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Top Drawer
Unfinished Engineered
Owens Plank eliminates the need for
extra floor height when installing solid
3/4" hardwoods on concrete.
More common methods in the past have
been the sleeper system and 3/4"
plywood, or 3/4" plywood over concrete.
In both cases, the systems are designed
to nail or staple genuine solids to a
wood substrate. BUT a major drawback has
always been the increased vertical
height of the finished floor, not to
mention costs.
With the Owens product the final
vertical height becomes 5/8" of an inch
whereas the others are 1 1/2 inches and
up to 2 3/4" Baseboards are no longer
compromised. Entry doors and kitchen
appliance clearances, just to mention a
few items, are no longer a problem.
Owens engineered plank has a very
similar wear layer to that of common
solid hardwoods shown in the
illustrations below. It can be
refinished multiple times, stained to
any color, comes unfinished in ten
different species and a variety of
widths.
How Is Owens Plank Installed?
Owens Plank is installed like any other
engineered hardwood. For concrete
applications it is glued direct
with a urethane adhesive, such as the
industry leader Bostiks Best. Over wood
subfloors the product can be glued,
stapled, or nailed. Owens gets nothing
but raving reviews from professionals
across the United States.
Cost Savings Versus Older Methods of
Site Finished Floors On Concrete
The savings are substantial with
concrete slab applications, not only in
material costs but labor as well. Let's
use an example of 1,000 square feet over
concrete.
Group A- Is using the 3/4"
plywood method, then nailing or stapling
3/4" hardwood. It is then finally sanded
and finished on site to the customers
expectations. First they haul in the
plywood at a cost of approximately $1.25
per square foot. Moisture barriers and
labor to install the plywood may run
another $1.00 to $2.50 per square foot
depending on how costs are in your
region.
Now comes the actual hardwood installer
who may request to install your
unfinished hardwood floor for $ 3.00 per
square foot. Our costs are already up to
$ 6.50 per square foot. Bring on the
guys with the sanding and finishing
systems and another $ 3.00 per square
foot may be added. Final cost without
material? Approximately $ 9.00 per
square foot.¹
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Common Rotary Peel Engineered |
Solid Sawn Owens Plank |
Group B- Is using the glue down
application on concrete. Yes, glue down
floors can be finished with sanding
equipment, but it's wise to wait a few
days for the adhesives to cure proper.
In this example, labor and material
costs to install the plywood are gone.
In group B's example; labor costs and
adhesive may run in the $3.50- 4.00 per
square foot range. Very near a savings
of $2.00 per square foot, or $2,000.
Once the finisher is completed with his
work, costs are near $ 6.75 per square
foot.
Sounds Good, But We Don't Like The Look
of Engineered Floors
The Owens product is a solid sawn type
product. Quite different from many
engineered products as the final
appearance will have everyone thinking
(including professionals) it's a solid
3/4" hardwood floor. Most engineered
floors that are rotary peeled often give
the appearance of a plywoody look
(comparison below) for lack of a better
term. No standard four foot lengths
(common with many engineered products)
with Owens!. The product is manufactured
in random lengths up to an impressive 7
1/2 feet. |
