Vanier engineered floor with OSB core from Build Direct

4 years ago

Hello I just received a sample from Build Direct of their Vanier brand engineered wood flooring. It has a 4mm wear layer over an OSB core (not hdf or particle board). I have never heard of using osb as a core for an engineered product and there is little to no info on the web on this type of core. Does anyone have any experience with is? Wondering how cheap it is and how it will react to water vs. a plywood layered core.

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Comments (5)

SJ McCarthy
4 years ago
I've just looked up the Vanier line. OSB is an odd choice. Technically it 'should' be fine but how much do you want to make a 'bet' on it?

As for the Build Direct source...I'm seeing it is on sale for $5.05/sf. A 7" wide European White Oak oiled finish floor with 4mm wear layer should be MUCH more than $5/sf. It should be MUCH CLOSER to $10/sf.

The oil finish is a maintenance nightmare. The wire brush finish is a maintenance nightmare.

Ask yourself how much you want to deal with a 'nightmare' should any issues arise.

BTW: Build Direct is a Canadian company. It is nearly impossible for a US citizen to get satisfaction through the courts should anything go wrong.

As a Canadian, I have no issues with this...I can file suit from my living room (I'm also in the same province as the company HQ). That is a vastly different experience for US clients who have a beef with this company.

Again, how much are you willing to risk just to get a 'good deal'? That's the question that needs to be asked.
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Brian & Jessie Ressel
Original Author
4 years ago
I soaked it in water over night and it expanded by about 1/8 of an inch compared to a plywood sample that didn’t expand at all. I called build direct to ask about the maintenance on the oil finish and the lady told me there was no maintenance which seems fishy. What is the typical maintenance on an oil finish. We love the look of white oak with a matte finish. Our runner up is the Montpellier white oak from floor and decor at $5.88/sq.ft which has a layered plywood core and 4mm vanier.
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SJ McCarthy
4 years ago
Wow...as I said, Build Direct has some issues. They just went through Bankruptcy protection about a year ago. The lady has NO IDEA what she's talking about -sadly.

An oil finish is NOT an oil-based polyurethane. Two different animals (In fact one is an insect and the other a lizard).

Oil based finishes REQUIRE monthly and YEARLY maintenance by the homeowner. It is an oil that seeps into the wood (does NOT sit on top like polyurethane). Like outdoor wood furniture, the OIL needs maintaining. The COLOUR needs maintaining and the CLEANING is SUPER specific.

You will require 4 different maintenance products for these products:

1. Maintenance oil

2. Oil Soap

3. Heavy stain repair oil

4. "Master" oil (contains the colour)

Your requirements will be:

Every 3-4 months you will apply maintenance oil over the heavy wear areas OR ANY TIME the wood starts to look 'thirsty' or 'dry'. And be prepared. Product out of China (could be out of the factory in a container for 3 MONTHS before it gets onto a container ship...then another month at sea; then another month in port or in transit to a warehouse facility; and then another month - 5 months waiting for you to purchase it) is notorious for being dry. That can mean you are REQUIRED to apply maintenance oil the next day. Then you wait 24-48 hours before you move in.

Now you have to use the oil soap (Woca offers great products that can help you deal with this) and cleaning on a regular basis. Should you find a stubborn stain, you must use the repair oil and a good scrub. After the scrub you have to reapply the colour or master oil (assuming you can get it out of China = doubt it). This area WILL be a different colour than the rest of the floor.

Now you have hit the 1 year 'master colour' maintenance = apply the ORIGINAL colour (hence the name 'Master Oil') over the ENTIRE floor. Wait for it to dry (24 - 48 hrs) and then put the furniture back.

The bad news is you MUST do this for the next 30+ years. The good news is you can do this one room at a time.

The Floor and Decor stuff does not list the finish but the MAINTENANCE instructions (way down on the bottom of the installation instructions) give hints this is a urethane finish. It won't be any more exciting than that. Usually 'special' finishes will be SPECIFICALLY stated. They are expensive and the sellers will want to HIGHLIGHT the super tough finishes. Montpellier does none of that. Which means you must be prepared for boring ol' urethane.

The look you are going for is a HIGH END finish. A $5/sf price tag indicates you are not quite in the right ball park. Again, this 'look' should be $10/sf or higher to indicate a quality product. Floor and Decor isn't much better than Build Direct. The only difference being they are US based....that's it.
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Brian & Jessie Ressel
Original Author
4 years ago
Holy Cats. Thank you for the info. Appreciated!
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SJ McCarthy
4 years ago
Yep. And here's what you can look forward to with a polyurethane finish with a whitish wood with a wire brush finish:

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5831893/i-hate-my-new-floor#n=45

Smooth is best. White wood is a beast to deal with. Very fashionable. And like all Fashionistas it is an ABSOLUTE DIVA.

Have fun. Increase your budget (double it) if you insist on a floor like this. Or go with a great European laminate for the same price ($5/sf) that will wear like iron.
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Vanier engineered floor with OSB core from Build Direct

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Vanier engineered floor with OSB core from Build Direct

Comments (5)

SJ McCarthy

Brian & Jessie ResselOriginal Author

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SJ McCarthy

Brian & Jessie ResselOriginal Author

SJ McCarthy

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Brian & Jessie Ressel
Original Author

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Original Author