What is planken and what is it like?

To fully design your own building, you need to know what it is - planken. It is also required to find out the nuances of wall decoration with planken from thermowood, to figure out the optimal dimensions of the boards. A separate point is the features of straight brushed planken and other types of this material.

The description of planken is the most important in acquaintance with this material. This design appeared relatively recently and with good reason can be called an innovative solution. However, do not be afraid that this is some kind of particularly harmful synthetic panel. Quite the opposite - the main characteristic of planken is that it is completely natural. This solution will appeal to everyone who is tired of monotonous plastic with its dubious advantages.

This material should not be confused with clapboard. For its fastening, preparation of any frame is not required at all. However, the outward resemblance is undeniable.

Planken is widely used for wall decoration... But this is not the only area of ​​its use. This material is widely used in the design of floors and ceilings. Layout is possible both horizontally and vertically. It is used not only in the interior, but also when facing the facade. It is permissible to use this material in the design of floors, walls in gazebos. Similarly, it is used when decorating balconies, covered glazed loggias. Experts note that planken has not only excellent finishing properties, but also excellently protects surfaces from adverse environmental influences. An original and beautiful solution can be a planken fence.

Most often, larch material is used for this purpose.... The reason is simple - in terms of strength, it is only slightly inferior to oak. The flexibility is significantly higher than that of pine. In terms of compression, bending and elasticity, larch material is significantly better than hardwood products.

In general, this solution is different:

• reliability;
• affordable cost;
• wear resistance;
• ease of installation.

Along with facade cladding, planken can be used in decking format. Officially, such a product is called a wood-polymer composite. Such modifications work perfectly at temperatures from -50 to +70 degrees. Most (70%) of the composition of the substance is wood flour. The rest of the mass is represented by binders. Planken can be used almost indefinitely in an apartment, even in a bathroom. Such a solution is distinguished by exceptional environmental friendliness - at least on the same level as good-quality ceramic tiles. In bathrooms, both smooth and textured materials are used.

There are several varieties of planken.

This type of planken is more like a rectangle. During installation, it will have to comply with the standard functional clearance. Usually, an edged board is used for the manufacture of such structures. It must be polished.The formation of rounded chamfers is also typical.

This option has the same way round edges are formed. They are cut at an angle of 60 degrees. Installation of beveled structures occurs with the overlap of the panels to each other. The appearance of the surface resembles rather monolithic massive pieces. Such a product looks impressive and organic; it can be used to equip a ventilated facade.

Both of the previous types can have special fixing grooves... But more often the direct type has such a construction. Due to the special design, fixing is greatly simplified. An important feature is the compulsory care of ventilation. If this moment is not thought out, external influence can provoke mechanical destruction of products. Planken is graded according to other criteria. The brushed version is relatively widespread. Artificial aging can significantly improve the appearance of the product. It is naturally antiseptic. Even the most active of the parasites do not affect him.

Absorption of moisture and subsequent decay are excluded. The material is completely clean from an environmental point of view. Provided that it is colored correctly, it will surprise you with an extraordinary variety of patterns and natural woody beauty. The space for original design searches is expanding greatly.

The brushing procedure is "very hard". In the sense that the wood is actively scraped with metal brushes. It is this process that releases the layers that are deeply hidden from external sight. They just surprise with their unique texture. Brushed planken is readily used by connoisseurs of old-fashioned interiors and lovers of an emphatically romantic mood.

The dyed type of material is also in high demand.... Professional factory painting allows you to achieve a truly original appearance. The choice of color according to the palette does not limit the possibilities of customers.

Deserves special attention heat treated planken. In a special chamber, very high pressure and temperatures up to 190 degrees are created. This processing mode helps to remove both liquid moisture and wood sugar. Along the way, the structure changes at the molecular level. Significant properties of planken treated in a thermal chamber will be:

• increased resistance to moisture;
• minimal water absorption;
• zero risk of swelling and deformation;
• mechanical fortress;
• excellent surface density;
• resistance to bacteria;
• stable dimensions;
• impressive aesthetic qualities.

The most expensive type of such material is recognized "Extra". However, this variety is of the highest quality. In terms of beauty, this solution is also very attractive. The rich, even color will impress almost everyone. Knots and resin pockets are almost completely absent. Manufacturing defects of a mechanical nature are not allowed. The Prima category is somewhat worse. In this version, there may already be 1-2 resinous structures, from 1 to 3 healthy knots. The presence of whitish or reddened areas is allowed. In this case, there should be no blue spots. Cracks and manufacturing defects can be, but only not expressed and in small quantities.

