Which floors are more valuable oak beech or ash. Which is better: oak or ash? Advantages of oak parquet boards

The main parameters by which commercial wood is selected for the production of furniture are: strength, resistance to deformation, wear resistance. All these three qualities are combined into one indicator - the density of wood, that is, the ratio of the mass of a tree to its volume.

Types of wood depending on density:

A) Soft (up to 540 kg / m 3) - spruce, pine, aspen, linden, fir, poplar, chestnut, alder, cedar;

B) Solid (550-740kg / m 3) - larch, birch, oak, elm, beech, plane tree, Walnut, maple, apple tree, ash;

C) Very hard (from 750 kg / m 3) - iron birch, mountain ash, white acacia, hornbeam, dogwood, boxwood, pistachio tree.

Consider the breeds most in demand in furniture production:

1. Pine

wood color- brown, beige-yellow, white with light pink stains. The best material for making furniture are pines growing on a hill with sandy soils or on dry hills. In such wood, the annual layers will be pronounced and narrow, close to each other. Pine grown in areas with high humidity will have a loose structure, and the blanks from it will have to dry for a long time before being put into production. Pine wood is soft, easily scratched and damaged.

Pros:

• flexibility in processing. Pine is easily planed along the fibers, but with difficulty - in the transverse direction. When sawing, the opposite is true - the log is cut easily across, but badly along.
• easy to glue;
• depending on the color and structure of the wood, pine is used both for the manufacture of furniture with subsequent varnishing, and for frames, and various designs with hardwood veneer;
• like all conifers, it has a pleasant smell, it releases phytocides, which are considered medicinal.

2. Spruce

Spruce wood is softer than pine. In addition, there are a large number of knots in the trunk, which makes it difficult to process wood for the manufacture of furniture panels. Compared to pine, spruce absorbs moisture better and rots faster. Due to its inexpressive texture and low strength, spruce is most often used for mosaic decoration or in structures that do not experience significant loads during operation.
Pros:

• spruce wood is practically not subject to warping;
• sticks perfectly.

Along with spruce, Siberian fir is also used - these two trees have similar indicators.

3. Larch

The wood of this coniferous tree valued for its unusual reddish-brown hue and high performance. From shortcomings of larch- a large amount of resins, which quickly disables tools and causes difficulties in processing. In case of improper drying, internal cracks form on larch wood.

Pros:

• high moisture resistance;
• excellent strength indicators (the best among conifers);
• little subject to warping;
• used to make carved pieces.

4. Cedar

The yellowish white cedar wood is no different high strength and density, so it does not withstand heavy loads.

Pros:

• resistance to decay and wormhole;
• suitable for carving;
• has a specific woody aroma.

5. Tees

Red-brown with light and dark veins, yew wood has high strength, but also large quantity knots.
Pros:

• not subject to a wormhole,
• easily planed and polished,
• insensitive to atmospheric changes.

6. Oak

On the radial section of the oak trunk, large core rays and light sapwood are clearly visible. Oak is the most widely used hardwood in solid wood furniture, thanks to great combination indicators of strength and beauty of the texture. If the oak lies in water for a long time (several decades), its wood acquires a rare dark purple color with a green tint. Oak wood is difficult to polish, requiring equipment with high-hardened cutters.

Pros:

• despite the high viscosity of wood, it is processed quite well;
• bends easily;
• decay resistant;
• lends itself well to artificial aging techniques.

7. Ash

Wood in many qualities looks like oak, but lighter and does not have pronounced core rays. Ash-trees are necessarily subjected to antiseptic treatment, since in conditions of humidity the wood is quickly damaged by a wormhole. Poorly polished.

Pros:

• bends well after steaming;
• cracks a little when drying;
• when discolored, it acquires an unusual shade of gray hair.

8. Beech

beech wood not inferior to oak in strength, but it is highly hygroscopic, therefore it is not recommended for the manufacture of furniture that will be used in conditions of high humidity (bath, kitchen). Poorly polished.

Pros:

• high decorative qualities: beautiful texture in both radial and tangential cut,
• fast drying, does not crack;
• easy to process: it is pricked, sawn, cut, bent;
• it is perfectly bleached and dyed with the help of special solutions, it practically does not change the beautiful natural shade during varnishing.

9. Hornbeam

It has a hard dense wood of a grayish-white color. It is often referred to as white beech, but the texture of the hornbeam is not so pronounced and often has a slanting structure, due to which the tree is not prickly.

Pros:

• after high-quality drying, the hornbeam becomes harder than oak;
• not subject to warping;
• lends itself well to etching and finishing.

10. Common birch

birch wood, despite its high density, is unstable against decay, therefore it is mainly used for the manufacture of plywood, peeled veneer, chipboard. It dries for a long time and badly, is prone to wormholes, cracks badly, warps.

Pros:

• uniform structure and beautiful colour wood;
• bends well;
• in the production of solid wood furniture, it is used as an imitation of valuable species (it is well painted when etched).

Separately, Karelian birch is distinguished, which has higher performance indicators, is known for its unusual texture and pink wood. It is expensive, so it is mainly used for veneering solid wood furniture.

11. Maple

Despite being dense maple wood rarely cracks, he resistant to moisture. Bird's eye and sugar maple are most valued because of their characteristic beautiful structure.

Pros:

• easily pricked, well processed: cut, polished;
• has a homogeneous structure without pronounced fibers;
• when stained, it successfully imitates valuable breeds;
• maple wood does not have a pronounced core, therefore it is easily painted, varnished, stained.

