Hardwood Floor Bevel and It’s Purpose Explained

Real wood floors are not only stunning and visually appealing - they also come with the benefits of durability, longevity, and resilience. If you're planning to invest in a wooden floor, it’s important to take your time and carefully consider all your options. With so many types of wood flooring available, making the right choice can be overwhelming, but it’s essential to ensure that you won’t regret your decision down the line.

Steps to Finding the Perfect Wooden Floor

• Explore a Variety of Options: Don't just browse online, visit showrooms and specialised stores to experience different wood textures, finishes, and designs in person.
• Develop Your Taste: Pay attention to the wood floors you encounter in daily life. This will help refine your preference for specific types and styles, ensuring you select the best option for your space.

One aspect that may not be immediately noticeable, but is important when choosing a wooden floor, is the edge of the floorboards. While it may seem like a minor detail, different floors feature different types of edges—most commonly, flat edges or beveled edges. If you’re wondering why many wood floors have a beveled edge, it’s because this design has several practical and aesthetic advantages, which we’ll explore below.

Method of manufacturing

The bevel on a wooden floorboard often reflects the manufacturing method used. Numerous factors influence the final product when it comes to crafting wooden floorboards, and the production cost is one of the most significant. Typically, longer and wider wooden floorboards come with a higher price tag, but the type of edges also impacts the overall cost.

Flat Edges vs. Beveled Edges

• Flat Edges: Floorboards with flat edges require a more precise manufacturing process and greater attention to detail. The machinery and craftsmanship needed to create these seamless edges drive up the cost, making flat-edged floorboards more expensive.
• Beveled Edges: On the other hand, the production of beveled-edge floorboards is less intricate and requires less precision. As a result, the cost of floorboards with beveled edges is generally lower.

Understanding these differences can help you decide which option suits both your budget and design preferences.

Types of edges of the floorboards

The type of edges on floorboards can significantly influence the installation process. There are notable differences between flat-edged and beveled-edged floorboards that affect both the ease of installation and the final result.

Flat Edges:

• Floorboards with flat edges require a high level of precision during installation. Even the smallest errors or uneven levels can lead to noticeable inaccuracies.
• Due to the meticulous work involved, flat-edged floorboards often require a skilled professional to ensure flawless installation.

Beveled Edges:

• Beveled-edge floorboards are easier to install and allow for a greater margin of error, as minor unevenness is not easily noticeable.
• These boards are a popular choice for both professional installers and DIY enthusiasts, as they offer the chance to achieve excellent results with less effort and fewer challenges.
• Additionally, beveled floorboards allow for quicker installation, making them an attractive option for those seeking efficiency without compromising on aesthetics.

By understanding the differences between these two types of edges, you can better choose the right flooring for your project based on installation difficulty and desired results.

Additional protection for the floorboards

Surprisingly, a bevel can provide additional protection for your floorboards. While it may seem odd at first, this design feature helps safeguard the floor from dirt, dust, and micro-scratches.

No matter how frequently or thoroughly you clean your floors, it's inevitable that some degree of dirt and grime will enter your home. With flat-edged floorboards, dirt tends to accumulate on the surface, increasing the risk of micro-scratches, stains, and other imperfections over time.

However, with beveled floorboards, the bevel acts as a small reservoir where dirt and dust can accumulate without settling directly on the surface. This means less risk of surface damage, as the dirt stays in the grooves until your next cleaning session. By capturing the grime in these recessed areas, beveled edges offer an extra layer of protection, helping to keep your floor looking pristine for longer.

Aesthetic Appeal and Design Versatility

Aside from practical benefits, beveled edges contribute to the overall aesthetic appeal of hardwood floors. These edges create a subtle yet defined outline around each floorboard, highlighting the natural grain patterns and texture of the wood. The bevel can also enhance the sense of depth and dimension, making the individual planks stand out and adding more character to the room.

Additionally, beveled edges offer design versatility, allowing you to achieve different looks depending on the size of the bevel. For instance, a subtle micro-bevel gives the floor a more seamless appearance, while deeper bevels create a rustic, traditional feel that's perfect for country or farmhouse-style interiors. This flexibility allows homeowners to match the flooring style to their design preferences, whether it's modern, classic, or somewhere in between.