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Pet proofing your timber flooring

15/2/2021

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According to the largest general survey of pet owners released by Companion Animals New Zealand (CANZ), New Zealand has some of the world’s greatest pet lovers. Results showing that 41% of New Zealand households having a cat and 34% of households having at least one dog. 
​

Here are some pet-proofing tips on how to enjoy your timber floor with your furry creatures.
Best timber flooring for pets
Feeding
Dogs can have a high level of ammonia in thier saliva and urine which can cause staining or discolouration on timber floors. Keeping dog bowls on a tray can minimise water splashes, limiting feeding areas outdoors or in spaces that are easier to clean or not timber finished can also reduce possible damage.

Cleaning
It’s inevitable to have some accidents with toilet training, older pets or cats knocking over vases and the like. Cleaning these spills promptly will reduce the damage or discolouration that can occur to your floors.

Grooming
An excitable dog running around a house with your children is fun but can leave scratches in your timber floors. Keeping pet’s claws trimmed will minimise scratches to your floor surface.
Keeping dog bowls on a tray or limiting feeding areas to outdoors or in spaces that are easier to clean, can minimise water splashes and floor damage.
What's the best timber flooring for pets?
How flooring choices can make a pet home life a little easier:

Floor colour
Choosing flooring products with natural grains/variations and lighter tones draws less attention to any scratches or dents that are dealt to your flooring. Try looking at rustic and feature grades for your flooring choice.

Texture
There are a large range of flooring effects and textures that you can choose from, wire brushed to band-sawn to hand-scraped. Any scratches or dents made from pets can add character to these textured finishes. 
Wood Species
Each species of timber has a different hardness. When it comes to most household applications, timbers classed as ‘moderately hard’ is appropriate.

The table below lists some examples of species hardness ratings by the AFTA.
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Floor Finish
While a floor finish doesn’t improve the hardness of a floor surface, here’s some things to consider in what finish you choose for your home.

Polyurethanes can be slightly more stain resistant, but if your pets scratch the floor, a re-sand and coat would be needed to re-treat the floors. 
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Oils and Hardwax finishes can give you a little more freedom with applying oil to scratch marks. But, regardless of the floor finish, any spills and messes will stain, if they aren’t cleaned up quickly. Regular care and maintenance of your oiled floor will make it easier to keep clean.


We’ve had pets for years and still love our timber floors. If you have pets and want to discuss the best flooring options for your home, send us an email and one of our flooring specialists can help you find the best floor for your needs. 

CANZ Survey: https://www.companionanimals.nz/publications
Images: Project Georgina St | Karolina Garbo | Pexels
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How many re-sands can I get from engineered flooring?

8/2/2021

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How many sands can you get from engineered timber flooring?
Engineered flooring is becoming increasingly popular in homes across Auckland. Being sustainable and having a higher resistance to climate changes, it's easy to see why it’s becoming a preferred choice. 
 
When deciding between solid and engineered, clients often ask how many re-sands they can get comparatively with each option.
In a previous blog post we covered what the key differences and benefits are between the two options. You can read that post here: What's the difference between engineered and solid oak flooring?  

When it comes to re-sanding, there are some key similarities which affects the number of re-sands you’ll get from your flooring. Many are under the impression that solid is superior to engineered. 
 

How many re-sands can you get from solid and engineered wood flooring
Solid and Engineered flooring both connect together with a tongue and groove joint. (This is often nailed down to the subfloor to secure it.) 
 
The re-sandable part of solid flooring is measured from the top surface - to the top of the tongue and groove joint. So, whether you’re sanding solid or engineered, you can only sand down to this T&G joint and you’ll usually take off about 1-2mm per re-sand. 
 
The re-sandable part of solid flooring is typically around 5-6mm. Engineered flooring has a 3-6mm layer of solid hardwood, which is glued to an engineered base of layered ply or birch. So the re-sandable part of both options is comparatively the same.
 
The thicker the hardwood layer above the T&G joint, the more re-sands you’ll get. This top layer can depend on board width and varies between brands. If you're trying to get a thicker top layer, you’ll pay for this in the cost of your flooring product.
 
So realistically, you can expect to get 3 - 4 resands from both solid or engineered flooring options.
 
