Wood is the most expensive and environmentally friendly material. Therefore, there are no diseases or viruses in wooden houses, the house breathes through the wood and it is especially pleasant to be in it.

Features of a wooden floor

Wooden floors in a private house, this is not surprising; now it has become fashionable to lay wood floors in ordinary apartments. The tree will last for many years and looks very stylish.

But in order not to make a mistake and choose the right tree, you need to learn a little more about the most popular species. When choosing, you need to pay attention that the tree is dry and clean, without rot.

Ash. An ash floor will be dense and of high quality, but it will need to be covered with varnish or paint, otherwise the ash may rot when in contact with moisture.

Oak. This type of wood is not cheap, but it will last a very, very long time. Oak flooring is incredibly durable and high quality; it is not affected by moisture or other precipitation. If desired, you can choose the texture and color you like.

To make it easier to make your choice, look at photos of different types of wooden floors.

When choosing a material, pay attention:

• The wood material must be dry, otherwise the boards will change their shape and rot in the future.
• The maximum length of floor boards is recommended to be two meters.
• Please note that only moisture-resistant wood species should be used for the bathroom.
• If you have made a choice of material, then buy fifteen percent more than the required quantity. It will be used to cover protrusions and other parts.

Three types of flooring are used for the base: plywood, concrete, logs. All types differ in cost. Also, logs are not suitable for low rooms; they are best used in houses with high ceilings.

Wood floor treatment

Oil. If the wood has a beautiful pattern and you want it to decorate your floor, then you can cover it with a special oil solution. The floor will not slip like with a varnish coating, and the color will become warmer.

Oil protects wood from moisture and insects. After coating with oil, the tree will create a favorable microclimate. The oil is colorless and has different shades. It must be applied evenly.

There are two application methods, cold and warm. Warm oil penetrates deeper into the wood, thereby better protecting it from moisture.

Waxing. With a combination of wax and oil, the wooden floor will be reliably protected from abrasion and scratches. This method will also help to achieve shine on the flooring.

The wax is applied with a roller in several layers. The first layer should be as thin as possible, then it is sanded and covered with the next layer, several times.

The wooden floor breathes under the wax and oil coating, so it is an environmentally friendly way. And this coating can be used in children's rooms and bedrooms.

Varnishing the wood floor. Not every type of varnish is suitable for covering wood. A suitable varnish is selected for each type of wood. In order not to make a mistake with your choice, it is better to ask for advice from a knowledgeable person, for example, a consultant in a hardware store.

Painting a wooden floor. It is a rare case when a wooden floor is painted; it is preferable to preserve the wood pattern. But it happens for some reason and they resort to paint. The dye is suitable for any base.

Dyes with chemical solvents are used less frequently, because after their use the room must be ventilated for a long time, otherwise it will harm the body.

The paint is applied in several layers, but you don’t need too much.

If you familiarize yourself with the basic information about wood and purchase the necessary tools, you can make a wooden floor with your own hands and cover it with oil or paint if desired.

Photo of a wooden floor

Wooden flooring, as in the photo, is very common in apartments and private houses, because they not only have a decent appearance, but are also reliable. To make a wooden floor in an apartment not only beautiful, but also durable, you need to choose the right material and install it according to the technology.

Features of wooden floors

Wood is considered one of the most ancient floor coverings. Despite its centuries-old history, this material is still widely used in construction and home decoration. This is due to the special qualities of natural wood.

The main ones are:

1. Attractiveness. The wood pattern is never repeated, it remains unique every time. In addition, various types of trees are used, each of which has its own unique texture and color. Thanks to this, you can choose the type of wood that best suits the interior. Wood is a universal material that suits rooms decorated in a wide variety of styles.
2. Environmental cleanliness and safety. If trees grow in a region with normal ecology, then the material is absolutely safe. That is why wood is considered the cleanest and most environmentally friendly building material.
3. Low thermal conductivity. Such floors excellently retain thermal energy and are pleasant to the touch.
4. You can lay wood floors yourself without using the services of specialists. Installation is simple and does not require special skills or tools.

But this material also has some disadvantages:

1. Since wood transmits noise well, it is recommended to use sound insulation when installing floors made of this material.
2. Any wooden products are susceptible to damage by fungi and microorganisms, so they must be treated with antiseptics and other protective agents.
3. Wood burns, so it must be impregnated with fire retardants. If the wood is not treated, it will quickly ignite.
4. Wood absorbs moisture well, so it must be covered with drying oil, varnish or paint. The fact is that this material, when exposed to moisture, changes its geometric parameters (swells, bends), and with further drying the problem only gets worse. But even if the tree is coated on top with varnish or another composition, it still cannot be installed in rooms with high humidity.

Despite the fact that wood has as many disadvantages as advantages, it still does not lose its popularity. All negative aspects will not cause any concern if the wood is properly treated with all the necessary types of impregnations. If you purchase material that has not been treated with the necessary means, the floor covering will not last long.

How to choose material

The floorboard in the apartment serves for a long time and decorates the home. But this is only if the material has been processed correctly. Doing this on your own is inconvenient and difficult, so when purchasing, you need to pay attention exclusively to boards that have been treated with antiseptics, fire retardants, and also dried, cut, polished and profiled. In other words, they must be fully prepared for installation.

