An engineered board is, quite simply, a timber board which consists of more than one layer. By placing each layer so that the grain runs perpendicularly it becomes virtually impossible for the timber to swell or shrink with changes in humidity and so it dramatically increases the stability. The top layer of an engineered board (the lamella) is solid wood, usually hardwood, and may be anything from 2 to 6mm thick; obviously the thicker the surface layer the more times it can be sanded and refinished to remove the ravages of wear; the thickest wear layers are equivalent to those on solid timber boards. The lamella is securely bonded to one or two further layers – this may be a multi-layered plywood or a sandwich with either a softwood or hardwood core.
Engineered boards should not be confused with laminate or veneer. Laminate uses an image of wood on its surface whilst veneer uses only a very thin layer of wood over a core of some type of composite wood product, usually fibreboard.
Engineered timber is now the most common type of wood flooring used globally and the technology has enabled the production of much wider boards as well as the application of an enormous variety of really interesting finishes.
No matter how well seasoned, oiled, waxed or lacquered it may be, timber remains hydroscopic. This means that when the humidity is high it will absorb some of that moisture, swell and rise or ‘crown’ in the middle. If that same piece of timber is placed in a dry environment – as happens when using heating or air conditioning – it will release its moisture, dry out and shrink. Lay pieces of timber side by side in a confined space and those changes in humidity, over time, may well result in them bowing, warping, cupping or gapping – gaps between the planks. This is what can happen with a solid timber floor, wall or ceiling.
Engineered boards are like solid timber planks with lots of benefits:
* They are far more stable than solid timber planks so there is far less likelihood of eventual problems and much wider boards can be produced.
* Engineered boards are usually available pre-finished which means a reduced installation time and no surprises on site.
* Unlike the vast majority of solid timber planks, engineered boards can usually be fitted over underfloor heating.
* Engineered boards make far more efficient use of slow-growing, lamella layer timbers (oak, walnut, etc).
* Engineered boards offer alternative, easier methods of installation.
A solid timber floor is flooring laid with planks or boards which have been milled from a single piece of timber, usually a hardwood. Since wood is hydroscopic (it acquires and loses moisture from the ambient conditions around it) this potential instability effectively limits the length and width of the boards. Solid hardwood flooring is usually cheaper than engineered timbers and damaged areas can be sanded down and refinished repeatedly, the number of timbers being limited only by the thickness of wood above the tongue. Solid construction timber is often used for sports floors and most traditional wood blocks, mosaics and parquetry are also of solid construction. Given the climatic extremes in the Asia-Pacific region it is rare for Havwoods Australia to stock solid timber, however it is available from Havwoods UK.
An engineered board is, quite simply, a timber board which consists of more than one layer. By placing each layer so that the grain runs perpendicularly it becomes virtually impossible for the timber to swell or shrink with changes in humidity and so it dramatically increases its stability. The top layer of an engineered board (the lamella) is solid wood, usually hardwood, and may be anything from 2mm to 6mm thick. Find out more here: https://www.havwoods.com/au/flooring-types-explained/
The WoodBook, published quarterly, is Havwoods go-to guide for our newest product launches, inspirational images, case studies, pricing and more. You can view The WoodBook online, and request printed or digital editions with pricing here: https://www.havwoods.com/au/engineered-timber-floors-brochure-request/
Havwoods have showrooms located in Sydney, Malbourne and Newcastle. You can visit our showrooms from 8:30am-5:00pm Monday to Friday or book private appointments. Learn more about our showrooms here: https://www.havwoods.com/au/showrooms/
Our wood is sourced from all over Europe.
Lacquered timber floors are very easy to care for. For everyday cleaning a broom, vacuum cleaner or micro-fibre mop may be used to remove dust and loose debris. For wet cleaning the floor should be misted from a pump spray bottle to avoid it becoming too wet and dried using a micro-fibre wet head. Do not use conditioner, cleanser or steam mop on a lacquered timber floor.
Lacquer is normally a polyurethane coating which is applied to the surface of a wooden floor by brush or roller. The polyurethane covers the pores of the wood and forms a hard, resilient coating which protects the timber from dirt and moisture ingress. A good quality lacquer will protect a timber floor for anything from 12 months to 6 years, depending upon the amount of foot traffic.
Yes! Havwoods has collections like Vertical, which feature wood wall cladding and cork wall cladding. TrikBrik stone and brick cladding. And our Relik collection which hosts geniuine reclaimed wood products.