Pushing the boundaries of design, wide planks give a modern spacious feel to an interior space. Commonly-used narrow plank flooring offers a more traditional look but often creates a ‘busy’ look and feel.
Does wide plank flooring make a room look bigger or smaller?
Many people make the misstep of using thinner planks in their small rooms, which can sometimes emphasise how small the space actually is by making it look busier and more crowded.
Wide planks are perfect for opening up an interior space. Using a wide plank causes an optical illusion making your space appear bigger than it is. We always recommend wider planks for bigger and more vast, open spaces. Don’t forget that picking the right colour of your wide plank will also affect how ‘big’ your small room feels.
Wide plank flooring refers to hardwood flooring sold in planks that are notably wider than the 120-190mm boards that make up the vast majority of the wood flooring market. While the tendency for hardwood flooring is now toward 180mm planks up to 220mm wide, true wide-plank hardwood flooring is a relatively small subset of the hardwood flooring market, with boards that range from 260mm to 500mm in width.
Traditionally wide plank flooring boards were made from solid wood boards that were hand-scraped, so they typically had a rough-sawn surface texture. Wide plank flooring boards can now be made with a variety of finishes, including brushed and smooth textures that are commonly found on modern hardwood flooring.
We have a large range of wide plank flooring options available, ranging from a narrow 120mm plank to a massive ½-metre-wide plank. Our most common stocked size is between 180-190mm. We also have a few options that are available in a random width boards. Explore our wide plank flooring options here.
Yes wide plank flooring is most often more expensive than narrow plank flooring.
The width of the boards is the reason why wide plank flooring is notably more expensive than other forms of wood flooring. Wide boards call for long plank lengths in order to be visually proportional and give it dimensional stability. Achieving boards this wide and long means there is a limited number of trees that are suitable, and there is considerable waste involved in milling such boards because it produces fewer planks. Hardwood boards 350 to 500mm wide are expensive given the relative scarcity of trees suitable to their manufacture.
However, just because wider planks have a higher purchase price, it doesn’t mean it will drastically increase the installation costs of laying the floorboards, since wider planks cover more surface area, it’s reasonable to expect that they won’t take as long to cover a surface and there will be fewer seams.
There are no problems specifically related to the width of a flooring plank. The fact is that all wood flooring problems can usually be traced back to one or more of these factors:
Quality
Better wood makes better floors. There are no compromises when it comes to selecting the trees and the cuts of wood to make a Wide Plank Floor. Old-growth trees in the prime growing region for each species are carefully selected with the planks cut from the center of the tree. This way the planks have the maximum amount of vertical grain density for superior strength and stability at every width and length. This minimises the chances for shrinkage and expansion.
Curing
Natural wood is organic… it breathes! As it does, it can absorb or give off water as it tries to match it’s environment. Green or insufficiently cured wood can contain excessive moisture and/or be damaged by internal stresses associated with improper drying processes. This can lead to excess shrinkage, warping, splitting, cracking and other ugly problems.
Installation
The process of installing an engineered wide plank floor is relatively easy, especially with engineered wide boards – after all, there are fewer boards to install. However, certain attention to details during the installing process will ensure the best possible outcome and long-term stability and performance of your wide plank floor. From acclimating the wood, to subfloor preparation, laying the boards, and using the proper adhesive methods, every step needs to be followed correctly. We advise you to let your local flooring contractor organise and install your timber flooring.
Acclimatisation
Wood works in all stable interior environments if acclimatised properly.
Acclimation: To gradually become more comfortable in a new place, especially where physical conditions are very different.
Acclimatisation is a valuable step in the process of installing a new timber floor. Like installation, the exact acclimation process will vary depending on your location, environmental factors, subfloor, and the type of flooring being installed. The period of time required for installation can vary depending on these factors as well. Wider planks usually need more time to acclimatise than narrower planks. The best way to understand the proper acclimatisation process for your floor is to contact your local installer.
You may well ask yourself if wide plank floors are the right flooring type for your house and if the cost of genuine wide planks is worth it. The question is really a matter of the value you put on the authenticity of the flooring. Wide plank flooring is for homeowners who place a premium on natural luxury and want to demonstrate it. This flooring ranks up there with expensive stone flooring as a material that shouts high-end construction.
Elevate your interior with VidaSpace. Contact us and one of our team of trained interior designers will be able to guide you through the process.
