Timber Grades in Flooring - General Comments

Grades and timber flooring.

Within Australia there are usually 3 grades of timber flooring. These are Select, Standard & Better & Feature grades. In the last few years [at 2013] other grades have slipped in. Standard, Feature & Better & Low Feature. Essentially mills must decide how best to capitalise on the timber that they produce to value add the logs that they receive.

All of these grades apply to the aesthetic area of the timber [how the face looks.] All of the grades are sound, suitable for use in flooring and all are quality offerings. One is not inferior to the other, they are simply different to look at.

In order to produce select and standard and better grades there is some waste produced as gum marks at the ends of boards may be docked off and the timber discarded. The labour components and the wasted timber adds cost to the production and therefore these timbers attract a premium.

At times a mill may have a lot of feature grade but also some shorter clear boards. This may be supplied as a feature and better grade of flooring.

Grades and Timber Flooring European & US Markets

Overseas the grades often follow different lines. Instead of gum marks the timbers may have knots and other pin holes, birds eye etc. Knots are not an issue as long as they are sound. Again the grading follows aesthetics going from rustic-feature-standard-standard plus & prime. The most popular grade is usually standard grade as this allows for better overall lengths of timber. Each mill offers their reasons or allowing knots in various sizes. Several of the better mills pre-fill the knots to ensure quality.

How To Sand Your Own Timber Floor

We are delighted to advise that the new ebook guide to DIY floor sanding is now available through all outlets of DIY books including the Apple store, Barnes and Noble etc. It can be downloaded to apple and kindle readers as well as to the Google ebook reader.

This 60 page guide is available at $1.99 and if you are hiring machines or thinking of sanding your own floors you will find this book an invaluable read.

The illustrated guide covers a lot of the tips and tricks that you need to know to get the best out of your hire machines.

The following link will take you to the itunes store

 https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/how-to-sand-your-own-timber/id781030992?mt=11

Using OSMO A Guide For Floor Sanders

A number of floor sanders have asked questions about the Osmo oil range. On display at VCS we have a number of the various colours demonstrated however these are not the normal day-to-day product that would be used for sanding and finishing a timber floor. While Osmo provides the versatility of colored finishes, for day-to-day finishing there are simply two different products.

In this section we answer specific questions raised by floor finishing teams.

With Osmo coatings what is the sealer?

Osmo coatings are a combination of oil and wax that does not require a primer coat. Osmo coatings self-prime.

So how many coats are applied?

Just two coats of finish are applied. That is two coats of the same product.

So are these coats applied over a sealer?

No. You just apply two coats of the finish.

Do you sand back the first coat before applying the second?

No. You just apply the second coat over the first coat without sanding.


And then do you buff the finish with a white pad?

No there is no buffing required. You roll on the coating and let it dry. That's it. Nothing else.


What about the sanding? How finely does the floor needed to be sanded?

Sanding a timber floor to approximately 100 grit is fine with Australian hardwoods. You do not need to burnish the grain as you would with a finely diluted finish.


How are oils applied? Do you need special tools?

Oils are applied using a micro fibre roller cover. The application rate is approximately 30 m² per litre. You apply them thinly. But remember that you are not applying a highly diluted finish. This is pure oil and wax at its best. (With standard floor coatings you apply at 10 m² per litre and approximately 2/3 of what you apply evaporates. So normally you would apply 3 L over 30 m² but only 1 L of actual finish is left behind. Therefore the coverage is the same.)


Is there a satin finish?

Yes the standard finish used on floors is a satin finish. It is called Osmo 3032. It has been consistently used for nearly a decade in Western Australia with very good results.

Can I just apply two coats of satin?

Yes that is exactly how the product is applied. You would apply two coats of the same product with no concerns about unevenness in the satin finish. The product is a satin through and through. You get ideal adhesion and ideal performance.


Is there a matt finish?

Yes there is a matt finish for Osmo coatings. It is called Osmo 3062.


Can the matt finish be directly applied over a matt finish?

Yes that is exactly how you would apply Osmo Matt. You would apply two coats of the same finish with no concerns about whether or not you would have an even matte finish. (In solvent based coatings you generally apply a gloss and then finish with a matte. This does not apply with Osmo.)


