Everything you need to know about finding a timber flooring supplier

Timber flooring is an increasingly popular material to use when renovating a home or office. It is easy to clean, warmer and softer to walk on when compared to a tile alternative. There are almost as many timber flooring types available as there are personalities, and therefore a suitable choice will be available to everyone. Timber is a natural resource and its colour and quality will largely depend on the climate it is grown in including its maturity.

Timber Flooring – Things to Consider Prior Your Purchase

There are a few things to consider prior to purchasing your timber flooring. These include:

1. Interior space, design and colour
Floors play a vital part when decorating your home, and is one of the first fixtures which attract the eye. Not only can it greatly improve the look of your home or office, but also reflect your personality type. Put some thought into what you want to accomplish and whether you want to have a classical, rustic or more contemporary feel to the space. Lighter colours, for example, are very effective in rooms with which are open and airy.

2. Budget
Your budget will play just as an important role as it will determine the quality, design and type of timber flooring you can afford.

3. Maintenance
Cleaning of your floors will be required in order to keep dust from collecting and marks from forming. The most important aspect, however, is not to allow allot of water on your timber floor. Even though timber is pre-treated for moisture absorption, it is still a natural resource, and too much water could cause some absorption, expansion and even lifting of the floor. Generally, however, this doesn’t frequently occur when cleaning is done with a damp cloth and without using harsh chemicals. Your supplier will be able to provide advice on the proper cleaning materials and equipment to use.

It’s good to know that most timber floors can be restored to its natural glory by having it re-sanded or re-polished.

4. Quality of solid timber
If decide to purchase solid timber flooring, obtain confirmation that the timber is from a reliable source as the quality in timber often differs from one supplier to another. Many reputable companies will display a patented brand on their products.

There are three quality timber types. They include:

• Select Grade is a timber with more elegant and consistent features throughout the floor. This type is ideal when considering matching the floor to the rest of the room.
  
• Character grade is a timber product which displays the natural rich characters of the timber including the gum veins, knots and even insect holes.
  
• Standard grade flooring timber is a combination between the select and the character grade.

5. Hardness of the timber
The harder the timber type the more abuse it can endure. Consider using hard timber types when the area will encounter high traffic. The Janka rating is used to indicate the hardness of timber, and the higher the rating the harder the wood. Bamboo, for example, even though it is classified as a grass, carries a higher Janka rating than most woods including Oak and Maple.

Timber Flooring Types

Today, consumers are spoiled for choice when it comes to timber flooring options.
Timber flooring types include, but are not limited to:

• Sydney Blue Gum
• Grey Gum
• Tallowwood
• Grey Iron Bark
• Red Iron bark
• Turpentine
• Red Mahogany
• Kotibe -Indonesia
• American Oak
• European Ash
• Bamboo   
• European Oak 
• W.A. Karri
• NSW Spotted Gum
• QLD Spotted Gum
• Brush Box
• Black Butt
• N.E. Black Butt
• Rose Gum
• Baltic Pine (new)
• Radiata Pine
• Tasmania Myrtle       
• Asian Oak
• Tasmanian Oak
• Jarrah
• Messmate
• Australian beech
• Northern Beech
• Bloodwood
• Cypress pine
• Forest Red
• Victorian Ash
  

Benefits of Timber Flooring

The benefits of timber flooring include its:

• Visual appeal
• Environmentally friendly
• Anti-allergic properties
• Easy to clean

Installation and Maintenance

Some timber types or designs such as parquetry will require acclimatization to its environment prior to installation. It may also initially require proper floor preparation to control the amount of moisture including adhesives, finishes and including drying time.
Other timber flooring types such as laminated, Bamboo and engineered (‘floating’) floors can be laid and walked on directly after installation.

Choosing a Supplier

Finding a supplier shouldn’t be too hard to find, especially if you use the Internet or local telephone directories to search for one in your area. A good supplier will ensure that its personnel are well skilled in answering any questions, and providing advice where required. A reputable supplier will also patent the product with its brand. Obtain different quotes for similar products and ensure to review all warranties and guarantees offered.

Find Timber Flooring Suppliers the Easy Way