Tag: Timber

Categories
Construction

What’s the best timber for decking?

A deck is a great addition to any home. They are perfect for entertaining company, soaking up the sun, and eating al fresco when the weather is nice. But before you call your contractor, you may want to consider the kind of materials that you will be using in your renovation project. Why be wasteful and use new timber when you can reuse and repurpose recycled timber for your project. There are many benefits to using recycled timber for building your deck. Read on for more information on using recycled timber for your project.

Timber grading

For centuries, builders and suppliers have used grading systems to assess the quality of construction-grade timber. Today, timber grading has evolved into a complex system that’s virtually impossible for the layman to comprehend. Unless you’re an industry professional, chances are you won’t be able to identify an F14 piece of hardwood or explain how select grade is better than standard grade.

If you’ve ever wondered how timber is graded, here are a few of the basics.

Not all timber is created equal, there are different grades available / Source: Bridgebuilt Pty Ltd

Grading tests

Timber that’s destined for structural use is submitted to these two stress tests:

• Visual: This type of test gauges the timber’s natural strength in relation to its species, and can determine the overall quality of an entire timber load by appraising the apparent defects in different lengths of wood. Timber that is unseasoned is graded from S1 to S7, and timber that is seasoned is graded from SD1 to SD8. The lowest number indicates the greatest strength.

• Mechanical: This type of stress test gauges the overall strength and flexibility or rigidity of the timber. A high number indicates a stronger timber. With the mechanical system, timber is graded from a weak strength of F1 to a high strength of F34. For example, a less-dense timber, such as radiata pine, typically grades from F5 to F14.

Grading for aesthetic timber

Timber that is used for aesthetic or decorative purposes, such as hardwood flooring, is also graded before it can be marketed. Aesthetic timber is classified into three grades:

• Character grade: Aesthetically, this is the lowest grade, and this grade of timber will be full of knots and streaks, presenting a rustic appearance.

• Standard grade: This is a medium-grade timber, which will have some sap streaks, knots and burls; it is commonly used because of its distinctive wood grain appearance.

• Select grade: This grade of timber has few visible knots, burls or sap streaks, and is generally smooth and even, with a uniform, straight grain.

Aesthetic timber grading doesn’t take strength or durability into account; just appearance. For more formal areas, you’ll want to choose a select grade with a smooth wood grain. For a rustic cabin or primitive-style room, you might want to consider using a character grade.

When purchasing a parcel of timber, be aware that not every piece has been graded or appraised. It’s a good idea to take the time to inspect as many pieces as you can for serious defects. By paying attention to the grading and making your own inspection, you’ll find the right quality timber for your construction project.

Contact local decking experts

Using recycled timber for decking

There is plenty of recycled timber to choose from in a variety of different species, so there is a broad window of opportunity to use your favorite type of timber for your project. Here is a look at just some of the timber that may be available to you:

  • Ironbark
  • Tallowwood
  • Blackbutt
  • Jarrah
  • Spotted Gum

Recycled timber is available in a variety of sizes ranging from 19mm-30mm in depth and between 60mm-260mm in width. There are also different and unique deck edging available to give your deck a unique look.

What to consider when choosing recycled timber for decking

If you going to go forward with recycled timber for your deck you will need to consider a few factors. These factors include:

  • Availability: Not all timber types will be available due to season, demand, and local variety. Also, keep in mind that suppliers may not have enough of a particular timber depending on the size of your project.
  • Strength and durability: You need to select a wood that can withstand the pressure of a group of people of varying sizes, as well as furniture and weather, as well. Recycled timbers that are designated for building decks are classified. Make sure you choose timber that has a 15-year guarantee.
  • Cost: A big factor that is sure to alter your decision is cost. Not all timber costs the same. Find a timber that will meet your needs and stay within your budget.
Categories
Walls & flooring

A guide to floating timber floors

What are floating timber floors?

Simply put, it’s a floor that is not attached in any way (e.g. by glue or nails) to the primary foundation. Floating timber floors have a “plug and go” quality in that they can be placed over the existing floor, concrete, tiles, plywood, particle floorboard, cork or tile in the home. Homeowners just have to ensure that the floor is even before placing the floating timber planks. Laying floating timber over existing flooring also provides an extra layer of noise insulation.

Source: F&F Constructions Pty Ltd

There are 2 types of floating timber floors, both of which have pros and cons:

  1. Artificial timber floors: Artificial floating timber flooring is basically a laminate veneer overlay. Laminates are constructed to look exactly like real hardwood and require lower maintenance and are generally cheaper. You aren’t able to sand or repolish them, but mots are designed to be scratch resistant.
  2. Solid timber floors: True floating timber flooring is a combination of hardwood pressed with a thicker fibreboard base. It comes finished, so adjusting for evenness is not a concern. If needed, it can be sanded down for a desired effect, but it is suggested not to do this too often due to the thinness of the natural wood on top. This option might be easier to clean and maintain – sanding and repolishing can help you remove minor damage and keep your floors looking new. However, the initial cost of the materials and installation is more expensive.

