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Building Green Interiors With Wood Products

Quanex Building Products .Colonial Craft Architectural Mouldings.501 Main St. South.Luck, WI 54853.Tel: 715-472-2223.Fax: 715-472-8770.Toll-Free: 800-289-6653.Email: [email protected]: www.quanex.com

Quanex Building Products .Owens Flooring by Quanex Building Products.105 Plank Road.Shawano, WI 54166.Tel: 715-524-6065.Fax: 715-524-6084.Email: [email protected]: www.quanex.com

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Building Green Interiors With Wood Products

Presented By: Quanex Building Products.Colonial Craft Architectural Mouldings .501 Main St. South .Luck, WI 54853 .

Description: Provides an overview of types of interior wood flooring and moulding products and includes discussions on their sustainable attributes, Baltic birch plywood, on-site and factory finishing methods, and green building programs and organizations.

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Quanex Building Products .Owens Flooring by Quanex Building Products .105 Plank Road .Shawano, WI 54166 .

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Purpose and Learning Objectives

Purpose: Provides an overview of types of interior wood flooring and moulding products and includes discussions on their sustainable attributes, Baltic birch plywood, on-site and factory finishing methods, and green building programs and organizations.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this program, participants will be able to:

• explain why using real hardwood in a building project is a sustainable choice throughout all the stages of the product’s life cycle .

• describe and compare three types of flooring in terms of their characteristics, and specify sustainable flooring based upon these comparisons .

• explain the material and resource efficiency of engineered wood flooring, and discuss the ways in which this flooring can meet the standards set by green building organizations .

• discuss on-site and factory finishing methods; list the benefits and downfalls of each; and state how factory finishing can help earn LEED® points on a project, and .

• describe some organizations and programs that promote sustainability and responsible forestry practices.






This CEU is registered with the Interior Design Continuing Education Council (IDCEC) for continuing education credits. This credit will be accepted by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), International Interior Designers Association (IIDA) and Interior Designers of Canada (IDC).

The content included is not deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by IDCEC of any material or construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing or dealing in any material or product.

Questions related to specific materials, methods and services should be directed to the instructor or provider of this CEU.

This program is registered for 0.1 CEU value. The IDCEC class-code is: CC-103201-1000.

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• Attendees who do not belong to ASID, IIDA or IDC and do not have a unique IDCEC number will be provided with a Certificate of Completion after this CEU.






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Table of Contents

Green Attributes of Wood Products 8

Why “Real” Hardwood? 17

Types of Flooring 24Solid Hardwood 26Laminate 30Engineered Hardwood 33

Baltic Birch Plywood 44

Finishing Hardwood 49

Decorative Mouldings 61

Summary 70

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Green Attributes of Wood Products






Renewable Resource

According to the California Forest Products Commission, although we are using twice as much wood as we did 50 years ago, U.S. forests are still growing nearly 33% each year. We also use five times as much plastic, but oil reserves, which are required to produce plastics, are predicted to last only another 50 years at the current rate of consumption, which is five times higher than it was 50 years ago.

The American Hardwood Export Council states that “by using American hardwoods, designers are assured that they are minimizing their impact on the environment throughout all the stages of the product life cycle, from extraction, through processing, use, reuse and final disposal.”1

1Source: “Sustainable Design.” American Hardwood Export Council. http://www.americanhardwood.org/sustainability/sustainable-design/Accessed January, 2012.

http://www.americanhardwood.org/sustainability/sustainable-design/






Changes in U.S. Hardwood Inventory: 1953 - 2002

Million m3. 1953. 1963. 1977. 1987. 1997. 2002.

Inventory. 5213. 6111. 7535. 8894. 9962. 10316.

Growth. 176. 201. 266. 272. 289. 283.

Mortality. 34. 45. 45. 54. 76. 76.

Net Annual Growth. 142. 156. 221. 218. 212. 207.

Harvested Volume. 116. 122. 119. 142. 170. 167.

Excess Growth Over Harvest 25. 34. 102. 76. 42. 40.

Source: “2000 RPA Assessment.” U.S. Forest Service. http://www.fs.fed.us/ Accessed February, 2012.

http://www.fs.fed.us/






Domestic Hardwood Supply

Starting Inventory. Annual Surplus.

Ending Inventory.

Annual Harvest.

Natural Mortality.

Annual Growth.

