Steps Involved In Timber Flooring Restoration

In the life of every timber flooring installation, there comes a time when it starts asking for restoration even after timely care and maintenance. People think that this is easy to do and can be completed successfully through DIY and at the same time, a good amount of money would be saved too. This is a wrong notion completely and the wiser idea here is to get this thing done by the team that was involved in the installation of the floor. 

However, there is nothing bad in knowing about the process of restoration that mainly involves sanding and polishing and this is what we have covered here in this blog post.

PREPARE THE ROOM

According to the vendors of timber floors, this might appear as a simple step, but the fact is that it is one of the most critical steps involved in the process. Careful preparation of the room would ensure that your polishing stays long lasting and also, this would prevent your family from any risk associated with these steps. You will have to move the entire furniture out of the room and then, remove the carpet too if it is installed. This would be followed by a quick inspection of loose boards or protruding nails and if there are some, they have to be managed because they may damage the sanding machine.

SAND THE FLOOR

As far as sanding the timber flooring is concerned, experts say that you will need two different kinds of sanding machines and the first would be a drum sander while the next one is the hand edge sander. Both are equally important because drum sander will sand timber flooring while the other one would be useful in sanding around the edges, corners, etc. For timber flooring Sydney sanding, you will also require sanding paper with the right grit and experts recommend starting with coarse sandpaper and then move on to the medium sand and finally, finish with the finer one. A common sequence for timber floors is 40-60-100. 

Important Considerations to Help You Choose Timber Flooring

As far as room makeover is concerned, one of the trickiest decisions to take is related to the floor type. Because of the availability of so many options in the markets, often people find it really confusing to choose the most appropriate one. In this regards, sellers of timber flooring solutions say that there are so many things to consider as far as selection of the right floor is concerned and it is only after that, that you would be able to choose the right option. To make things further simple, we have come up with this post, where we have shared some useful tips related to this selection.

Solid Versus Engineered Boards

In terms of timber flooring Sydney, you need to first decide whether to go with the solid version or you want to invest in engineered flooring solutions. As far as solid wood is concerned, it is made up of a single piece of timber and on the other hand, we have engineered flooring that is basically several layers of thin hardwood that are bonded to firm planks. They both come with their share of advantages and disadvantages and moreover, both of them are ideal for different situations and hence, you need to research deeply about them before selecting.

The Colour

If you are too much concerned about the colour of the floor boards, you should understand that it is majorly dictated by the wood species and based on the type, it could vary significantly. Therefore, during the selection, you need to consider as to how dark you want your floor to be because the colour you want would dictate your decision. 

Grain And Grade

Another very important thing that should not be missed at all is the grain and grade of the timber flooring Sydney. Here you will have to decide whether to go for a clean, smooth look or a more rustic appearance with knots and cracks. You choose ideally choose a beautifully smooth timber flooring that has no visible cracks, but the grain and knots show through the stain. This will help by creating a contemporary look while also showcasing the natural beauty of the oak.

Whether To Go With Engineered Or Solid Hardwood Flooring

Because of so many different kinds of hardwood present in the markets, it could often become confusing for anyone to take the right decision. The decision of hardwood timber flooring installation is certainly a major one and there are so many small and big decisions to take regarding this before you could actually initiate the installation process. Here in this blog post, let us quickly understand some very common factors that are worth considering in relation to hardwood floors installation.

Factors To Consider When Buying Hardwood Flooring

Engineered Or Solid Hardwood Flooring

It is very important that you decide on whether to go with engineered or the natural or solid hardwood. The decision regarding this would depend upon so many factors and most importantly, the room that you are going to install it in. In case, the room or the area is prone to dampness or moisture, vendors recommend engineered version because it has some water resistance properties that will prevent it from rotting. Otherwise, for the entire home, you have the best option by the name of hard wood floors. 

Solid Hardwood Flooring

This flooring is basically a single piece of wood consisting of planks or stripes and in fact, at the vendors, you will find it in three different types namely the stripes, the planks and also, the solid parquet hardwood flooring. All of them have different features like the stripes are narrow and mostly, they are less than 3 inches in width. Similarly, there are planks that are wider than stripes and in fact, better too and finally, there is solid parquet flooring that has different geometric patterns and designs present on it.