You need to pay attention to the price - once upon a time, wood was cheap, and wooden floors were found everywhere. Currently, wood has become more expensive, but nevertheless remains a fairly popular finishing material. High-quality wood cannot be cheap, so you should not save.

When choosing a material you need to pay attention to:

• the presence of defects: knots, cracks, chips, unevenness are a good reason for refusing to purchase;
• the material belongs to the same batch - floorboards from different batches may differ in shade and fiber pattern;
• the presence of fungus or mold, even in small quantities. If at least one board from a batch is damaged, it is better to refuse the purchase, since fungus and mold will quickly spread to the entire material;
• quality of processing, namely: the presence of right angles at the ends, an even profile, the absence of burnt and other damaged areas, fringes of fibers on the cut;
• availability of certificates confirming compliance with SNiP and GOST standards, as well as documents on processing and impregnation of the material, age of wood, humidity, species, etc.

If at least one of these points is not met, it is strongly recommended to refuse the purchase. Replacing plank floors in an apartment is time consuming and expensive, so small savings will ultimately only lead to greater expenses.

For installation you will need:

1. Solid board, selected taking into account the above points.
2. Timber for logs, treated with antiseptic, antifungal agents and fire retardants.
3. Plywood sheets (preferably impregnated). They are also cut independently and then treated with stain, copper sulfate, and used machine oil. Plywood is required to create linings when installing level logs (more details: " ").
4. If you plan to create heated floors, then you also need an unedged board of the third grade for arranging the rough covering, as well as materials for heat and vapor barrier.
5. A roll of roofing felt to isolate the joists from the concrete. Strips of material are placed between the concrete base and the bars.

Wooden floor installation

Now about how to make a wooden floor in an apartment. Despite the fact that this work is simple, you should still carefully follow the instructions. The installation process for each specialist is different, but the main points are unchanged - they must be strictly observed.

Procedure:

1. First, determine the direction in which the boards will be laid. It is desirable that it coincides with the daylight falling from the windows. In other words, the boards should be positioned so that the wall with the window is perpendicular to them.
2. They dismantle the previous covering down to the concrete base, remove debris, and vacuum the room. If there are flaws in the screed, they are leveled using a self-leveling mixture or putty.
3. The level of the finished floor is drawn on the walls, which will be equal to the thickness of the coating (or rather, the bars for joists and floorboards) with a small margin of about 5 millimeters.
4. The first joist is attached along the wall with the window opening, and the second – near the opposite one. They must be strictly horizontal and lie in the same plane. We must not forget about laying a double layer of roofing material. Twine (rope) is pulled between the logs at a distance of 70-100 centimeters from each other.
5. Using them as beacons, the remaining logs are placed at a distance of 40-70 centimeters, focusing on the thickness of the boards (more details: ""). The larger they are, the wider the step is allowed. You can set the level using pieces of plywood of various thicknesses, pre-impregnated with an antiseptic composition and lubricated with a special wood glue. The logs are fixed to the floor with anchors and dowels.
6. Gaps of 5-10 millimeters must be left between the walls and joists.
7. They stuff the boards. First, attach the first row of floorboards against the wall using headless nails, driving them into the tongue or bottom of the groove at a 45-degree angle.
8. Lay out 4 rows of floorboards, but without fixing them. The floor board in the apartment is only compacted with a wooden mallet or hammer using a block.
9. The fifth row is placed and the planks are pressed with wedges or staples. In addition to the staple, a clamp or other similar tool is sometimes used as a stop. The boards should fit tightly, without gaps. The row is fixed with nails.
10. The entire floor area is covered with boards, every fifth row is nailed down.
11. The surface is processed using a parquet sander or scraping technique, covered with paint or varnish (read: "").

This completes the installation of wood flooring. The floors can be used as usual and furniture can be placed.

Wooden floors can be seen in many modern apartments. The floor board is made from solid natural wood, so the floor surface can be sanded much more often than parquet.

Peculiarities

High-quality floor boards can be made from any type of wood. But it is not recommended to use poplar and linden for these purposes. In addition, soft types of wood should be treated with coatings that will prevent the wooden floor from deforming ahead of time. The best option for creating a floor surface in an apartment is oak, larch or ash.

The advantages of plank flooring are obvious:

• these are very durable and reliable surfaces that will serve you for many years in a row;
• you can arrange a heated floor, so you can walk on it without shoes even in winter;

• plank flooring is environmentally friendly, since the wood contains no hazardous components;
• natural material creates a special warm atmosphere indoors;
• the floor in the kitchen or other room can be varnished, so dust will not accumulate on its surface;
• Caring for a wooden floor will not cause problems, since the store offers various products for removing stains from such surfaces.

This is an excellent background for other coatings that you will choose during the renovation process. A wooden floor is appropriate in a brick house, as well as in buildings made of other materials. It is presentable and stylish, which will radically transform the interior of the room. Walking on a wooden floor is very pleasant because it is warm and pleasant to the touch.

But a floor made of such material also has its drawbacks. These are also worth mentioning:

• the soundproofing qualities of wood are very weak;
• you need to regularly care for the boards, as well as adhere to certain rules for their operation;
• if mistakes are made during installation of the floor covering, it will soon change its original shape;
• wood not treated with special compounds is deformed from exposure to high levels of humidity;
• the material supports combustion processes;

• wooden floors have minimal resistance to abrasion and mechanical damage;
• The floor covering can be damaged by rodents.