+20%






Renewable Resource

States where hardwoods grow in commercial quantities:






Renewable Resource

States where hardwoods grow in commercial quantities:

Source: “Forest Resources of the United States, 2002”. http://nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr_nc241.pdf Accessed February, 2012.

http://nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr_nc241.pdf






Meeting the Standards






Usable / Biodegradable By-products

Thanks to modern technologies, all parts of the harvested tree can be used. High-tech laser-guided saws can utilize the log more fully, to send more quality wood into products for the consumer. Lower grades of lumber can be utilized in plywood and particle board type applications. Even bark, branches, sawdust, and shavings are turned into fuel, mulch, or animal bedding. Wood is used to generate energy, and ¾ of the energy used to manufacture lumber and wood products is self-generated. But it doesn’t stop there: the ash is then used to add carbon into fields or used as a filter for water purification.






Energy Use / Environmental Impacts

According to the Temperate Forest Foundation, wood products make up 47% of all industrial raw materials manufactured in the U.S., yet use only 4% of the energy needed to manufacture these industrial materials. Trees require sun and rain to grow. As they grow, they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, improving our air quality. The carbon is then released back into the ground when the trees decompose, enriching the soil.

When we use vinyl (polyvinyl chloride plastic—PVC), which can be used in vinyl flooring or mouldings, we are using non-renewable petrochemicals. Their manufacture produces by-products of dioxin and releases heavy metals and other persistent and bioaccumulativetoxins (PBTs) into the environment. Furthermore, incineration of PVC is hazardous as a way of disposal, due to the harmful toxins released; however, landfills also show these toxins leaking into the soil and groundwater. Plastic remains in its current form for at least 500 years, and the recycling process requires toxic chemicals that make the process dangerous and often too costly.






Why “Real” Hardwood?







Renewable and Sustainable Resource .In the U.S. and other countries around the world, when trees used for wood products are cut down, new trees automatically grow from the earth while more are also replanted. Many of the forests in the U.S. are on a 35-year renewal cycle from cutting, to replanting, to being able to use the tree once again to make natural wood products. Because of this practice, forests are sustainable from year to year and generation to generation.







To keep wood product manufacturers supplied with the lumber they need to keep their businesses functioning, the logging industry must continue the practice of reforestation after cutting the trees, thus making the forests infinitely sustainable. Statistics show that from 2000-2005, the U.S. actually averaged a gain of 614 square miles of forests per year.

Hypoallergenic .Since hardwood floors have a smooth top surface, they trap less dust, pollen, and dust mites than alternative flooring types such as carpeting. Allergists often endorse to patients who have severe environmental allergies, that they live in a dwelling that has as much hardwood flooring as possible, if not throughout the entire dwelling. The American Lung Association is another agency that advocates using hardwood flooring to improve air quality in any residential or commercial building.







Durability .If hardwood flooring is maintained properly, the wood flooring should never have to be replaced, making it a lifelong product. Unlike other flooring products, hardwood should rarely end up in a landfill. Even if a real hardwood floor does end up in a landfill, wood is one of nature’s natural products and will not cause any more harm than if a tree fell onto the forest floor to decay.

Variety .Wood comes in many different species, which can create the look desired to match any design style. As times and style trends change, if a home or business owner wants to update the look of the interior, solid hardwood floors and quality engineered wood floors can be sanded and refinished in a different stain color. This renewing process is better for the environment since with other flooring options, the process involves tearing out and replacing the product—adding additional, sometimes toxic, items to the landfill.







Reparability .Hardwood products can be refinished to hide damage such as gouges and scratches. Even if a full board or part of a board is damaged to the point that it has to be replaced, a good professional wood installer can make a repair look seamless.

Easy Maintenance .To clean hardwood products, no harshchemicals are recommended. Basic care is to sweep with a soft broom or vacuum or wipe with a dust cloth on a regular basis, thus eliminating the need to pour used cleaning chemicals down the drain, keeping them out of the water supply.

Timeless Style . Hardwood flooring and mouldings have been used in the most prestigious homes, like the Biltmore Estate, for centuries. With its natural colors that blend into the décor of any room, coupled with the ability to create a specific design look, hardwood style is truly timeless.






The Hardness of Hardwood

The Janka Hardness Test measures the resistance of a species of wood to withstand denting and wear. It measures the force required to embed an 11.28mm (0.444in) steel ball into wood to half the ball’s diameter. Janka Hardness Ratings help determine which species of wood flooring is best suited for a particular project. Besides the Janka Hardness Scale, other factors help determine the strength of a hardwood floor such as the type of core (for engineered flooring), grain direction, and the thickness of the floor or top wear surface.

Janka Hardness Tests are measured in accordance to the ASTM D 1037-7 testing methods.

0.444" steel ball embedded halfway into wood sample.