Grade "AB" makes much less demands. In this case, any knots may be present, so long as they do not fall out. Planken of this category can contain a variety of resinous pockets. The presence of small cracks and mechanical deformations during the production process is allowed.The lowest quality product of the "BC" class may have any deviations that do not lead to loss of strength and breakage of the boards.

There are many wood materials available for making planken. But the most stable result is traditionally demonstrated by thermowood constructions. They are noble in appearance and very beautiful visually. The thermal conductivity level after heat treatment is 30% less than that of conventional softwood and hardwood. For both indoor and outdoor decoration, Canadian cedar wood is widely used.

Such material, due to its saturation with resinous substances, manifests itself very well in baths and saunas. Even the high cost of this breed does not particularly affect its popularity. Products are also often produced:

• from spruce (in pure form or with the addition of pine);
• from oak;
• from alder.

On planken of any type installed GOST 26002-83. This standard describes the requirements for northern softwood lumber. By thickness, it is divided into:

• relatively thin (minimum 16 and maximum 22 mm, most often 20 mm);
• medium (from 25 to 44 mm);
• thick group (not less than 50 and not more than 100 mm).

There is a gradation in width. It is considered to be narrow workpieces measuring 7.5-12.5 cm. If the size is 15 cm or more, then this product falls into the category of wide sawn timber. Therefore, the width of 140 mm means that this is an intermediate atypical sample. The length in the short version is from 45 to 240 cm, and in the long version - 270-630 cm.

By default, the crate is first mounted. After that, a layer of thermal protection is laid. The cladding is installed last. This type of ventilated façade ensures the internal drying of the walls and their cladding. In some cases, planken is placed directly on the wall; insulation is used only in places with difficult climates. The lathing is selected in accordance with the width of the slab thermal insulation material. The typical size of mineral wool is 60 cm. In this case, the distance between the frame battens will be 58 cm. But they are always guided by the most dense entry of the insulation. The lathing must be thicker than the insulating layer.

If this cannot be achieved immediately, you will have to sew on auxiliary slats. This will create a ventilated area 2-3 cm in size. When the crate is installed, a heater is placed in the intervals of the slats. It will need to be covered with waterproofing material and a layer of wind barrier.

Dense cellophane can be used to contain water and wind. When it is installed, the "pie" is fastened with dowels through and through. This work is done using pre-drilled holes. To prevent drills from winding mineral wool over themselves, hollow tubes made of plastic or metal are used. Plank fixation is often done on a "snake" - that is, on a simple metal bar, in which holes are made for self-tapping screws.

The closed fixation method involves the use of special strips with a length of 14.5 or 19 cm. In both cases, the width is 1.5 cm. The length of the plank should correspond to the width of the planken itself. Cross-installation is also possible. Closed installation means first laying the boards on the ground or on the floor in accordance with the height of the wall to be sheathed. Next, the dimensions of the crate are transferred to this surface, to which the boards are attached.

Metal planks are placed on oblique larch planks with an extension of 1 cm or more beyond the edge... When everything is laid and fitted, it is necessary to fasten the product with at least a couple of self-tapping screws. It is easier to fix the facade board with an open method. Then the screws are screwed in from the front surface. This method is also more reliable than the closed method. There are no situations where such an attachment would be destroyed. First, a pair of boards are attached to each other at a 90 degree angle, and then they are placed on the corner of the wall.

The plank can also be fixed to the ceiling. In this case, the lathing is created from timber bars, the step of which is approximately 50 cm. The thickness of the timber is selected individually. In the overwhelming majority of cases, constructions with a cross section of 5x5 cm are used. As well as on a wall, fastening is carried out according to an open or closed scheme. The open method is bad because the ceiling looks ugly. This is typical even if technological standards are observed. It is often practiced to drill recesses for drowning self-tapping screws, followed by masking with wood plugs or putty. But it is much better to choose a closed method to simplify the work. Inside buildings use fasteners of the "Wave" type.

It is not always enough to sheathe the surface with planken. To change the appearance, you have to paint. It is recommended to combine this operation with wood antiseptic treatment. Acrylic and alkyd urethane varnishes can be used. And sometimes polyurethane varnish is also in demand. For antiseptic impregnation, both aqueous preparations and preparations containing organic solvents are used. Additionally, oil and oil-wax are used in some cases. Also in demand:

• stains;
• varnishes for tinting;
• tinting oils;
• opaque paints and enamels.

It is undesirable to wash planken with detergents. It is also not worth using solvents. Strong wetting of the surface has a detrimental effect on this material. Refreshing the brightness of the surface layer is achieved by applying wax and varnish. Such methods are quite enough to maintain the appearance of the planken for as long as possible.

In the next video, you will be finishing the facade with larch planken.