But it is worth noting that finishing the floor with such material in a city apartment will last as long as possible if you use special compounds. You can update your old floor without any problems or difficulties. Finishing the floor from end boards will bring the desired result if you choose the right material for this.

Kinds

Now you understand that wooden flooring will be the best solution for any room. However, you need to choose the appropriate type of board in order to cope with the work in a minimum period of time, obtaining an effective result of the work.

There are several types of such material that you can choose from:

• Parquet board. This is a coating that is initially processed. Thanks to this, you can immediately begin the process of arranging the floor. Parquet boards are durable and presentable, but they need to be maintained regularly and properly. The process of installing the material will not cause problems or difficulties.
• Grooved board. This is a material that is equipped with special grooves and tenons for easy connection with each other. As a result, such slabs make it possible to obtain a floor without cracks. The flooring is very strong, reliable and durable. Caring for it is as simple as possible, since the absence of cracks ensures that there is no large amount of dust and debris between them.

• Deck board. This is a board without locks, the technical process of laying which takes place by creating gaps between the planks. This ship material is not afraid of negative environmental influences. That is why the board is suitable for installation in rooms with high humidity levels. It can be a pine board or a larch board, because such wood has the highest level of strength. There is no need to treat the material with antiseptics, since its properties allow it not to deform under the influence of various factors.
• Engineering board. This is a two-layer material that can be made of birch or other types of wood. The layer located on top performs decorative functions. It preserves the texture features as well as the natural color of the wood. Unlike lining, valuable wood species are expensive. However, the presentable and solid appearance of the floor will recoup the money invested in purchasing the material.

There are also many options for the subfloor. This can be edged material if it is necessary to create a level base in the future with the help of additional covering. There are jointed or composite boards, as well as other types. Each of them has individual characteristics.

Some people are interested in decking boards. This is a material that is not afraid of negative weather factors. Bamboo material or boards made from other types of wood will last as long as possible, without deforming or swelling over time.

Modern polymer boards look very attractive and stylish. There are also PVC panels, which are budget materials for performing work. There is a wide range of different timber available on the market. Boards made from burnt wood and disks are also common and in demand among consumers.

When choosing a board for the floor, be guided by your own wishes and preferences. Be sure to take into account the style of the room design. Remember that wood is not cheap, so you need to calculate in advance the budget that you are willing to allocate for flooring.

Wood type

If you decide to use a natural material to create a finishing coating, be responsible for studying its basic properties. Thanks to this, you can choose the right type of wood. Most often, the following options are used to organize flooring.

Needles (pine, fir and spruce)

These are materials in which the level of quality corresponds to their cost. The canvas contains natural resins that act as an antiseptic. The floor covering will not rot, and its surface will not be affected by fungus. The vapor permeability of such material is excellent, so a comfortable microclimate will reign inside the room. The essential odors emitted by the boards are beneficial to human health.

Oak

This is a material with a unique textured pattern that looks very presentable and solid. The cost of such boards is very high, which is due to their highest level of strength and reliability. The material is not afraid of exposure to high levels of humidity, since water makes it even stronger. Oak does not rot, does not mold, and is not destroyed due to the development of fungus. The material also perfectly absorbs extraneous sounds, which makes living in the house more comfortable.

Larch

This is a material that is somewhat similar to oak in its properties.

There are also many advantages to larch boards:

• long service life;
• resistance to fungus and mold;
• the ability to create a comfortable microclimate in the room;
• the presence of essential oils that fill the house with a pleasant aroma;
• high level of thermal insulation and sound insulation;
• resistance to high humidity levels;
• excellent indicators of strength and reliability.

Larch also has a wide range of shades. That is why you can choose the appropriate option for your interior.

Alder, aspen

The wood is not very strong or durable. However, it is capable of releasing components into the air that have a positive effect on the human body when the ambient temperature rises. That is why such materials are most often used for finishing saunas and baths. Natural boards are also used to decorate a child’s room and bedroom. If the movement in the room is not too active, then the material will last as long as possible.

Cedar and linden

Cedar boards are very expensive because their basic properties and characteristics are excellent. This is a healing material that has a unique structure. It is not afraid of exposure to high levels of humidity and other negative factors. Extra-class boards have a beneficial effect on the indoor microclimate. Linden is considered a more accessible material. It has a soft structure and low thermal conductivity. Linden will fill the house with a pleasant aroma that has a healing effect on the human body.

There are also other types of wood that are used to make flooring boards. For example, teak has a pleasant aroma, attractive texture and high levels of strength. Environmentally friendly birch will retain heat in the room and also create a comfortable microclimate inside the house. Wood such as ash is also popular among buyers due to its strength and reliability.

Each person will be able to choose an option based on their needs. The main thing is that the characteristics of the wood are suitable for use in specific conditions.

Characteristics

There are different types of wood that are used in specific conditions.

The choice of a suitable option for arranging the flooring depends on their characteristics:

• Extra-class wood is used to create the finishing coating. There are no defects or knots on the surface of the canvas. Their texture is beautiful and uniform;
• Class A and B wood is used in the process of creating finishing floors. The material has knots and resin pockets. A certain number of non-through cracks is allowed;
• Class C wood is used only to create a subfloor. Visible defects on the surface of the canvas cannot be corrected by mechanical means.