Janka Hardness Test.Measures force needed to embed ball.






The Hardness of Hardwood

Janka Hardness Graph

Hardness

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

Brazilian CherrySantos Mahogany

HickoryEucalyptus

SapeleNorthern Maple

White OakNorthern Red Oak

American Black WalnutAmerican Cherry






Types of Flooring






Types of Flooring

There are three common types of flooring available on the market today: solid hardwood, engineered hardwood, and laminate. The specifics of each type of flooring will be explained in the slides that follow.

Solid. Engineered. Laminate.






Solid Hardwood Characteristics

Made From One Piece of Timber .A piece of the industry standard, ¾" thick, solid wood flooring is produced from one piece of 4/4" lumber. Even though lumber is a renewable resource, it still takes more board feet of lumber to make one piece of solid flooring compared to one piece of other wood flooring options.

Width Limitations .Wood’s hygroscopic nature makes thicker wood products, like solid hardwood, more unstable, even in the most controlled environments in which they are installed. Many industry experts do not recommend installing any solid hardwood flooring that is over 5" wide.







Thickness Limitations .Due to solid wood flooring’s susceptibility to accepting moisture from the environment in which it is installed, it is not recommended that any thickness of solid flooring less than ¾" thick be installed. Thinner solid floors have a tendency to crown, gap, and cup much more easily than the ¾" solid flooring, causing the floor to lose its beauty and appeal as well as functionality more quickly. Although thinner solid wood floors may save money up front, the life cycle cost of the thinner floor tends to be higher.

Solid hardwood flooring end view .







Installation Recommendations .Due to the instability of solid wood flooring, it is not recommended for installations that require it to be glued directly to concrete. Since solid wood has more open cells to collect moisture from the environment, solid wood has never been recommended for installation in below grade rooms, even if the proper HVAC systems are in place. In the parts of the world where there are high fluctuations in humidity from day to day or even season to season, solid hardwood can be installed—but the home or business owner must maintain proper humidity conditions throughout the year. Again, because of wood’s hygroscopic nature and the ease with which it is affected by moisture, solid flooring is not recommended for installation over hydronic radiant heating systems.

Higher Installation Costs .Since solid wood flooring has to be installed over some kind of screed and plywood subfloor, and initially sanded aggressively to make the floor ready for finishing, solid wood flooring has higher installation costs and longer installation times than other flooring types.







Reparability .As stated earlier, part of the allure of choosing hardwood flooring is its ease of reparability. Scuffs, scratches, and dents can be repaired by sanding. Flooring experts can actually fix or replace one damaged board if needed. The repair will appear seamless.

Low Maintenance .To clean a hardwood floor, no harsh chemicals are recommended. Basic care involves sweeping with a soft broom or vacuuming the floor on a regular basis.






Laminate Characteristics

T & G EdgesGlue is applied along all the edges

Laminate Construction.

Melamine Wearlayer.

Print Film.

Kraft Paper.The paper is saturated with resins.

Core.The center core is also saturated in resins for hardness.

Melamine Backing.







Simulates Real Wood Plank .Also known in the floor coverings industry as “floating wood tile,” laminate flooring is often considered “real” wood flooring even though its top layer is actually a picture of wood grain flooring. Over the years, manufacturing technologies have improved, helping to make the look of laminate flooring more realistic than ever.

Installation Recommendations .Laminate can be floated over most any dry subfloor on, above or below grade. Due to the thin wearable print fill top layer, laminate is not recommended for high traffic areas in any home or commercial project. Most of the laminate floors available are made with a melamine resin finish top layer and bottom layer. Melamine is a compound made with formaldehyde, which is considered an irritant when inhaled or absorbed through the skin or eyes. However, the formaldehyde is more tightly bound in melamine formaldehyde than it is in urea formaldehyde, reducing emissions. When selecting laminate flooring, look for manufacturers whose products are GREENGUARD® Indoor Air Quality Certified®.







Non Repairable / Temporary .With a thin, non-real wood wear layer, laminate flooring is non-repairable and has to be replaced if damaged. Laminate flooring is considered a temporary flooring product because of this fact. Many laminate floors tend to “ugly out” before they actually wear out, causing home and business owners to have to replace the laminate floor before it is truly necessary. Since the process of replacing the floor involves a full tear out and replacement, more laminate floors tend to end up in landfills prematurely.

Low Maintenance .The maintenance of laminate flooring is pretty simple, as is the maintenance of real hardwood. No harsh chemicals are recommended—just sweep with a broom and vacuum as needed.






