Faux wood for real homes

Provided by Networx.com

The handsome look of wood is enduringly popular as a building material or a dcor accent. Features such as rustic ceiling beams are now coming back into style after a long hiatus. However, natural hardwood, charming as it may be, is not always the most practical or affordable option. Take a good long look at the new faux woods they just might turn out to be the best choice for your flooring, deck or decorative beam or panel project. Interesting faux wood fact: What most people think of as "fake" often contains a high percentage of real wood, usually in the form of recycled pre-consumer waste. It can be a surprisingly eco-friendly alternative.

Flooring

The most common type of faux wood used as flooring is laminate. This consists of several layers, including a moisture barrier on the underside, a layer of recycled wood fiber, a veneer (or a photograph in less expensive varieties) of real hardwood and a melamine finish on top.

Laminate has quite a few advantages. It costs substantially less than hardwood, making it easier on your budget even if you live in the famously expensive DC region. As well, Washington laminate flooring installation is simpler and does not raise the floor surface as much. Durable, with good scratch-, sun- and moisture-resistance, laminate is easy to maintain, requiring no polishing, and will stand up to wheelchair use much better than hardwood. Look for a guarantee of 15 to 25 years.

There are a number of areas where laminate does not stack up to real hardwood. The first is in terms of looks laminate, especially the cheaper versions, lacks the beauty and depth of authentic wood. It can be complicated to mend, since it cant be sanded. Manufacturers do sell touch up and repair kits, though. If the laminate is made up of individual planks, replacing a damaged piece is simplified.

On the green front, laminate relies on rapidly renewable resources, and makes use of a higher percentage of each tree than traditional hardwood harvesting. The installation process does not require adhesive. On the other hand, laminate flooring may give off dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs), even formaldehyde. Ventilate well during, and for some time after, installing, and then seal the floor. Look for material produced in compliance with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Decks and Railings

Faux wood for outdoor living spaces, such as decks, porches and railings, is cheaper and easier to install than regular hardwood. Harder-wearing and longer-lasting, it stands up to extremes of heat and cold as well as rain and other forms of precipitation. And, of course, it is not appetizing to termites as natural wood is.

In appearance, a faux wood porch cant compete with a glorious redwood deck, but this material is gradually being produced in better-looking forms.

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Faux wood for real homes