The choice of board size should be taken responsibly and carefully. The length is selected based on the parameters of the room. Everything must be done in such a way as to obtain a minimum of joints and waste. Nowadays, the building materials market makes it possible to achieve similar goals.

The appropriate thickness of the floorboard depends on several factors. This is the intensity of use of the material, as well as the distance between the lags. If it is large, then you will need a fairly thick board.

To choose the width of the board, you need to take into account the direction of the design idea. Panels that are too large are subject to shrinkage, so the floor covering will become deformed in the future. The width of the board can vary from 85 to 140 millimeters.

Color

The range of floorboard shades varies widely. You can choose exactly the option that fits into the interior of a particular room.

A white floor will be an appropriate option in rooms where it is necessary to visually increase the space. With its help you can fill the room with more light. This material looks presentable and solid, so it instantly attracts the eye. But it is worth remembering that light-colored coating is very difficult to care for. All stains that have arisen must be removed immediately, since they eat into the wood, leaving behind unattractive marks.

More practical is a subfloor, on which various stains are invisible. But in some rooms it will look gloomy. Avoid this decision if the walls in the room are also decorated in dark colors. Otherwise you will feel uncomfortable.

The combination of several shades in the floor design looks attractive. Such options will allow you to create an original interior, breathing new life into it. It's worth experimenting to find the option that suits you perfectly.

What to put it on?

Wooden boards can be laid on any base, because this material is suitable for use in various conditions. The main thing is that the base is carefully prepared, since only in this case can premature deformation of the boards be avoided.

If you need to lay boards on a concrete base, you need to do a lot of preparation. The surface must be smooth, without defects or other flaws. Otherwise, the floor will quickly deform, losing its original shape after some time. Nowadays you can purchase various grades of concrete to create a concrete screed without encountering problems.

You can also lay wooden boards on the ground. However, in this case it is necessary to prepare the foundation in advance. You need to cover the soil with beams to prevent it from becoming damp and deforming the floor covering. Only in this case will the floor last as long as possible, maintaining its reliability and strength.

Laying technology

If you need to create wooden flooring in a private house or apartment, you can do the job yourself. The technology for laying floorboards with your own hands is quite simple and affordable.

By lags

If you have a rough base, you can use the method of laying a wooden floor along the joists. The logs are long bars that are securely attached to the warp. They can be installed on a concrete column or brick.

The design can withstand considerable loads. But remember that you need to take steps between the minimum size bars. Otherwise, the floor will quickly deform. It is also worth choosing durable joists that will not sag under load.

Along the beams

If we are making a durable structure, we should pay attention to wooden beams. This option is very reliable, since it involves the use of beams with a wide cross-section. The system is often supplemented with lags.

The length of the beams can reach 12 meters. They are installed on the foundation and securely fixed. It is necessary to take the help of builders to cope with the work, since the beams are very heavy. Boards are laid on top of the prepared base.

On concrete

This is a convenient and simple option that will not cause any problems during the installation process. The wooden floor is laid on a pre-prepared concrete base, which must be level. If all kinds of deformations are present, it is worth leveling the surface using other materials.

Now let's figure out how to create a wooden floor step by step:

• At the very beginning, the old coating is removed and the floor is cleaned of paint and varnish. The base is then cleared of debris to install the joists. They are displayed following the same level. It is worth keeping a distance of 40-50 centimeters from each other. It is worth mounting the boards starting from a high point on the surface.
• You can attach the logs to the base using metal corners and dowels. Holes are drilled in the joists and in the floor, clearly following the pre-made marks. When marking, you should use a pencil and a special corner.
• The base and joists are covered with special materials that provide waterproofing properties. The best option would be polyethylene film, which has a high level of density.

• Dense insulation is laid between the joists. This could be mineral wool, which effectively copes with its functions. This “pie” will save maximum valuable heat indoors.
• The frame is now suitable for installing the floorboard. It is worth starting work from the wall that is located further from the entrance. There is no need to lay the material too tightly against the wall. Leave an expansion gap, as it will prevent the floors from losing shape during use. This gap will not be visible, because the baseboard will cover it.
• It is necessary to screw the boards to the joists using self-tapping screws. The fasteners are screwed in at an angle of 45 degrees. One mounting point will be fixed with at least two self-tapping screws.

• In this way you can cover the entire floor surface. If a saw-cut or tongue-and-groove board is used, maximum care must be taken. The tenon on the next board should fit into the groove of the previous material. If necessary, the boards are knocked together using a hammer. The main thing is that the end of the board is not damaged.
• You can create ventilation so that the boards do not rot or suffer from fungus. Thanks to this, the floor will last as long as possible without deforming or losing its original shape. It will withstand various negative factors.

Care

In order for your flooring to last as long as possible, you need to learn how to properly care for it. Only in this case can premature deformations and loss of the original appearance of the material be avoided.

It is necessary to treat the surface with special compounds to protect it from the influence of negative factors.

Varnish is the most popular and sought-after means of protection, which prevents scratches from appearing on the wood. Cleaning of varnished material is carried out using aerosols or concentrated products. Such options do not contain chemically active components that could destroy the material. The aerosol is sprayed onto the floor surface and then rubbed with a rag.

But, unfortunately, varnish is not able to solve all problems. Over time, deformations will still appear on the floor surface. Compositions designed for material restoration will help to cope with such troubles. These are environmentally friendly products that do not harm human health. You can use them regularly so that the wooden floor does not lose its original appearance.

