Types of larch boards and their application

Many people want to use high-quality lumber for interior decoration. Larch boards have all the advantages of oak and teak, however, they are more affordable. Natural environmentally friendly material makes the interior more natural and noble. The wood species has good sound insulation properties, maintains a normal level of humidity in the room. Larch board does not require special care, because it does not rot and does not dry out.

Many people are simply afraid to use it in the interior, fearing deformation, angry and other troubles. However, choosing a breed with good performance is not at all difficult. Larch is one of those, piles from this wood are used in the construction of bridges. Even under the constant influence of moisture, such structures serve for many years.

Larch boards have attractive characteristics. Wood is stronger than everyone's favorite oak. On the cut, you can observe a clear structure of a reddish tint with practically no knot cores. The sapwood and core parts differ in color, the areas of cyclical growth are clearly visible. Larch is the leader among all conifers that grow on the territory of Russia. There are 4 types of wood, but Siberian and Daurian are used for the manufacture of lumber. Let's note the special properties of the breed.

• High decorativeness. The wood looks sophisticated and creates a warm atmosphere thanks to its light reddish tint.
• Strength. Mechanical impacts of varying intensity do not leave dents and deformations on the board. It should be noted that durability and strength become higher during operation.
• No tendency to decay. The wood is impregnated with natural resin, which allows it to withstand contact with high humidity and water. The same substance protects the boards from pests. The gum allows the larch to harden after prolonged exposure to water. Moreover, such resistance is manifested both to fresh and sea liquid.
• Low thermal conductivity. Moreover, the material has a high volumetric heat capacity.

It is quite difficult for a person without experience to distinguish between different types of wood. Pine and larch are similar in shade and texture. However, it is still possible to determine the breed. Here are its main properties.

• Aroma. A pronounced coniferous smell emanates from the pine board. Larch has a lighter aroma, almost imperceptible.
• Colour. The pine is light, with time a slight yellow tint appears. The larch is dark and turns red under the sun.
• The weight. If you take boards of the same size, but from different materials, then the difference will be obvious. Larch weighs more.
• Strength. Can be swiped across the board with a sharp object. A trace will remain on the pine, but not on the deciduous.
• Flame resistant. Pine should not be used indoors where there is a high risk of fire. Larch is more resistant to fire.

Larch comes in different varieties. In the manufacture of lumber, Daurian and Siberian are especially popular. The first is highly resistant to frost, grows even in poor soil. Siberian larch occupies almost half of the forests in Russia. It differs from others in branches that are located at right angles to the trunk, curving up towards the end. The board itself can be ordinary or euro. The latter is distinguished by its high quality and ventilation positions on both sides. This allows a longer service life due to load balancing. If it is used as a parquet, it is usually a board with bevels.

In the construction industry, a dry board with a moisture content of no more than 20% is usually used. Moreover, each type of work has its own requirements. In addition, polished board is usually used for decoration, decorative flooring. The material can be edged or unedged. Edged board is cut from larch logs, processed from all sides. The edges are processed in such a way that the material has a tight joint. An unedged board is formed as a result of the longitudinal sawing of a massive piece of wood. There is wane on the edges of such lumber.

Wood grades can be like this.

• Prima. It is permissible to have three light knots no more than 8 mm in size per layer of material. Also, for every 1.5 meters of length, there can be 2 resin pockets. Moreover, this variety is of the highest quality. There can be no imperfections on the front side of the board. Light defects are permissible only from the inside out. Such shortcomings do not at all affect the features of operation.
• Extra. The expensive variety of larch flooring has no defects. During installation, adjustment is not required, because all standards are observed even at the manufacturing stage. There are no defects on the front side. The presence of knots of a different shade is allowed at the back. The area of ​​resin pockets and stains does not exceed 5% of the total area. It is not covered with coloring compounds, only protective ones.
• First (A). Can be used as a finishing floor. Multiple knots, face cracks, dents, tar pockets and stains are acceptable. There are no defects on the front side, the presence of fringe and rot is unacceptable. Moreover, on the reverse side, such disadvantages can be. The floor from such a board is painted and covered with a protective substance. This increases the decorative properties and service life.
• Second (B). On 1 running meter there may be 2-3 knots, cracks and other mechanical damage, resin pockets, blush and stains. There is no rot, fringe, wormholes on the front. The seamy side may have all of the above defects. Used in the manufacture of subfloors, painted in any color if necessary.
• Third (C). Such a board may already have significant disadvantages. All the nuances that are found in other varieties can be observed. Color defects such as stains and blues occupy no more than 50% of the total area. This variety has an unattractive front side, it may have traces of knots, rot and other troubles. This type of board is usually underlay, it is used exclusively for lathing and rough finishing. It is acceptable in utility rooms, where the decorative properties of the flooring do not matter.