Engineered Hardwood Characteristics

Four to Six Pieces of Flooring From One Piece of Timber .The engineered flooring design maximizes the recovery of wood fiber by combining a composite plywood base with the solid real wood wear layer. Depending on the thickness of the lamella (real wood wear layer), four to six pieces of engineered flooring are made from one piece of 4/4" lumber. This is even a greater use of the natural resource of timber, which contributes to sustaining the earth’s forests. Engineered flooring has a real wood sawn lumber wear layer.







Look of Solid Hardwood Floor .The dry sawn lumber wear layer gives engineered flooring the look and feel of a solid wood floor. After installation, one will not be able to tell if a solid wood or engineered floor has been installed.

Available in Wide Widths .Due to engineered wood flooring’s stable platform and current manufacturing technologies, ⅝" engineered flooring can be made in widths up to 8" without any change to the quality of the flooring.







Available in Different Thicknesses .Due to the stability of engineered wood flooring, it can be manufactured in several different thicknesses without any harm to the quality of the product. In specific widths, engineered flooring can be manufactured in thicknesses from ⅜" to ¾" thick. This allows the installer to match the height of other flooring products, like ceramic tile, without the need for large thresholds between the types of flooring.

Lower Installation Cost .Some engineered manufacturing companies calibration-sand their product before boxing. In most installation cases, this eliminates the need for the heavy sanding steps that most solid wood flooring requires. Not only is this a huge time savings for the installer, it also saves energy on the power grid. Although the engineered flooring might be a bit more expensive initially, the overall installation costs are less. Installing engineered flooring directly over concrete saves on the following items needed to install solid wood over concrete: screeds, one to two layers of plywood, screws to fasten the two layers of plywood together, and the nails or cleats needed to install the solid wood to the plywood substrate.







Installation Comparison .

The integral plywood backing of an engineered floor allows for a quick and easy installation

using few materials and steps.

Multiple material and processing steps required for the installation of a real wood floor add to the cost and time needed for the installation.







Installation Recommendations .Unlike solid wood flooring, hardwood engineered flooring is recommended for installations that are glued directly to concrete, below grade, and in parts of the world where there are high fluctuations in humidity from day to day or even season to season. Engineered flooring is the only hardwood flooring that is recommended for installation over hydronic radiant heating systems. Please note that not all manufacturers of engineered flooring warrant their products to be installed over radiant heat.







Installation Recommendations .Engineered flooring is designed to be glued down directly to concrete. Since the plywood layer is part of the structure of the engineered product, the subfloor is already built in, eliminating the need for screeds and the one to two layers of plywood required for a solid wood floor installation. Less plywood equals less lumber being used per job at installation, and less going into the landfill, if for some reason the floor has to be torn out. With the large fluctuations of humidity in below grade rooms, engineered flooring’s stable structure makes it not only acceptable for installations, but it is also the product that is recommended for below grade projects.

Plywood and Lamella.







Reparablity .As stated earlier, part of the allure of choosing hardwood flooring is its easy reparability. Quality engineered flooring has a real sawn wood lamella, allowing scuffs, scratches, and dents to be repaired by sanding. Flooring experts can actually fix one damaged board if need be.

Low Maintenance .To clean an engineered hardwood floor, no harsh chemicals are recommended. Basic care involves sweeping the floor with a soft broom or vacuuming the floor on a regular basis.

Lamella.







Environmentally Friendly .Engineered flooring design maximizes the recovery of wood fiber by combining a composite plywood base with a solid wood wear layer. The greatest yield of wood fiber results from trees converted into composite materials such as the plywood used for the flooring base. As stated, this platform generates four to six pieces of flooring from the same piece of lumber that would otherwise generate one piece of the ¾" solid flooring.

Look for manufacturers who only use ultra-low emission, CARB (California Air Resource Board) phase II compliant plywood in the manufacture of their flooring. Also verify that the adhesives used in the lamination process are completely formaldehyde free.

It is also important to look for an engineered flooring manufacturer who uses wood that is Lacey Act compliant. The Lacey Act helps protect against deforestation by making it unlawful to purchase wood harvested illegally. The Lacey Act sets a precedent for the global trade in plants and plant products, including timber, wood, and paper products—acknowledging and supporting the efforts of other countries to govern their own natural resources and putting in place powerful incentives for companies trading in these commodities to do the same.







Whenever possible, look for manufacturers that use FSC certified lumber products. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) standards insure that trees are harvested in a manner that protects lands, animals and communities. FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests.