In houses and apartments, surface treatment occurs no more than twice a month. But the floor in an open area with a high level of traffic can be treated much more often, since it quickly loses its attractive appearance.

Once every 10 years you need to change the varnish coating, removing the old layer and treating the floor again. Once sanding is complete, you can begin applying protective agents.

If the wooden floor was polished using wax, owners should pay special attention to the issue of surface care. This product causes rapid wear of the wood. In addition, replacing a wax coating is a costly and troublesome task that will require special skills from you.

There are liquid and paste waxes that are suitable for treating wooden floors. Liquid wax is applied to the surface using an ordinary rag. Paste-like products must be applied using a spatula. When the coating is processed, it is sanded. Such surfaces need to be updated several times a year. Additionally, the floors are polished twice a week.

Wood surfaces impregnated with oil have high wear resistance. Such substances reliably protect the material from various negative factors. The products penetrate deep enough into the wood structure, so the surface will not become intensely dirty. This is a suitable impregnation for a country house, since it is in such houses that the material needs to be protected from negative factors.

An additional advantage of protective coatings is that the natural texture of the wood becomes even more attractive. The surface is very pleasant to the touch, as well as elegant and solid. The wood is treated with oil every three years. That's why you won't spend a lot of time and effort on caring for your floors.

It is also worth mentioning the removal of stains from such a floor. They are withdrawn almost instantly using simple means. You will be able to enjoy comfort, since you will not have to make special efforts to care for the floor.

All owners of wooden floors need to purchase special products that are sold in every hardware store.

You should also follow these simple and clear rules:

• if suddenly there are stains from chocolate or shoe polish on the surface, you can remove them with products that contain alcohol or kerosene;
• the floor on the veranda or indoors, painted with felt-tip pens or colored chalk, can be saved by treating the surface with methyl alcohol diluted with water 1 to 1;
• Drops from wax or paraffin should be frozen with an ice bag, then carefully scraped off the surface.

Every person should remember that high-quality heating of a room and the creation of comfort in it directly depends on wooden floors. That is why you need to choose surface care products that are intended for such purposes. Only in this case the floor will delight you with its unsurpassed appearance for a long time.

Do not forget that the choice of suitable material for flooring depends on the characteristics of its use. Listen to the advice of professionals to help you choose the best option for your home. In this case, you can create an unsurpassed interior, focusing on your needs and capabilities.

Professionals give people useful advice to help them choose the best option for arranging flooring:

• There may be defects on the material, but if this is a finishing base, it is better to choose boards with a minimum number of them. Choose class A or B boards if you want to create a beautiful and durable floor;
• Avoid purchasing wet boards as they quickly become deformed. In addition, they are very difficult to install. The best option would be a dry board that has gone through all the necessary processing stages;
• If you have already coped with laying the boards, learn how to properly care for them. To remove stains and renew the surface, it is better to use special products designed for wood. Only in this case you will not damage the material;
• choose a suitable base for laying boards, focusing on your capabilities and the characteristics of the room.

It is worth listening to specialists so as not to encounter problems and difficulties during the operation of a wooden floor. With simple tips you can achieve the desired result with a minimum of effort. The floor will last as long as possible, maintaining its original appearance and basic properties. That's why you won't have to change or renew the surface too often.

Beautiful ideas in the interior

Everyone can experiment with a combination of shades, materials and textures. The main thing is that such experiments bring the desired results. You can seek help from experienced designers who will select the best ideas for a specific room.

This is a good example of how you can lay a dark floor in a room with dark walls, avoiding gloom and routine. Interior elements and furniture made in light colors dilute the picture, making the room presentable and attractive.

Wooden floors are often used to furnish a bedroom. This photo shows how harmoniously the material fits into the overall interior. A luxurious bed looks even more stylish against its background. The floor is harmoniously combined with pieces of furniture made of identical material. The room looks modern and interesting. You can add bright accents to focus attention on a certain area of ​​the room.

A chic floor made of solid planks does not limit the imagination of designers, as it gives the opportunity to create the best masterpieces in your home. The floor can be sanded many times in a row without worrying about its properties and strength. The pleasant shine and smooth surface of this coating is the best option for creating comfort in any room. You can even walk on the floor barefoot, as it is very warm and pleasant.

The floor design can combine two colors harmoniously. This is a suitable option for experimentation lovers who want to create a unique room interior. You can cover the materials in the way that is familiar to you, without encountering problems or difficulties. The results of the work will meet your bold expectations.

Nobody has canceled contrasting combinations yet! Try combining dark floors with light walls. You can do exactly the opposite, experimenting with different tones. The results will exceed your expectations, because the interior will be fresh and modern.

You can play on a combination of colors that are similar in shade. The main thing is that the interior of the room does not merge into a single whole. For example, white walls look good against cream-colored floors. Dark coverings can be complemented with bright furniture, which will stand out against such a background. It is precisely such experiments that make it possible to create original rooms in which there is no place for routine and boredom.

The range of modern stores is very wide. They offer boards of different sizes, textures, and colors. You can seek help from specialists who will help you choose the right material and tell you about its pros and cons. They will focus on the main features of the premises, your financial capabilities and needs. As a result, the repair process will not cause you any problems or difficulties.

