Timber Flooring
Typically most of the hardwood flooring is readily available in 80x19mm & 130x19mm boards. Some boards can be obtained, by special order, in wider or narrower sizes. Cypress Pine is available in 62, 75, 85,87,89,98,100 & 133mm wide boards.
The wider the board the more likely it is to show cupping and movement. If your site is particularly dry (usually by air conditioning) or damp it would be more advisable to opt for a narrower board. This won't stop movement or cupping but the effect may be minimised.
The main difference between board sizes are that 80mm and under boards can be sercet nailed, meaning that the nail is stationed on the tongue of the board, where in the 130mm and over boards top nails also have to be placed on the surface of the board to minimise movement.
Most Species are available in two grades; however some are available in Feature grade, which relates to the appearance of natural characteristics such as gum vein, knots, insect holes and other natural marks.
Select Grade is generally clearer of markings. However, some gum vein and natural markings may still be evident.
Standard Grade is popular due to its rich appearance determined by the forest history and accentuated by more gum veins; spirals, shakes, and marks left by forest insects, further ensuring no two floors (or pieces) are the same.
Both Select and Standard Grade are extremely durable grades of timber and offer a long lasting quality. Select Grade will give a more contemporary, elegant and clean look where as Standard Grade will give a more natural, rustic but charismatic look at less cost.
Feature Grade is for those who want a very rugged or ruff industrial look on their floor. Feature Grade consists of the natural markings but will also have some production faults in the mix. It may have holes, very large gum veins, miss milling etc. feature Grade is not available in all timbers. Feature grade floors can be filled with a clear resin filler to highlight but seal all the timbers imperfections.
Wood is a natural product, dependent on soil, climate, local environment and other natural occurrences for its colour and character. As such, colour variations will occur and are a part of the natural beauty of your timber floor. The final colour or extremes of colour are often not discernible until after the timber has been sanded and finish has been applied.
Timber will change its colour for various reasons for example: direct natural sun light, finish applied and general cleaning maintence. Take a look at our maintence section for further information.
As timber flooring is a hygroscopic product (it has variable moisture content) it will move with changes of moisture to its local atmosphere. In times of low humidity your boards will expel moisture and shrink, this may cause gaps to appear in the floor, however in times of high humidity the floor will expand and the gaps may close.
Most timber floors will make a creaking noise from time to time. It will usually happen after extreme weather changes or if a floor has not been walked on for some time. A new floor will make a creaking sound until it has “settled”. This is not a case of bad craftsmanship but natural occurrences of timber flooring.
