Faux Wood for Real Homes
The handsome look of wood is enduringly popular as a building material or a décor 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
Posted — UpdatedThe 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.
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 can't 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.
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 can't compete with a glorious redwood deck, but this material is gradually being produced in better-looking forms.
Environmentally friendly faux wood decking is a composite, which is generally made from those soda bottles, milk jugs and plastic bags that conscientious consumers faithfully send to the recycling bin. Newer versions include some wood fiber, too.
Ceiling beams are coming back into fashion in a big way. These ornamental touches, together with fireplace mantels, exterior siding and wall or ceiling planking, allow you to give your home the look of a log cabin (complete with realistic-appearing axe marks, if you wish!) or Shakespeare's half-timbered Tudor home. When manufactured from faux wood, they can be made to imitate various upscale species of lumber.
The downside of this type of imitation wood is that it is generally made from vinyl or polyurethane. These were known in the past for their tendency to offgas, endangering indoor air quality and causing health problems such as respiratory difficulties. However, manufacturers have begun creating some types of vinyl that are much lower in VOCs and therefore more eco-friendly.