Imitation timber: types and features of use

Prestigious houses from a bar are always fashionable, but expensive and time-consuming, therefore, developers often purchase imitation materials. So what is imitation timber? This is a modern wall covering with high-quality aesthetic boards - an economical and affordable solution for the construction, reconstruction or repair of cottages, houses, villas.

The convenient trapezoidal profile of the boards creates a real impression that this structure is made from natural and very beautiful wood.

Distinctive properties of the material

• High-quality imitation is produced only at the factory: a special blank of 2 parts relieves internal stress in the wood and protects it from deformation.

• Conifers are most valuable for their properties: they do not crack when dry, they are strong and durable, they are not susceptible to fungi and insects, and are distinguished by beautiful natural patterns.
• This material is a powerful, durable lining with beveled front edges.

Benefits

The most important advantages of this material are:

• stable dimensions of the beam simulator;
• resistance to decay;
• beautiful appearance;
• low thermal conductivity and perfect microclimate preservation.

Installation Features

• Note that the instruction recommends horizontal installation and installation only with a comb upwards. But inside the house we can build it vertically.
• When finishing the ceiling, you should try to sew up from the window and to the opposite wall.
• All such simulators are fixed on a cobbled crate with a gap of 600-700 mm: it reliably keeps on the wall and is perpendicular to the boards.
• With narrow panels, just make a hidden installation: screw the screw into the base of the comb (angle - 45 degrees).
• We need the same tools as for wood.

Options

Today there are 2 types of production of similarity timber:

• artificial;
• solid wood.

Artificial timber

The resulting material is very durable, practical, resistant to moisture and temperature fluctuations. According to its texture, color, it is indistinguishable from the natural profile bar, but its characteristics are much better.

Benefits

• Let's specify that color shades, the price - not the only favorable indicators. Thickness, density, length guarantee the ease of construction and durability of the structure.
• These artificial models are almost always suitable for exterior cladding, interior decoration, as well as for powerful outdoor decking.
• Well-known companies maximally bring their brands to natural wood, up to the prescription of wood fibers.
• They are also distinguished by an incredible resistance to many mechanical damage, high-quality paint, long-term operation.
• With them we will forget about the fungus, mold.

The loss of this decent material only in lower stiffness: it can not be a support, a beam. But having often put wooden supports, logs, balusters and simply slats for paneling-simulators, we will strengthen the design to the level of natural wood. Its elements will not sag and break.

Note! When choosing a material for timber, we remember our climate, temperature range and compare with acceptable indicators for a specific simulator.

Solid wood

The variety of imitation is associated with its appearance: from perfectly smooth, similar to artificial siding to rough with defects.

And here are 2 main criteria:

• the number of flaws;
• mechanical damage during production.
• A single process for all such enterprises.
• One batch of wood for the manufacture of a batch of products.
• Drying in one dryer at exactly the set temperature.
• Equal processing of all products on certain machines.
• Sort strictly according to the norms of the variety.

Nuances of production technology simulator timber

Characteristics of varieties

So, pine is characterized by large dark knots in half of the panel. Linden bitches are small, rare, light. So an imitation of a bar, A grade from pine, will seem to some more spectacular than class B from linden.

Get a long board without flaws is impossible. Therefore, imitation of the bar Extra gives low yield and, of course, high cost. Length of products 1 - 3 m, and under the order - up to 6 m.

Note! When buying such a block house with a length of 4 - 6 m, we count on varieties B, C, AB.

Class A and Extra

• This is the highest classes false beams. Many perceive them as a single line.
• Boards are smooth, smooth, with a minimum of knots (up to 3).
• No mechanical damage.

• The cost of these varieties is the highest.
• Let's clarify that the real Extra class is not yet produced in Russia. But it is successfully replaced by class A simulators.

Class AB

Many manufacturers offer mixed varieties: AB with golden mean grades A and B.

• This group differs from the leaders A and Extra only in small resin pockets - up to 3 mm.
• On the board there may be 2 knots per 1 meter of material. And we already know that the color of such living and not rotten knots depends on the type of wood.
• Harmless microcracks are also allowed.

Class B

• The geometric form of this variety is minimally broken.
• Surface - with slightly noticeable errors in polishing and subtle mechanical damage, cracks and chips up to 0.5 mm deep.
• More than 3 knots are located right on the front side, and there are already more than 2 resinous pockets.

