Parquet board ash or oak. Which is better: oak or ash? Ash or oak, which is better for a countertop?

The main parameters by which industrial wood is selected for furniture production: strength, resistance to deformation, wear resistance. All these three qualities are combined into one indicator - wood density, that is, the ratio of the mass of the tree to its volume.

Types of wood depending on density:

A) Soft (up to 540 kg/m3) – spruce, pine, aspen, linden, fir, poplar, chestnut, alder, cedar;

B) Hard (550-740kg/m3) – larch, birch, oak, elm, beech, sycamore, walnut, maple, apple, ash;

C) Very hard (from 750 kg/m3) – iron birch, rowan, white acacia, hornbeam, dogwood, boxwood, pistachio tree.

Let's consider the breeds most in demand in furniture production:

1. Pine

Wood color– brown, beige-yellow, white with light pink streaks. The best material for making furniture is considered to be pine trees growing on a hill with sandy soils or on dry hills. In such wood, the annual layers will be pronounced and narrow, close to each other. Pine grown in an area with high humidity will have a loose structure, and blanks from it will have to be dried for a long time before being put into production. Pine wood is soft, easily scratched and damaged.

Pros:

flexibility in processing. Pine is easily planed along the grain, but difficult to plan in the transverse direction. When cutting, the opposite is true—a log cuts across easily, but poorly along lengths.
easy to glue;
depending on the color and structure of the wood, pine is used both for making furniture with subsequent varnishing, and for frames, and various designs with hardwood veneer veneer;
like all conifers, it has a pleasant smell and releases phytocindes, which are considered medicinal.

2. Spruce

Spruce wood is softer than pine. In addition, the trunk contains large number knots that make it difficult to process wood for manufacturing furniture panels. Compared to pine, spruce absorbs moisture better and begins to rot faster. Due to its inexpressive texture and low strength, spruce is most often used for mosaic finishing or in structures that do not experience significant loads during operation.
Pros:

spruce wood is practically not subject to warping;
sticks well.

Along with spruce it is also used Siberian fir- these two trees have similar indicators.

3. Larch

The wood of this coniferous tree valued for its unusual reddish-brown hue and high performance. From disadvantages of larch– a large amount of resins, which quickly damages the tools and causes difficulties in processing. If improperly dried, internal cracks form on larch wood.

Pros:

high moisture resistance;
excellent strength indicators (the best among conifers);
little subject to warping;
used for making carved parts.

4. Cedar

Yellowish-white cedar wood is not very strong and dense, so it cannot withstand heavy loads.

Pros:

resistance to rot and wormhole;
suitable for carving;
has a specific woody aroma.

5. Yew

Red-brown with light and dark veins, yew wood is highly durable, but also a large number knots.
Pros:

not subject to wormhole,
easy to plan and sand,
insensitive to atmospheric changes.

6. Oak

On a radial section of an oak trunk, large pith rays and light sapwood are clearly visible. Oak is the most widely used hardwood in the manufacture of solid wood furniture, due to its excellent combination of strength and beautiful texture. If oak lies in water for a long time (several decades), its wood acquires a rare dark purple color with a green tint. Oak wood is difficult to polish and requires equipment with highly hardened cutters.

Pros:

despite the high viscosity of wood, it is processed quite well;
bends easily;
resistant to rotting;
lends itself well to artificial aging techniques.

7. Ash

Wood for many qualities looks like oak, but lighter and does not have pronounced medullary rays. Ash must be exposed antiseptic treatment, since in humid conditions the wood is quickly damaged by wormholes. Poorly polished.

Pros:

bends well after steaming;
cracks little when dried;
When bleached, it acquires an unusual shade of gray hair.

8. Beech

Beech wood strength is not inferior to oak, but is highly hygroscopic, so it is not recommended for the manufacture of furniture that will be used in high humidity(bath, kitchen). Poorly polished.

Pros:

high decorative qualities: beautiful texture both in radial and tangential cuts,
quick to dry, does not crack;
easy to process: pricks, saws, cuts, bends;
It is perfectly bleached and painted using special solutions - it practically does not change the beautiful natural shade when varnishing.

9. Hornbeam

It has hard, dense wood of a grayish-white color. It is often called white beech, but hornbeam has a less pronounced texture and often has a cross-ply structure, which makes the tree difficult to split.

Pros:

after proper drying, the hornbeam becomes harder than oak;
not subject to warping;
lends itself well to etching and finishing.

10. Common birch

Birch wood, despite high density, is not resistant to rotting, therefore it is used mainly for the manufacture of plywood, peeled veneer, and chipboard. It takes a long time and doesn’t dry well, is susceptible to wormholes, cracks a lot, and warps.

Pros:

uniform structure and beautiful color of wood;
bends well;
in the production of solid wood furniture it is used as an imitation of valuable species (it is well colored when etched).