12. Alder

Soft rock, without a pronounced structure. Alder wood quickly darkens in the air, therefore it is used mainly in a painted form (under ebony or mahogany). Alder Feature: Wormhole in dry places, but rot resistant in wet conditions.

Pros:

• dries quickly
• easy to carpentry,
• well polished,
• warps slightly.

13. White acacia

The hardest hardwood, therefore, has a high friction resistance, is resilient. In dry form, it is difficult to process, therefore it is used mainly for facing soft rocks.

Pros:

• perfectly polished;
• when exposed to air, the wood darkens, resulting in a bright yellow-brown color and expressive texture.

14. Walnut

The older the tree, the more valuable and darker its wood. The most expensive variety is American black walnut.

Pros:

• a wide variety of shades;
• dense, but malleable wood;
• easy to color thanks to high content tannins (from tinted ebony to even white).

15. Linden

It is used in production for the manufacture of figured turned elements. It contains few tannins, therefore it practically does not stain, but it lends itself well to staining (with the right concentration of the solution, linden wood can be given the appearance of more valuable tree species). Needs antiseptic impregnation, as it is highly susceptible to wormholes.

Pros:

• resists moisture well
• wood is strong and plastic,
• It has a beautiful white and creamy hue.

As you can see, each wood has its own advantages and disadvantages, based on which you can choose a certain grade for the manufacture of solid wood furniture.

An important element of any interior is the floor. Both aesthetics and convenience, as well as cosiness and comfort of the room, depend on the type of flooring. Modern manufacturers offer a wide range of flooring: linoleum, carpet, laminate, tile, porcelain tile, parquet, massive or parquet board. Parquet flooring, as the most prestigious and attractive, is widely popular due to its excellent aesthetic qualities and high performance. In addition, it is an indicator of excellent taste, solidity and prosperity of the owner of the house. The most common flooring option is ash or oak parquet. To give preference to one of them, you should study the qualities of wood and compare them.

Oak or ash: growth features

Oak is a representative of the beech family, and has an extensive habitat. Today there are about 600 various kinds this tree. The height of the oak can reach up to 50 meters, and the diameter - up to 2 meters. The life expectancy of an oak with slow growth (about 20 cm per year) is up to 1000 years.

Ash is considered the second most popular tree. It belongs to the olive family and grows much faster than oak. The height of the ash tree can reach 40 meters, while the trunk retains its harmony. The maximum lifespan of an ash tree is 250-300 years.

Oak or ash: wood qualities

These tree species are very popular with manufacturers, and are of high value in production. parquet board. For all their similarities, each breed has a whole range of qualities that are taken into account in the process of wood processing and flooring production.

The high aesthetic and operational qualities of oak and ash have been valued since time immemorial. The wood of these species is considered the hardest and heaviest, has high strength, elasticity and viscosity. Oak wood wears out little, resists decay and the effects of microorganisms. It has a high resistance to moisture. On the contrary, under the influence of water, wood acquires characteristic dark shades. Such an oak is called bog. Oak wood occupies a leading position in terms of hardness, which increases over the years.

Unlike oak, ash wood is relatively short-lived, due to the peculiarity of its structure. It also has increased resistance to fungi, mold and other microorganisms, does not change its properties with temperature and humidity changes. However, ash wood wears out faster, so when producing parquet, its surface needs additional processing.

Due to the dense structure, oak and ash wood lends itself well to processing. It is used in the manufacture of not only flooring, but also tools, sports equipment, furniture, doors, stairs, thresholds.

Oak parquet: beauty and durability

To create an interior in a classic style, an indispensable attribute is an oak parquet board. Its surface has natural noble shades. The richness of the color range from light yellow to dark brown, almost black, is due to the growing conditions of the tree. Due to its excellent aesthetic qualities, heat and sound insulation properties, the parquet board will help to create a discreet and elegant elegant interior while providing an atmosphere home warmth and cozy tranquility.

It is recommended for high-traffic areas, since its surface is able to withstand critically increased loads. It is also recommended for use in residential and office space because the surface has a variety of textures, giving richness and nobility to any interior. The oak parquet board is harmoniously combined with any interior solutions, providing comfort and naturalness.

Ash parquet: sophistication and stability

It is the second most popular floor covering. This is due to the stability of the floor and aesthetic appeal. A properly finished board will not shrink, warp, and provide high abrasion resistance. Therefore, it is recommended to use it in high traffic areas, as well as at sports facilities.

The light color of wood, and all its shades determine the character of the interior where it will be used. given material. V ready-made ash floor impresses with lightness and discreet sophistication, its discreet beauty allows you to create spectacular and presentable interiors in the style of classics, modern, retro and even country.

Parquet ash or oak: which is better

To determine which is better: ash or oak parquet, you need to know that oak and ash wood acquires richness and depth over time. Both materials have a similar texture, however, ash has a more pronounced natural pattern than oak, in which the grain pattern has a calm restraint. Oak wood is used to create classic flooring, and ash wood is used to make mosaic parquet.

If you are planning to start renovating your home, then sooner or later you will be faced with the question of flooring. It is better if this happens before the start of finishing work, since the choice of material is directly related to the style of the interior of the room.

As a rule, the choice of flooring is now worth making between two materials - parquet or laminate. To make the right decision, you need to know the advantages and disadvantages of one and the other coverage.

What is laminate

To answer the question: "Why is parquet board better than laminate?" - consider some design features the last one. This is a multilayer material, and the number of layers in it can be different. But it always contains the following components:

The laminate is wear-resistant, it is not afraid of direct sunlight, it is resistant to heavy loads. It can be used both in residential premises and in public buildings, offices.