Hardwood Flooring Species

There is a never ending range present in the markets and experts say that you should choose on the basis of wood’s hardness that can be measured based on JANKA scale. This scale lets you compare the hardness of different kinds of hardwood flooring and for rooms that experience too much of foot traffic, harder hardwood floors are recommended.

Timber Flooring Sydney: Understanding The Types And Features

In the home construction or renovation process, the biggest decision is related to the type of flooring to install. This decision takes a lot of time because of the presence of so many options like the concrete floor, the carpet, the vinyl and then, wood or timber flooring Sydney. In the majority of cases, the choice is the last one, but only when the buyer is aware of the benefits that come along with this selection. Apart from the benefits, one more point is there, i.e. the availability of so many different kinds of timbers. Some of them are discussed here in this post. 

Solid Timber Flooring

These days, this option is more clearly seen in older and traditional homes and also, this is a fact that this version is available in different types of colours. The last width of this version is 19 mm and because of this, it can be easily installed on bearers and joists or over concrete. Apart from this, one more benefit is there, i.e. of full flexibility in colours, grain, hardness and durability.

Solid Timber Overlay Flooring

Just like the name is similar, the features too are also very similar to the one discussed above with just one difference that the width is around 12mm. In the case of this width, it becomes important to install this timber flooring over a solid base such as the concrete or even bearers or joists.

Floating Timber Floors

This is also given the name of timber laminate or even engineered flooring and these timber floors are a timber veneer over plywood or plantation pine. The thickness is just around 3-4 mm and because of this, sanding or restoring becomes very tough for this timber flooring Sydney. The top feature is that this kind of floor can be installed over the most structurally sound floors. This way, it can be considered as a very cost-effective addition in renovation projects that are really tight on budget.

Understanding The Usage And Advantages Of Rustic Hardwood

Quite obviously natural hardwood is the best option in terms of flooring, but these days, people have started considering other options as well. There is no problem in that because most of the counterparts of hard wood timber are equally better and have almost the same qualities. Some of them are even better and one of them is reclaimed or rustic hardwood.

Yes, it is considered better because it is a more environmentally-friendly option that is much durable, stylish and eco-friendly as Well. Here In This Blog Post, Let Us Try And Get Some In-Depth Details Of This Version Of Hardwood.

What Is A Reclaimed/Rustic Hardwood?

This is also given the name of recycled wood and commonly derived from older buildings and structures that have now been dismantled and the wood from them has been derived for further use. There are a number of structures from where, this rustic timber or hardwood can be fetched. The most common ones are dismantled historical homes, barns, churches, synagogues, bridges, ship wreckages, logs pulled from lakes and rivers, mine shafts, fences, and more.

What Are The Uses?

The wood fetched from the sources presented above is treated and given a modern look and the durability that it needs to be used in a number of ways. The most common use of rustic hardwood is for flooring installation and besides this; it is also used as rustic timber panelling and for making indoor and outdoor furniture, constructing decks, and panelling walls, countertops, and shelves — among many more. There is so much diversity in the use of rustic timber because of the fact that just like the hardwood, this too comes in a variety of types based on species, appearance, and price.

What Are The Usage Related Advantages

There Are Several Of Them And Some Are Listed Below.

• Environment friendly
• Sustainable way of preventing tree cutting and logging, deforestation, and landfill waste.
• Stable and durable
• Hardly suffers warping, swelling, or shrinkage after installation
• Presents a unique look and perfectly imperfect character
• Grain patterns, colour variations, and unusual knots and swirls are irresistible

Tips To Prolong The Life Of Timber Flooring Sydney

Wooden flooring, when installed to perfection can play a huge role in transforming the looks of the area entirely. But different natural and unnatural elements play their part in damaging the looks of the timber flooring and if ignored, the damage could go to a significant extent. To prevent this from happening, there are some crucial steps to take and we have discussed here in this post.

