Live Edge Wood Flooring
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If you are exploring the world of hardwood flooring in search of inspiration for your next big design project, you may have come across the term “live edge flooring”. It sounds undoubtedly cool, but what exactly is it? As you might imagine, it isn't a floor that is actually alive! Instead, this playful and innovative flooring style harnesses the natural beauty of living wood in an unexpected way. Yes, with natural live edge wood flooring, each eye-catching board's edge meanders and curves. Not only that, but an incredible colour palette can be achieved thanks to the eco-friendly and efficient use of every bit of the felled tree trunk. If all of that sounds appealing, read on as we follow the sweeping forms of live edge wood flooring to see precisely how it is made and used.
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What is live edge wood flooring?
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What Is Live Edge Wood Flooring? While any kind of wooden surface within the home or workspace evokes feelings of warmth and charm, the trend for natural live edges takes this concept even further. Where most hardwood floors use planks or parquet blocks that are cut neat and straight so they will fit together in an orderly fashion, this style instead retains the natural shape and edge that each living tree held when it was still standing.
When a tree is planked at the sawmill, if it is destined for live edge wood flooring, the step of cutting its edges to be perfectly squared off is skipped. This allows that wandering edge to be incorporated into hardwood floor design, whether in live edge solid or live edge engineered wood flooring. I'm sure you can picture those pretty curves, with visible grain patterns and the naturally darker hue at the board's edge, but what is the next step of installation? Let's examine the options. |
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Methods of Installing Live Edge Wood Flooring
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Because the shape of a live edge plank is by definition unpredictable, it can easily be used to create strikingly-shaped furniture, however the way it is incorporated into a stunning hardwood floor must be both strategic and as unique as the shape itself! There are a number of different ways that this dynamic look can be achieved.
Some hardwood flooring companies will carefully seek out live edge wood planks that can fit together fairly neatly—in fact some even use sophisticated technology to make these careful matches for them. In other instances, live edge wood flooring will be installed with regular planks fitted neatly in between them, so these interesting forms will look very much like inlays. Creativity is truly limitless in this domain, so designers may choose to set boards at interesting angles or even create playful patterns. Finally, creating yet another show-stopping aesthetic, natural live edge wood can be laid and a clever hardwood and epoxy-based filler is used to close the gaps between them. This manifests an incredible artwork underfoot of undulating line and colour, while also delivering a floor that is smooth and neatly closed. |