What is parquet board

A material that is made from several layers of different wood according to special technology. As a result, the board receives a special degree of strength. What does the parquet board consist of, customer reviews of which are always enthusiastic?

The first, top layer plays a decorative role. It is made from precious wood - oak, ash, walnut, beech. Its thickness is about 6 mm. It undergoes heat treatment, bleaching, brushing. Then the board is impregnated with special compounds based on oils and wax, or with a colorless varnish.

The middle layer is pine or spruce. Small slats of this wood are laid perpendicular to the first layer. This is done to give the material strength. In the middle layer, grooves or locks with spikes are made to connect the boards when laying.

Bottom, third layer, solid. Spruce or pine is also commonly used here. Layer thickness 1.5 mm.

The parquet board floor is very durable, resistant to temperature extremes and moisture. It lasts a long time and is very easy to maintain.

Parquet board or laminate

Based on the foregoing, we can say with confidence that the parquet board, reviews of which confirm this statement, is more reliable, durable and easy to maintain. Therefore, in our opinion, it is most suitable for flooring. Although, of course, the choice is yours.

Benefits of parquet board

It would be unfair not to say about the shortcomings that a parquet board has (as, indeed, any finishing material). Customer reviews indicate that this coating requires strict adherence to humidity and temperature conditions in order for the board to retain its appearance and original shape. In addition, many (especially ladies) note that walking on such a floor in stilettos is undesirable, since the varnish coating can be damaged.

Although above we talked about the fact that special care does not require a parquet board, the reviews of the owners of such a floor sound a little different: in fact, to care for this floor, special compounds, mastics, stain removers are required, as for the care of piece parquet.

Parquet board one-strip

If you have already looked closely at this material in the store, then you probably noticed that the price tag or product description indicates: "One-strip parquet board." What does this indicator mean?

A single-strip board mimics an array of boards. Usually its width is from 180 to 210 mm. Meet more narrow options, but less frequently. This board looks very respectable. Its top layer is covered with a monolithic veneer of valuable wood. In addition, the production of such material is a very laborious process. Because of this, the cost of such a board is much higher. However, if you compare it with a solid board, then it will cost you almost half as much, but it will look no worse, but technical specifications will even surpass it.

The two-strip board imitates piece parquet (large-format). Its width is from 85 to 100 mm. It should be noted that in this case, the parquet board will undoubtedly win in price.

A three-strip board is also an alternative to piece parquet. It comes with a factory applied top coat. The prices for such a board are very affordable, since its production is not too expensive.

Oak parquet board

It's elite flooring. It is made from natural materials and therefore considered environmentally friendly. If you dream that an atmosphere of comfort and coziness reigned in your house, then this parquet board is exactly what you need. Oak is a unique material. It is strong and durable. Out of him modern masters create magnificent furniture, build houses, and oak flooring is considered one of the best.

Anyone who appreciates exclusivity and quality needs this original and stylish parquet board. Oak will give the room sophistication, walking on such a floor is a pleasure.

The variety of colors of this material deserves special attention. For example, "Red Oak" enlivens the atmosphere of the room, and "Gothic Oak" fits perfectly into the classic interior.

Advantages of oak parquet boards

This material has many advantages. Among them should be highlighted:

The cost of an oak parquet board is from 1300 to 4000 rubles per square meter, depending on the manufacturer.

Ash parquet board

A beautiful and light ash tree fascinates with its beauty and originality. This wood has always been valued for its stability and strength. Weapons and exquisite parquet were made from it, which adorned palaces and castles. Today, this tree is experiencing its second birth.

People with good taste, who know a lot about art, need this parquet board. Ash will emphasize the beauty and sophistication of any interior in a huge country house or a small apartment. This type of wood has some features that I would like to note:

If you want the interior of your home to become refined and sophisticated, then this parquet board is your choice. Ash, according to experts, is the choice of real aristocrats.

The cost of an ash parquet board is from 1200 to 2500 rubles per square meter.

Laying

Immediately it should be noted the undoubted advantage of this material. Laying a parquet board with your own hands is much easier than parquet. This work is a bit like installing a laminate, but still there are certain differences.

There are two common installation methods - glue and glueless. Each of these methods involves the use of its own board design. The first option is traditional, although it is gradually becoming a thing of the past. It is pushed aside by the glueless method. The reason for the popularity is obvious - the installation is simple and does not require special skills.

Parquet board sheets must be placed in the direction of light incidence. This will make the joints between the boards almost invisible. It can be laid parallel to the wall or at an angle to it. It depends only on your desire.

First, form the first row, after leaving a gap between the wall and the board of one and a half centimeters. Forming the second row, slightly shift it in relation to the first. This will greatly increase the strength of the floor. The offset is usually done by half the board. In other words, if you start the first row with a whole board, then the next one should start with a half. This rule must be observed throughout the installation. And it is important not to forget about the gap at the wall.

After the installation is completed, the plinth should be installed. It should be fixed on the wall so that it does not interfere with the temperature deformation of the floor.

Which parquet board is better

It is not easy to choose a good parquet board. This is primarily related to huge assortment this product in our stores.

The best parquet board can be made the best manufacturer. Well-known firms value their reputation too much to allow themselves to produce low-quality products.

