Plank Flooring

A flooring trend that is gaining popularity in homes, offices, and retail businesses is plank flooring. Plank floors offer a unique look with an organic touch.

So, what exactly is plank flooring? Plank flooring is simply defined as floors made from solid wooden planks. This type of flooring is not really new in the world of building and home construction as its use was relatively prevalent around the 20th century, just before other flooring alternatives became popular. In fact, you could see a lot of plank flooring in older homes, especially in sailor-, farm-, or western-themed houses.

The strength and durability of plank flooring are but some of the qualities of this type of flooring that gives it a distinct character. Knots and whorls can be easily observed in plank flooring, leaving a rustic aura to the atmosphere. Planks six inches or more in width were installed by laying them directly over supportive floor joists in earlier times.

Today, a layer of insulation may be additionally installed under the floor to keep it warm especially during wintertime. Because plank flooring is thick and usually comes from hardwood trees like oak, cedar, ebony redwood, rubber wood, ironwood, or even cork, it can definitely withstand heavy traffic and a lifetime of use. Cleaning and maintaining plank flooring is a breeze as you only need to dust and mop it regularly like you do your other hardwood items. If a single planks needs repair, you can readily replace the torn down plank without the need of removing the whole floor, just that single plank.

You may think that the rough-hewn appearance of plank flooring may make it unfit for use in more formal places. The use of pale woods like ash and beech eliminates this as these woods tend to look more elegant and less rustic. Plank flooring is also available in laminates. Amazing how laminate flooring can duplicate just about anything, right?

Some Downs to Plank Flooring

Overall, plank flooring is generally a good type of flooring to use in your home. It is durable, strong, presentable, and unique. However, it also has its own downsides although its positive points overshadow the negatives. For one, it is not readily available at your local lumber store and you need to order it from special distributors. It is very expensive and requires a long lead time, with an average of about two months. You could also see gaps and textures in plank flooring, even the ones that don’t look good. There would also be occasional holes in plank flooring although you can fill them up with wood plugs.

Repairing Gaps in Wide Plank Flooring

• Use a putty knife in cleaning out the cracks in your plank flooring.
• Use the most appropriate rope for the cracks. Choose the best fit by testing several types of ropes first. Measure the appropriate length that you need so you will have the right length, thereby saving you extra cash.
• Dye the ropes so it blends well with your plank flooring and it wouldn’t appear obviously on your flooring. You may need to do several tests to achieve that perfect color to match your wood. Remember that the rope’s color will change as the dye dries.
• When your desired color is achieved, dye the rest of the rope and let dry.
• Insert the dried rope into the cracks until all cracks have been covered.

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