“The Forest Stewardship Council was created to change the dialogue about and the practice of sustainable forestry worldwide. FSC sets forth principles, criteria, and standards that span economic, social, and environmental concerns. The FSC standards represent the world’s strongest system for guiding forest management toward sustainable outcomes.”2

Upgrading projects to FSC certified products can help to qualify for LEED certification points.

2Source: “The History of FSC-US.” Forest Stewardship Council. http://www.fscus.org/about_us/ Accessed January, 2012.

http://www.fscus.org/about_us/






Overview: LEED® Certification

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization composed of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings and communities that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. USGBC developed the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification program, the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.

LEED credit requirements cover the performance of materials in aggregate, not the performance of individual products or brands. Therefore, products that meet the LEED performance criteria can only contribute toward earning points needed for LEED certification; they cannot earn points individually toward LEED certification.

For detailed information about the council, their principlesand programs, please visit www.usgbc.org.

http://www.usgbc.org/







Areas in which engineered hardwood flooring can help contribute to LEED points earned on a project:

Materials & Resources 7: Certified Wood .– Intent: Encourage forest management program.– Implementation: Use minimum of 50% of wood materials and products certified in

accordance with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Principles and Criteria for wood building components: framing, flooring and sub-flooring, wood doors, etc.

Indoor Environmental Quality 4.4: Low-Emitting Materials: Composite Wood & AgrifiberProducts .

– Intent: Reduce the quantity of indoor air contaminants that are odorous, irritating, and or harmful to the comfort and well-being of installers and occupants.

– Implementation: Composite wood and Agrifiber products (MDF, particleboard, plywood, wheatboard, strawboard, panel substrates, door cores, engineered wood and bamboo flooring) used in interior of building shall contain no added urea-formaldehyde resins.






Baltic Birch Plywood






What Is Baltic Birch?

Baltic birch, also known as Russian birch, is a high-quality plywood that is known for its light color, superior strength, and multi-ply construction. As has been noted previously, plywood is the greatest use of wood fibers. Baltic birch’s construction is made up of more plies than a standard domestic piece of plywood. More plies makes Baltic birch more stable than domestic plywood.

Thickness .LLike other types of plywood, Baltic birch plywood comes in many different thicknesses. Measured in millimeters, Baltic birch equivalence ratios are considered the norm when conversing about Baltic birch plywood.






Baltic Birch Grades

There are several different grades of Baltic birch, and they are different from the domestic grades that many in the U.S. are used to seeing. Baltic birch plywood is manufactured to be in accordance with the Russian export GOST 3916.1-96 standards (plywood with outer layers of deciduous veneer for general use).

Grade B .Select, one-piece face that is generally light and even in color. The occasional small pin knots and some brown streaks may be allowed, but no patches, voids or mineral streaks are allowed in this grade.

Grade BB .One-piece face, generally light and even in color. Unlimited pin knots and mineral streaking or discoloration is allowed with the occasional sound, tight knot permitted. Open knots and defects in this grade have been cut out and replaced with small oval or round veneer, football-patched before being glued. The patch veneers are generally the same color as the face veneer.






Baltic Birch Grades

Grade CB .One-piece face that is very close to the BB grade face. Rejected from the BB grade due to small defects with more mineral streaking. This grade allows for occasional hairline splits of less than .5mm in the face. Any ovals or round patches may not be a color match with the face veneer. There are normally more patches per face than the BB grade.

Grade C .The grade allows unlimited patches, open knots, and veneer splits.






Glues Used in Baltic Birch Plywood

There are two different types of glue that are used in Russian Baltic birch plywood.

Type I is a phenolic or phenol formaldehyde resin (PF) glue. This glue is considered an exterior glue, but this does not necessarily mean that it is a substitute for a true marine plywood.

Type II is also a phenolic glue, but it is an interior glue, and is by far the most prevalent in the market. Products such as MDF or particle board that are made using urea-formaldehyde release greater quantities of formaldehyde off-gassing than products made using phenol formaldehyde, such as Baltic birch plywood from Russia.

Look for manufacturers that use Baltic birch plywood in their engineered flooring products to ensure product durability. Baltic birch plywood is CARB (California Air Resource Board) phase II compliant; the use of phenol formaldehyde means that this material would also contribute to LEED points earned on a project in the category: Indoor Environmental Quality Credit 4.4: Low-Emitting Materials: Composite Wood & Agrifiber Products.






Finishing Hardwood






Finishing Methods

All wood floors, no matter what species, have to have a protective finish on the floor before use of the floor can begin. There are two methods by which a hardwood floor can be finished. An unfinished floor can either be sanded and finished on site, or the unfinished floor can be factory finished at a manufacturing facility.