It is important to pay attention to the quality of the locks - the quality of the installation depends on this. Today on Russian market The following companies have performed well:

1. When buying a parquet board, run your finger along its edge. It should be perfectly smooth and even.
2. Don't forget about the size of your room. A light floor will expand it, and a dark one will make the living room more comfortable.

If you still have doubts about which flooring material to choose, then think about the environmental friendliness of the material. Then your last doubts will disappear, and you will prefer a parquet board.

Compare wood directly different breeds, which are usually made interior doors incorrectly. Naturally wooden doors, which are two or even three times more expensive, will be better. It would be more correct to call the article "How to choose doors from an array." Moreover, each person chooses within their budget.

Features of doors made of different types of wood

If you try to break down into price segments what is actually on the market, you get the following picture:

budget segment - solid pine

middle segment - solid alder

elite segment - oak, ash, beech

Compare pine, in fact, there is nothing. Due to its cost from 3000 rubles, it is out of competition. Let's focus on its strengths and weaknesses, and it's up to you to decide whether it's worth overpaying for a more expensive array. Along the way, let's try to figure out whether it's worth paying for alder, or you can get by with pine, or you can immediately aim at oak. And of course, we will discuss in detail why doors from the elite segment are so good (what we pay for) and what to choose oak, beech or ash?

Pine

Pine wood is a very common material for the furniture industry. It occupies almost 17% of all forests in Russia. This provides a low cost of raw materials, including for door industries.

Pine has a low density, and therefore weight, this is due to the loose and porous structure of its fibers. This structure has advantages and disadvantages. The positive aspects include the small weight of finished products and good insulating qualities. The porous and loose structure contributes to good sound insulation and low thermal conductivity - pine doors will perfectly retain heat inside the premises. The downside is low hardness, the surface of pine doors is very soft.

Solid pine doors with "White Wax" finish

Another feature of pine wood is the presence of a large number of resin channels. This feature of the pine massif also has positive and negative consequences. High resin content gives low hygroscopicity, which means that the reaction to changes in temperature and humidity at pine doors is weakly expressed - this is a definite plus. That is why, you can often find doors made of untreated pine at all. At the same time, due to the abundance of resins, it is necessary to carefully select the modes of wood drying. For many industries, this becomes a real problem. Wet boards can crack in drying chamber, turning into raw materials unsuitable for production. But the most unpleasant option is when the finished door, already installed at the facility, cracks, in this case the costs are much higher. This happens if the drying modes are chosen incorrectly and the internal stresses in the layers of the array are not completely removed. As a result of the operation of such doors in conditions of changing humidity, these stresses only grow and lead to cracking.

That is why it is necessary to buy pine doors from trusted suppliers, whose doors have been standing for more than one year.

Pine is very good in processing, it is perfectly sawn, milled, glued. Surface varnishing, painting and toning does not cause difficulties.

Alder

The alder belongs to deciduous not valuable breeds. It is not as common as pine, but its large habitat makes the raw material inexpensive and readily available.

The popularity of alder as a raw material for the production of doors can be explained by comparing it with pine. It costs more, but not much. But in the process of drying it delivers much less trouble than pine. Alder dries quickly, while not cracking or warping. In terms of density, it is the same as pine, in terms of hardness it is better by about 20%. Alder absorbs moisture more than pine, so you will not find doors made of untreated alder. For the same reason, it perfectly accepts stains and other surface treatments. Alder doors, unlike pine, are often painted with opaque enamel. The probability of cracks on the surface due to internal stresses is small, and the enamel perfectly protects the array from moisture.

Doors made of solid alder, coated with white ground walnut patina

In general, the relationship with moisture in alder is ambiguous. Due to the high hygroscopicity of alder doors, they must be well treated with various compositions, otherwise it may behave unstable. At the same time, half of Venice stands on alder piles, the other on oak. Under water, alder becomes as strong as oak.

Many consider oak doors to be the best. Oak wood belongs to valuable species, its value confirms this. Oak grows slowly, mainly in the European part of Russia and the Caucasus.

Oak wood fibers are very dense, the distance between the annual rings is small. Due to this, oak has a good density, surface hardness and strength, and strength increases with time. Oak is hygroscopic like alder, and due to the high density of fibers, it expands more when absorbing moisture. When installed outdoors, special treatment is required. If the drying conditions are not observed, it may crack. Again, due to the high density, thermal conductivity and sound insulation are worse than those of loose and porous wood such as pine.

Solid oak door, translucent caramel paint

The property of oak, which becomes stronger and harder over time, has been valued at all times. Oak products are very durable, while being beautiful and noble. At oak wood, probably the best combination qualities, for the production of doors.

Ash

Ash is very good. In terms of hardness, flexural strength and tensile strength, it better oak a! It is more flexible and resilient. Absorbs less moisture. Therefore, it is difficult to process with impregnating compositions. And since he is destructive external environment it is rarely used outdoors. But we are talking about interior doors, so we can say with confidence that ash is not inferior to oak, but even surpasses it in some ways. And what is not unimportant, it is cheaper, because. is growing rapidly.

Solid oak doors with solid ash panels

Beech, like oak and ash, has excellent characteristics: it is hard, dense, resilient. Beech has a very homogeneous structure, it is perfectly processed, polished, polished. The surface after drying is very hard, it does not splatter, so household items are often made of beech: kitchen utensils, toys, furniture, drawing tools.

Of the shortcomings - high hygroscopicity. Beech absorbs moisture more than oak or ash and can crack and warp easily. It is very capricious in drying, requires careful handling and perfect observance of the regimes. For this reason, small businesses do not work with beech.

