Puulattia

Puulattia is the Finnish term for wooden flooring, referring to floor coverings made from natural wood. In Finnish architecture and interior design, puulattia is valued for warmth, acoustic properties, and natural beauty, and the term is used to describe both traditional solid wood floors and modern engineered variants.

Types: Two main categories are solid wood flooring and engineered wood flooring. Solid wood consists of a single piece of hardwood or softwood milled to a uniform thickness. Engineered wood has a multilayer core with a top veneer of real wood. Common species include oak, pine, birch, and maple.

Construction and installation: Planks typically use tongue-and-groove joints. Solid planks may be 12-25 mm thick; engineered planks are thinner but can be quite durable. Installation methods include nail-down, glue-down, and floating installations. Some products are designed to work with underfloor heating.

Maintenance and lifespan: Regular dusting and careful damp cleaning; avoid excessive moisture. Controlling indoor humidity helps minimize movement and gaps. Solid wood can be refinished; many engineered floors can be sanded and refinished once or twice depending on veneer thickness.

Environmental considerations: Sourcing wood from sustainably managed forests and obtaining certifications such as FSC or PEFC is common. Finishes with low VOCs reduce indoor air emissions. Proper installation and maintenance extend the lifespan of puulattia, contributing to lower long-term environmental impacts.