Skip to content
  • Call Us On (08) 9331 5004
  • Facebook Google Instagram Houzz
Floors By NatureFloors By Nature
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Our Products
    • Solid Timber
      • Australian timber range
      • Oak Range
      • Parquetry Range
    • Engineered Timber
      • Australian Timber
      • Elk Falls Hickory
      • Engineered European Oak
      • Parquetry Range
    • Bamboo Flooring
      • Strandwoven Bamboo
      • Engineered Bamboo
    • Hybrid & Laminate
      • Easi Plank
      • Iconic
      • Hydroplank
      • Aspire
    • Decking
      • Trex
      • Newtechwood
      • Solid Timber
    • Stairs Treads
      • Timber Stairs
  • Our Collection
  • Testimonials
  • Sale!
  • Get A Free Quote

TIMBER IS WARM AND BEAUTIFUL AND WE WANT TO HELP ENSURE IT CONTINUES TO HAVE A PLACE IN PEOPLES LIVES

Sanding & Coating Timber Floors

Most property buyers consider the state of the flooring before proceeding with a purchase. If you are a property owner with plans to put your house or commercial establishment on the market either for rent or for sale in the future, it is crucial to consider the state of your flooring. This includes good sanding and coating of timber floors, as well as the right finish. A well looked after floor can help to substantially raise the value of your property.

As one of the most popular flooring materials in Western Australia, timber flooring can have many finishes. The species of timber you have chosen can appear shiny and modern or rustic and industrial depending on the sanding process and the final finishing applied. What coating do I apply to this blank canvas? If you’re indecisive regarding the finish or coating of your floor, there are several different options and combinations available each with its own pros and cons.

Waterbourne Polyurethane Coatings

The last few years have seen a vast improvement in the technology of waterborne flooring finishes and hence have resulted in an increase in the amount of people using them. In the early days, single pack water-based finishes earned a reputation for being easily scratched. Now, 90% of the timber installations we do are finished with a Satin or a Matte 2 pack waterborne polyurethane layer. A hardening agent is mixed with the coating to ensure that the finish cures to a hard protective layer on your floor. These coatings in Satin and Matte really complement the natural building materials of today’s architecture. They keep the timber colour natural and don’t yellow quickly with time like the solvent–based coatings. In addition to Satin and Matte, Gloss finishes are also available. 

Another factor that has driven the popularity of waterborne finishes is the low VOC rating (Volatile Organic Compounds) that present in this type of flooring finish. There is very little odour given off when these coatings are applied, so you can rest easy knowing you aren’t breathing in toxic fumes – a real plus if you are living in the building when the work is done! While waterborne finishes provide an impervious coating to most household substances, you need to exercise caution with solvents like turps etc and animal urine, for these can damage your floor if not removed and quickly cleaned up.

Once your timber flooring is installed and sanded, a coat of sealer is applied to your floor followed by two coats of waterborne polyurethane. There are many reputable brands on the market and the technical data sheets are a good way to compare. At Floors By Nature, we use the Taber test to help us ascertain the abrasion resistance of various Waterborne Polyurethane coatings for use in our Perth floor installation projects.

Solvent Based Coating

The traditional high gloss timber floors have always been achieved using a solvent–based finish. Solvent-based finishes excel at the glossy end of the spectrum. They cure to form a tough resilient surface that protects your timber floor from rigorous floor traffic and inevitable spills. The solvent-based coating will yellow with time, hence changing the colour of your floor, though less noticeable with dark timbers. If you choose a solvent-based finish, we recommend that you don’t enter the house for a couple of days when the coating is applied as the fumes released are quite strong. As with water-based finishes, a sealer is applied to the timber followed by 2 coats of solvent-based polyurethane.

Oil

There are many different oil coatings available on the market, and you will find that most of the pre-finished engineered oaks are finished with a UV cured oil coating. This coating soaks into your timber immediately giving it a slightly darker shade than if you had used a polyurethane coating. Oiling your floor really gives you the ‘natural’ timber feel, however, there is a little more maintenance required to keep your timber flooring looking great. You will often need to clean it with a special soap recommended by the manufacturer, which replenishes the oils taken out by repeated cleaning. Depending on the foot traffic you may have to reapply the oil coating every couple of years, but this certainly isn’t a big deal because you don’t need to sand back to bare timber as you would with a polyurethane coating. Make sure you clean up spills as quickly as possible with an oiled floor because the coating will allow liquid to penetrate. Some oil-based products also have wax in them, making the flooring finish shiny and smooth.

Staining

Another way to make your floor look unique is through staining or by adding a layer or a coat of wood stain/ink to your floors to give it extra character. Usually, the species of timber flooring often stained with additional colour is American Oak since this type of wood has the perfect grain, as this type of softer wood absorbs the stain quicker than the harder wood which really accentuates the feature of the natural wood. With staining, many different effects can be achieved depending upon how the stain is applied.

Bleaching

Bleaching timber, particularly Jarrah, was once a very trendy option. The popularity of this process has recently waned because of the vast variety in timber species and colour now available. It is also a very toxic process that produces noxious fumes and can only be undertaken by an experienced operator. At Floors By Nature, we still bleach timber for various reasons and will be happy to discuss your options.

Bleached Jarrah
Stained Oak x2
high gloss
matt.

Since sanding timber floors is a meticulous task that requires experience and precision, we suggest going through a professional timber flooring expert to ensure the quality of your new floors. If you are looking for professional flooring installation services with sanding and finishing in Perth, Floors By Nature is your team! With over 50 years of experience in the flooring industry, we have seen all floor types and know what type of finishing is best for timber floors, hybrid flooring and more. If you’d like a free quote, please contact us on (08) 9331 5004 or send us an online enquiry and our friendly team of flooring specialists will get back to you soon! 

 

GET IN TOUCH

CONTACT

Call us on (08) 9331 5004

sales@floorsbynature.com.au

2/291 Stock Road O’Connor WA 6163

OPENING HOURS

Mon – Fri: 7am – 4pm

Sat: 10am – 2pm




















      GET IN TOUCH

      CONTACT

      Call us on (08) 9331 5004

      sales@floorsbynature.com.au

      2/291 Stock Road O’Connor WA 6163

      OPENING HOURS

      Mon – Fri: 7am – 4pm

      Sat: 10am – 2pm










        © 2022 ALL RIGHT RESERVED FLOORS BY NATURE . DEVELOPMENT BY DIWE
            • Home
            • About Us
            • Services
            • Our Products
              • Solid Timber
                • Australian timber range
                • Oak Range
                • Parquetry Range
              • Engineered Timber
                • Australian Timber
                • Elk Falls Hickory
                • Engineered European Oak
                • Parquetry Range
              • Bamboo Flooring
                • Strandwoven Bamboo
                • Engineered Bamboo
              • Hybrid & Laminate
                • Easi Plank
                • Iconic
                • Hydroplank
                • Aspire
              • Decking
                • Trex
                • Newtechwood
                • Solid Timber
              • Stairs Treads
                • Timber Stairs
            • Our Collection
            • Testimonials
            • Sale!
            • Get A Free Quote

          You have questions regarding our process of would live to know more about us?

          Call us on (08) 9331 5004

          sales@floorsbynature.com.au

          O’Connor Showroom
          2/291 Stock Road O’Connor WA 6163

          OPENING HOURS

          Mon – Fri: 7am – 4pm

          Sat: 10am – 2pm










          Login

          Lost your password?