If you’re thinking about getting your existing floors refinished or want to discuss a new flooring project, feel free to call us and speak to one of our flooring specialists for tailored recommendations for your project.
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What's the best timber flooring for bathrooms and wet areas?

22/1/2021

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best timber flooring bathrooms auckland
A common question we receive from clients: What timber flooring is best for bathrooms? 🚿 #bathroomgoals

We don't recommend timber flooring in wet areas for obvious reasons; timber is prone to absorbing moisture, which can compromise its' integrity as well as its appearance.

One important factor to consider is how much water you expect to come in contact with the floor.
If you have small children or expect to splash a lot of water on the floor, timber flooring wouldn't be the best solution for wet areas. Any surface water should be wiped up immediately and you would want to ensure that the area is well ventilated at all times to assist with the drying process.

However with diligent care and maintenance of spills or splashes, you can choose a flooring product that can work for you. Speak to our flooring experts for advice on your #BathroomGoals

sheppard and rout bathroom design timber flooring
Bringing timber elements into the bathroom while choosing a waterproof flooring solution is one way that you can keep a timber element in your wet areas as shown in this elegant bathroom by the Director of Sheppard and Rout Architects, Timothy Dagg.
best timber flooring bathroom wet areas
incorporate timber and tile bathroom floor
bathroom flooring inspiration timber flooring advice
Incorporating tile and wood into your bathroom design can create a unique look to your home, while meeting the needs of your family. Images: carresol_parquet, design_interior_homes, sheppardandrout
Need more expert advice about timber flooring in your home? Shoot us an email or send us a message on the gram... @timberfloornz

Please Note: Timber Floor Solutions takes no responsibility in moisture damaged or water damaged flooring. Please speak to us about your specific flooring project and ask our experts on their recommendations for your home. 
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Indoor plants + Timber Flooring

18/11/2020

 
Timber floor care with indoor plants

​Because having your own indoor plant jungle🪴 shouldn't stop you from having the floor you love 💚 ⁠🍃 

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⁠Water damage is one of the worst things that can happen to your flooring, resulting with warping or buckled boards as well as permanent marks or stains.

​How to protect your timber flooring and enjoy your indoor jungle:

🍃  A simple way to prevent excess moisture on your floor is to use waterproof saucers, trays, pots to catch any excess water from reaching your timber floor.
🍃 Air Circulate: Not placing your plants directly on the floor and by using plant stands allow you to circulate air underneath the plant, reducing any chance of trapped condensation and easily spotting if you have overwatered a plant, so you can clean up the spill promptly.

🍃 Keep your pots secure, be mindful of gusts of wind, curious pets and children that might knock your pots over, that may leave soil and moisture unattended on your floor for long durations.

🍃 Using felt pads on the bottom of pots will protect your floor from any unwanted scratches⁠ from relocating pots. Also avoid dragging or sliding your pots along the floor.

🍃 Hydrate and water your plants with care and wipe up any spills immediately.

🍃 Regularly sweep or vacuum around pots to remove any soil or leaves to prevent any floor scratches 🍃 🍁 

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Tips on caring for your timber flooring with plants
What you need to know about indoor plants and wood floors
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How indoor plants affect timber flooring
Protect timber flooring from indoor plants
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What happens if I put plants on timber flooring
Plant interiors
Best way to store plants on timber flooring
Can I put plants on timber flooring
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Indoor plant benefits
Images: Annie Spratt, Ceyda Çiftçiye, Fabio Hanashiro, Huy Phan, James Lindsay, Judah Guttmann, Kelly Sikkima, Daria-Shevtsova, Inga-Seliverstova, Ksenia-Chernaya, Prudence Earl

Child safe flooring: What's on the market?

28/2/2019

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Choosing flooring options for your nursery? Love the look of timber flooring? Interested in having timber flooring throughout your whole house, including children's rooms? 

Timber flooring adds value to your home and if allergies are a concern to you, this is a great option as it's less likely to attract dirt or dust mites than other flooring options such as carpet.

With so many options of timbers, colours and finishes, the selections are endless. However, some can contain nasty chemicals or VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds) that can have harmful effects from long term exposure. 



