D03A - MATERIAL GUIDES - HISTORY
Preface:
This study guide provides a brief and simple overview of the history of "hardwood" as a floor covering material.
1 • THE HISTORY OF HARDWOOD FLOORING
The use of wood as a building material dates back before recorded history. Whether is was twigs and branches to build a crude shelter or huts or heavier timbers to build stronger and more elaborate structures, wood has been used around the world wherever it has been available as a building material.
The use of wood as a structural building and flooring material is particularly prevalent in northern climates where the abundance and variety of larger trees enabled the milling of larger posts, beams, planks, and boards. Over the centuries, it was found that the most durable woods for this were those that were harder and denser. It became common practice to use such "hardwood" species as oak, ash, and maple to build stouter structures and durable floors, and even hardier sailing ships to explore and conquer the world. It is interesting to note that the Royal Navy song of encouragement and bravado composed over 250 years ago and still played by many commonwealth naval bands today, includes the line "hearts of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men ...". This said something about the durability and strength of English Oak (ships) and of the men who sailed them around the time of Admiral Lord Nelson.
The use of wood as a flooring material starts during the Middle Ages. Typically floors of the common folk at that time were packed earth or even stone or brick on the ground level and rough hewn oak or pine (and sometimes elm) planks up to 600 mm (24") wide on the upper floor. Such wood was typically milled at the worksite using simple rudimentary hand tools (saws, axe and adzes, chippers and chisels, and the like). There was little standardization in sizing. A case in point is the evolution of random width flooring (in North America during later times at least). These boards were planed by hand with no preference to equal width boards - just whatever could be made from available material on hand. These were usually left untreated and regularly scrubbed with sand.
The use of more elaborate / finer finished wood flooring some with hand cut pieces inlaid into patterns were for the more wealthy. In addition to inlaid patterns, these more expensive wood floors used various colours (stain) as well. The most prized, used parquet and even marquetry. Lesser expensive forms were achieved by painting patterns onto the wood floor itself using paints and stains to form the patterns and designs. Such design techniques started in the early 1600's and were more common in the Netherlands and a little less so in England. As time progressed stained and polished wooden floorboards were used around the perimeter of rooms to frame carpets. It was during this time that elaborately painted "ornamental" oilcloths sealed with varnish were also used. This material later became linoleum.
With the advent of the industrial age and resultant development of machinery, finer milling and common sizing of wood flooring evolved. From this period also came the advent of more elaborate use of wood materials in flooring to produce more ornate designs that were once handcrafted and used only by those who could afford them. Ornate parquets were developed that are still in use today. The development of steam and electric power during this period also coincidentally led to a growth in the need for more and better housing and a resultant demand for more wood flooring material.
Then most flooring manufacturers utilized oak because of its availability and related low cost, easy machining, strength, and beauty. As a result of this and the increased demand oak became the standard (most used) finished wood flooring material for housing in Europe as well in North America. With the expanding demand and increasing world commerce the use of different domestic "hardwoods" as well as more exotic imported hardwoods has evolved.
The use of hardwood flooring has not always been a constant one. As a result of the same industrial revolution and the evolution of flooring materials as well as ever changing design trends other flooring materials such as carpet, resilient flooring, ceramic and stone tile, and "bare" concrete have evolved and are being used. The demand and use of each of these floor covering materials changes periodically. Where once carpet was only for the wealthy, in the 1970's it was everywhere and in the least expensive homes while hardwood floors found their way into the higher priced custom home market. Today now that carpet has become a commodity, hardwood flooring has once again become a flooring surface that all can afford and enjoy.
A myriad of new patterns, textured surfaces, and new finishes has continued the demand in hardwood flooring. The advent of impregnated wood has also resulted in hardwood flooring now being used in commercial and high-traffic public areas.
Evolving technology and the development of new "engineered" hardwood flooring and installation systems and adhesives has also resulted in a wider variety of hardwood flooring materials to choose from. As a result hardwood flooring can now be glued down to concrete, plywood, and old floors. This has resulted in hardwood flooring now being used throughout any building project.
This study guide provides a brief and simple overview of the history of "hardwood" as a floor covering material.
1 • THE HISTORY OF HARDWOOD FLOORING
The use of wood as a building material dates back before recorded history. Whether is was twigs and branches to build a crude shelter or huts or heavier timbers to build stronger and more elaborate structures, wood has been used around the world wherever it has been available as a building material.
The use of wood as a structural building and flooring material is particularly prevalent in northern climates where the abundance and variety of larger trees enabled the milling of larger posts, beams, planks, and boards. Over the centuries, it was found that the most durable woods for this were those that were harder and denser. It became common practice to use such "hardwood" species as oak, ash, and maple to build stouter structures and durable floors, and even hardier sailing ships to explore and conquer the world. It is interesting to note that the Royal Navy song of encouragement and bravado composed over 250 years ago and still played by many commonwealth naval bands today, includes the line "hearts of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men ...". This said something about the durability and strength of English Oak (ships) and of the men who sailed them around the time of Admiral Lord Nelson.
The use of wood as a flooring material starts during the Middle Ages. Typically floors of the common folk at that time were packed earth or even stone or brick on the ground level and rough hewn oak or pine (and sometimes elm) planks up to 600 mm (24") wide on the upper floor. Such wood was typically milled at the worksite using simple rudimentary hand tools (saws, axe and adzes, chippers and chisels, and the like). There was little standardization in sizing. A case in point is the evolution of random width flooring (in North America during later times at least). These boards were planed by hand with no preference to equal width boards - just whatever could be made from available material on hand. These were usually left untreated and regularly scrubbed with sand.
The use of more elaborate / finer finished wood flooring some with hand cut pieces inlaid into patterns were for the more wealthy. In addition to inlaid patterns, these more expensive wood floors used various colours (stain) as well. The most prized, used parquet and even marquetry. Lesser expensive forms were achieved by painting patterns onto the wood floor itself using paints and stains to form the patterns and designs. Such design techniques started in the early 1600's and were more common in the Netherlands and a little less so in England. As time progressed stained and polished wooden floorboards were used around the perimeter of rooms to frame carpets. It was during this time that elaborately painted "ornamental" oilcloths sealed with varnish were also used. This material later became linoleum.
With the advent of the industrial age and resultant development of machinery, finer milling and common sizing of wood flooring evolved. From this period also came the advent of more elaborate use of wood materials in flooring to produce more ornate designs that were once handcrafted and used only by those who could afford them. Ornate parquets were developed that are still in use today. The development of steam and electric power during this period also coincidentally led to a growth in the need for more and better housing and a resultant demand for more wood flooring material.
Then most flooring manufacturers utilized oak because of its availability and related low cost, easy machining, strength, and beauty. As a result of this and the increased demand oak became the standard (most used) finished wood flooring material for housing in Europe as well in North America. With the expanding demand and increasing world commerce the use of different domestic "hardwoods" as well as more exotic imported hardwoods has evolved.
The use of hardwood flooring has not always been a constant one. As a result of the same industrial revolution and the evolution of flooring materials as well as ever changing design trends other flooring materials such as carpet, resilient flooring, ceramic and stone tile, and "bare" concrete have evolved and are being used. The demand and use of each of these floor covering materials changes periodically. Where once carpet was only for the wealthy, in the 1970's it was everywhere and in the least expensive homes while hardwood floors found their way into the higher priced custom home market. Today now that carpet has become a commodity, hardwood flooring has once again become a flooring surface that all can afford and enjoy.
A myriad of new patterns, textured surfaces, and new finishes has continued the demand in hardwood flooring. The advent of impregnated wood has also resulted in hardwood flooring now being used in commercial and high-traffic public areas.
Evolving technology and the development of new "engineered" hardwood flooring and installation systems and adhesives has also resulted in a wider variety of hardwood flooring materials to choose from. As a result hardwood flooring can now be glued down to concrete, plywood, and old floors. This has resulted in hardwood flooring now being used throughout any building project.