What about durability? Surely oil-based finishes do not last very long.

Osmo is a completely different type of finish. Its combination of oil and wax both penetrate the timber and provides a protective layer. We are seeing a number of floors in excess of nine years old that are performing perfectly. This is surprising to us as we think of the traditional oil products that provide very short term protection. Osmo works in a completely different principle feeding the timber from inside and also protecting the surface. As a result it has excellent durability and enhanced chemical resistance over other coating products. In some areas it is actually superior to other floor coating choices.


Could Osmo oil be used commercially?

Osmo oils have been used successfully on a number of commercial locations including fast-food outlets, holiday accommodation, shops in major shopping centers around Perth and more. It is a very successful floor coating choice and given that it works very well in these commercial areas there is no difficulty in using it in domestic locations as well.


Is Osmo repairable?

Yes. This is one of the major selling benefits of Osmo oil. Fine scratches can be fixed using a little oil applied with a rag. As long as the surface is clean then it can be applied without any need to re-sand the surface. Even a re-coat can be accomplished by simply cleaning the floor as opposed to requiring the use of sanding machines. It can be sanded using a rotary sander but this is not necessary.

Are there brochures that we can use to give to our customers?

Yes, we have some excellent brochures that you can use to show your customer.

How does the cost workout in comparison to the major waterborne coatings that we currently apply?

Generally, there is a saving in time because you apply just two coats. Usually in cost terms it is approximately 25% cheaper to use Osmo as opposed to standard waterborne technology.


Do the floors darken as much as they did with the old-fashioned oils that we have used?

Not so much. The combination of oil and wax seems to set the colour a little lighter. There is not so much in the oils that can penetrate the timber a long way and make them darken too much.


Finishing at 100 grit seems quite low. Would it improve things if we sanded finer?

Not at all. It is not a good idea to burnish the floor as you would do for the diluted floor coatings that you are used to using. Finishing at 100 grit is working extremely well. Whereas many coatings need to be diluted in a carrying medium and hence we call them waterborne or solvent-borne, Osmo coatings are purely a blend of oils and waxes with a tiny fraction of carrying medium. It is a completely different approach and demands that we sand to a much lower level.


Do these coating store well when opened?

Yes they keep very well though they can thicken up a little. We carry an Appropriate thinning solution for the product so that if they have thickened up in storage after opening, you can dilute them and use them.


What is the temperature range for coating?

The coatings have similar application temperatures to standard floor coatings. Generally anything above 12° and anything below 32° works well.

Are there maintenance kits?

Yes there is a complete range of maintenance products available for the Osmo oil coatings. This covers every aspect of maintenance.

Are there coatings for decking?

We have a comprehensive range of decking coatings in Osmo that provide excellent UV protection. In addition we have an anti-slip product and a UV protection oil that actually filters UV light.

WA Blackbutt - A Classic

Why consider WA Blackbutt?

There are lots of types of Blackbutt timber used in Australia. These include NSW types known as Coastal Blackbutt, Inland Blackbutt & Highland Blackbutt. These timbers grow in lime rich soils in conditions that are hard on the trees. These conditions result in the hard, springy timbers that are collectively known as NSW Blackbutt. The timber is not the most stable timber, which is why it must be handled with care. As you go wider, you must go thicker. Some companies won’t even install a 19mm NSW Blackbutt over concrete due to its lack of stability. We overcame the difficulties but always handle Blackbutt from NSW with extra care.

For a long time the Rolls Royce of timbers was regarded as WA Blackbutt. Given the choice between the two, most people chose the WA variety. Why? The WA version is as hard as Jarrah, the grain and colors are richer, the timber is much better to sand and finish and it’s face is less prone to cracking. [One of the major reasons people didn’t like the NSW variety was its tendency to crack.]

When the WA Blackbutt became less available, people turned to the NSW variety. The market had to adjust to using the NSW variety by default.

Recently more of the WA version has become available. Because it is less springy, it can be made in a much better range of sizes including going to 125mm & 130mm wide at just 14mm thickness. Such a thickness is perfect for adjoining floor coverings over timber.

