Katja Vahtikari

The Development of Wood Floor Construction in Finland

Abstract Traditionally, wood has been widely used for construction in Finland and other Scandinavian countries and has been the dominant floor material in Finland. Solid wood floors that were installed more than 100 years ago are still in service. In Finland, however, the current attitude toward using wood floorings differs from that in the past. This review evaluates how current wood floor constructions differ from those used in the past. The review covers the period from the early 19th century, when stone-based floor construction became common in Finland, to the present. The review includes only solid wood floors. The largest change in floor construction occurred when insulation was added below the whole boarded floor. The wood species used for the floor boards have remained unchanged, but the dimensions have decreased and become consistent and uniform over time. The insulation materials have developed from dry clay and moss to the current mineral wool. Availability of coatings has also increased remark...