Why a Timber or Similar Floor?
Why use Timber or Similar?
Timber is natural, hard wearing and when maintained and kept clean it avoids carrying dust and allergens which promote asthma and other respiratory problems. Similarly, timber floors have an environmental impact which creates 5 times less carbon emissions than ceramic tiles (source: CRC for Greenhouse Accounting). Timber makes a feature of your floor that enhances your furnishings and will outlive you if properly maintained. Similarly, the other products (cork, bamboo and laminate) provide a similar appearance or character to that of a timber floor.
With the correct coating for your circumstances and regular cleaning your timber floor finish may last for up to 8 years before you need to consider recoating. The cost of recoating a timber floor is far more affordable than replacing carpet which begins to look worn, in many cases after 5 or so years. Similarly, the coatings on many prefinished floors are very wear resistant and these products too can be sanded back and a finish applied to provide additional life to your floor.
Correct Maintenance for your Floor
Always use the coating or product manufacturers’ recommendations concerning the method of regular maintenance that is best for your floor. Your atfa professional will be able to let you know these details.
As a general guide, anti-static mops are effective for collecting dust and grit and vacuum cleaners (ensuring the brushes are not worn) are also effective.
Damp mopping once a month provides an effective deep clean for some finishes and when carried out with recommended mild cleaners will not harm the floor. Be mindful that timber is a ‘living’ thing and will absorb water if applied too liberally.
Coatings
The options for coatings range from solvent based polyurethanes, through to water based finishes and oil based finishes. Depending on the type of floor installed, the locality of the house and climate, some floor finishes will be more appropriate than others.
Traditional oil based finishes including Tung oil and Linseed oil were used with waxes but now work well with acrylics as a better form of maintenance. They do darken over time. Solvent based polyurethanes tend to be more wear resistant and come in a wide range of gloss variations.
Water based finishes, usually acrylic, are growing rapidly in popularity. They too are hard wearing, can provide a subdued appearance and range in gloss variations. It is, however, important to note that irrespective of the finish type and whether applied at installation or factory as a prefinished product, scratches can occur and appropriate precautions and practices are necessary in all cases to minimise this.
It is recommended a newly coated floor is leftas long as possible (approximately one week), before residents move in, to ensure suitable hardening. Speak to D.I.Y. Parquetry, Timber & Cork Flooring, we are your atfa professional and can give you accurate advice.