Karelian birch is distinguished separately, which has higher performance indicators, is known for its unusual texture and pink wood. It is expensive, so it is used mainly for veneering solid wood furniture.

11. Maple

Despite the fact that it is dense Maple wood rarely cracks, He not resistant to dampness. Bird's eye and sugar maple are the most prized maples because of their characteristic beautiful structure.

Pros:

easy to prick, well processed: cut, polished;
has a homogeneous structure without pronounced fibers;
when stained, it successfully imitates valuable species;
Maple wood does not have a pronounced core, so it is easily painted, varnished, and stained.

12. Alder

Soft breed, without a pronounced structure. Alder wood quickly darkens in air, so it is used mainly in painted form (black or mahogany). Feature of alder: susceptible to wormhole in dry places, but resistant to rot in wet conditions.

Pros:

dries quickly,
easy to carpenter,
polishes well
warps slightly.

13. White acacia

The hardest hardwood, therefore, has high friction resistance and is elastic. In dry form it is difficult to process, so it is used mainly for facing soft rocks.

Pros:

perfectly polished;
When exposed to air, the wood darkens, causing the texture to acquire a bright yellow-brown color and expressive texture.

14. Walnut

The older the tree, the more valuable and darker its wood. The most expensive variety is American black walnut.

Pros:

a wide variety of shades;
dense but malleable wood;
easy to paint thanks to high content tannins (from ebony tint to smooth white).

15. Linden

It is used in production for the production of figured turned elements. It contains few tannins, so it practically does not stain, but it can be easily stained (with the correct concentration of the solution, linden wood can be given the appearance of more valuable wood species). Needs antiseptic impregnation, as it is highly susceptible to wormholes.

Pros:

resists moisture well,
wood is durable and plastic,
has a beautiful white and creamy hue.

As you can see, each wood has its own advantages and disadvantages, based on which you can choose a certain type for making furniture from solid wood.

What is better for stairs – oak or ash? The strength, durability, and appearance of the structure depend on the choice. If you are the owner of a multi-storey housing or other property, this article will answer your question. We will consider the advantages and disadvantages of two types of wood, the characteristics of the material, and the possibilities of its use.

Any tree has unique parameters. Quality assessment consists of five parameters:

hardness;
service life;
light, texture;
susceptibility to rotting;
price.

Oak and ash belong to hard rocks. They are durable and wear-resistant. But high hardness means there is a risk of cracking if handled carelessly. In terms of basic parameters, oak outperforms ash. But you need to dwell on each of the breeds separately.

Ash

It is a less expensive alternative to oak. The properties are only slightly worse, but the difference in price is noticeable. The main advantages of ash:

Expressive texture. Visually, the products resemble their oak counterparts, but the veining is more contrasting and more pronounced.
Hardness, wear resistance. Even heavy loads on the steps do not cause deformation or cracking for decades. But this same property complicates processing.
High resistance to cracking. Even with strong impact wooden surface maintains integrity.

Additional advantages: low maintenance, good noise and heat insulation, complete environmental friendliness.

The only one important drawback ash – low concentration of tannins. This means that products made from this wood are afraid of moisture. Outdoor use is not permitted. And indoors it is better to avoid direct exposure to water. The situation is partially corrected by special compositions for wood processing. But they are not a panacea.

Oak

Oak stairs are installed for decades or even centuries. It is enough to update the coating in a timely manner, and the structure will serve for a very long time. The steps do not sag, do not crack, and withstand the most severe mechanical stress.

Other benefits include:

flexibility during processing;
resistance to moisture is an order of magnitude higher than that of ash;
resistance to insects and rot;
beneficial effects on the body of resins and essential oils released by wood.

Oak is not afraid not only of moisture, but also of frequent temperature fluctuations. It is noteworthy that over the years, sustainability has only grown. Insects do not breed here, mold does not form. Even in bad conditions oak staircase will last at least 50 years.

Two-hundred-year-old oak is considered the best for making stairs. It costs more, but this is compensated by its quality.

Disadvantages of oak:

Its processing is quite complex. It is impossible to even tighten a self-tapping screw without drilling a hole.
The density of wood is more than 700 kilograms per cubic meter. Structures based on it are heavy.
The price is significantly higher than that of the same ash.

If you choose an oak or ash staircase, proceed from the price, conditions of use, and design wishes.

Ash and oak wood sawn into boards are very similar. Sometimes unscrupulous staircase manufacturers take advantage of this, passing off less valuable ash as expensive oak. We suggest considering the main external differences breeds

Oak has clearly defined medullary rays when viewed in a radial section. The material stains well - up to deep dark, almost black shades. Bog oak difficult to confuse with other breeds. In the same radial sawing texture is very pronounced.