On-site Finishing

The process for on-site finishing is a multi-step process. Depending on the size of the job, finishing a floor on site can take a few days to a few weeks.

1. After the unfinished floor is installed, the first pass of sanding the floor begins with a heavy grit sandpaper on the sanding machine. The grit of sandpaper being used depends on the flatness of the installed hardwood floor. With the common solid hardwood flooring, the sanding schedule is as follows: first sanding pass 30 grit; second sanding pass 60 grit; and third sanding pass is 80 or 100 grit. With some higher quality floors, the sanding pass with the 30 grit can be skipped.

2. After each sanding pass, the entire area has to be meticulously vacuumed.

3. Once the heavy sanding passes are completed, the floor must be vacuumed and buffed with a high-grit sandpaper (120 grit) to get out any small scratches that occurred during the heavy sanding process.






On-site Finishing

4. After vacuuming the entire floor to get the remaining fine dust particles that buffing the floor leaves behind, it is time to apply either a stain color of choice or a clear sealer. This is the step where the grain of the species of wood that was chosen really starts to show.

5. After the stain or the clear sealer dries completely, it is time to apply the first coat of protective finish to the floor. There are many types of finish and gloss levels that can be applied. Below are just a few of the choices available in today’s market:

a. Oil-modified Urethane – This is generally the most common surface finish and is easy to apply. It is a petroleum base with a blend of synthetic resins, plasticizers and other film-forming ingredients that produces a durable surface that is moisture-resistant. It is a solvent-based polyurethane that dries in about eight hours. This type of finish ambers with age and comes in different sheen levels.






On-site Finishing

b. Moisture-cured Urethane – This is a solvent-based polyurethane that is more durable and more moisture-resistant than other surface finishes. Moisture-cured urethane comes in non-yellowing and in ambering types and is generally available in satin finish or high gloss. These finishes are more difficult to apply, have a strong odor and are best left to the professional. Curing of this type of finish is by absorption of minute quantities of moisture vapor from the air, which causes the finish to dry and harden. The curing process is very dependent on relative humidity at the installation site.

c. Water-based Urethane – This type of finish is becoming more popular as time goes on. This finish is a water-borne urethane with a blend of synthetic resins, plasticizers, and other film-forming ingredients that produces a durable surface that is moisture-resistant. These finishes are clear and non-yellowing and are available in different sheen levels. They have a milder odor than oil-modified finishes have, and they dry in about two to three hours. Water-based urethanes are generally more expensive.






On-site Finishing

d. Conversion-varnish Sealers (Swedish Finishes) – This is a two-component acid-curing, alcohol-based sealer. Because of their origin (country), conversion-varnish sealers are often referred to as Swedish finishes.

e. Penetrating Sealers – These sealers are spread on the floor and allowed to penetrate and are solvent-based. The excess sealer is removed with rags or buffed in with synthetic or steel wool pads. This type of finish often has a color and can be used to stain and seal the wood floor. Penetrating oil sealers are made from tung or linseed oil, with additives to improve drying and hardness.

6. After two to three coats of the chosen finish, the floor must completely dry to the finish manufacturer’s specifications, and then the floor is ready for use.






Factory Finishing

Factory finished flooring is finished at a finish manufacturing facility. The hardwood flooring can either be finished in a specific stain color or in a clear, natural stain to show the natural beauty of the species of wood that was chosen for the particular job. Factory finished flooring is a much easier and quicker process than an on-site finishing process.

Basically, the prefinished flooring is taken out of the packaging and installed. After the factory finished flooring is installed, it is ready to use. Seems quite easy compared to the on-site finishing process, but both types have their benefits and downfalls that will be explained in the upcoming section.

LEED® credits (IEQ Credit 4.2: Low-Emitting Materials: Paints & Coatings: 1 Point) can be awarded if a factory finished flooring is used on a job, due to the fact that the prefinishinglines put a fraction of the VOCs in the air compared to on-site finishing techniques because of the dust containment systems that are in place. Although floor finishing technologies have progressed over the years, the number one type of finish used in factory finished flooring is an aluminum oxide finish.






Factory Finishing

Aluminum oxide also gives the flooring an extra layer of protection against the oxidation process of wood that naturally occurs. The chemical make-up of aluminum oxide adds a layer of scratch resistance that can’t be matched by on-site finishing products. Most manufacturers talk about how many coats of finish their factory finished flooring has, but no matter how many coats, most have the same mil thickness of 2.5-3 mils thick depending on the species of the wood.






Benefits of On-site Finishing

The benefits of on-site finished flooring are the following:

• After the floor is finished, the flooring has a totally flat surface with no side or end bevels in the floor. This flooring is called square edge flooring, and when the temperature and humidity are correctly controlled, the on-site finished flooring has a monolithic look and feel to it.

• A good flooring professional can create unique specialty stains that may be required by the end user, architect, or designer.

• It is much easier to refinish an on-site finished flooring since there is no aluminum oxide in the flooring finish. If the color of the floor is going to stay the same, an on-site finished floor can just be buffed with a high-grit sand paper and recoated with the finish.






Benefits of Factory Finishing

The benefits of factory finished flooring are the following:

• Time to install the factory finished flooring is minimal since it is basically a one-step process compared to the many steps it takes to on-site finish a hardwood floor.

• With the new color and finishing technologies available, an end user, architect, or designer can produce the finish color that they are looking for to create the look they want for a particular job.

• Factory finished flooring has more color consistency from board to board.

• LEED credits can be awarded for using factory finished flooring. (IEQ Credit 4.2: Low-Emitting Materials: Paints & Coatings: 1 Point)

• Finish warranties on factory finished flooring are longer. Usually, manufacturers warrant the finish on their factory finished floors for 25 years for residential and three years for light commercial applications.






Downfalls of On-site Finishing

The downfalls of on-site finished hardwood flooring are:

• The on-site finishing process is time consuming and messy. Not only are there several steps to finishing the floor, but even the best dust containment systems tend to spread dust particles to all parts of the building that are connected to the room where the floor is being finished.

• Many flooring professionals struggle to keep the finish consistent while applying the finish during an on-site flooring finish job.






Downfalls of Factory Finishing

The downfalls of factory finished flooring are:

• Most factory finished flooring has a small bevel on the sides and ends of the individual boards. If the flooring is not cleaned and maintained properly, dirt can collect in these bevels, causing the floor to look worn.

• Due to the aluminum oxide creating a tougher bond than that of the on-site finished flooring products, factory finished flooring is more difficult to refinish. Chemicals are used directly over the finished floor to remove the finish, and then the flooring is recoated.

• There are some color limitations with factory finishing.






Decorative Mouldings






What Are Decorative Mouldings?

Decorative mouldings are strips of material with varying profiles used to either cover transitions between two surfaces or just to enhance the look of any room. Mouldings have been traditionally made from solid milled wood or stone, but technologies have also made it possible for mouldings to be made from plastic or thin veneers.






Purpose

Mouldings are a means of applying definition, contrast and shadow lines. The contrast between the light and dark areas gives definition to any object.






Purpose

Convex mouldings will cause the shadow from the light to be lighter at the top and darker at the bottom.

In contrast, concave mouldings will cause the shadow to produce tones that are darker at the top and lighter at the bottom.






Unlimited Possibilities

There are already many different patterns of mouldings that exist which can be traced back to Greek, Roman, Byzantine and other architectural styles. By combining mouldings, one can create unique architectural design masterpieces.

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Why Solid Wood Mouldings?

Environmentally Friendly .Solid wood mouldings are a great use of lumber resources due to the varying sizes of the profiles that are used, from a small shoe moulding to a large, stately crown moulding. Some moulding manufacturers can now produce on request Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified products. Since they are made from one of nature’s finest materials, solid wood mouldings will last the lifetime of a home.







Increased Property Value .When installed in homes or commercial applications, solid wood mouldings increase the value of the property. Solid wood mouldings are an asset to any room, and bring warmth and depth whereever they are installed.

Stands the Test of Time .Solid wood mouldings have been upgrading rooms since house building began. Wood mouldings can be manufactured in lavish designs and used in varying combinations, making them the choice for many exclusive designers.







Lifetime Product .Solid wood mouldings can be refinished or repaired as needed and are considered a lifetime product of a house, thus keeping them out of landfills for many years, if not forever.

Versatility in Staining or Painting .Solid wood mouldings can either be stained in a clear coat to allow the natural beauty of the lumber to come through, or they can be primed and painted for a specific color look. Some moulding manufacturers can even pre-prime the mouldings to eliminate sanding and priming on site, thus improving the air quality both during and after installation.







Unlimited Possibilities .There are many standard profiles of mouldings that can be specified to use for commercial or residential installations. An architect or designer can create a design that is different from the norm; some moulding manufacturers can fabricate almost anything one desires. The moulding, therefore, is not just a piece of wood, but rather a functional piece of art.