Solid beech doors

In terms of cost, beech is cheaper than oak and ash, which, combined with a high surface hardness, makes it a good alternative to these valuable species.

How are solid wood doors made and are they afraid of moisture?

When people pick up doors from an array of an apartment or a country house, they are tormented by the question: how are natural products tolerate high humidity or its sharp fluctuations. In addition to the properties of the wood itself, and even to a greater extent, the resistance to moisture is affected by how the doors are made and how the raw materials are prepared.

Let's figure it out. When wood absorbs moisture, it expands, and the expansion coefficient depends on the direction of the fibers. When it releases moisture, it dries out. This has consequences: the product changes in size and stresses grow inside the array.

Dimensions increase - the door stops closing.

Stresses reach certain values ​​- the door cracks.

This is what happens most often.

The woodworking industry has accumulated vast experience in dealing with these side effects of the naturalness of wood. We can say that the whole process of manufacturing wooden doors is aimed at making the wood more stable and not susceptible to changes in the microclimate.

The first thing that is done is high-quality drying of raw materials. Each breed has its own rules. One thing in common: the tree must dry for a long time and correctly. After the raw materials are dried to 8-10% moisture, assembly can begin.

The second stage is the assembly according to the technology of the re-glued array. After drying, the material is cut into bars right size and glued under pressure in several layers. The direction of the fibers in the layers is perpendicular. The layers restrain each other from resizing, and internal stresses are removed.

The third stage is surface treatment. All breeds interact differently with moist air. For example, alder absorbs moisture more than pine. Therefore, its surface, in most cases, must be covered with a more impervious composition. Lacquers and enamels cover the surface most hermetically. If you only need to partially close the pores so that the tree continues to breathe, wax or paint is used. There are a lot of compositions now, all processes have been worked out and do not cause difficulties.

In 90% of cases, improper drying is the cause of moisture problems. Judge for yourself, 3-4 days are enough to assemble a high-quality interior door, and drying takes weeks. It is necessary to dry the tree from about 60% humidity to 10%. If you do everything quickly, the tree will crack, bend and fit only for heating. For example, pine dries for about 20 days, if it is faster, the color will change, resin will climb, etc. Every 10% is a stage in which, according to a certain program, the humidity in the chamber, the temperature, the fan speed, and the operation of the steam ejection valves are adjusted. And between the stages, intermediate conditioning is still required.

Experts with extensive experience insist on this whole thing, but the principle is general: everything must be done for a long time, thoroughly and for sure. Acceleration experiments usually end badly. In large firms, this process is streamlined and there is always a supply of already dry boards. Small enterprises often do not have the opportunity to create a stock or hold wood for so long, because. it is necessary to fulfill the received orders and no one will wait.

But well-known factories also have problems, sometimes a whole batch of low-quality raw materials passes. True, with eminent factories you should not worry. If all purchase documents are kept, the doors should be exchanged within a year, no problem. A 1-year warranty is always enough to reveal all defects, if any. Usually, everything happens faster. The first potentially dangerous stage is a few weeks after installation indoors. Doors come into balance with humidity. If something has been broken in production, the probability of cracking at this point is the greatest. The second dangerous stage is the first turning off or turning on the heating. If this moment is survived, the probability of any incidents further is negligible.

Surface hardness values ​​by rock - the basis of durability

Each type of wood has certain properties: viscosity, elasticity, density. But, undoubtedly, the most important thing for an ordinary person is how the doors will endure daily household impacts: blows from other pieces of furniture, scratches, impacts from small children or pets, etc. Having spent a certain budget on the purchase of doors made of natural solid wood, you want to be sure that the doors will retain their attractiveness for a long period of time. Surface hardness is the characteristic that answers the question of how the wood surface resists these influences.

The hardness is determined by the Brinell method. Its essence lies in the fact that a steel ball with a diameter of 10mm. is pressed into the surface of the sample with a force of 100 kg. Naturally, a hole is formed on the surface, according to the diameter of which this indicator is calculated. The higher the score, the better (harder).

The indicators for our breeds are as follows:

Pine 2.5

Alder 3

Oak 3.7

Beech 3.8

Ash 4

A coating has a certain effect on the strength of the surface, for example, enamel or varnish can seriously protect and preserve the decorative properties of the surface. But the ratio of these indicators will remain approximately the same: pine is the softest, alder is slightly better, beech, oak and ash have sufficient hardness to maintain a beautiful appearance for many years.

We select doors according to the pattern of the tree

The surface of each tree is unique. Many will say that our Russian breeds are not much different. But we don't agree. We also believe that doors from those varieties that grow in our latitudes suit us the most. In terms of price / quality ratio, ours is better and cheaper. The structure of our wood species is more suitable for our climate. As for external beauty, as sales of veneered doors show, for which you can pick up veneer of any exotic breed, doors from any kind of zebrano are ordered very rarely, and from oak or ash veneer all the time.

Pine

The pine has an interesting pattern, a lot of beautiful stains. If knots and defects are cut out, a beautiful surface is obtained. Translucent coatings only emphasize the natural beauty of the material, white tones look especially impressive. In European and Scandinavian rustic design trends, pine doors are the standard choice.

Solid pine doors with clear lacquer

Alder

In alder, usually the boundaries of the annual rings are poorly distinguishable, the tree rays are also not very pronounced. In general, we can say that the picture is inexpressive, homogeneous. Alder is often tinted to almost opaque shades or even enamelled. But as we already know, due to the hygroscopicity of wood, this is only good for her.

