Q: What Is The Difference Between Plank-Onply And Direct Fix Flooring?
A: a) Plank-on-Ply flooring refers to the method of timber installation where a 12mm CD Ply base is installed to create a sub-floor and the tongue and groove timber specie of your choice is over-laid on top. The timber is then sanded and coated on site. The overall floor thickness will be between 20mm and 25mm and consequently attention must be given to door clearances, height of adjoining tile and carpeting and kitchen work top levels. Plank-on-Ply is a structurally sound method of installing timber especially over concrete substrate which is either cracked, soft or flakey. Owing to the extra ply layer to cope with eroded substrate, Plankon- Ply installations are a more expensive solution. b) Direct Fix is the more popular installation method of installing timber flooring - especially in W.A. The concrete substrate must be well prepared in advance of the timber. This preparation may include the sanding of the concrete and the application of a moisture barrier is strongly recommended. Tongue and groove planks, which vary in thickness from 10mm through 13mm, are laid directly onto the concrete substrate and fixed in position using adhesives and anchors. The timber is sanded and coated on site. Direct Fix is structurally sound and affords a solid feel underfoot.

Q: Why Must Timber Be Acclimatised?
A: Timber naturally contracts and expands and in this process it releases and absorbs water moisture to and from the atmosphere. It is important that timber has the correct moisture content of between 8 and 12% before it is installed. The timber is left in your premises for about a week to acclimatise to the conditions in your home.

Q: Can I Choose My Timber Floor Boards So That They Are Consistent - No Lighter Or Darker Boards?
A: Timber boards are milled from Australian Harwood forests where the growth depends on environmental factors including soil content and rainfall. As timber is a natural product, variations in colour, texture and grain must occur. Consistency in these aspects over an entire floor will not occur and these differences between the individual boards should be seen as features and not as faults.

Q: What Are The Essential Differences Between Solvent Based And Water Based Coatings?
A: Long wearing and scratch resistant, Solvent based polyurethane coatings have been the finish of choice for residential timber floors in the past. Available in Matt, Satin, Semi-Gloss, Gloss and High Gloss, these coatings are applied in your home. Solvent based polyurethanes contain isocyanites which, upon application, emit an unpleasant odour which can be noticeable until the coatings are completely dry. These isocyanites can be harmful to asthma sufferers. Solvent based polyurethane coatings give a full-bodied look to the finishes. The lighter boards can yellow and the floors are usually darker than those coated with Water based coatings. The appearance of a beautifully finished Solvent Based Polyurethane Gloss or High Gloss floor is unrivalled.Water based coatings are gaining in popularity because they offer a superb natural look, are non-yellowing, non-toxic, environmentally friendly and have excellent resistance to scuffs and scratches. They are available in Matt, Satin and Gloss levels. Having a water base, these coatings can be applied in your home without any unpleasant odour. Although the Gloss level in the Water based coatings are not as “Glossy� as the Solvent based alternative, the Water based coatings are however the finishes of the future.

Q: What Is A Floating Floor?
A: Floating Floors are those which are installed over an underlay so that the timber boards are not fixed to the concrete substrate. There are 2 groups of Floating floors: a) the 14mm Multilayer board which is available in either 1, 2 or 3 strip. The strips refer to the number of 4mm top wear layer strips which have been bonded to a 10mm sub layer of plantation hard wood. These are usually pre-coated to a satin or semi gloss finish and can be of the clic or glued tongue and groove type boards. b) Laminates which consist of a High Density Fibre (HDF) board overlaid by a pre-coated, laminated, computer generated, photograph of timber planking. These boards are usually available in 6mm, 7mm and 8mm thicknesses and are also laid on a bonded foam underlay. Most of these boards are imported from Germany and are ideal for the D.I.Y. market.

Q: Will There Be Any Marks On My Walls And Floors?
A: Sanding and Coating a beautiful timber floor is an art which takes years to acquire. Slight markings on walls and on skirting boards can occur from contact with the edging sander. We always recommend that your painter return at the end of an installation to perform any small touch-up work.

Q: What Are Cobweb Marks?
A: There may be some evidence of rotary marks on your floor which can be enhanced under down lights. We use sophisticated multi-head rotary sanders to minimize these very fine touches. However, all floors have them - some more than others and they should be expected.

Q: When Building - What Arrangements Should Be Made Regarding Other Trades?
A: We would require uninterrupted access to the concrete substrate before installing your floor. In addition, we recommend that any tiling should be complete before we install the timber. Once the coatings are dry, the carpets may be fitted, followed by any small touch-ups by your painting contractor.

Q: What Are The General But Less Obvious Things To Be Aware Of?
A: Any silicone or aluminum oxide based product on a floor will cause rejection of subsequent polyurethane coatings. Try to avoid Motor vehicle cleaning products, Hair sprays, Fly and insect sprays, Window cleaners coming into contact with the timber before and immediately after the coatings are applied. A: Down lighters tend to produce a cobweb effect on newly coated timber floors. A: In existing homes, leave the skirting in place. Removing these can cause a larger piece of the render to come away. A: Leave the painting of skirting until after the coatings are completely dry so the skirting can be painted and touched-up at the same time.