These are the main points that concern wood floors in a private house or apartment. You need to choose the right material, install it and maintain it regularly. Only in this case will you be able to create a unique and original interior from scratch, in which even the smallest details will be perfect!

Construction of a private house is a long process that requires a lot of time, labor and finances. Many, in an effort to save money, decide to carry out some of the work themselves. How to make floors in private homes without resorting to the services of builders? Making the floor yourself is quite possible if you have the necessary materials, tools and knowledge.

Which floor design to choose?

Before you begin work on the construction of floors in a private house, you need to decide on the type of construction of the future coating. Experts distinguish three types of structures:

• Single;
• Double;
• Concrete floor.

The choice of one type of construction or another depends on the characteristics of the building in which the floor is laid. The operating conditions of a private home can be considered the determining factor. A single floor is the simplest design; erecting such a floor does not require a lot of time and materials, since the floorboards are nailed directly to the joists. The main disadvantage of a single plank floor is the limited use of it: such a covering would only be appropriate in small summer houses and dachas. For a house where year-round living is planned, a single structure is not suitable.

Scheme of the possible implementation of a “double” floor and a concrete one.

If you want to make a private house suitable for living at any time of the year, then you will have to arrange a double floor. This type of construction is warmer, reduces heat loss and ensures comfortable living in the house during the cold season. A double floor consists of several layers, the main ones being rough and finishing coatings. Between these two layers, hydro- and heat-insulating materials are additionally laid, protecting both the floor itself and the entire house from destruction.

Most often, the subfloor in a private home is assembled from an unedged board, and the finished floor is made from a tongue-and-groove floorboard. All work, including laying thermal insulation from sawdust or expanded clay, can be easily done with your own hands.

Boards for the subfloor.

The third possible type of floor construction in a private house is pouring a concrete screed. Compliance with all the rules for carrying out preparatory work, laying waterproofing, pouring cement mortar and drying times will allow you to get a solid, high-quality floor, ready for finishing with any decorative coating.

Installation of wooden floors

When building a private house, many people prefer to make the floor out of wood. This desire to have high-quality wooden flooring under your feet is explained by the desire to use environmentally friendly materials, which include wood. In addition to being highly environmentally friendly, such a floor has a number of other advantages.

Wooden floors are easy to install and easy to repair during use. Due to the low thermal conductivity of the material, such a floor will retain heat inside the house without letting it out. Plank flooring made from high-quality wood has a long service life and an attractive “natural” appearance.

To make a floor in a private house, you need to choose the right wood. The choice of source materials should be based on the design features of the structure itself. The installation of a floor in a country house must necessarily include the presence of a subfloor that acts as an air gap. If such a layer is missing, the wooden floor will quickly become unusable due to exposure to moisture. In addition, for a good floor, it is important to have all the layers of the structure, including joists, rough flooring, hydro- and thermal insulation, and a finishing coating.

The floor in a private house is subject to significant mechanical loads, so for its construction it is necessary to choose wood with good technological characteristics. The boards must be well dried, the recommended moisture content is no more than 12%. Any chips or cracks on the surface of the material are not acceptable. Experts recommend giving preference to coniferous wood; pine, larch, fir, and cedar are suitable. To increase the service life of the future floor, all boards must be treated with an antiseptic and fire retardant.

Installation of a wooden floor begins with determining the locations for the support posts and their installation. The fertile layer of soil around the entire perimeter of the house is removed and removed, gravel is poured in its place, and sand is poured on top of it. Layers of gravel and sand must be compacted well. Waterproofing material is laid on the ends of the support pillars; most often, ordinary roofing felt is used for these purposes.

Backfilling with gravel.

Next, we make beams that need to be secured to the posts with metal corners. It is better to make floors in a private house with double insulation. Experts suggest first laying plywood sheets on the sides of the beams, and then placing mineral wool or other insulating material on them.

When the insulation layer is ready, you can begin laying the rough covering. The boards of this layer should fit well to each other; ordinary screws can be used to attach them to the beams. It is better to leave some distance between the flooring and the walls of the house: a gap of 1.5 cm can be considered the norm for this part of the floor. These gaps provide ventilation to the entire floor structure and protect the walls from expansion of the floor boards as they subsequently dry out.

A layer of vapor barrier made of polyethylene film with a thickness of 200 microns is laid on top of the subfloor. The joints of individual pieces of film must be taped, and the edges must be folded onto the walls to a height of about 20 cm - the height of the final coating. When the film is laid and secured, you can proceed to assembling the finished floor.

The finished floor is assembled from solid wood boards or plywood sheets. Plywood sheets are easier to attach, but in the end they don’t look very attractive. Therefore, if you want to leave wooden floors in your house, then it is best to immediately assemble the final covering from a tongue-and-groove board, and if you plan to cover it with decorative material, just secure plywood sheets. After assembling the finished floor, plank floors must be coated with varnish, which will not only protect the material from external influences of a mechanical and chemical nature, but will also emphasize the decorative qualities of natural wood.

Pouring a concrete floor

The installation of a concrete floor in a private house begins with preparatory work. First, markings and gravel filling are made on the site of the future floor. The soil is first cleared of plants and the top layer, and then compacted. Next, a layer of gravel is poured, which also needs to be compacted well. In the construction of a concrete floor in a private house, gravel will act as thermal insulation. Sand is poured on top of the gravel. After compacting it, a thick polyethylene film is spread on the surface, acting as a waterproofing material.