Doors from the massif of an alder under white enamel

oak and ash

Oak and ash have a very beautiful wood pattern with large stains. These breeds are very similar and sometimes one is given out for another. In principle, for interior doors there is no difference between oak or ash, since the latter is no worse, and in some ways even better than oak. But you can often hear the question, how to distinguish oak from ash? Let's answer on the example of interior doors. If we have a finished product in front of us, we need to carefully examine its entire surface. Ash will only have streaks. And in oak, in addition to streaks, there will probably be a lamella with core rays somewhere on the surface. These are such parallel, short, light strokes that do not intersect and are noticeably different from the usual pattern.

Fragment of a solid oak door with core beams

Sometimes, ash panels are made in oak doors, because. its natural pattern is more expressive and it is easier to pick up the lamellas as a whole.

Beech has little hallmarks. Its growth rings are clearly visible, on the surface they are visible in the form of parallel lines, sometimes undulating, the texture is fine and even. On a radial cut, numerous fibers are clearly visible, randomly scattered over the surface.

You can choose models by price and color in our catalog of solid wood doors.

Methods of decorative surface treatment, how they affect the cost

There are many ways to treat the surface of wood products. Some breeds, due to their natural properties, certain compositions and techniques are suitable. It is very important to use the right coatings to keep the wood in perfect condition and to bring out the natural beauty.

Butter

The cheapest natural material suitable for wood processing. Oil impregnation is possible due to the structure of the wood itself. Penetrating into the surface, the oil makes the wood more elastic, gives a matte sheen, and makes the surface velvety to the touch. Oils are different in composition: linseed, tar, teak, tung. But one thing is invariable - this type of protection is very short-lived, it will have to be renewed at least twice a year.

Wax

One of the most popular processing methods is waxing. It is applied on a clean, previously untreated surface. It penetrates deep into the surface, protecting it, while the wood breathes. Wax perfectly emphasizes the structure of the tree, additionally protects from excess moisture. It preserves the warm shades of the natural pattern, beautifully highlights the transitions. Wax can be colorless or tint the door in different shades, from light to red or wenge brown. Models made of solid pine under white wax are very popular.

Solid pine doors white waxed floor

Lacquer is used for finishing wooden products a long time ago. There are many varnishes of different composition: resin, alkyd, oil, alcohol, alkyd-urea, epoxy, polyester, cellulose ether, acrylic, polyurethane, etc. They differ in smell, action, drying time, service life. But what they have in common is that they all form a strong film on the surface of the tree, which protects the product from external influences. In order for the varnish to lie evenly, the surface is pre-primed. This is done because the surface of the tree can absorb the compositions unevenly. For example, pine, due to its natural resinousness, may become stained with uneven toning. Varnish can be chosen matte or with a glossy effect, or you can tint in the desired shade.

Doors made of pine under colorless varnish

wood stain

If you want to change the color of a lacquered door surface, there are two options. Use stain after primer, the more layers, the darker, and then varnish. Or use a tinting varnish immediately after the primer. The difference is that the stain makes the transitions of the natural wood pattern more contrasting.

Dye

For surface painting home furniture and interior doors made of wood are mainly used acrylic paints on the water based. It is also applied to a pre-primed surface. How good is paint? It forms a translucent, breathable coating on the surface of the door. At the same time, it perfectly protects the tree from external influences. With the help of paint, you can give the tree any shade, while maintaining the natural structure. To emphasize and highlight the wood pattern under the paint, a stain or mordant is used, again after the primer before staining. The transparency and contrast of the finish coat depends on the number of layers and the degree of tinting of all formulations. Painted doors made of solid oak or ash look very impressive, especially when the master has selected large lamellas according to the pattern.

Solid oak door under translucent caramel paint

Enamel

A dense opaque coating that protects the doors from almost everything that can happen to them in everyday life. Under such protection, the natural array is not afraid of either excess moisture or small children with toys. The structure of the tree is naturally not visible under the enamel, but for many interiors this is not necessary. In general, painting doors with enamel is a rather complicated event that requires at least spray booth and great experience, which naturally affects the cost. A patina or artistic painting can be applied over the enamel.

Gloss

Creating a glossy enamel surface for ultra-modern interiors is the most time-consuming painting process. Requires a lot of labor for intermediate grinding to obtain a high order gloss. There is no limit to perfection in this process.

bleaching

Bleached oak appeared in Italy and was first used for the production of interior doors. Initially, to give oak wood an interesting and noble shade, a pigment substance was used that changed the color of the fibers. It turned out very effectively, and this method quickly gained popularity. To make the surface matte and emphasize the structure after bleaching, the wood was covered with oil or clear varnish. Now there are many stylized bleached oak materials from cheaper types of wood.

Door in solid oak under translucent white paint "Bleached Oak"

Staining

Everyone has heard about bog oak, but rarely has anyone seen natural products from this truly precious type of wood. This method of processing was invented by nature itself. Spending more than one century without oxygen at the bottom of a reservoir, oak, naturally not deprived of good qualities, completely changes its properties - it becomes incredibly strong and durable. In addition, interesting changes occur in the color of the wood. Some 300-400 years at the bottom and the oak will acquire delicate pale shades, having lain for about 1000 years, it becomes almost black. Despite the popularity of this material, few can afford such a luxury.