USE MATS AT ENTRANCEWAYS

The best possible step to prevent timber flooring Sydney from any kind of damage is preventing it from elements that could damage it like dirt, dust, etc. This can be done readily by putting a mat at all the entrance doors because these mats will stop the majority of dirt and dust from getting in touch with your timber flooring Sydney. However, don’t forget to clean these mats on a regular basis for more effective results.

WIPE UP SPILLS AND PUDDLES RIGHT AWAY

As soon as any spills occur on the timber flooring, you need to become proactive in wiping it away as soon as possible. The whole idea is to keep it free from puddles so that the moisture could not penetrate inside the floor to damage it from inside. For this, you should keep a good quality sponge handy for quickly wiping away any liquid from timber flooring Sydney.

AVOID USING SALT ON THE PORCH

Experts of recycling flooring recommend that you should avoid using salt as porches because it could cause a significant damage to the timber flooring. Your footwear will surely catch some salt and bring it on the flooring and if left unattended, this salt will start damaging the floor.

APPLY FURNITURE PADS

By applying furniture pads or shoes, you can again offer a good quality protection to the timber flooring Sydney. These furniture when pulled or pushed on the floor can scratch or cause irreparable damage, unsightly signs, etc. All these things can be prevented very easily by applying furniture shoes underneath the furniture.

Learn More

• Useful Tips On Choosing The Right Flooring Supplier
• Why Timber Flooring Is Widely Popular Among People?
• Important Timber Supplies Storage Related Tips To Follow

Tips Related To Choosing the Right Decking/Flooring Material

A number of advantages and benefits come associated with the decision of getting a deck installed in your property. However, for the benefit and advantages it is very important to choose the decking material and the same stipulation applies in terms of choosing the right flooring material too. Most people have this decision of getting the hardwood timber flooring, but at the same time, other solutions are there too and some points as well that need consideration.

WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET?

In terms of decking as well as hardwood floors, it is very important to have an idea of the amount that you are interested in investing in this project. The budget you have would put a huge influence on the kind of decking material of hard wood flooring you need and also the way it is installed, along with the materials used in the process. The point is very easy to understand that the more cash you have available, the more options you have available.

WHICH LOOK DO YOU PREFER?

The amount you would like to invest would influence the material to be used in the process and the kind of material chosen by you will influence the look of the area. Of course, the looks would be entirely different if you have a limited budget and because of that, you fail to choose the desired material or the method of installation. The reason is quite simple to understand that different decking and flooring materials have different looks, appearance, characteristics and all of them will reflect in the installation.

HOW AND HOW OFTEN DO YOU EXPECT TO USE THE DECK?

The looks matter the most and along with it, the durability too and this would mainly depend upon how frequently, that area is going to be used. In case, there would be high foot traffic, in that case, robustness related requirements would be different and similarly, a certain level of durability would be required in other cases.

Types Of Wood – Hardwood And Softwood

In terms of wood, you will find both kinds of wood (hardwood as well as softwood) in ample quantities and at very affordable rates. Both have different characteristics and features and both are used in different situations altogether. According to the vendors of structural hardwood posts, in terms of characteristics, they differ on the basis on grain, texture, colour and finish. Because there is such a huge variety available in the markets, finding the best one is always a challenge, but experts say that this challenge can be surpassed easily with the help of knowledge about the both types. This knowledge is what we have filled in this blog post, so let us not waste any time and start the blog.

Types of Wood (The Wood Database)

Dealers of structural hardwood beams as well as timber hardwood say that hardness is the quickest way to determine the right kind of wood. Some people go by the name and assume that hardwood means harder wood and softwood means softer wood, but this not the fact. Basically, hardwood like timber hardwood, etc. comes from flowering trees, while the softwood is the product of conifers. The similarity about these wood types is that both of them can be used in all kinds of construction projects as well as manufacturing industry as well.

Hardwood

• Mostly hardwood comes from angiosperms such as maple, oak and walnut and these trees are known for shedding their leaves naturally once per year.
• Because of a very slow growth-rate, hardwood will have very dense wood fibres (fibre tracheids and libriform fibres) and that make it perfect for structural hardwood posts and structural hardwood beams.

Softwood

• On the other hand, there is softwood, i.e. mostly created by gymnosperms and come from tree species such as pine, spruce, fir, cedar, juniper, redwood, and yew.
• Since these trees grow tall and straight, cutting long straight planks become very easy.
• Softwood is commonly used in building material such as structural frames, exterior and interior wall cladding, fittings, floor coverings, formwork, and scaffolding, among others.

Learn More

• What To Look For While Buying Hardwood Timber Flooring?

• Main Attributes Of Softwood And Hardwood Timber Floors

• Factors You should Consider While Buying Hardwood Timber Flooring

What Is Recycling Timber And What Benefits It Comes With?

What is recycling timber? The answer could be very vast and in one word, it can be defined as a wooden flooring that is extremely affordable, grand-looking, but very expensive-looking at the same time. These were some features of this version, but other than this, numerous other important features that one should know about. Here in this post, we will go through some very interesting facts regarding this type of timber flooring.

What Is It?

• As the name suggests, this timber or flooring is basically made up of wood that was used earlier and now it’s being reused. This means that for creating recycling timber, the wood would be taken from older structures like barns, houses and even abandoned warehouses.
• This wood is million times better than the general timber because it is totally dry and thus, free from any risks caused by wet or moist wood.
• These salvaged pieces of wood are then, acquired by companies and recycle them using different methods and technologies.
• They will first trim down the edges and set it free from any kind of metals like nails, etc. and once done, this would be treated with some chemicals that will make them free from the risks of rotting, pest attack and so on. From there, the actual process of manufacturing recycling flooring, recycling posts, etc. starts.

What Are The Benefits?

Low Cost Availability

• As far as using recycling timber is concerned, there is no doubt about the fact that using it can help users achieve a number of benefits and one is of course, low cost availability.
• Yes, this wood is very economically available as compared to general wood, hardwood or timber and in fact, it costs just a fraction of a cost of generally present wood.

Being Eco-Friendly

• One more very important feature of recycling timber of recycling wood is that as compared to other timbers, this wood is very eco-friendly.
• This means that by using them, you will discourage deforestation and save hundreds and thousands of trees from being cut down.

Learn More

• Advantage Of Both New Timber And Recycling Timber
• Important Facts To Know About Recycled Timber
• What Is Recycling Timber And What Are The Benefits?

Advantage Of Both New Timber And Recycling Timber

As far as the differences between new timber and recycling timber are concerned, the fact is that there are numerous and for understanding them, we will first have to go through the details of both these types. Only then, it is possible for us to understand how they differ from each other and which on is beneficial.

Advantages of Recycling Flooring Or Timber

• According to the experts, the first obvious advantage of recycling timber is that by using it, you don’t harm the nature in any way.
• By using recycling flooring, recycling posts, etc., you actually reduce the demand of new timber that in turn, reduces the number of trees being brought down to fulfil the needs.
• Recycled timber is also preferred by many users for its rustic and vintage look, which is not generally manifested in new timber grading.
• Using new or recycled timber is based on one’s project-dependent aesthetic and functional requirements, which can be analysed by specialists to determine the best choice for the application.
• Recycled timber comes in varying dimensions, aside from having received assorted treatments and surface finishes.
• Recycled timber is obviously more environmentally-friendly option as compared to new timber as a matter of fact that it reduces the cutting of trees.
• Another fact regarding the usage of usage of recycling timber is that it is preferred more because of its rustic and vintage look.
• Recycling timber often comes from large logs and posts, which when split, could bow due to trapped core moisture.

Advantages Of New Timber

• According to the dealers, new timber offers numerous advantages and one is that it is responsibly sourced with accreditations.
• Because of this, one more benefit comes in front of the eyes that this one is also a very eco-friendly option, very similar to the recycling timber.
• One more advantage of new timber is that it is easier to machine into preferred specifications than recycled timber.
• Other than this, you will also see that new timber also allows more uniform moisture content control.

Learn more

• Recycled Timber: History & Uses Guide
• What Are The Benefits Of New Timber Over Recycled Timber?
• What is recycling flooring timber and how advantagiousit is?