Blackbutt timbers are chosen for their lightness of color. With the tendency towards big open room's becoming a general trend & the use of much larger windows in house design, people have tended towards wanting a more open look in the house. In Western Australia the timber of choice for flooring for many years was Jarrah which of course is a dark red and brown timber. It has a richness of grain that makes it a popular timber prized throughout the world. In Western Australia we are very fortunate to have access to such a good supply of this rich hardwood. But due to the fact that it is somewhat darker in appearance, people have wanted to go to something with lighter tones while retaining the warmth and beauty of a hardwood. This is where Blackbutt has become a firm favorite. With the Western Australian timber there is a richness in the tone that is not found in the eastern state variation and this has proven to be very popular. Whereas the New South Wales variety tends towards pale colors and pinks, the Western Australian variety tends towards pale colors and light browns and gold.

At VCS we are delighted to offer the full range of grades and sizes in WA Blackbutt. It is also available in all Grades. The timber is from fully managed forest resources.

We are offering 12mm & 14mm Sizes.

80 x 12           Feature

80 x 12           Standard & Better

105 x 12         Feature

105 x 12         Standard & Better

130 x 14         Feature

130 x 14         Standard & Better

The best oil for decks

Timber decks need protection. That is the simple part. When you start looking at all the recommendations for oils it gets complicated. Over the years we have used a number of oils with varying degrees of success. Our final conclusion is that many are quite similar.

Just one is a standout product. OSMO.

Why? Osmo offers three unique properties.

1   Genuinely environmentally sound oil products. Feel free to look up OSMO on the web and you will discover lots of positive comments.

2   Anti Slip oils. The system includes a top coat of 430 anti slip. This surface provides real traction. After all you do walk on the deck when its wet! So a little extra traction is a great idea.

3   Colours. All oils must contain some colour to protect the timber from UV as much as possible. OSMO incorporates subtle colours that assist here. Teak, Oak, Bangkirai & Masaranduba are all great colours.

Where can I buy OSMO Oils in Perth?

VCS Products in Osborne Park are the home of OSMO Products in Perth. Here you can see the internal and external products.

7 O'MALLEY STREET, OSBORNE PARK 6017
9347 0222

Osmo Oils are consistently praised for their 'Green' credentials.

If you are looking for a safe, easy to use, oil, that gives you a fully repairable surface then you need to take a close look at OSMO oils finishes.

The product range can be used on children's toys. This gives a beautiful appearance combined with safety.

Take a look at all the published information on OSMO Oil products and you will quickly see that this is the way to go with floor and deck coatings.

Why More People Are Using Osmo Oil Finishes

Why use Osmo products?

Osmo oils contain natural vegetable oils and waxes. Natural oils & waxes penetrate deeply into the timber surface, keeping it elastic and healthy and preventing it from getting dry and brittle. The timber is allowed to breathe. Natural movement of moisture can occur. Shrinking and swelling is reduced.

Osmo oils do not contain biocides or preservatives. They are safe for man, animal and plant when dry and comply with international standards. They may be used on children’s toys. It is a remarkably safe range of products for timber floors and other timber applications. It is also very easy to use!

 

Osmo oil surfaces may be repaired easily. So unsightly scratches [which cannot be easily fixed on polyurethane floors] can be easily repaired using an Osmo oil on the surface.

Your floor may not need future sanding activity. Simply clean thoroughly and apply a further coat of finish. No living with scratches or worn floors. Simply apply an additional coat of oil and you have a new floor surface. You can even just treat the worn areas. It’s that simple.

The oils are naturally resistant against wine, beer, cola, coffee, tee, fruit juices, milk & water etc when dry.

Osmo Oils are available through VCS Products Pty Ltd

2/7 O’Malley Street, Osborne Park  WA 6017

08 9347 0222

www.vcsproducts.com.au

Included in the range are internal and external coatings for all types of timber  surfaces.

Frames

Doors

Decks

Floors

Furniture

Panels

UV Stabilized finishes

Anti Slip Finishes in R9 & R11

2013 Book Release Successful Timber Floors

The reference guide 'Successful Timber Flooring' used as the guide to timber flooring [held in every reference library in Australia] has now been released in an updated edition. Originally printed in 2009, the earlier edition has now been updated to include up to date techniques in flooring. Follow the link to find your online copy.

The guide includes comments on key timbers used and  provides sanding and coating instructions.

Click on the link below to preview the first ten pages

Successful Timber Floors

Quality Versus Perfection

Quality Versus Perfection

When selling flooring it is important to appreciate that there is a difference between quality and perfection. It is important to perceive this difference.

Perfection is often subjective. For example 5 people could visit the jewelers and purchase a watch. Each might choose a different type feeling that their choice is perfect. Yet each choice is different. Perfection is often a matter of viewpoint. Each of their choices are perfect – perfect for them.

Quality is measurable  A timber floor is a thing of quality. What makes a quality floor? A measurable process in manufacture with correctly dried timber, an installation in harmony with the product data sheets, a floor that is level sanded and a coating applied to the specifications. It’s fully measurable and therefore it is easy to determine real quality.

A timber floor is intrinsically a thing of quality. Timber itself being a beautiful warm enduring product. It is a lasting item that can outlast virtually all other floor choices and can outlast by a considerable margin most of it’s popular competitors. It’s a thing of quality. To my mind that makes timber flooring perfect as the choice for Australian homes. But then that’s my viewpoint.

All Timber is not the same.

What makes timber different?
Timber comes with a variety of sizes and claims. At VCS we focus on 14-19mm timbers whereas some suppliers take their ranges from 10mm-19mm. Why the difference?

At VCS we are aware of inspectors going to look at a lot of floors. Almost never is a floor timber supplied by VCS involved in a dispute. The reason is that VCS focus on stability. Stable timbers perform well.Some sizes just perform better in service.

All timber floors seem to do well until stressed. Items that can stress timbers include a change in climate, the introduction of moisture, extremes in heat and cold. Introduce these factors and a floor that has performed OK now has to perform well. It has to handle the expansion and contraction without too excessive a degree of movement.

This is where some basic facts about timber become important. It has been shown that timber can be dried too quickly. Timber needs to air dry then kiln dry. This is a gentler process. The timber is stable. In fact it becomes as stable as each given species can achieve. Each timber species has greater or lesser degrees of stability due to internal structure and areas of growth. Some are more prone to movement so the more that you can make it relatively stable the better. Treat it correctly to begin with and you will achieve a much better floor.

A second basic fact is that timber shouldn't be cut too thin. It is hard to store or install timber that is too thin. It needs to be cut to a reasonable thickness. Many floor failures that we see are based around timber that is 10mm thick. We are not aware of any timber that performs well at this thickness unless the floor is installed on plywood and appropriate precautions are taken to allow for movement. Trying to avoid really thin timber is one of our key principles. The same timber cut 12mm thick will sit very well but at 10mm there are issues that can come into play. Issues that need to be avoided at all costs. Timber can move in 6 different ways: cupping, reverse cupping, shrinkage, expansion, twisting and splitting.  Why introduce an ideal situation for these problems to arise in the first place? Use thicker timber that has been air dried and kiln dried and you will achieve a better result.

A third factor to review is the wear layer. The wear layer is a key factor in the quality of the floor. It accounts for the thickness of the timber above the tongue and grove less 1-1.5mm. This is the amount of timber that can safely be sanded without compromising the floor to the point of floor failure. With some timbers this wear layer on initial installation is just 4mm. As this surface has to be sanded it usually loses up to 2mm given the unevenness of the sub-floor. This leaves just 2mm above the tongue and groove which means that it cannot be re-sanded. If you don't look after the floor it can never be re-sanded which means that the floor will be ruined. If however you insist on a 6mm wear layer this will leave 4mm of timber above the tongue and groove. Subsequent sanding work removes just 1mm on average which means that there is plenty of potential to save the floor should it require a full re-sand. At VCS we use a 6mm wear layer above the tongue and groove. It means that you are getting much better value for money with your flooring.