How to make a concrete floor in a private house? After installing the waterproofing layer, you can begin pouring the screed. A cement screed in a country house is poured in the same way as a screed in an apartment: levels are set and the mortar is poured, which is leveled from wall to door according to the rule.

When pouring a concrete screed, several features should be taken into account. The solution for pouring must be fresh; for its preparation it is recommended to use cement of a grade not lower than M-300, screening out sand and water. To increase the strength of the concrete layer, you can add special compounds to the solution - plasticizers, which will give the future coating additional strength.

When pouring a screed with a height of 5 cm or more, you can use reinforcing elements or a reinforcing mesh, which is laid on the waterproofing layer before pouring. In the case of installing warm water floors in a private house, the use of reinforcing mesh and the addition of plasticizers to the cement mortar are mandatory procedures.

When the concrete hardens a little after pouring, you can remove the beacons. The voids left after their removal are filled with the same solution. After filling and leveling all the cracks, the floor is covered with polyethylene and left to dry. Drying a concrete floor is a long and responsible undertaking. The concrete must dry on its own within a month; if you have a heated floor system, heating should not be turned on until the screed is completely dry. By turning on the heating elements, you will help the concrete crack before the room is used. When drying, it is recommended to periodically moisten the concrete screed with water and cover it again with polyethylene: if this requirement is met, the coating will gain maximum strength and will not crack.

In order to correctly fill the cement, remove the beacons and dry the concrete, it is recommended to look at photos of the work of builders who specialize in arranging floors in private homes.

Finishing

It is quite simple to make just a finished floor in a private house from scratch, but sometimes additional installation of a decorative coating is required. You can also cope with this problem yourself. How can you cover the floor in a private house?

The best option for a private home can be considered a double floor made of boards. The finishing coating of this design does not need to be coated with anything additional. This option is practical and beautiful, and also has a long service life with proper care. Before use, the boards should be treated with protective compounds and varnished to protect them from sand, dirt, water and chemicals. For coating, you can choose either a transparent varnish, leaving the natural color of the wood, or a colored one, giving the floor a different shade.

A concrete floor in a private house requires a top layer of decorative coating. Parquet or parquet boards will look chic as a floor finish. This coating is quite expensive, but is highly environmentally friendly, has good antistatic and thermal insulation characteristics. It makes no sense to make parquet, but in a house where you plan to live permanently, such a covering will look appropriate.

As analogues to parquet, you can consider more affordable laminate, linoleum, carpet and ceramic tiles. Laminate is suitable for the living room and bedrooms, ceramic tiles will look appropriate in the kitchen, bathroom and hallway. It is also better to place linoleum only in the kitchen or hallway. The use of carpet is more limited: the material is suitable for finishing floors in bedrooms.

The range of modern colors and textures of the listed materials allows you to choose a coating to suit every taste. In a private home, floors with natural patterns that replicate the texture of wood or natural stone would look appropriate.

It is quite logical to lay a wooden floor in a wooden house, but in an ordinary brick house or apartment it will look great and can play an important role in creating a suitable microclimate. There is no difficulty in laying a wooden floor with your own hands. This is a fairly simple process and you can even do it yourself. The main thing is just to take into account the important points and prepare a little in the theoretical part before starting work.

This article will consider two options for constructing a wooden floor:

• A floor with the formation of a rough layer and insulation placed on a soil base or floor beams.
• Wooden floor on a concrete base with insulation.

The first option is the most common for creating floors in private homes. At the same time, it is suitable for placement on the ground floor or basement, and for forming floors on the second and above floors as a ceiling on beams.

In the case when the basis for a wooden floor is a concrete screed or reinforced concrete floor slabs, its design is significantly modified and can be modified in order to reduce the cost and facilitate installation.

Below we will take a closer look at the implementation of each option. Before this, it is worth mentioning the same points for any wooden floor.

General rules for constructing a wooden floor

It is best to carry out all work at the end of the heating season. This is due to the humidity of the air and wood. During this period, the likelihood is that the floorboards will absorb too much moisture. If you still need to lay a wooden floor in the summer, then it is better to wait until the weather has been sunny and dry for at least a week or a week and a half.

Important: All lumber that is used in flooring is the same as any wood used in construction, and is fire retardant.

Materials for arranging wooden floors

The following options can be used as materials for a wooden floor:

1. uncut board;
2. sheet material (chipboard, OSB, plywood);
3. board made of laminated veneer lumber;
4. folded board.

Of the first two options, the so-called rough wooden floor is laid. It involves further installation of the floor covering. The last two options are used to form a finishing layer, which is subsequently painted or varnished and left as the base of the floor in the room. It is advisable to select a solid board for the entire width of the room. The board is most often meant to be made of pine, larch, cedar, and less often of hardwood.

A wooden floor looks great not only in a country house or country house, but also in a city apartment.

Preparing the base on beams or unprepared base

If the wooden floor is laid on a soil base, then it is necessary to ensure that the joists are securely fastened. In addition, waterproofing and thermal insulation of the space under the floor should be ensured. To do this, you need to prepare the groundwork. Along the entire perimeter of the room, a layer of soil is removed so thick as to go 20-25 cm lower than the ground level around the house. Next, an embankment is made of crushed stone and river sand on top of it. All layers are one by one moistened with plenty of water and compacted.

