ANOTHER SOLID CASE MADE FOR USING ENGINEERED WOOD
It’s a renewable resource, less wasteful and can be robust enough to replace steel
Are you familiar with engineered wood? You’ve probably got a lot of it throughout your home even if you don’t realize it.
Materials like plywood, oriented strand board (OSB) and medium density fibreboard (MDF) are all examples of engineered, or manufactured wood.
Engineered wood is often comprised of layers of wood scraps, sawdust and small trees that have been bonded together with adhesive.
Engineered wood wastes much less lumber than traditional hardwood that’s been cut in a traditional mill. Engineered wood is a product that’s strong, less wasteful, and can be found in sizes that you just can’t get with traditional lumber. That gives you a lot more flexibility in how you can use it throughout your home.
I like engineered wood because it’s a renewable resource that’s good for green building. It’s got a good life cycle — and in some cases can be used as a replacement material for steel. Manufacturing engineered wood requires less energy than steel which makes it better for the environment, too — and I like that.
I already mentioned that engineered wood is strong. But did you know that in some cases it’s strong enough to replace steel?
We’re starting to see more engineered wood products made out of glulams (glued laminated timber) replacing beams on the second and third floors of homes — which were traditionally made of steel or heavy timber.
In fact, we are seeing a big push in wood-framed high-rises (six or more stories) that offer the same or better structural strength and fire-resistance to steel frame buildings.
Because engineered wood is thin, there’s a common misconception that it can’t be refinished.
The surface is topped with a wood veneer about four millimetres thick that can be sanded and refinished up to three times.
Unlike traditional solid hardwood, you can actually install engineered wood directly over concrete. Now there’s some debate on when and where you should actually do this.
In a condo, it’s generally accepted. Some people say you can install it below grade (in your basement), but before you do, you need to think about water.
Many types of engineered hardwood can handle the moisture level found on concrete basement floors (typically around four per cent).
Some engineered floorboards will allow for air movement between the floor and the concrete so that any moisture that does sneak through will be able to dry out.
Before you even think about installing the flooring, you need to make sure the basement is watertight. If enough water does get through, you’re going to experience the same issues you will with traditional flooring — and that’s mould and rot. To be safe, I’d still install a good, watertight subfloor system.
Structures made out of engineered wood offer a lot of benefits. They’re light and strong — up to 20 per cent stronger than similarly sized traditional joists. Wider flanges offer greater stability and support.
Because they’re so strong, engineered wood products allow for greater uninterrupted spans throughout your home. What does that mean for you? Well, if you’re a fan of openconcept rooms and high ceilings, engineered wood can give you an expanse of 5.5 metres or more throughout a room.
But — and this is something to think about when you’re building — depending on the type of wood structure used, engineered joists use less wood, and that means they could burn faster than a traditional joist.
The longer it takes a material to burn, the better — because in a fire, you want as much time to evacuate as possible.
So what do you do if you’ve got a home full of engineered wood? You find ways to reduce the speed at which the fire spreads. Use a thicker, fire-rated drywall (that’s 1.6 cm thick, instead of 1.3 cm), and insulation that’s fire-resistant.
You want to use materials that will work to contain the fire to its origin, preventing it from spreading throughout the home.
Do your ducts have fire and smoke dampers? They help prevent fire and smoke from spreading throughout your home’s HVAC system.
I love engineered wood, and think it’s a smart product that has room in any home. But do your homework, and find an installer who knows how to work with the material to ensure it’s been installed properly.
Watch Mike Holmes in his series, Holmes Makes It Right, on HGTV. For more information, visit makeitright.ca