Timber iQ February - March 2019 // Issue: 42 | Page 31

FEATURES
With a variety of styles and colours to choose from, engineered hardwood
flooring is a versatile and stylish finish to any room, not only on the floor but as
a cladding or ceiling finish.
hardwood, one centre layer of a softwood
(usually a single board) and then the
base layer.
Multi-ply is different in the way it is
produced and in South Africa is a preferred
option for clients. It has a hardwood surface
layer (typically oak) bonded to multiple
layers (between three and 12) of birch and
poplar. These pieces are cross-layered,
bonded and pressed together to create a
solid core. Birch and poplar are considered
sustainable woods and are therefore the
preferred choice for the layers.
Engineered multi-ply is a flooring
solution for anyone who wants flooring that
is less likely to warp or react to fluctuations
in humidity and temperature and this is
achieved by the way it is constructed. It
also makes the tongue and groove of
multi-ply boards more resilient to factors
such as these.
Three-ply multilayer board generally
costs less than a multi-ply board because
there is less work involved in its
construction. The more layers the board
has, the more stable the floor is likely to be
and therefore last. If you have under floor
heating as an example, because of the
direct influence of the heat, multi-ply
boards are generally a better choice.
TRENDS
Engineered flooring is allowing clients to
choose various intricate flooring patterns
and these can be achieved with easy
installation. Complicated patterns now
come in a square block sets which also fit
together with a tongue and groove system,
and are thus way faster and cheaper to
install, while still getting a solid wood
surface and the desired look.
Trends currently include the skip sawn or
cross cut look or finish which is huge in
Europe, because it has a terrific texture, and
also herringbone and chevron options. Due
to the versatility of the product the client
The skip sawn or cross cut design is created by passing the hardwood layer
through a texturing machine.
www.timberiq.co.za
// FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019 29