On a prepared sand base, it is necessary to build a series of brick columns on which the logs will rest. The width of the columns is usually taken to be two bricks. The height of the pillars is in the range of 20-40 cm. When erecting the pillars, the bricks are placed on the mortar and placed along the upper edge in one level. To check the level and its compliance, you can use a laser level or stretch a net of rope or fishing line attached to the walls. When distributing the columns, it is taken into account that each joist requires at least two columns along the edges. If necessary, if the lag is long, pillars are added in the middle. The distance between the supporting columns for each of them should be calculated based on the size of the board that is used in the form of logs and the design load that they must withstand. Any design organization or certified builder-designer can help with the calculations. You can also calculate it yourself using GOST and SNiP data. Speaking roughly, for a living space it is enough to use 100x50 mm boards as joists, distributed at intervals of 600 mm. In this case, the posts are attached at the edges, and if the length of the lag is over 3 meters, an intermediate one is added in the middle.

Important: If the floor is laid on beams between floors, no preparatory work is required and the installation of the joists can begin immediately.

A waterproofing layer in the form of roofing felt sheets is laid on top of the columns or beams. Next, logs are laid on wooden plates 2-3 cm wide. The logs are attached to the posts using anchors. Using wooden plates that are placed under the logs, it is necessary to bring the upper edge of the logs into a single plane.

Initially, two logs are laid on opposite edges of the room. And on two extreme supports each. They are leveled, checking for correct installation using a laser, bubble or water level. Alternatively, it is best to use a laser or water level to draw a level line along the perimeter of the room on the walls in advance at a distance of 1 meter above the level of the proposed floor and, in relation to this line, check the position of the control logs. The bubble level is still less reliable and in such work often gives inaccurate results due to low accuracy.

A fishing line is stretched between the leveled outer logs and all other logs are laid in relation to it.

Along the lower edge of the joists, it is necessary to fill 50x50 mm bars to form a rough flooring. In the case of a soil base and the location of the logs on posts, the bars are nailed across the logs at a distance of 40-60 cm from each other along the entire length of the room. In the case of laying on beams, the bars are nailed to the side of the joist along the bottom edge on both sides. The bars should be secured either with nails or self-tapping screws with a length of at least 100 mm.

As insulation for wooden floors, a material with high vapor permeability is required, that is, one that can allow air and moisture to pass through. Options such as mineral wool or basalt slabs are suitable. In the case of lags located every 600 mm, there will be no problems with laying the heat insulator at all. The standard size of mineral wool rolls is either 600 or 1200 mm. Under no circumstances should the insulation material be cut to fit the gap between the joists to a millimeter. The strips are inserted tightly into the gaps so as not to leave any gaps anywhere. The height of the heat insulator is selected so that there is a small gap of 2-2.5 cm between it and the edge of the joist for ventilation. The heat insulator, among other things, serves as a sound insulator.

A vapor-waterproofing membrane is spread over the joists before laying the wooden floor. The film strips are laid with a mandatory overlap of 20 cm. The joints are taped. In various versions, the vapor barrier layer is reinforced with slats nailed along the joists, or simply secured with staples on the joists. The choice of fastening method depends on the material of the floor covering. Under specially produced flooring boards that have a ventilation channel, you don’t have to put slats in them.

Video: do-it-yourself rough wooden floor

Preparing the base on a concrete base

A wooden floor can easily be installed on a concrete base or on top of reinforced concrete floor slabs. In this case, the installation of a wooden floor is much simpler and easier to implement. It is no longer necessary to prepare the base and it is possible to strengthen the logs very often, which reduces the bending load. Thus, it turns out that using large cross-section logs does not make sense. As a material, you can choose timber measuring 50x50. As will be seen later, the process of setting the log by level is also significantly easier.

To secure the logs, construction studs with a diameter of 8-10 mm are used. Using a nut, the lower part of the stud is limited, which is fixed in the concrete base of the floor. Also, the level of the lower end of the joist is limited by a nut and a wide washer.

The studs are strengthened along the lag installation line every 50-60 cm. Holes for the studs are drilled in the bars. At the same time, the holes on the upper edge of the block are also widened enough to hide the fastening nut and washer.

Two logs are installed on opposite sides of the room and leveled on studs at the edges. Next, using the fishing line stretched between them, the installation of all other lags is adjusted. After securing all the joists, the excess protruding studs are cut off with an angle grinder (grinder). Next, you can begin covering with floorboards or the required sheet material.

If a wooden floor is laid as an intermediate leveling option before the finishing coating, then it is reasonable to use it as a “buffer”

Laying the boards

You can begin laying the boards on the prepared logs. The first board is attached near the window opposite the entrance to the room. You should leave a gap of 10-15 mm between the wall and the array of boards.

You can fasten the boards using self-tapping screws; their length should be chosen equal to at least two and a half times the thickness of the board, or with nails 4-5 times longer than the width of the board.

Nails are driven at an angle onto each joist or at an angle into the groove at the end of the board, if such fastening of the boards is provided.

Next, two or three more rows of boards are laid. Stepping back a little from them, an ordinary metal bracket or Smolyakov bracket is driven into the joists. Wooden wedges are driven between the bracket and the laid boards, thereby joining them tightly to each other. After this, the boards are secured with nails. Thus, they continue to lay the wooden floor until the very end.