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Tips and tricks for a perfect finish

Elements of timber floor design

ATFA CONVENTION 2011 ISSUE

1

Note from the CEO

this issueATFA update 2

Member profile: Sika Australia 4

Species feature: Sydney Blue Gum 6

ATFA Convention: Sydney 2010 8

ATFA Convention: demonstrations and speakers 10

Flooring and Finishes with ATFA 12

2010 Awards for Excellence 14

Staining floors: technical issues to consider 20

Elements of design 24

Tips from the trade, IR talk 28

Product snap shots 30

Project feature: Award winning floor 32

Cover: Sydney Blue GumBoral Silkwood engineered hardwood flooring

Welcome to the fifteenth issue of Timber Floors

Magazine, our annual convention issue.

ATFA continues to explore new services and

procedures in an effort to improve the industry

and create better business conditions for ATFA

members. The latest initiative is the ATFA Market

Analysis Program. As few government statistics

are obtained via census or business data for

our industry, ATFA has begun its own process. Why is this important? For

our industry and ATFA, it demonstrates the significance of our industry’s

contribution to the economy, providing us with the vehicle to negotiate better

funding opportunities for the industry. Without any data, this has been a

frustrating roadblock to progress.

For members, the ATFA Market Analysis Program provides valuable market

intelligence as it demonstrates % output for manufacturers and suppliers.

It also reports on industry sentiment, allowing anyone considering further

investment to firstly gauge the health and future prospects of the industry.

Further investment for contractors might mean a new sanding machine

or employing an apprentice. It could mean a new product or new business

arrangement for manufacturers and suppliers.

We encourage you to be involved in this vital program for the future benefit of

the industry. Simply give me a call on 1300 361 693.

Enjoy this issue and I look forward to seeing you at the convention in Sydney.

Randy Flierman

CEO

Australian Timber Flooring Association

TIMBER FLOORS

Staff and Contributors

Editor and Art DirectorLucy Perryeditor@atfa.com.au

Contributing writersJane Lawrence, Dave Hayward Randy Flierman, Emma Watt, Chuck Crispin

Advertising salesJane Lawrence phone 02 9440 9999 | fax 02 9440 9066 jane@atfa.com.au

Production - Pure Graphics Pty LtdGraphic design - Amber HooperPrint management - Bruce Perry

Publisher Australian Timber Flooring Association11 Oleander Ave Shelly Beach QLD 4551ph 1300 361 693 | fax 1300 361 793atfa.com.au | ABN 16 524 524 226

Timber Floors is published four times a year by The Australian Timber Flooring Association.

Timber Floors may not be produced in whole or part without the written consent of the publisher. Views expressed within this publication are not necessarily the opinions of the editors or publisher. Whilst all efforts are made to ensure the accuracy and truthfulness of stories included in this issue, the writers, editors and publisher cannot be held responsible for inaccurate information supplied for publication. Timber Floors also holds no responsibility for any advertisements printed in this magazine that may be deemed inaccurate.

2

ATFA updateTRAINING PROGRAM FOR 2011

ATFA has had a successful training

program this year with a great line-

up of speakers and training events

planned for 2011. Next year’s training

program will include:

• New techniques install and finish

program

• Advanced timber technology

workshops

• Timber grading workshops

• Business tool kit workshops

• Engineered flooring forum

• Tongue and groove flooring forum

• Coatings forum

• Bamboo forum

• Coatings essentials workshop

• Troubleshooting workshop

• Timber flooring for builders

LOSE WEIGHT TO LUXURIATE

The ATFA Shape Up is on now and is

open to all ATFA members. Both the

ATFA CEO and Technical Manager are

leading by example, both admitting

that they are a bit heavier than they

should be and are taking steps to

improve their health. Members of

the board are also joining in the fun

to shed the kilos for the chance at a

great prize. To register, email ATFA at

admin@atfa.com.au and weigh in at

the nearest weigh-in station (located

at ATFA member businesses in each

state). The member who loses the

highest percentage of weight will be

announced at the ATFA convention

and will receive a $500 luxury

accommodation and spa voucher.

GREAT DEALS FOR ATFA MEMBERS

ATFA is always looking for new deals

for our members. Currently Optus is

proud to offer ATFA members three

months free voice access when two

or more mobiles are connected on an

eligible Optus business mobile plan for

24 months. Existing Optus members

are also eligible for this offer. For more

details call Caitlin at Optus directly

on 0421 992 726 or email her at

atfa.optus@lineout.com.au.

All members are eligible to apply

for a Caltex StarCard which entitles

members to a discount of 2.3 cents per

litre off fuel. This card can be used at

over 1800 service stations throughout

Australia. This is a great way to save

money in your business.

ECO-FRIENDLY

RENEWABLE

ECO-FRIENDLY

RENEWABLEWONDERFUL FLOORWONDERFUL FLOOR

ACN: 107 906 374

Wonderful Floor specialises in pre-coated Australian solid hardwood, engineered

floating hardwood and pre-coated bamboo floors.

Our products are environmentally friendly and have been sourced from

sustainably managed forests.