Consider these two scenarios.
Customer A. purchases 10mm thick timber. It has a wear layer of 4mm. It is $6.00m2 cheaper than the 12mm alternative. It is installed directly to concrete, sanded and lived on. There is 100m2 and the cost of the floor is $14,300.00. After six years the floor coating is worn through in places.The customer didn't see the problem of wear and so calls a sander to fix the floor. The sanded advises that a full re-sand is required. [4800.00] The sander starts but the surface is so thin that the top of the groove start to strip out of the floor. The sander stops and advises the client that the floor cannot be sanded. The customer now has the option to either install a floor over the top or to rip the floor out and start again. The client decides to rip the floor up now bitterly disappointed with the flooring. The floor is ripped out $5500.00. Now the client has a clean concrete floor and has spent a total of $24,600.00 or a cost of $4100.00 per year. Plus they now don't have a floor so need something new. Depending on what they get to replace it the overall spend could well bring their overall spend to over $40,000.00 and that floor may last 10-20 years.


Customer B. purchases 12 mm thick timber. It has a wear layer of 6mm. It is $6.00 more expensive than the 10mm flooring so the client has the same 100m2 floor installed for $14,900.00. It is installed directly to concrete, sanded and lived on. After a six year period the floor coating is worn through in places. The customer didn't see the problem of wear and so calls a sander to fix the floor. The sander advises that a full re-sand is required. [4800.00] The floor is re-sanded and this time the client looks after the floor so that in future it simply requires a re-coat to keep the floor going. The floor is maintained correctly and 30 years later the new owners get the floor re-sanded. No problems. The floor lasts for another 30 years with regular re-coats. Overall cost for installing and maintaining the floor for approx 70 years at 2013 rates is $38,700 or $540.00 per year.

Client A tried to save $600.00 and ended up spending around 40,000.00 to cover 25 Years.

Client B. paid the extra $600.00 and with an overall cost of $38,800 covered 70 Years.

Obviously there are a lot of variables that can affect these figures but please don't be caught out. A 6mm wear layer is essential to saving money long term.

Bamboo Flooring Perth WA

Bamboo Flooring Perth

Bamboo can be a great floor. However a brief online search will quickly discover a lot of negatives and positives. Why do some floors fail? How do you make sense of all the urban myths around Bamboo? This article attempts to answer key questions.

At VCS we have never had a floor fail using Bamboo. Then again we are very choosy in supply and we use a proven installation method. This is different to the norm.

INOVAR EARTH BAMBOO

First Tip

You cannot be price driven with Bamboo.
You cannot be price driven with Bamboo.
You cannot be price driven with Bamboo.

Got It?

With Bamboo you genuinely get what you pay for. They look the same but time and experience will tell you that there are serious concerns with some sizes, thicknesses, finishes and grades. It is really worth paying the extra for a proven product.


INOVAR NATURAL BAMBOO                                                      INOVAR EARTH BAMBOO

Second Tip

The number one reason for floors lifting, twisting etc is insufficient adhesive under the floor. Concrete must be prepared well. Moisture primer must be applied at the correct rate. There must be an adhesive bed under the floor: Sika T55 TROWEL APPLIED as a bed of adhesive that completely covers the primer. Unless there are other problems, this installation is amazingly strong.



Third Tip

Bamboo should be treated like timber with correct expansion allowances. Extreme claims are made about Bamboo's strength and stability. However it does expand and contract. So install it as you would timber. Some suppliers have had a lot of problems with floors installed minus the correct amounts of adhesive and with incorrect expansion gaps. Some even claim that you should float install all bamboo without adhesive at all. This demonstrates what happens when floor issues are not correctly investigated. Treat it like timber and you can direct fix good quality bamboo without issues.

Fourth Tip

Make sure that you know what the surface is made of. Bamboo can be difficult to re-coat. Good quality Bamboo can be re-coated with Bona Mega. Check that you are getting a Bona finish. Otherwise you run the very real possibility of needed a full re-sand down the track.

Give us a call on 9347 0222 for more information.

Why INOVAR? Inovar is amazing Bamboo. The quality is just right for commercial and domestic floors and is reliably used in WA. For more information call VCS on 08 9347 0222

Timber flooring. A dynamic floor!

What to expect with a timber floor?

The properties of a real wood floor.