As a standard, a large board 50x150x6000, 50x200x6000 and 30x150x6000 mm is used for flooring. The length may be different, for a small room a material with a length of 2-4 meters is suitable. Typically, the width ranges from 85-200 mm, and the thickness varies from 19 mm to 60 mm. Other options are possible at the request of the customer, for example, 50x100.

Many are interested in how much a cube of wood weighs. This directly depends on the moisture content of the board and the larch species. But its size does not matter.The weight of a cube with a moisture content of 10-18% is about 600 kg, with an indicator of 18-23% - 650 kg. If you take a standard board in a wetter state, then the weight will increase. If the level exceeds 45%, then the weight can exceed 900 kg. This wood is not used for domestic purposes.

Larch board has many advantages, which makes it extremely popular. High-quality lumber serves for many years and does not let its owners down. It is worth deciding in advance on the purpose of use. So, different materials are required for flooring or cladding. Here are the criteria for choosing a larch board.

• One batch must contain material with the correct geometry. Bending breaks the web, contributing to uneven load distribution. As a result, the coating will quickly deteriorate. You should also make sure that the length, width and thickness correspond to the declared parameters.
• The floorboard should also be checked for correct fittings. The spikes and grooves must fit together and be firmly connected to the lock.
• Good quality lumber is smooth and pleasant to the touch. Chips and defects on the front side are unacceptable. Any damage to integrity will impair performance.
• The extra variety is suitable for interior decoration in residential premises. This board is the most expensive. Lumber of the third grade costs half as much. The quality also leaves a lot to be desired. There is only one use case for finishing. If a better quality board was not enough, then undamaged fragments can be cut out of a third-rate board.
• The humidity level is selected in accordance with the needs and scope of use. The material should be transported and stored under a shed under suitable conditions. To measure the moisture level, there is a special device that can be used even before purchasing to check the quality of the board.
• After purchase, the material must not be laid immediately. You should leave the boards indoors for a couple of days. The wood must mature and adapt to the microclimate.
• After laying the floorboard, you can apply varnish or oil treatment. This improves the appearance and provides additional protection against external influences.

Larch board is widely used for domestic and industrial purposes. The practicality and availability of the material makes it as popular as possible. High decorative properties and natural impregnation make it possible not to use chemical compositions for processing. As a result, larch is a truly natural material, completely safe and non-toxic.

This application is the most common. The floorboard has spikes and grooves for a seamless covering. When laying close to it, it turns out to make the installation as invisible as possible. Usually, such boards are placed on logs or when arranging a sub-floor.

A deck board is used. Rounded chamfers are made at the corners, and the material itself is laid with a small gap. This design allows dirt and water to drain downward. It is an ideal material for high humidity conditions. Carved boards can be used for the veranda. Sometimes the slots are made to make the flooring less slippery. The verandah board is durable and resistant to external influences.

Larch in this case has a small thickness and size. When laying such parquet, logs are not used. With the help of such material, you can make an interesting pattern on the floor. A good solution for a bedroom, study, living room, dining room. In this case, the decorative properties of larch can be used especially successfully.

Especially popular is the insulation of floors on balconies and loggias using larch boards. It will keep you comfortable for a long time. Wood is not afraid of fungus and insects, direct sunlight and even precipitation. These properties make the material indispensable for the arrangement of baths, saunas and toilets. Here are other uses for larch planks.

• Carved lumber is used for decorative purposes. You can make a wall covering or just a panel.
• Building facade cladding.
• Ladders. Both the steps themselves and the decorative railings are made of larch.
• Pallets and containers are highly durable.
• Fences. You can make full-fledged fences or just decorative gates.