Ash is very similar in appearance, but the wood is noticeably lighter. The difference is especially noticeable in direct comparison. There are no core rays here. This breed is absolutely unsuitable for staining. When you try to stain ash, it acquires an unattractive grayish tint. It may bend a little when steaming, manual processing more difficult than oak.

Which staircase is better - oak or ash?

If your budget allows, choose oak. Optimally - solid wood stairs. Such structures are especially strong and durable. Even in the most unfavorable conditions Without proper care, they last for decades. And with timely maintenance - hundreds of years.

Ash can be considered as a less expensive alternative. With similar qualities, it costs an order of magnitude cheaper. You may have to sacrifice durability and visual sophistication, but you'll pay less.

It is necessary to take into account the interior of the room, stylistic decisions and personal wishes. It would be a good idea to order a preliminary design project with visualization. This way you can see how certain solutions will look in the existing interior. This means you can’t make a mistake.

Oak is a plant of the beech family, the height of which reaches 50 meters, the diameter of the trunk is up to two meters. Well known for its acorns. Distributed almost throughout the entire territory of Russia. It grows slowly (on average 20 cm per year). Lives up to 1000 years. Ash is a plant of the olive family. (Its closest “relatives” are olive and lilac). The height reaches 40 meters, it is distinguished by a slender trunk and an openwork crown. Grows quickly. The most common species growing on the territory of Russia is common ash. Maximum age is 300 years.

Oak and ash from the point of view of materials science

Oak and ash are among the most valuable tree species. Let's list in more detail technical specifications oak and ash, and also consider the areas of their use.

First most important physical property wood is moisture. A cubic meter of freshly cut oak weighs 1.04 tons, and in an air-dry state (with a humidity of 10-12%) - 0.76 tons. The moisture content of wood used in carpentry production should not be higher than 12%. It is important that oak, like ash, is very demanding in terms of drying conditions. Rapid drying can lead to cracking of oak and ash wood. whether oak, ash or brick is thermal, sound and electrical conductivity. Dense tree species such as beech, oak or ash have higher thermal conductivity than less dense pine or birch. Therefore, oak and ash are used mainly in flooring and interior decoration, not in building walls. The sound conductivity of wood is much higher than that of other materials, so additional sound insulation of oak or ash partitions is necessary. The electrical conductivity of wood depends on its humidity and can change during operation depending on changes in air humidity in the room. Highly hygroscopic wood (such as beech) easily absorbs moisture from the air, as a result of which its size, shape and electrical conductivity can change. To reduce hygroscopicity wooden products covered with protective paints, varnishes, etc. It should be noted that oak, like ash, are dense tree species, and their electrical conductivity does not change significantly with changes in room humidity. Let us point out the mechanical properties of oak and ash. 700 g/m3 and 680 g/m3 are the densities of oak and ash, respectively. The slight difference in density explains the similar mechanical properties of oak and ash. The wood of these trees is very hard and durable. According to the Brinnell method, the hardness of oak is 3.7, ash is 4. Floors made of oak or ash are distinguished by high wear resistance and resistance to mechanical stress. In addition, oak and ash wood has a high viscosity value, which determines the flexibility of these materials. Without boring the consumer with numbers, let’s say that resistance to various loads, such as compression and tension, is very high for both oak and ash. Dense wood oak and ash has a high ability to hold nails and screws, which is especially important for its long-term operation. Despite their resistance to fungal attack, we recommend that products made from oak, ash and other deciduous trees be coated with special protective agents before use.

Aesthetic properties of oak and ash

These include the color and texture of wood. In this respect, oak and ash are also somewhat similar. The color varies from light yellow to brown, only ash wood, unlike oak, does not have a characteristic greenish tint. The texture of oak and ash materials is almost the same, but its pattern is more pronounced in ash. Therefore, not oak, but ash is preferably used in mosaic typesetting floors.

Areas of application for oak and ash

First of all, this is the arrangement of luxurious, durable, warm, environmentally friendly and energetically healthy durable floors. Mature oak and ash trees are used in the production of carved and bent furniture. Due to its ability to turn to stone over time, oak, along with ash, invariably remains one of the most wear-resistant and durable building materials. Flexible and durable ash has found its application in production firearms, sports equipment and work tools. It is the favorite material of kings and designers.

It is unlikely that anyone would argue that an important part of any home is the floor. Coziness and comfort in our home directly depends on what type of flooring we choose: laminate, linoleum, carpet, parquet or solid wood. By the way, the last option is very tempting, because it is one of the most prestigious and attractive floor coverings. Wooden floors have always been an indicator of wealth, solidity and excellent taste of the home owner. Solid wood floors have fairly high operational properties. It is resistant to stress, environmentally friendly, durable, has an elegant appearance thanks to the pronounced wood texture and all the possibilities for creating a healthy microclimate in the house.

