Composite wood flooring is a flooring material that combines practicality and aesthetics. Through its multi-layer structure design and high-strength wear-resistant surface layer, it has significant advantages in terms of durability, price and ease of maintenance. Compared with solid wood flooring, composite wood flooring is more suitable for homes or commercial spaces that are frequently used in daily life. In addition, its diverse texture and color options allow it to be easily integrated into different styles of home environments, making it an ideal choice for modern floor decoration.
Table of Contents
Composite wood decking, also known as “composite flooring” or “laminated flooring”, is a flooring product that combines multiple materials and is pressed at high temperature. Compared with solid wood flooring, composite wood flooring has become a popular type of flooring on the market with its higher stability, wear resistance and lower price.
The structure of composite wood decking usually includes four layers: wear layer, decorative layer, substrate layer and moisture-proof balance layer. These layers not only give the floor a unique appearance, but also make the floor wear-resistant, stain-resistant and easy to clean. Below we will discuss this type of flooring in depth from the aspects of the structure, advantages and disadvantages, installation methods, and maintenance recommendations of composite wood decking.
Structure of composite wood decking
- Wear layer: The wear layer is a transparent resin layer on the surface of the composite wood floor. Its main component is aluminum oxide. This material is very wear-resistant, which makes the floor remain bright and without obvious wear after long-term use. In addition, the wear layer has a high hardness and can resist scratches in daily life, such as wear caused by high heels and chair legs.
- Decorative layer: The decorative layer below the wear-resistant layer is composed of printed patterns, usually imitation effects of wood grain or stone texture. The main function of this layer is to provide the appearance of the floor, so that the composite wood floor can present a texture and color similar to real wood. These diverse patterns allow composite wood flooring to adapt to different home styles.
- Substrate layer: The substrate layer is the core part of the composite wood floor, usually composed of high-density fiberboard (HDF) or medium-density fiberboard (MDF). The substrate layer determines the stability, impact resistance and other properties of the floor. The use of high-density fiberboard makes the composite wood floor less prone to deformation, cracking and other problems when facing temperature and humidity changes.
- Moisture-proof balance layer: The moisture-proof balance layer is located at the bottom of the composite wood floor, usually a layer of specially treated moisture-proof material. The main function of this layer is to prevent moisture from invading the substrate from the ground, avoid deformation of the floor due to moisture, and balance the internal stress of the floor, so that the floor can contact the ground smoothly and evenly after paving.
Advantages of composite wood decking
- Wear-resistant and durable: The surface material of the composite wood floor has high hardness and good wear resistance, which is suitable for use in homes, shopping malls, offices and other places with large traffic. The wear-resistant surface of aluminum oxide makes its service life much longer than that of solid wood flooring.
- Easy to care for: The surface of composite wood flooring is smooth and flat, and it is not easy to be stained by dust and stains. When cleaning, just use a wet mop to wipe it gently, and no special waxing and maintenance are required. In addition, composite wood flooring is not easy to accumulate bacteria, which is an ideal choice for places with high requirements for hygiene conditions.
- Economical price: Compared with solid wood flooring, the price of composite wood flooring is more affordable and suitable for consumers with limited budgets. Although its cost is low, its appearance and texture can imitate solid wood, and its cost performance is very high.
- Easy installation: Composite wood flooring usually adopts a lock-type splicing design, and the installation process is relatively simple, and no adhesives such as glue are required. Consumers can choose to install it by themselves, which reduces construction costs and is also convenient for future replacement or repair.
- Strong anti-deformation ability: The base layer of composite wood flooring has been treated with special technology and has strong anti-deformation ability. Compared with solid wood flooring, composite wood flooring is not easily affected by changes in temperature and humidity, and can remain stable in cold or humid environments.
Disadvantages of composite wood decking
- The feel is not as good as solid wood: Composite wood flooring uses artificial materials and multi-layer structure, so it feels harder and lacks the natural elasticity and warm texture of solid wood flooring. Therefore, for users who pursue natural texture, the touch of composite wood flooring is slightly inferior.