Child Safe Nursery Flooring
Nursery Safe flooring is possible for your home
VOC’s (Volatile organic compounds) are the chemical substances (including both man made and naturally occurring chemical compounds) that evaporate into the air from certain solids or liquids as they dry at room temperatures. Harmful VOC’s typically may not be acutely toxic for humans but have compounding long-term health effects.
​We understand the importance of the health of your children and family. Thankfully, there are products on the market that allow you to get your desired timber floor in your home without compromising the health of your family, especially in rooms such as your baby's nursery or kids rooms.

This can be achieved by choosing a formaldehyde free timber flooring product and selecting a VOC free or low VOC flooring finish to create a healthy floor for your loved ones.

If this is something you are wanting to achieve, let us know and we can arrange a no obligation quote to meet these requirements! 

As timber flooring specialists, we look forward to helping you achieve your desired flooring goals!


Healthy flooring options for babies room
Don't compromise the health of your family for the look of timber floors
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How to minimise uv sun damage to your timber flooring

21/2/2019

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How To Minimise UV Damage to Timber Flooring
Down here in New Zealand, we’re getting a reputation for having harsh UV rays.

​A recent Houzz article mentioned that: ​"The combination of low ozone, distance from the sun, lack of pollution and high surface reflections (all that water!) means that our peak UV rays are some 40 per cent greater than comparable latitudes in the northern hemisphere.” – 13 Smart Ways to Minimise Sun Damage In your Interiors.

​This means that our car bonnets and precious skin are not the only things we should be concerned about. Timber flooring often bears the brunt of this damage which is known as ‘aging’ or ‘weathering’. Prolonged and direct UV exposure can often result in the tone of your floor softening or accelerating the darkening of wood colours.
The combination of low ozone, distance from the sun, lack of pollution and high surface reflections (all that water!) means that our peak UV rays are some 40 per cent greater than comparable latitudes in the northern hemisphere.” – 13 Smart Ways to Minimise Sun Damage In your Interiors

However, there are some ways that you can reduce the effects of sun damage. Filtering sunlight through curtains, blinds, outdoor awnings or UV treated windows/doors are ways to slow down any colour changes and help to control the gap widths between boards.
Tips to Protect Your Floor from UV Damage
Use Curtains + Blinds
 
Sheer curtains fabrics can soften the sun light that reaches your flooring and adds some extra protection especially in north facing rooms that are exposed to more sunlight. The bonus is added privacy during the day without completely blocking out the glorious daylight. Keeping blinds or curtains closed during the hottest parts of the day will make sure that sun exposure will not change your floor colour prematurely.
 
Consider UV Films
Some window films can substantially reduce the amount of UV rays that enter your home, without hindering your views. Make sure to check which companies promise solar protection and not just a tinted window.
 
Open up Your Living Space
Installing outdoor awnings not only means visibly opening up living areas in your home but helps to block those damaging rays off the windows or doorways to your beloved timber floor!
Protect Wood Flooring from Sun UV Damage
Change the Furniture Layout
Regular rotation of your furniture and rugs is not only a quick and inexpensive option but allows the floor to age more uniformly than developing patches of differing colours. This could be as simple as moving a rug or moving a sofa to the other side of the room.
You may have purchased a home with existing timber flooring or maybe you’re installing new flooring. While it is possible to minimise the suns effects and prolong the colour of your floor through the above suggestions, it is expected that all timber floors will fade over time from UV exposure.
 
Resources:
https://www.houzz.co.nz/ideabooks/70702251/list/13-smart-ways-to-minimise-sun-damage-in-your-interiors
https://polycure.com.au/can-minimise-effects-sunlight-damage-timber-floors/
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How timber floors respond to heat - what you need to know!!

21/2/2019

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From the heat in summer to the cold winter chills, the indoor temperature in our homes can fluctuate dramatically throughout a year.

Prolonged exposure to direct or indirect heat from the sun, heaters, fireplaces and underfloor heating can have a detrimental effect on your wood flooring if you are careless.
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Here are some important things that you need to know about how your timber flooring might respond to heat in your home.