Summary






Summary

Regular forest inventories demonstrate that American hardwoods are not only renewable, but are an expanding resource. Modern technologies allow for all parts of the harvested tree to be used, and hardwoods have a low impact on the environment at all stages of their life cycle.

Real hardwood flooring is hypoallergenic and durable, is easy to repair and maintain, comes in a variety of species, and has a timeless style. Engineered hardwood flooring shares these characteristics, and considering it generates four to six pieces of flooring from the same piece of lumber that would otherwise generate one piece of the ¾" solid flooring, it is an environmentally friendly choice as well.

To make a sustainable design choice: look for manufacturers who only use ultra-low emission, CARB (California Air Resource Board) phase II compliant plywood in the manufacture of their flooring; verify that the adhesives used in the lamination process are completely formaldehyde free; look for an engineered flooring manufacturer who uses wood that is Lacey Act compliant; and upgrade projects to FSC certified products to help qualify for LEED certification points.






Conclusion

If you desire AIA/CES, state licensing or CE credits for another organization, please click on the button to commence your online examination. A score of 80% or better will allow you to print your Certificate of Completion; you may also go to your AEC Daily Transcript to see your completed courses and certificates.

For additional knowledge and post-seminar assistance, click on the Ask an Expert link above.

If you have colleagues that might benefit from this seminar, please let them know. Feel free to revisit the AEC Daily website to download additional programs from the Online Learning Center.

©2012, 2015 Quanex Building Products. The material contained in this course was researched, assembled, and produced by Quanex Building Products and remains its property. “LEED” and related logo is a trademark owned by the U.S. Green Building Council and is used by permission. Questions or concerns about the content of this course should be directed to the program instructor. This multimedia product is the copyright of AEC Daily.

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Owens Engineered Flooring

Owens Standard Product Specifics .

• 5/8" (16mm) Overall Thickness .• 3/16" (5mm) Dry Sawn Wear Layer .• 9 ply (11mm) Baltic Birch Plywood Substrate .• Offered in Plankfloor® (UF) and Prefinished Plankfloor® (PF) .• Widths from 2-¼" – 8" .• 1' – 8' Random Lengths .

− 2' – 10' Available (10' piece in each box) .• LIFETIME Structure Warranty .

− All species warranted over radiant heat .







What Owens Does Differently .• Purchase KD Lumber .

− NHLA grader on hand .• Grade A Exterior Baltic Birch Plywood .• Hot Melt Waterproof PUR Glue .

− Elastic = FANTASTIC .• Lamination Process .

− 40 critical tests while product is getting laminated .− Destructive test .

• 4-Hour Soak Cycle Test .− 3 days .

• No “Butt or Scarf” Joints on Plywood .• Diamond Tooling = Ultimate Consistency .• All Products Boxed .

− 200lb burst test cardboard .• Online Inventory .

− Updated every 10 minutes .

Our soak cycle tests are performed over a three-day period. Tests are done in accordance with the ANSI/HPVA EF2002 (American National Standard for Engineered Wood Flooring section 4.2) standard. If any delamination as slight as .003” occurs it is regarded as a failure.







Where can you install Owens Plankfloor®?

• Residential .− Any level of a residential house (even below grade) .

• Commercial .• Over in-floor hydronic radiant heat .

With its stability that is directly tied to its multi-layered construction, Owens can be trusted for commercial installations. Crossbanded plywood creates a stable platform for the solid wood surface. When sealed together, the adhesive creates a moisture barrier which minimizes seasonal changes. You can feel safe installing Owens even below grade where solid wood is never recommend. The Owens Plankfloor® platform allows us to warranty all species over in-floor hydronic radiant heat.

For more information on Owens Flooring by Quanex Building Products visit: http://www.quanex.com/Products/Wood-Flooring.aspx

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Colonial Craft Architectural Mouldings

SmoothWood Technology:Colonial Craft’s proprietary SmoothWood Technology combines the art of sanding with 21st century technology to set your product apart while saving you time and money. You receive a high-quality, ready-to-finish surface requiring less prep time and fewer remakes, and delivering more satisfied customers.

SmoothWood Technology:• Softens knife marks .• Reduces shine lines .• Opens grain for excellent depth and definition .• Provides a uniform appearance for staining, clear

coat or painting, and .• Opens “hard spots” to reduce the blotchy

appearance of Maple.

Available only from Quanex Building Products .







Why choose Colonial Craft primed product?• Superior adhesion to wood .• Advanced sealing for true top coat color .• One top coat finish means less paint, labor and cost!







Single Fingerjoint Mouldings:• Any length (up to 19') .• Available in any species .• Superior strength .• Tight joints .

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