Plank Flooring: Options
Plank flooring can be a great option for flooring in your home. With different types to choose from, plank flooring can meet many home flooring needs.
Most plank flooring is made from solid wood planks. Plank floors generally require professional installation due to the complexity of cutting, seating, sanding and finishing the planks. However, they do offer the advantage that if a particular plank fails, it can be replaced without needing to tear up the rest of the floor. When sections of wood plank flooring are damaged beyond repair (past the point where sanding or refinishing would prove effective), they should only be replaced by professionals due to the technical difficulty involved.
Wide plank flooring is generally the most efficient method for producing hardwood plank flooring. As the saw cuts through a log, each successive plank comes out slightly wider or shorter. Even after the planks have been edged to remove bark and its edges squared off, the resulting planks will differ in width. This can provide wide plank floors with additional opportunities for attractive layouts.
Wide plank flooring is considered a specialty item and most chain home improvements stores are unlikely to stock them. They are expensive and require advance ordering (often 2 months or so).
Much like regular plank floors, plank laminate floors are produced in strips instead of the usual tile format of other varieties of laminate flooring. Plank laminate floors can also be installed by the average do-it-yourself handyman as they can be placed on top of existing flooring, have easy locking tabs and can be set using only a few basic tools. The extensive offerings available for laminate floors means that you can find the right solution for significant savings over real wood plank flooring.
Plank flooring can be made both from new wood and reclaimed flooring, planks and boards. During reclaiming, the wood can be given a "worn edge" profile that simulates planks that have been walked on for generations. Reclaimed plank wood floors have the benefit of being less expensive. And since they are constructed from recycled wood, they have a lower environmental impact.
If you are interested in oak plank flooring, don't pass up the opportunity to invest in wood reclaimed from sources such as old barns, houses, and churches. Rather than viewing them as defects, the scattered nail and spike holes, stress cracks, wormwood holes, and knots can provide a character and charm to the wood. The varying colors and widths of reclaimed wood allow one to create beautiful floor layouts that bring a unique look your home.
