WIDE PLANK FLOORING

 

 

Imposing planks truly accentuate an enormous space, but they're equally also suited to a little one since fewer joins mean a cleaner visual. And with more than 30 shades and finishes to choose from, these wide wood planks are sure to become the talking point in any scheme, whatever your stylistic preference.

 

WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF "WIDE PLANK"?

Wide plank floors North Carolina is a rather subjective term. All of our planks are hardwood, engineered from European oak, not from the more common pine softwoods.

 

If you're trying to find planks narrower than 200mm on this website, search 'wood planks' using the relevant filter for your preferred width.

 

WHY ARE WOOD PLANKS GETTING WIDER?

Traditional solid planks are affected by humidity whereas engineered wood - multilayered wood where the grain of each layer runs at right angles to the next - is far more stable. And the more stable the wood, the safer it is to use it for a wider plank.

 

MORE WIDE PLANK OPTIONS FROM EUROPE

Clearly, the size of a plank is limited by the size of the tree it comes from. But it is also limited by the way it has been cut. American mills usually use the plain sawn method, where a board is cut then the log turned 90 degrees before being cut again. This allows planks that qualify as rift or quarter sawn to be sold at a premium price, but it also means even the widest planks are nowhere near the maximum trunk width.

 

In Europe, where the overwhelming majority of Havwoods' wood originates, the quality method is live sawing. Live sawn boards are simply cut straight across the log, meaning that full-width planks are available. Live sawn planks also offer a number of other advantages and this method is gaining many fans amongst designers and high-end clients.

 

WHEN TO FIT WIDE PLANK FLOORING

There are absolutely no rules when using a wider plank: they look good anywhere. This is because there is a much higher proportion of wood to join so the floor appears less busy which opens up a smaller room. Always remember, whatever the grade of wood wide planks allow its natural beauty to really shine. So in a rustic or character grade plank, the unique characteristics of the intricate patterns around the knots stand out, as does the elegance of the grain in cleaner planks.