Class C

• This material is sometimes even with dropped knots, irregularities in the spike or groove.
• Imitation timber grade C is replete with resinous pockets, chips.
• But such cheap panels look very beautiful and soundly with proper installation and careful processing.

Class of aircraft

This mixed form has small fallen knots, chips and cracks. But they will not affect the durability of the house, its aesthetics and will not require frequent cosmetic repairs.

Flaws that all these varieties should not have:

• rotten or fallen knots that formed downright through holes on the boards;
• resin pockets larger than 8 mm;
• wane on the front side, there is mechanical damage;
• humidity of the panels exceeds 13%;
• fringe like polishing defect, noticeable after finishing.

In the interior

• Classical wall covering with this imitation is effective in a house in any style.
• Ecological purity of the material will improve the whole family.
• We emphasize that the ease of installation will allow us to sheathe the house with his own hands.
• The aesthetics and durability of this timber imitator at its low price attracts developers with any income.
• Perfect modern wood-based paints reproduce any natural shade and even reflect the structure of the wood itself. A high-quality protective coating will keep this painting for many years, and also simplify the care of such a house to a minimum.

Tip! Indoors, we can use simulators of any low-cost class, but on the ceiling it is better to sew high-quality panels with an absolutely smooth surface.

Wall and ceiling

The inner lining of imitation natural wood lumber is similar to the finishing block house.

But the nuances are still there:

• if the block house demonstrates a bright country style, then this board-timber creates an unusual design of freedom and space;
• the flat surface of the simulator visually expands the scale of the room - this is especially true in standard apartments and small cottages;
• the design of an artificial beam simplifies the installation of electric lamps, equipment;
• Imitation laminated veneer lumber is cheaper than a block house, which gives us the opportunity to fantasize with the interior decoration without significant damage to the budget.

Mounting material

On the facade of the imitation board, it is laid horizontally - this creates the illusion of a wall from a bar. Traditionally, the interior of the false beam is also laid horizontally, although it all depends on the designer’s project, the room’s characteristics and our desire: after all, vertical installation will visually make the room taller.

The lining of the lamella nevertheless is oriented along the short wall in order to expand the room. Complex attic floors are sheathed in accordance with their design.

Note! We will cover the boards with a protective compound before installation: from all sides, even the groove and the comb.

The procedure for finishing imitation timber

• We construct a batten with an interval of 60-70 cm under the lining of the bar.
• Cold walls will first be covered with heat insulation mats and vapor barrier film. We shall not warm the internal partitions.
• When laying horizontally start from the floor. Lamels put a groove down, so as not to collect moisture.
• We attach thin boards to the crate with kleimers or self-tapping screws in a thorn, and, possibly, in the back wall of the groove, but at an angle of 45 °.
• Screw the screws into the body of the wood into the thick board, drowning the cap by 6 mm. We will close the holes for the screws with dowels on the wood glue.
• Speakers unnecessary parts shkantov after absolute drying glue gently cut off flush with the board and carefully polished.
• We will decorate the inner and especially the outer corners in bars. But you can just gently cut the ends at the same angle of 45 °, then dock with the adjacent wall.
• If the lamellae were shorter than the wall, we will join them through the intermediate bar or the end to the end, but with an obligatory sawing of boards at the already mentioned angle of 45 °.
• All joints are located only in staggered order to avoid a vertical line.
• Holes for electrical points, lamps or pipes are cut out with a crown, then we will install this board and pull the wires through the hole.

Conclusion

• The beam simulator is used on frame structures for cladding from the outer as well as the inner side. And often these boards are superimposed on the insulation.
• Boards-simulators fasten screws in pre-made holes.
• When working internally, Kleimers are suitable for imitation of a bar. It is a fine modification that is not rational to fasten with screws, even if recessed in a tree - this will save us from having to drill under the cap near the groove and crest, and then mask with traffic jams, putty.

Placed horizontally, the plates look more spectacular than a natural profiled bar of natural humidity, so it is advisable to carry out the installation only in this way. And the second argument in favor of this technology is the vertical bearing crate that will ensure proper ventilation of the wood, prolonging its service.

Top grade lumber gives a single-toned, even texture. Low varieties of imitation lumber in the interior looks original: darkish expressive knots, beautiful amber resin spots on light wood will give the design originality. The video in this article has additional useful information on this topic.