Timber floors are all unique. No floor is exactly the same as another because each grain pattern will be different. Floors in the same species do share basic colouring and overall appearance but are also very different in some key areas. The methods used to sand and finish the floor can affect these differences markedly: in some cases emphasising the unique appeal of the individual floor. Experienced floor sanders can emphasise the lighter or darker characters of the floors by using correct finish choices and by not over sanding the surface.

Timber is dynamic. It is a living product, still reacting to the climate. It has its own beauty and charm. There is nothing synthetic about timber. It is natural and retains natural characteristics.

Unlike vinyl planking, timber responds to the environment. In the first 12 months of the floors life the floor will likely move to some degree as it expands and contracts. This is normal. Depending on the time of year that the floor was installed and the choices in heating and cooling selected, there may be some tensioning in the surface or some shrinkage. This is common and settles down in time. A common myth about timber flooring states that when timber is acclimatised it doesn't move afterwards. This simply isn't true. It falls in the tooth fairy category.Some changes will occur naturally.

Acclimatisation minimises the movement initially by letting the timber adjust to the localised climate of the house prior to installation. Adjustments in humidity and temperature thereafter will still affect the timber. Some of the movement may hardly be noticed but if the climatic changes are sufficient there will be visible changes to the appearance of the flooring. Evaporative air conditioners for example may be run without sufficient ventilation causing a continuous spike in humidity. A timber floor will potentially take on moisture. Expansion is the result. Usually these air conditioners are not run all year round and we have seen many floors move a little in summer only to flatten as the moisture content of the air inside the home returns to normal when the heat is over. It is because this effect isn't understood that sometimes people will panic, thinking that there is something wrong with the floor. Natural timber flooring is different to laminates or vinyl planking. It moves a little and this is normal and natural.

A long hot summer often brings some timber movement. Refrigerative air conditioners reduce the humidity level: they dry the air. This causes the timber floor to lose some moisture. Depending on the cut of the timber and species this can cause a variety of small changes in the floor.

Can movement be minimised? Can it be eliminated? It can be minimised but not eliminated. Appropriate slab preparation, addressing acclimatisation prior to installation and using the correct volumes & tools in the adhesive system can all reduce movement. Acclimatisation is not guess work. It requires site measurement. It is worth getting it right.

Once you know that the appearance of timber is affected by the climatic conditions you begin to understand that you have a charming natural floor. Certainly it expands and contracts a little but this is normal. Relax and enjoy your floor. It will be around for many decades beyond its synthetic rivals. As you walk over the floor you will notice interesting grain patterns. In fact the more you live on a timber floor the more interesting qualities you are likely to see. They truly are beautiful floors with many enduring qualities.

VCS Timber Flooring Properties

Dried using Solar Kilns
Chain of Custody Processed
Environmentally Sound Sourcing

Maintaining Your Timber Floor

Timber floor maintenance

Once a timber floor is installed it will be necessary to take steps to maintain the surface.  Many of the finishes used today have a longevity that is remarkable however it is not a case of simply finishing a floor and forgetting the maintenance; there are basic steps that are necessary.

This is especially true in the commercial setting where often there is limited time for maintenance in the schedule.  If maintenance is not a priority with the solid timber floor in the commercial setting then this choice of flooring is probably inappropriate.  In a commercial setting with much higher foot traffic maintenance takes on special meaning.  It is essential.

Thankfully, maintenance steps are relatively easy and simple to perform working within some basic guidelines.

The exception to this is a floor that is finished in oil where there are specific guidelines provided by the manufacturer of the oil.  Oil is designed essentially to wear with the floor and therefore you should consult the specific requirement for additional coating as part of the maintenance procedures.  Because there is such a huge variety of oils and in a number of cases these do not work too well with the hardwoods in Australia this is something that should be established in conjunction with the manufacturers. Some oil systems such as OSMO have purpose designed maintenance systems. Use of these may result in a very good long term floor.

Basics common to all floors.

1         Grit, dust & sand should be kept to an absolute minimum.  It will be necessary to sweep the floor regularly to maintain a grit free environment.  Grit or sand that is crushed under a leather soled shoe for example will abrade the surface of the floor.  Keep it to a minimum.