- Not easy to repair: Once the wear-resistant layer of composite wood flooring is damaged, it is difficult to repair and can only be replaced with a new floor. For some local damage, it may be necessary to remove and replace the entire floor, which is costly.
- Environmental protection needs to be improved: Some low-end composite wood flooring may use adhesives containing formaldehyde during the production process, so when purchasing, you need to choose environmentally certified products to ensure that their formaldehyde emissions meet national environmental standards.
Suitable places for composite wood flooring
Composite wood flooring is suitable for all kinds of homes and commercial places, especially for living rooms, bedrooms, corridors and other areas. In addition, due to its strong wear resistance and easy care, it is also widely used in public places such as commercial office buildings, shopping malls, and hotels. Compared with traditional tiles or marble floors, composite wood flooring is warmer in appearance and suitable for creating a comfortable living or office environment.
Installation method of composite wood decking
There are two main installation methods for composite wood decking: floating installation method and lock splicing method.
- Floating installation method: This method does not require the use of adhesives or nails. The floor is fixed to the ground by its own weight and mortise and tenon structure. During installation, a moisture-proof mat needs to be laid between the floor and the ground to prevent the floor from getting wet. The advantage of the floating installation method is that it can be installed and disassembled quickly, which is suitable for renting users.
- Lock splicing method: The lock splicing method is currently the most common installation method for composite wood flooring. Each floor has a special lock on the edge, and the floors can be spliced together through the lock to form a flat ground. The lock splicing method makes the floor joints tight to prevent dust and moisture from penetrating.
Maintenance suggestions for composite wood decking
- Avoid water immersion: Although composite wood flooring has good moisture resistance, long-term immersion in water will still cause the floor to deform and bulge. Therefore, you should avoid using an overly wet mop during daily cleaning, and pay attention to floor care in areas prone to moisture such as kitchens and bathrooms.
- Prevent scratches: Try to avoid dragging heavy objects directly on the floor. Protective pads can be added to the feet of furniture to reduce friction damage to the floor. High heels and pet claws may also leave scratches on the floor. It is recommended to lay floor mats at the entrance.
- Regular cleaning: You can use a vacuum cleaner or dry cloth to remove dust during daily cleaning to prevent particles from wearing the surface of the floor. When removing stubborn stains, you can use a special floor cleaner, and never use strong acid and alkali cleaners.
- Keep ventilation: In humid seasons, the room should be ventilated to avoid excessive humidity affecting the floor. Especially in the rainy season in the south, you can turn on the dehumidification equipment appropriately to protect the floor from moisture.
How to choose composite wood decking
- Choose the environmental protection level: The environmental protection level of composite wood flooring is very important, especially for home use. The environmental protection levels of composite wood flooring on the market are usually E0, E1, and E2. The E0 level has the lowest formaldehyde content and is more beneficial to human health.
- Observe the thickness of the wear-resistant layer: The thickness of the wear-resistant layer directly affects the service life of the composite wood flooring. Generally speaking, the wear resistance of household composite wood flooring is above 6000 revolutions, while commercial flooring is recommended to choose products with higher wear resistance.
- Choose the right color and texture: Choosing the color and texture of composite wood flooring according to the home style can add beauty. Light-colored floors are suitable for small spaces, making the space appear brighter, while dark-colored floors are suitable for large spaces and can add a sense of heaviness.
Conclusion
Composite wood decking has become the first choice for many homes and commercial places as a durable, easy-to-install and easy-to-care flooring material. It not only has the beautiful appearance of solid wood flooring, but also has excellent wear resistance and moisture resistance. Choosing a suitable composite wood flooring and doing a good job of daily maintenance can greatly improve the comfort and beauty of the space. Paying attention to factors such as the environmental protection, wear resistance, and installation convenience of the product when purchasing can help consumers better choose flooring products that meet their needs. Planning to purchase composite wood decking for your project? Welcome to contact Hosung Deck!
