1. What is bevel edge?
The term “bevel edge” refers to the V-shaped groove that the sides and ends of each plank are cut and how they appear once the panels are engaged together. The bevel edge serves to highlight the flooring’s design and decor intentions. It is worth noting that all kinds of flooring, including engineered flooring, come with some form of beveled edge.
2. Why does flooring have bevels?
A beveled edge helps compensate for small tolerances during the milling process. It usually features a 45-degree cut along the sides of the floorboards. This forgiving edge corrects minor milling variations in pre-finished engineered flooring. In contrast, a square-edged board has a 90-degree cut.
Beveled edge flooring has a V-shaped groove between the planks. This feature adds a visual separation to each piece, which gives the floor a more authentic look. If you are hoping to make your floors look realistic and natural, the beveled edge will help you achieve that aesthetic. The V-shaped groove adds the appearance of a small gap with the convenience of a tight seam.
Beveled edge flooring can hide any joint imperfections and make cleaning easier. Before you install this type of flooring, though, you should know that you have a lot of options to choose from.
3. All kinds of bevel edges
Edges and ends are typically categorized as one of three types: square, micro-beveled, and beveled. The terminology used can vary from brand to brand and may be confusing due to additional descriptions.
3.1 Square Edge
Square Edge floors fit together flush on all the ends. This result is a sleek and seamless looking transition between planks.
The square edge requires a high level of precision throughout the entire production process. Firstly, deviations in thickness must be strictly controlled, otherwise the height differences between the adjacent flooring will be very noticeable. Secondly, there are very high precision machining requirements in the Tongue & Groove process. Even tiny errors can result in poor fitting. Therefore, an advanced imported production line specifically designed for square edge production is essential, with parameters or tool configurations generally kept constant. Additionally, it requires painting before grooving to prevent paint buildup at the edges, which may lead to more potential processing losses.
Beveled or micro-beveled wood flooring tolerates sub-floor unevenness much better and resists accidental damage more than square edge boards. This advantage leads many pre-finished manufacturers to avoid square edge wood flooring.
We still produce only a limited quantity of square edge flooring. Because the manufacturing process is complex and requires extremely high precision, buyers must exercise great caution when selecting suppliers.
3.2 Micro Bevel
Micro-Bevel refers to a class of edge styles that have a very small bevel, approximately 0.6mm. For engineered flooring with a thinner top layer, manufacturers use a smaller bevel of 0.1mm or 0.2mm to protect the top layer from wearing through to the plywood base.
People often call micro bevels eased, kissed, micro-v, or painted micro-bevel. This design clearly delineates each individual flooring panel.
From an aesthetic perspective, flooring with a micro bevel edge presents better visual cohesion when installed in a room. It is suitable for flooring products with consistent colors.
3.3 Beveled Edge
Bevel Edge floors feature a larger, more pronounced edge detail, with the individual flooring panels clearly delineated, approximately 1.5mm. Additionally, the top layer should be sufficiently thick to prevent the bevel from wearing through it and exposing the substrate. A full bevel edge is often combined with a sculpted or hand scraped effect. This combination results in a stunning, time-worn and authentic appearance.
A 45º bevel creates a deep and noticeable divides between flooring planks. This style of flooring edge is more likely to attract and accumulate dirt. However, some believe it adds a more rustic element to floors.
4. Summary
In summary, the bevel on flooring not only enhances its aesthetic appeal but also serves a functional purpose. During inspection, attention should be paid to the gaps between flooring boards and whether the top layer has been worn out.