2          It is a good idea to use a vacuum cleaner however you should note that some of the bristles on the heads of commercial and domestic vacuum cleaners can be quite stiff and can even scratch a polyurethane surface.  You must ensure that the bristles used on the brush head are appropriate for use with a timber floor.  Very often this information is not available in the place where vacuum cleaners are purchased and you may need to seek additional information from the distributor or manufacturer.

3          Additional maintenance steps include the use of a damp mop.  You should never flood a timber floor with water assuming that the sealer used on the surface is waterproof.  In the majority of cases polyurethane sealers are not waterproof.  Therefore a well wrung out mop is essential, keeping the water used to an absolute minimum.

With oiled floors the surface is waterproof but the same rules apply. Excessive water can result in a blotchy surface. Water should always be kept to a minimum.

4          When it comes to the question of what to use in the water to maintain the timber floor the simple guideline is that this should be a "non-residual cleanser" or a product that will not leave a residue behind on the floor.  For example, some cleaning products contain soap and it is quite easy to leave a slightly sticky surface behind on the floor.  If this occurs then grit will be trapped on the surface making it difficult to maintain the area using a sweeping brush or vacuum cleaner.  Some cleaning contractors have reported that when using some materials the floor seems to get dirty more quickly and the common cause is the use of something residual in the water.  Purpose made non-residual timber floor cleaning fluids are very effective and are usually an economical choice.  Some are supplied in concentrated form which means that there are also suitable for use in removing scuff marks which are generally harder to remove than the usual small markings.

5          Sometimes polishes are recommended to extend the life of the floor.  These are sacrificial mop on products that put a protective surface on top of the pre-finished or polyurethane coated material.  They are sacrificial in that they will wear instead of the coating.  These are often part of a commercial maintenance system and are widely used with a high degree of success.  If deciding to use a polish it is recommended that you check to ensure that there is a product that is supplied by the manufacturer that will "strip" the polish from the surface when it comes time to re-sand the floor.  If there is no recommended system for removing the polish this can interfere when it comes time to resurface the floor.  Virtually all resurfacing materials that are available will not adhere to any remnant of polish that is left on the surface.  So when checking on the use of a polish you should also be careful to check that the polish will not interfere with the long-term maintenance of the timber floor.  Some coating manufacturers also manufacture polishes and these are usually designed with the long term life of the floor in mind. With polishes there is a lot of information available and it is good to seek advice.

Mats, Matting & Entrances

The Three Pace Rule

At the entrance to a home there needs to be a method of catching grit. Mats are an excellent choice in these locations. A simple mat however may have little or no benefit. When selecting mats try to have in mind a design where people entering the home take three paces on the mats; such as by having a small mat out side the home and a larger one inside. This principle will greatly reduce grit ingress into the home.

In commercial locations it is impractical to have clients entering from an external area directly onto a timber floor. With no steps taken to reduce grit there will be accelerated wear. [The level of wear may reduce the life of a floor coating from years to weeks. It is a critical area of a floor.] No maintenance program devised can avoid this outcome. Therefore mats to entrances are essential.

The Ten Pace Rule

At entrances to commercial sporting venues the idea is to keep as much grit as possible away from any sports surface. Sports surfaces are generally larger than 500m2 and therefore a full re-sand of the surface would be costly. Carpeted areas and matting/grating options should be explored. If possible plan to allow for ten paces to be taken on another surface to reduce grit. This can play a good role in extending the life of a floor. Not everyone visiting a sports centre will necessarily visit a changing room to change footwear and therefore the more time spent walking on a surface that may remove grit the better to outcome.

Scuff Areas

There are areas in any building where there is excessive wear. In a home the key areas to watch are entrances, main traffic areas & kitchen floors. In all of these areas there is greater wear. In front of the kitchen sink the wear can be 20 times greater than in the general floor areas. A mat is a logical requirement.

In commercial buildings it has been noted that areas near counters where people are served are scuff areas and there is usually accelerated wear at these points. Fixed mats are required to extend the overall life of the floor.

In the home it is good to take note of areas of the floor that may be wearing quickly. These are obvious scuff points and the use of decorative matting is a superb option.