In order to endow already good interior doors with a nobility worthy of admiration for an expensive and sophisticated appearance, various surface aging techniques are used. Aristocracy goes to natural wood doors.

brushing

This method got its name from the English word brush, which means a brush. Initially, it was used only for conifers, literally tearing soft layers from the surface with metal bristles and leaving hard ones. Looking at such a surface relief, the doors are subconsciously associated with something expensive and unique. A spectacular pattern is formed from the grooves, the depth of which is set according to the designer's intention. And such manifestations of age as wormholes and chips give the product an even more refined and noble look. In addition, painting the grooves in a different color that favorably sets off the main one opens up a lot of opportunities for two-tone tinting. The final stage is the coating with a durable varnish. Now doors are brushed not only from pine, they have learned to do this with hardwoods as well. Brushed oak or ash is very impressive, very durable and practical. Such a surface is very hard, and random marks from strong blows it is not visible due to the relief.

brushed surface door leaf from array

Patination

In addition to the effect of noble antiquity, patination gives the doors a visual volume. The patina applied along the edges of the panels makes the play of shadows more noticeable, the surface relief appears stronger, which makes the painted doors more convex and interesting. By itself, patina, in a modern interpretation, is nothing more than a paint of a different tone or shade.

Door painted with white enamel with patina on a wide baguette

Using modern surface treatment techniques, doors can be changed beyond recognition even from inexpensive solid pine, while the cost increases in proportion to labor costs. Doors made of precious woods can be turned into a real work of art with an unlimited service life.

Now in fashion, in addition to modern interiors, a sufficient number of rustic styles, such as: Provence, loft, chalet or Scandinavian. And depending on the direction in design, the surface and the overall concept of interior doors must match. And often it is the doors that create the right atmosphere, gluing together in big picture all elements.

How to determine the quality of solid wood doors in a store

High-quality doors should have ideal geometry, a beautiful and even surface, and good build quality. But most of all, the quality of the product and its cost is influenced by the quality of the raw material - wood. Designer delights only increase the cost - a large curly baguette, complex shape panels, carving, painting, patina, brushing, two-color painting.

We evaluate the quality of the array, this is actually the main value

Raw materials are different and differ in price at times. Dear array is flat boards, without defects, large size. After drying, large beautiful blanks can be cut from it. Small pieces are obtained from cheap raw materials. All modern interior doors are made according to the technology of a re-glued array, during which these very blanks (lamellas) are glued together under pressure, in several layers, into a slab. Parts are made from the plate, which then assemble the door leaf.

If they say that the door is so expensive because it is made of solid wood - this is nonsense. The only difference between expensive doors and budget doors is the size of the lamellas from which the canvas is assembled. Look at any budget model made of solid oak from well-known factories and you will see that the surface is made of small dies. The door is literally full of different tones like parquet, “but naturalness is visible,” say the sellers. In expensive and high-quality solid wood doors, the lamellas on the surface are almost indistinguishable, and the wood pattern is selected symmetrically along the canvas.

How to evaluate build quality

When we get acquainted with product samples of door factories, we usually inspect the doors installed in the store. It probably makes no sense to try to evaluate their geometry, normal factories are all right with this. But it is worth seeing how the door is assembled. Gaps between the elements of the frame and panels, joints of standing parts and crossbars, glass fastening, joints of a baguette or glazing beads, especially at 45 degrees. Everything must be perfect, all joints and junctions without gaps, no gaps, the seal must be exactly where it is necessary and not crawl out. You can shake the canvas, knock lightly - everything should be a monolith, without a bounce.

Assessing surface quality

The surface of a solid wood door can say a lot. There are many ways to bring a tree to an ideal state. Repeated grinding, priming, impregnation, tinting, multi-layer outer coating with intermediate grinding, etc. - this is how the wood is processed so that we like it. Naturally, an ordinary person will not check the quality of these operations, but it is quite possible to understand whether they were done at all or not. When examining the surface, you need to change the angle of view and linger for a while in each position. It is important for us how smooth the surface is, uniform in color, there are no spots, smudges, painted chips, microcracks, impact marks, resin protrusion, non-painting along the borders of the panels. Be sure to try by touch, run your palm, press with your fingernail - check the hardness.

Based on them performance characteristics and aesthetic indicators, we strongly recommend that you opt for oak or ash. Both breeds have incomparable strength, flexibility, plasticity, excellent texture.

We work with oak, ash, larch, pine, beech, birch, spruce, and other types of wood. There is experience in working with an array of cherry, maple, linden, Canadian cedar, iroko, teak. We use only high-quality selected wood of extra class and 1st grade, without chips, cracks, falling knots and other defects.

According to the combination of strength, wear-resistant, aesthetic indicators, the priority scale of breeds, from the point of view of professionals, is as follows (starting from the best indicators):

• Ash
• Larch
• Birch
• Pine

All wood undergoes multi-stage technological processing in order to enhance the natural parameters of strength and improve aesthetic qualities. We produce furniture boards from natural solid wood, which have reliable performance characteristics: strength, dimensional and shape stability, resistance to warping, cracking. Therefore, for the customer, the criterion for choosing the type of wood is:

• personal aesthetic taste;
• compliance of the wood texture with the chosen style and design of the furniture present in the room;
• strength and durability of products.

Thanks to professional processing, the strength and performance of solid wood is maximally stabilized. However, the selected breed still has an impact on the durability of the use of products.

When choosing a wood species, the customer will have to focus on their taste preferences, evaluating furniture panels made from an array of various species.

Description and characteristics of furniture boards

The furniture board is made of wood bars (lamellas), firmly glued together into a single panel. rectangular shape. Depending on the technology of gluing (joining), finger-jointed and all-lamella structures are distinguished.