Oak floor boards - strength and durability

When choosing solid board, you should know that its wear resistance and long service life are determined by the type of wood used. Compared to parquet, solid floor boards are 1.5-2 times thicker, which significantly increases its service life. Since ancient times, oak and ash wood was used to create a reliable floor. , characterized by a natural noble color, is indispensable when creating an interior in classic style. High aesthetic qualities, durability, excellent thermal insulation properties will bring warmth and tranquility to your home, and will also emphasize your impeccable taste. ideal for floors that will be subject to increased loads; it’s not for nothing that oak is called “eternal long-liver.” The material goes well with interior solutions, gives comfort and a feeling of harmony and unity with nature.

In terms of hardness, this type of wood occupies a leading position. Over the years it only gets stronger, and its natural beauty only intensifies. The natural texture of solid floorboards will add richness to any interior. So it will not leave any connoisseur of natural beauty indifferent.

Solid ash field board - exquisite durability

However, not only oak floor board enjoys overwhelming success. Along with it, many are also attracted. It is often used at all kinds of sports facilities. Properly dried, there are almost no shrinkage dates, it is minimally subject to deformation and pleases its owner for a very long time. And the contrasting pattern with smooth patterns of annual rings makes ash stand out from other species. It looks quite elegant, it does not catch the eye, but at the same time it is very impressive and presentable. Interiors in country, modern, classic, and retro styles will surprisingly benefit from the proximity to a similar coating, which beautifully plays with reflections in daytime and evening lighting.

Unpretentious. Changes in temperature and importance do not affect its characteristics and dimensions. The elasticity and hardness of ash allow you to quickly and easily extra effort install the floor board. Solid ash floor board - best choice for those who dream of admiring the beauty and unusualness of their interior for a long time.

So solid and ash is a promise bright decor, luxury and long service life. If a massive board is laid according to all the rules, it will look simply gorgeous.

Before you begin installing solid wood flooring, remove it from its packaging and stack it to allow it to absorb the humidity of the room before laying the floor. Work begins with screeding and waterproofing the floor. Laying is done on a dry and level base, designed to ensure the durability of the coating. The most best base- subfloor or plywood.

Several ways to lay solid floorboards

There are several methods for laying solid boards; before any of them, prepare the base for the flooring using self-leveling mixtures or cement-sand screeds. Most often, laying solid boards using a plywood base is used; this method is the simplest. When installing the floor, the solid board needs to be “pulled”. The board is laid on a prepared base made of moisture resistant plywood along the screed and is attached using two-component glue and self-tapping screws at the side ends.. With all this, keep in mind that between the sheets of plywood themselves a gap of 3 mm must be left, and between the sheets and the walls of the room the gap must be about 10 mm. After laying, the massive board needs to be sanded. Before laying solid floorboards, do not forget to clean the base from dust.

A little effort and patience - and you will be able to show off to your guests a stunning floor that will give the entire interior a unique charm, and you will be in a great mood!

The choice of kitchen must be approached with all responsibility. The fact is that the housewife spends most of her time in this room, so the furniture must be of the highest quality.

Now, however, as always, material such as solid wood is popular. For example, a kitchen made of oak or ash meets all requirements. But which one is better?

Advantages of a kitchen made of ash

The design of the room, which is decorated with such material, is distinguished by clear lines and strict patterns. Ash is a light and fresh material that can change the atmosphere for the better.

But you need to wash the surfaces very carefully. The fact is that ash is deformed under the influence of certain cleaning agents. Modern manufacturers kitchen furniture offer options for every taste. However, many buyers opt for classic solutions.

Avant-garde interiors quickly become boring and go out of fashion. But the classics are always at the peak of popularity, so it’s simply impossible to make a mistake in this case.

Kitchens made of ash are considered reliable and durable, but their cost is affordable for everyone. That is why they have become so popular in our time.

The design of such furniture is strict, and it is located along the perimeter of the drawers. With the help of such finishing, manufacturers managed to emphasize natural beauty ash and fill the kitchen interior with freshness and softness.

This material needs proper care, but it will thank you for a long time service and unsurpassed appearance. Worth buying special means, which you will use to wash furniture surfaces.

You can buy furniture from other types of wood. Oak has a number of significant advantages that need to be listed:

the material is not afraid high level humidity, so the furniture will not rot or dry out;
if scratches or other defects appear on the surface, you can eliminate them in a matter of minutes by turning to a professional for help;
the design of such furniture can be different, so you can choose the option that will harmoniously fit into the interior of the kitchen;
It is very easy to care for surfaces, because oak tolerates the effects of detergents.

The final choice of material for the kitchen depends on your wishes and preferences. Both options have excellent characteristics and properties.

The main thing is that you like the furniture and look harmonious in the interior of the kitchen. Only in this case will the final result completely satisfy you.

Watch the video for DIY ash kitchens: