With many options available, choosing a wooden floor can be difficult. The best way to decide what kind of wood flooring you want is by looking at examples in your everyday life and gathering a taste for the specific style that fits you. This way, you will better understand what exactly you need from your new floor and what expectations to have.
If you’re in the market for hardwood floors, one of the most critical factors to consider is the board’s edge. Different wood floors have other edges on their floorboards, and while it might not be immediately apparent, that can make a big difference in terms of feel and look. The two main types of edges are flat and beveled.
There are many different types of bevels, and each one can create a unique look for your floor. With so many options available, it can be hard to decide which kind of bevel is right for your project. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you choose the wood with the perfect beveled edge for your apartment. We’ll explain what bevel is, its different types, and show you how they can enhance the look of your floor.
1. What is a Wood Floor Bevel?
A bevel is a type of edge treatment that can add style and visual interest to any wood floor. A single hardwood flooring plank is milled at a time, resulting in a somewhat lesser edge or corner. When you assemble these parts on the floor, the plank design creates tiny grooves between the planks, which can be as little as a few millimeters wide and deep. These types of edges are known as beveled edges.
1.1 Different Styles of Flooring
There are a variety of different types of bevels, each providing a distinctive aesthetic for your floor, which are given below:
I. Square Edge
The ends of all Square Edge floor boards fit snugly together, resulting in a sleek transition between planks with no raised edges. This also creates a uniform and smooth surface that blends the floor from the board to the board, giving the room a contemporary feeling.
II. Micron-beveled Edge
A micron is a tiny unit of measurement, and a beveled edge is an angled cut. Thus, a micron-beveled edge refers to an angled cut that is very precise and small. It has a very tiny groove of about 0.3mm depth. It’s tough to tell the difference between micron-beveled and micro-beveled edges, even among manufacturers.
III. Micro-Beveld Edge
The shallower groove of about 0.5-0.7mm depth on micro-beveled planks is complementary to the eased edge and can help conceal irregularities like uneven plank heights.
IV. Eased Edge
The eased edge has a shallower groove of about 0.7-1.4mm than the rest of the entire beveled edge. When completed, some manufacturers include each plank’s length and end joints, resulting in a unique visual appeal.
V. Full Beveled Edge
Full beveling creates a 90-degree angle along the entire edge of the material. The deep grooves on these items are highly distinctive. Planks with beveled edges look great in an informal, rustic atmosphere.
1.2 Why Do Most Hardwood Floors Have a Bevel?
There are several reasons and benefits of having beveled edge hardwood floorings. Some of them are given below:
I. Price Difference Between Bevel and Flat Edge
There are many influencing factors in the price of wooden floorboards, such as the lengths and widths of boards. In general, wider and longer panels cost more money. However, the edges of boards affect pricing, too; flat-edged boards usually result in a higher final cost than bevel edges because they need to be produced with extra precision. So that’s why beveled edges are frequently seen.
II. Installation
Setting up flat-edged floors requires more precision and professional skills and the chances of errors are high when dealing flat edged floors. On the other hand, beveled boards have more room for error and can handle floors that aren’t entirely level. This is why beveled panels are chosen by professional and DIY fitters so often. When they go with this option, they don’t usually have to relevel the subfloor first. Not to mention, working with beveled boards lets them work quicker and still get excellent results.
III. Protection
The bevels in wood flooring serve a useful purpose: they protect your floor. There’ll always be dust and grime on your shoes when you enter your home, no matter how carefully you clean them before entering. The beauty of beveled flooring is that the bevel collects all of the dust and dirt that would otherwise accumulate on the surface of your floor if you used flat boards.
IV. Beauty
As you might expect, beveled edge flooring has an entirely different appearance than flat-edged flooring. Flat-edged flooring has an almost uniform look and gives the impression of being one solid piece of wood. However, beveled edge flooring emphasizes each board’s beginning and end, which creates more visual interest in the overall design. It’s important to remember that everyone perceives beauty differently, so it entirely depends on your personal preference.
1.3 Disadvantages Associated with Beveled Edged Hardwood Flooring
Some of the disadvantages of beveled-edged hardwood flooring are given below:
I. Floors Are Difficult To Clean
Bevels are unpopular among apartment owners because they gather dirt. Owners must carefully sweep in the direction of the bevels or vacuum up the dust.
II. Cover-Up
On the other hand, beveled edges are frequently criticized by flooring purists who see them as a cheap way to make inexpensive flooring seem more appealing. A bevel down the side can hide poor manufacturing quality when the flooring is not meticulously milled.
2. Are You Considering Wood Floor Bevels For Your Next Flooring Project?
With valet works, you can get professional installation of your new beveled wood flooring quickly and easily. We have years of experience in this field, so you can trust us to do an excellent job for you. Plus, our prices are unbeatable – you won’t find better value elsewhere. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation! We would be happy to discuss your options with you and help you choose the perfect flooring for your apartment.