Sun and UV Exposure
Timber floors that are exposed to direct sunlight can soften the tone of different timber species to varying degrees and can accelerate the darkening of wood colouring due to a process called oxidisation. This is also known as aging or weathering.
How timber floors respond to sun and heat
This direct sunlight can lead to gapping or cupping of the floor boards (board edges being higher than the centre of the board). Filtering sunlight through curtains, blinds or UV treated windows and doors is an effective way to slow down any colour changes, control the gap widths between boards and reduces the direct heat from north facing rooms that are exposed to a lot of sun.

Air Temperature and Humidity
Changes in humidity is another contributor to wood floors potentially swelling, shrinking, cupping or gapping between boards. Using a dehumidifier or similar systems will assist in achieving a consistent humidity level but aim for an Average Relative Humidity of around 40-70% and an average indoor temperature between 18-25 degrees celcius. This indoor average should not exceed 35 degrees celcius.
How to care for your timber floor when on vacation
Air Circulation
Avoid leaving rooms with timber flooring locked up for long periods of time during warmer weather. Any wood flooring requires some air circulation to prevent boards from shrinkage. If you are out for the day or plan to be away on holiday. An easy measure to prevent this is ensuring that the house is ventilated during this time. Oven like conditions can be created when houses are closed up and this is where you may start to see signs of board shrinkage, splitting and cupping in your flooring.
 
Underfloor Heating
Preferably, the underfloor heating should be turned on 2 weeks before the timber flooring is laid. Once the flooring is installed, the concrete SLAB temperature should never exceed 27 degrees Celsius!!
Ideally the slab temperature should sit around 24 - 25 degrees Celsius. Once the floor has been finished it is best to slowly alter the temperature, moving it either up or down by 1 degrees Celsius per day to begin. A sudden change in temperature will damage your flooring and failing to follow this recommendation, can cause the floor to expand, shrink, split or cup.

For best performance, the heating system should be operating at all times, all year round to avoid the floor cooling and taking on moisture from the environment.  If the underfloor heating does not run at a constant temperature all year round, more movement should be expected in the timber flooring, with gaps appearing and closing up from season to season.
 
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We are your expert timber flooring specialists, specialising in solid and engineered wood flooring! If you would like more expert timber flooring advice, contact us!
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How to Care for your coastal home's timber flooring

21/2/2019

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How to Care For Your Beach Home's Timber Flooring
Opening up your windows and doors is all part of the joy of living by the beach. Salt air, the sun and sea often mean more damage to your home than ones that are nestled in a normal suburbia. But how can you prevent damage to your beautiful timber flooring?

Here are some important tips to prevent damage to your flooring and to prolong the life of your timber floor.

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Use Doormats
We all know that sand gets everywhere when we’re at the beach. Having mats leading into the home, where everyone can dust off sand is a simple and effective way of significantly reducing sand, dirt and grit from entering the house.

Use a Shoe Basket
Keep your shoes, sandals and jandals outside in a bin or basket near your home’s entrances and perhaps this is a good place for children’s toys like shovels and buckets- instead of ending up on your timber floor.
​

Ensure All are Dry
If your beach home has an outdoor shower, ask your guests to rinse off and dry before they enter your home. This will help to keep salt water off your floors.
How to Prevent Sun Damage to Timber Flooring
Prevent Sun Damage
With warmer months, we love to have the beach breeze flow through the home to keep things cool, however, prolonged and direct UV exposure can have a detrimental effect on your floor. This can often result in the tone of your floor softening or accelerating the darkening of wood colours. This is known as ‘aging’ or ‘weathering’.

​Filtering sunlight through curtains, blinds, outdoor awnings or UV treated windows/doors is an effective way to slow down any colour changes, control the gap widths between boards and reduces the direct heat from north facing rooms that are exposed to a lot of sun.


Sweep Regularly
Small particles like sand and grit can act like sandpaper which can scratch and dull your floor’s finish. Regularly vacuuming with a soft broom attachment or sweeping with a slightly damp cloth will remove these particles from your floor and reduce the likelihood of unnecessary scratches.

Clean Wisely
Just like most purchases today that have specific cleaning recommendations; timber flooring is no different. It is vital to clean your wood floor with the recommended flooring cleaner.
There are so many different types of flooring finishes that you need to make sure that you are cleaning with the right product. We ensure to send our clients their first cleaner free, so they are familiar with the brand and products that they should be using to care for their floor.
 