• Finger-jointed furniture boards

This is a wood board formed from lamellas glued along the width and spliced ​​along the length - the same wooden bars. Along the length, the lamellas are spliced ​​into a minithorn. In width, they are glued to a smooth fugue. The method is reliable and is used in the manufacture of standard products in 100% of cases.

Compared to all-lamellar structures, spliced ​​shields are considered more reliable, since the tension of the fibers in neighboring bars is uniform and, accordingly, the entire structure is more stable and durable.

• All-lamellar furniture boards

This is a wood board formed from lamellas glued only along the width. Gluing method - on a smooth fugue. The width of the lamellas is 40-45 or 25-30 mm. Thickness varies from 10 to 150 mm.

Compared to bonded models, all-lamella structures have a more uniform texture and color range, as they consist of a smaller number of lamellas.

The choice of wood species for furniture boards

• oak shield

Exceptionally strong by nature material with a beautiful uniform texture, retains the stability of shapes and sizes with temperature changes and changes in humidity levels. When painting, it acquires a noble uniform shade. It is not deformed, durable, retains aesthetic performance for decades. It is practiced in the production of furniture and all types of interior decoration: window sills, countertops, bar counters, stairs, wall and ceiling panels.

Investing in oak furniture is economically justified, as you get products that will last for centuries, plus the aesthetic pleasure of a great texture. Unsurpassed material for the interior in a classic style. To save money, choose finger-jointed oak boards. If priority is given to aesthetics, we recommend all-lamella constructions.

• Ash shield

It features a picturesque texture of predominantly light colors. The strength of ash is not inferior to oak. Due to the high density of the fibers, the wood is very hard, so solid ash is difficult to cut. However, the products are practical and decoratively attractive. When tinted, the array acquires a brighter and more pronounced texture with an impressive colorful pattern. Just like oak, ash is suitable for the manufacture of all types of interior products. Due to the complexity of processing, high strength and aesthetic indicators, it is almost as good as oak in price.

Ash, like oak, is devoid of flaws. Furniture panels made of ash are solid, dense, evenly crumble, do not warp during operation. If in the interior instead of classical style if you prefer a finish with a non-trivial, bold wood pattern, do not hesitate to choose an ash panel. To save money, we recommend the spliced ​​version. At the price of products from a finger-jointed shield, they will cost approximately the same cost as from solid beech or larch, however, in terms of strength, wear resistance and beauty, a finger-jointed ash shield significantly surpasses beech and larch.

• Larch shield

The tree has softness and uneven hardness of the fibers. The array contains layers with different densities. Because of this, when grinding the shield, it is impossible to achieve a consistently even surface, as is the case in oak or ash. Resin pockets are found in the array. The advantage of an array of larch is its high resistance to moisture, as well as its low price.

Compared to oak and ash, the structure is more prosaic. We do not recommend larch for luxury interior products because of its modest, mediocre aesthetics, and also because wood, due to its softness, is more susceptible to scratches and chips during operation. However, if you choose between larch and pine, then in terms of performance, it is better to give preference to larch.

• Beech shield

The tree belongs to strong breeds with a hard texture. It is well cut, polished, but susceptible to temperature changes. The array reacts to temperature changes even by 3-4 degrees, which increases the risk of deformation, warping. The change in fiber density under the influence of temperature can be felt tactilely, since waves are formed on the surface in this case. It is no coincidence that professionals classify the breed as an ever-living tree.

The texture cannot be called pronounced, but it is uniform and has its own personality. Working with an array is difficult. It is even more difficult due to the unpredictability of the behavior of the array to guarantee the stability of its characteristics during operation. When choosing a beech, consider the conditions under which the products will be used. Benefits of beech - high density, the price is lower than that of oak and ash.

• Birch shield

Just like the beech, the breed belongs to the ever-living trees. The array reacts to temperature and even lighting. The slightest changes in the surrounding space can provoke warping, end cracks. At the same time, the array is well cut and polished. Original interior compositions and decor are obtained from birch. The heterogeneity of the structure is manifested in the uneven color of the surfaces.

The advantage of birch is its cost - the price of an array is 2-3-4 times cheaper than oak. However, we recommend that you think carefully before choosing birch products. Products have a unique decorative style, but are subject to high risks of deformation.

• Pine Shield

Refers to soft tree species with pronounced oblique layers in the structure. It is characterized by the presence of resin pockets in the array, which remain visible even after repeated tinting. When sanding, due to the oblique layer, it is difficult to create a consistently flat surface and a uniform color. Due to the fact that some of the fibers in the array are softer than others, there may be waves on the surface. Due to its softness, the rock is prone to chips and scratches, which are clearly visible on the surface. The same applies to spruce and other conifers.

For the price - the most cheap material from solid wood. However, the work (professional processing) is expensive, which makes the choice in favor of pine irrational. Since our craftsmen are focused on high quality products (in terms of aesthetics and durability), we do not recommend pine for facades and solid interiors. The array is suitable for the manufacture of budget furniture and is not suitable for finishing wood surfaces on the front side.

Based on their performance and aesthetic characteristics, we strongly recommend that you opt for oak or ash. Both breeds have incomparable strength, flexibility, plasticity, excellent texture.

With versatile professional processing, products acquire a variety of shapes and beautiful color scheme. The material is well cut, and therefore the craftsmen cut out configurations of any complexity from it. The main advantages of oak and ash are durability and impeccable decorative appeal. In our work we use high quality Decoration Materials, and therefore products do not lose their environmental friendliness.