From Seedling To Sanding: How Is Oak Flooring Made?
Real oak flooring is durable, affordable and easy to clean, where it is simple to incorporate into any home. Investing in an attractive solid wood floor is also a great way to increase the value of your property, where this readily available raw material is one of the more common wood flooring types.
Read on for an overview of how this flooring type is manufactured and installed, from harvesting to oiling.
Harvesting & Drying
Oak logs are generally harvested from sustainable tree plantings, where these kinds of sites replant their crop as they harvest, and only fell trees according to strict yield limits to preserve biodiversity and species numbers. These logs can be from red or white oak trees, where each offers a different colour tone when manufactured into flooring.
These oak logs are then cut into large planks which are then air-dried, refined and graded for their quality. Different grades will then be distributed according to their value. The lumber will also be kiln-dried in a controlled humid environment, where different flooring requirements demand various moisture levels in the wood.
Sawing & Shaping
The wood will then be cut down further according to desired measurements for the flooring, where some planks come with tongue and groove additions for ease of installation.
There are multiple different cuts that can be used to shape the planks, which vary in manufacturing time. Plain sawn methods are the most common, producing wide planks with little waste. Quarter and rift sawn planks feature subdued grain patterns, which can be considered more attractive.
Chevron or herringbone flooring is a more pricey option, where further manufacturing is necessitated to produce these complex designs.
Sanding & Finishing
Planks are then sanded to remove imperfections and to make the wood take stains and paints more effectively. Some wood is sold unfinished after sanding, whilst other flooring requires oiling or varnishing for a shiny, protected finish.
Treatex: Caring For Your Hardwood Oak Flooring
At Treatex, we have the products and know-how to keep your natural wood surfaces looking fantastic. We sell oils, stains and cleaning products for indoor and outdoor wood areas, where we also supply a range of brushes and staining accessories.
Our Hardwax Oil range is especially designed for treating hardwood floors, where our Natural edition can treat light timbers such as oak and maple, working to retain its natural colour, whilst our Clear product can warm the hue of your flooring. You can also choose from our comprehensive range of colour tones, wax polishes and weather resistant paints for optimal wood enhancement.
Contact us today for more information about our product range, or for professional advice on how you can spruce up your hardwood floor.