| |
Certification
programs have been established to promote forest preservation
and management. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) helps establish
forest management standards and is the only independent, nonprofit,
non-governmental organization that trains, accredits and monitors
third-party certifiers. We recommend using FSC certified or approved
wood products.
 Wood
flooring is generally available in strip, plank or parquet. It
is available in solid wood or composites, new or recycled. Strips
are usually narrower than 3-1/4”. Planks are wider than 3-1/4”.
Parquet is commonly a square tile composed of pieces of wood,
commonly held together by glue (like plywood) with a thin upper
layer in various patterns and stains. All three types come in
tongue and groove edges which makes for a tighter floor, and are
available with factory-applied prefinishes, usually preferred
by the chemically sensitive person. Many pre-finishes are water-based
polyurethane. Other sealers and finishes are available.
For
strip and plank flooring, oak is the most commonly used wood.
Other hardwoods are maple, beech, walnut, ash and pecan. Softwoods
are most often southern pine, douglas fir, west coast hemlock,
spruce and western red cedar. Thicker sizes (3/4”) can be
sanded and refinished many times, extending the life of the material
several decades. The thinner size (1/2”) is initially less
expensive, but can usually only be sanded once. Strip and plank
composites are being developed from wood waste products.
Parquet
is most commonly made from oak, maple, walnut, cherry, mahogany
or teak. Newer parquet floors have a very thin upper layer and
can not withstand sanding without ruining them. Older, solid wood
parquets do not have this problem.
When purchasing wood, remember that terminology can be confusing. Sustainable usually refers to the preservation of the ecosystem, while sustained yield generally refers to the annual production of a given quality and quantity of timber.
|
