Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About Timber Floors
Most of what people ask Freedom Flooring comes up before a job starts: how long the house will be out of action, whether a floor is worth saving, what the difference between two coatings amounts to in daily use. The answers below cover the ground we go over most often with customers across Newcastle and the Hunter. Anything specific to your own floor is better answered by looking at it, and the measure and quote are free. Call 0404 606 142.
- The timeline depends on the floor's size and condition and on which coating is used, since cure times vary considerably between products. A clear schedule is set out in the quote so you know how long the area will be out of use.
- If the boards are structurally sound and have enough thickness above the tongue, sanding is almost always the cheaper and less disruptive option. Replacement makes more sense where a floor has been sanded to its limit, has widespread damage or sits on a failing subfloor.
- The area being worked on needs to be completely clear, including furniture, rugs and anything on the walls that fine dust could settle on. Rooms can be staged so a house stays partly usable where moving everything out at once isn't practical.
- The Australasian Timber Flooring Association is the industry body for timber flooring in Australia and New Zealand, and it publishes the technical standards the trade works to. Membership means the installation, sanding and coating methods used on your floor follow those published standards.
- Kitchens are common and work well with a suitable coating, since spills there are occasional rather than constant. Bathrooms and laundries are far riskier because of standing water and humidity, and most timber flooring isn't recommended for them.
- Sweeping or vacuuming regularly matters more than anything else, since grit underfoot is what scratches a finish. Damp mopping with a product made for timber floors is fine, while wet mopping, steam cleaners and general household cleaners will damage the coating over time.