Regardless of the choice, both real and artificial floating timber flooring will arrive ready to install.

Benefits of floating floors

  • Easier to install. They can cover all types of flooring materials and easily create the look of timber.
  • It is available in a rich variety of colours suitable for all types of colour themes in offices as well as homes.
  • They are durable and often come with long warranties – usually 25 years or more.
  • There is no waiting period for using it after installation as there is no glue that needs to harden.
Source: JVK Building & Design

Can I install floating flooring myself?

One of the benefits of using floating flooring, is the huge cost savings compared to true professionally installed timber flooring. If you are a confident DIYer, you can always try out your construction skills and install them yourself! Timber flooring can add natural beauty to every room of your home, but is best used away from wet areas. You have your pick of wood types including cedar, oak and pine.  

Most of the time, these floors are easy to install. Instructions are often provided. You may need to purchase glue, underlay materials and trims for this product. Within just a few hours of installing it, this type of flooring is ready to be used.

Floating timber floors also offer flexibility, meaning that they have natural “give” to the wood. Because of this, you’ll need to ensure ample space between the flooring and the floating timber flooring to withstand the expansion due to humidity variations.

Over time, this reduces sagging and unattractive gaps that can sometimes form in other wood flooring. These floors are actually designed to have small gaps that give the wood room to expand and contract.

How to maintain your floating timber floors

A properly installed or finished floor can look beautiful, but it is the maintenance of the floor which may help the floor to retain its beauty. If you want to avoid your floor appearing distressed or worn out prematurely, you must consider maintenance work. It will keep the floor in tip-top condition. You can also use floor mats and protective pads to improve the looks and add to the life of the floors. Here are some important maintenance tips you can follow.

1. Keep a check over dirt and dust

Floating timber floor may develop dents and scratches when exposed to dust and dirt. It is important to consider a protective finish for the floors. You should keep the floors clean every time. A daily cleaning and maintenance schedule should be followed – with regular mopping, sweeping and vacuuming. This will keep the dirt, dust and grit away from the floors which means it won’t develop scratches and marks.

Stick to your cleaning routine you establish. However, it is always advisable to clean the engineered floors with a soft cleaner and mop, as any high density and acidic cleaner will surely corrode the layer of the floor.

2. Protect your timber floors

A wooden floor is suitable for almost any lifestyle. Wood is a natural flooring option which is ideal for areas experiencing high traffic. It is durable and sturdy as well. A bit of maintenance will increase its life further. You may prefer placing rugs and protective pads on the surface of the floors to prevent scratches. If you are using it for hallway, living room or entryway, you must make sure to protect the floor. Proper rugs and carpets can save the floor from damage due to wear and tear and prolong the life of the floor.

3. What type of finish is it?

Before you even opt for any maintenance schedule, you must think about the finishing it has. Each kind of wood finishing requires different sort of care and maintenance. Choose only the best product for the floor and determine the schedule of maintenance. Your wooden floor will appear beautiful for the years to come.

4. Bolster the finishing 

Hardwood floors are normally polished or coated with a special type of wax or varnish to restrict spills from seeping into the grains. But, it is unfortunate to learn that even the toughest of grains might not be able to withstand heavy traffic. You may cover the floors with the area rugs. This mainly applies to living room floors and the area adjacent to the exterior door.

Just like the other types of floors, even the hardwood floor has thermal expansion coefficient. This thermal expansion coefficient is affected by humidity. Boards of the floor can separate if there is too much humidity. To keep a check over the humidity level, you may use a dehumidifier.

By following the maintenance tips stated above, you can maintain your floating timber floor such that it lasts for ages. Besides frequent cleaning, you may also consider expert refinishing from time to time.

Categories
Walls & flooring

How to polish floorboards

Floor polishing is a popular DIY renovation project. However, if not treated with care it’s easy to make mistakes and end up with a bit of a mess, rather than the shiny new floor you were hoping for.

If you can’t decide whether to hire professionals for this very task or have a go at some DIY, here is a guide on polishing timber floors that might help you to find the answer.

Different areas of the house will require different finishes / Source: Absolute

A general overview of polishing floorboards

Timber floors can not only add huge amounts of character to a room but are also very hardy and durable when polished and maintained correctly. They are a timeless blend of beauty and longevity that fits with any type of design in a room.

If your timber floors are in s high traffic area, or the polish fades, then they can easily be refurbished without having to replace them.

Polishing a timber floor is the removal of its outer layer – that part that is subject to scuffs, scratches, and marks, in order to improve the quality and look of the polished floorboards underneath.

Let’s dive into the details of how to sand and polish floorboards.

What tools do you need to polish floorboards?

