?What does all this mean for wood flooring?
• In conditions of fluctuating moisture, generally best to specify wood flooring in…
Engineered format – more stable in width than solid (about 50%)
But engineered format is generally less stable than solid lengthwise
Veneer face very stable because of fracturesWhen sawn face, cross plies help control movement
Solid wood doesn’t move longitudinallyCross plies move sideways and can affect lengths
Engineered FlooringEngineered Flooring
Engineered flooring is more complicated than solidMany formats that perform differently in different situations
Two main components
wear layer
substrate
Engineered Flooring: Wear LayersEngineered Flooring: Wear Layers
Sawn• 2 to 3.5 mm (6 - 8 mm possible)• Less efficient (sawdust)• Properties same as solid wood• Entire face moves
Veneer (sliced or peeled)
• Sliced 0.6 to 1 mm• Peeled 1.5 to 2.5 mm• Efficient (almost no waste)
• Knife checking/fracturing
Engineered Flooring: AppearanceEngineered Flooring: Appearance
Sawn wear layersSame as solid
Sliced veneerSame but slightly more repeating pattern
Peeled veneerRotary – whacky plywood look
Engineered Flooring Formats: 3-LayerEngineered Flooring Formats: 3-Layer
3 layer (must utilize thicker wear layer or “telegraphing” may occur)1. Wear layer2. Cross-slat core3. Veneer back
Pros – least susceptible to cuppingCons – telegraphs in super-dry and wet conditions
Engineered Flooring Formats: 2-LayerEngineered Flooring Formats: 2-Layer
2 layer1. 2 mm or thicker sawn face2. Plywood substrate
Pros – Not susceptible to telegraphingCons – More susceptible to cupping, end peaking
Engineered Flooring Formats: Multi-Engineered Flooring Formats: Multi-LayerLayer
Multi-layer1. Wear layer < 2 mm2. Plywood substrate
Pros – Not susceptible to telegraphingCons – More susceptible to cupping, end peaking
Engineered Flooring Formats: HDF CoreEngineered Flooring Formats: HDF Core
HDF core1. 2 mm or less sawn face on HDF substrate
Pros – InexpensiveCons – Quality of HDF = how it holds up to moisture
absorption
Engineered Flooring – Edge/End Engineered Flooring – Edge/End TreatmentsTreatments
Edge and end treatments• Beveled• Micro-beveled• Micro-eased• Square edge• True square
Square edge
Engineered Flooring – Flooring TreatmentsEngineered Flooring – Flooring Treatments
Surface treatments and finishesTreatments• Smooth• Handscraped
Finishes• Glossy• Matte• Cashmere/Low-Gloss
Hand scraped wood flooring
Engineered Flooring – T&G SystemsEngineered Flooring – T&G Systems
Regular T&G
Click T&G
Installation MethodsInstallation Methods
Nail/StaplePros - Cheap, fast (where substrate exists), more integrity
than floatCons - No substrate, need to install one, no particle board
substrate
GluePros - quiet, solid, any sound, dry, flat substrate, more
integrity than floatCons - relatively costly & labor-intensive, messy, curing time
FloatPros - very fast, inexpensiveCons - “Springy” feel, clicking or tapping sound
Installation Really MattersInstallation Really Matters
The performance of wood flooring is only as good as the installation
You need to choose the correct installation method for your conditions and other requirements
Consult with Bob Goldstein, WFRG Director of Technical Services
Phone: 856-705-1118 Email: [email protected]
Job site conditions really matterJob site conditions really matter
Biggest pitfalls• Wet slab• No heating/ventilation
Common Pitfalls – Color ChangeCommon Pitfalls – Color Change
Some species dramatically change color (esp. exotics)• With exposure to air and/or• With exposure to light
Brazilian Cherry expected color change
Fresh>
Aged>
Common Pitfalls - MoistureCommon Pitfalls - Moisture
• Too wet:• Swelling (and subsequent compression set) • Lifting off the floor • Telegraphing • Tips up
•Too dry:
•Shrinking•Cupping•Cracking•Telegraphing
Cupped floor usually caused by a wet subfloor
Engineered vs. Solid Wood FlooringEngineered vs. Solid Wood Flooring
¾” Solid Wood Flooring
9/16” Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered vs. Solid Wood FlooringEngineered vs. Solid Wood Flooring
Comparing the sandable wear surface
Engineered wear layer; 1.5 mm – 2.5 mm once, 3 mm+ twice
Solid wear surface; 3 - 4 re-sandings total
Engineered vs. Solid Wood FlooringEngineered vs. Solid Wood Flooring
High-quality wood efficiency usage
Engineered vs. Solid Wood FlooringEngineered vs. Solid Wood Flooring
Solid wood flooring has to acclimate
Engineered wood flooring does not. Result…
T&G can be milled to tight fit, plywood “built in”
Glue-down or floating installation Eliminate plywood subfloor
Save $$$ and resources!Save $$$ and resources!
Comparison of Cost BreakdownComparison of Cost Breakdown
Unfinished vs. Prefinished Unfinished vs. Prefinished
Solid flooring – usually unfinished, must be site-finished Engineered flooring – factory finish
Quality of FinishQuality of Finish
Factory finish
• 9 coats urethane, aluminum-oxide sub-coats• UV-cured (no off-gassing)
Site-applied finish• 2 or 3 coats max. • solvent- or water-based (may off-gas VOCs)
Site-applied finishes less durable but scratches can be more apparent in factory finishes
Benefits of Screening/Top-CoatingBenefits of Screening/Top-Coating
• Relatively quick/inexpensive - $.75 - $1.75/sq. ft.
• Repairs most signs of wear
• Creates uniform look• Seals surface of floor • Chemical system doesn’t require mechanical sanding
Bona Prep Recoating Adhesion SystemBasic Coatings “TyKote” Sandless Recoating System• Can be repeated indefinitely
Bob Goldstein: “Remember, you walk on the finish, not the wood!”
Phone: 856-705-1118 Email: [email protected]
Wood Flooring in Commercial ApplicationsWood Flooring in Commercial Applications
Factors affecting how well wood flooring performs in demanding commercial applications:
Care and maintenance over the life of the floor
Pick the right installer and installation method
Pick the right product for the application and site conditions in terms of:
Format Species Finish Hardness
Wood HardnessWood Hardness
High traffic = harder woods
Industry Standard
Care & MaintenanceCare & Maintenance
• Humidity/moisture issues Operate a humidity control system Clean up spills quickly—DON’T wet mop
•Use recommended cleaners Bona Swedish Formula Hardwood Floor Cleaner Basic Coatings Cleaner
• To remove scratchesBonaKemi fill stick and marker touch-up kit
Wood Flooring Care and Maintenance GuidelinesWood Flooring Care and Maintenance Guidelines
Other ConsiderationsOther Considerations
Budget• Least expensive installed product is generally multi-ply or
HDF-backed engineered flooringOn- or above-grade or below-grade
• Engineered only below-gradeSubfloor material and condition
• Engineered often used over concrete, almost always over radiant heat
$
Environmental IssuesEnvironmental Issues
• LEED compliance• Forest certification• Plantations vs. Natural Forests• Recycled/Reclaimed/Salvaged• Rapidly Renewable• Regional Sourcing• Offgassing/IAQ
Wood Flooring for Green Building
Thank you!Thank you!
Questions??Questions??
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