These are just a few tips to help prevent damage to your flooring, check out our other blog article about choosing the best flooring for coastal homes to see how your floor choice can make beach side living a little more breezy...
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Need to repair the timber flooring in your beachside home? Speak to us about your options by emailing us at office @ timberfloor dot nz
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Choosing the best floor for a coastal home

21/2/2019

 
How to Choose Timber Flooring For Your Coastal Home
Living in New Zealand, we are surrounded by an abundance of some of the most beautiful beaches in the world! While living by the beach has many joys, your selection of timber flooring can either add to your joy or start to diminish it.

Here are some tips on choosing the best floor for your coastal home, to ensure the longevity and durability of your stunning wooden floor.
Campbells Bay Beach Home Engineered Wood Flooring
CAMPBELLS BAY BEACH • AUCKLAND
Milford Beach Engineered Wood Flooring Auckland
MILFORD BEACH • AUCKLAND
  • Go For Engineered Flooring
Let’s face it.. New Zealand’s changing climate with warmer temperatures and higher humidity levels is undeniable. Due to the layered construction of engineered flooring, it has a higher resistance to moisture levels and greater stability against environmental changes. This means that it's less likely to shrink or cup when compared to solid flooring. While you still might experience some expanding and shrinking between boards, you would be minimising this by going with an engineered product.

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  • Go for Texture and Grades
Choosing a Rustic or Farmhouse grade is generally a more affordable flooring option and adds depth and character to a home. Choosing a product that has more natural grains and effects will make scratches or marks in the floor a lot less obvious and won’t detract from the overall beauty of the floor.


  • Go for the Right Colours
Darker floors are alluring and enchanting and we love how they look in a home. However, living by the beach might be better suited to lighter palettes such as nudes and other white wash tones that don’t draw as much attention to things like dust that usually stand out on darker floors.


  • Think About Board Widths
Timber flooring that comes in wider board widths has become a lot more popular in recent years. Choosing to go wider can create a relaxed and open feel even if your coastal home is a smaller space. 
Mangawhai Beach Home Flooring Engineered Timber
MANGAWHAI BEACH • MANGAWHAI HEADS
Matarangi Beach House Engineered Timber Ash Flooring
MATARANGI BEACH • COROMANDEL
We love to hear what ideas our clients have, so speak to us about your home’s design and see what kind of stunning floor suits you best! We are Auckland's flooring experts and timber and wood are our forte!
​Email or call us today!

ghosting : What is it AND  how can you prevent it?

21/2/2019

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How to Prevent Timber Floor Ghosting
Although not a common problem, this is a problem that affects polyurethane finishes and can occur soon after a timber floor is finished. And with long term effects! The only way to remove ghosting is a total re-sand and finish!! 😲😱👎

​Here are some images that we have pulled from the web, that demonstrate the damage of "Ghosting" on timber flooring.
Wood Flooring Ghosting
Ghosting in Wood Flooring
Cloudy appearance in wood flooring

How can you prevent this issue?

It is very important that you do not walk on the floor with wet feet or get water on the floor for 7 days. Also, do NOT walk on the floor with shoes for a minimum of 24 hours up to 48 hours after. The floor can be walked on ONLY in socks. 

WHY!? 

Over time as the coating darkens with UV, these marks show up as a lighter cloudy appearance. Sometimes imprints only become obvious after one year or more! 

So, taking precautionary care and following maintenance instructions for your new floor, will ensure you have a great floor now and into the distant future!

We are Auckland based flooring experts, speak to us about your wood flooring enquiries! 
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    FAQ: What are VOC's? Are there any alternatives?

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A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US...
Your timber flooring specialists of solid timber and engineered wood flooring.
Expert Advice, Quality Workmanship, Stunning Results
Flooring is our Forte, so call us to discuss your project.
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  • HOME
  • PRODUCTS
    • Oak Flooring
    • Engineered Flooring
    • Solid Flooring
    • Oil Finishes
    • Polyurethane Finishes
  • PROJECTS
  • CARE + MAINTAIN
  • ADVICE
  • CONTACT