  • Drum sander
  • Dust mask
  • Earmuffs
  • Hammer
  • Hand sander
  • Nail punch
  • Safety glasses

How do I prepare to sand floorboards?

Before getting started the area should be prepared for sanding. You may have a carpet covering over your timber floor which will have to be removed. The best way is to cut it into squares using a sharp utility knife and take them out piece by piece. Some houses have vinyl tiles laid over timber floor which is also required to be removed prior to sanding.

  • The room in which the work is carried out should be completely empty to prevent dust from getting into and onto everything.
  • Remove all the staples that are in the floorboards using pliers, and level off any nails using a nail punch to make the floor surface level and suitable for sanding
  • Be sure to open your windows and close your doors to manage dust levels in the space
  • Wear a dust mask and safety glasses

How to sand a timber floor

The type of sander will be different depending on the surface you have to sand. When you buy or hire a sander, it’s best to ask the manufacturer or retailer the best types of sanding paper to use.

It is often suggested to use 3 types of sandpaper on your drum sander. You should sand the whole room with the coarsest sandpaper, then re-sand all the surface with medium sandpaper and finally you repeat the process with the finest sandpaper. Hard to reach areas and corners should be sanded by hand with fine sandpaper.

Useful tip: the number on sandpaper indicates “grains” per cm2 it has. Grit size of sandpaper is usually stated as a number that is inversely related to the particle size. A small number such as 20 or 40 indicates a coarse grit, while a large number such as 1500 indicates a fine grit.

Once sanding is done, you should fill the all the nail holes, cracks with a water-based putty and leave it for drying.

DIY floor sanding and polishing

There are usually 2 types of polyurethane: water-based and oil-based. Water-based tends to be preferable because of its low odour and quicker drying.

The varnishes differ also by the gloss level: there are high-gloss, semi-glossy and glossy, matte and semi-matt varnishes. Floors finished with high-gloss varnish shine like a mirror. Semi-gloss and semi-matt varnishes reflect less light from the surface.

When choosing a varnish for a timber floor, it is also necessary to take into account the type of room in which the work will be carried out:

  • In the bathroom and in the kitchen, it is advisable to use compounds that are durable against exposure to moisture – urethane, urethane-alkyd and polyurethane varnishes for the timber floor.
  • For the living room, hall and timber stairs, you need to buy especially resistant varnishes to abrasion. These include acid-cured, organic and water-based varnishes based on polyurethane resins.
  • For areas with high traffic, urethane varnishes with an anti-slip effect are used.

All types of finishes require mixing. This should be done according to the manufacturer’s instructions and will depend on the type of the finish. It can be as simple as shaking the container, or it may involve mixing in a hardener and straining the finish a few times.

  • Perform finishing of the timber floor with varnish at room temperature from 12 to 25 degrees celsius. Only at this temperature will the composition dry well and not lose its decorative and protective properties.
  • Using a special varnish brush is recommended.
  • Choose one of the walls to begin and follow the direction of the floor’s grain.
  • Smooth strokes should be aimed for, aggressive movement might cause bubbles in the finish.
  • Take into account how you will exit the room. Be sure not to varnish yourself into a corner of the room. Start in a far corner, and work your way towards the open door.

After application, allow the varnish to dry well. Each subsequent layer can be applied only after the previous one has completely dried. Different varnishes have their own drying time, which is indicated on the varnish label so be sure to check instructions.

Guest bedroom with timber floorboards
Floorboards offer a clean, timeless look / Source: Shutterstock

DIY vs professional to polish floorboards

This is one of those household jobs which can be done just as effectively by yourself as it can be by a professional. Cost is often the main factor that drives people to take on the tasks themselves, but have you considered the hidden cost of potential pitfalls, especially when it comes to applying finishes. There are cases where people didn’t choose the appropriate finishes and left marks.  The cost of having to repeat the whole process is more than the cost of getting the job right on the first go.

Pros of DIY

  • Cheaper
  • Learning a new skill
  • An intriguing challenge

Cons of DIY

  • Labour intensive
  • Risks of ruining the floor
  • Lack of professional equipment

How much does timber floor polishing cost?

A flooring expert generally charges around $30 to $50 per square meter for timber floor polishing. The cost depends on floor conditions and what the work involves. The cost may also go higher or lower according to your choice of finishing material.

If you choose to do it yourself here is a breakdown of the costs you will likely incur. Keep in mind these can change based on the square meterage of the job you’re completing.

  • Drum Sander Hire (24hrs): $67
  • Dust Masks: $13
  • Ear Muffs: $18
  • Hammer: $30
  • Nail Punch: $8
  • Safety Glasses: $13
  • Floor Polish: $150 (depending on the size of the space you need to polish and how many coats you require)
  • Total: $299 (approx)

If you decide to go for a professional instead of DIY this time, you can find a flooring expert by posting a job on Oneflare.