Benefits of using Wonderful Floor

Wonderful Floor (Factory)

62-66 Vallance Street, St Marys NSW 2760Phone 02 9517 4742 Fax 02 9517 2436

www.wonderfulfloor.com.au

8” and 12” belt/ drumcombo sander

Elite 3 edger

GALAXY MACHINESbuy direct from the importers

parts • service • leasing available

info@synteko.com.au • www.synteko.com.au

Synteko Pty Ltd.Call: 02 9406 8100

www.galaxyfloorsanders.com.au

37607-1 Armstrong TimberAd AFTA v3_FA.pdf 1 15/11/10 5:42 PM

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE

Other ATFA member benefits

include insurance discounts, industrial

relations and legal services, a number

of free publications and resources,

access to technical hotlines and

discounted training. Members

are listed in the “find a member”

database of the ATFA website which

attracts both consumer and trade

traffic. Members also receive a CD

containing work method statements

and job safety analysis. Next year will

see the development of a number of

initiatives. We are currently working

on amendments to the accreditation

program. ATFA is also working with

the FWPA and Standards Australia on

amendments to the BCA and Natspec.

ATFA FUTURE FUND

The ATFA Future Fund is another

exciting initiative to launch in 2011

which involves working towards

securing donations for ATFA training

premises. The fund would be a long

term investment for future growth

and education of the timber flooring

industry. As a young organisation, ATFA

sees this as the best way to develop its

capacity to provide its own facilities for

vital training functions in the future.

ATFA will contribute annually to the

development of the fund, however

anyone can provide tax deductible

financial contributions. ATFA will

continue to keep members updated

on progress. For more details email

Randy Flierman at admin@atfa.com.au.

WEBSITE ATTRACTS CONSUMERS

The new ATFA website was

redesigned to be more appealing

to consumers and more useful

to our members. It has attracted

a significant rise in traffic since

the new site went live in January

2010. Over 1500 individual visitors

come to atfa.com.au every month

with over half that figure heading

to the “find a member” section.

Traffic has been increasing by

5-10% each month. The next most

visited pages are the consumer

services pages. This indicates

that much of our traffic is from

potential customers for our

members. Great news!

4

Member Profile: Sika Australia

Sika is an independent Swiss Company with a

worldwide network of subsidiaries, founded in Zurich

in 1910 by investor Kasper Winkler. Celebrating its 100

year anniversary this year, the company now focuses

on construction chemicals as its core business and on

technology-related industrial adhesives.

Sika Australia was established in 1976 and employs over

130 personnel, with offices, warehousing and technical sales

staff located in all states of Australia. Sika’s four business

units - Concrete, Contracting, Distribution and Industry -

work closely with the market to provide process technologies

for innovative system solutions.

Sika’s core competencies include sealing, bonding,

dampening, reinforcing and protecting of structures in

construction and industry.

Sika’s specialty product range includes concrete and

mortar admixtures, surface treatments, floor treatments and

toppings, structural strengthening, protective coatings and

impregnations, cementitious and epoxy repair, grouts and

anchors, joint sealants and adhesives, waterproofing and

roofing solutions.

In the flooring industry Sika manufactures surface hardeners, dust proofers, acrylic, epoxy and polyurethane floor toppings for commercial and industrial applications, crack repair and concrete remediation systems, cementitious levelling compounds as well as moisture barriers, acoustic and flexible adhesive systems.

A Silver Foundation member of ATFA, Sika has an

experienced technical team, available to provide expert

advice and tailored solutions to meet a variety of timber

flooring needs for all ATFA members.

Sika’s timber flooring systems include SikaBond-T55(J)

and SikaBond-T53 one-part polyurethane adhesives for direct

elastic bonding of timber floors. Sika’s products also include

SikaBond-T55(J) the easy flowing timber flooring adhesive

with excellent bead and trowel notch stability, used for elastic

bonding parquetry and timber strip floors to concrete, timber,

solid acoustic underlays or existing tiles. SikaBond-T53 is

a thixotropic timber flooring adhesive used with the Sika

AcouBond system. Both products emit well below the Volatile

Organic Compounds (VOC) criteria set by the Green Building

Council of Australia (GBCA).

Sika Primer MB is a concrete primer and moisture barrier

which can be used after Sikafloor-81 EpoCem, Sikafloor-

Level-25 and SikaLevel-300 levelling compounds. These

products also exhibit VOC emissions below the thresholds set

by the GBCA.

With plans to introduce VOC-free timber flooring adhesive

systems in Australia in the near future, Sika offers timber

flooring professionals a comprehensive product range for

domestic and commercial applications. f

5

The Super 7R Edger is a powerful, versatile and easy to use wood floor edging machine that has earned its reputation as an industry leader. With a dust pipe design, quick release dust bag and the ability to attach directly to a vacuum, this edger continues to exceed expectations.

Rotating dust pipe allows the dust bag or hose connection to move freely during operation. The pipe rotates 210°

The channel feaure in the dust tube securely locks the dust bag in place

Bag is equipped with zipper for quick removal of dust

Powerful 1hp motor•

Polished aluminium alloy housing•

Precision balanced sanding pad •producesfinerfinish

Rotating dust pipe swivels 210 •degrees to allow access to tight spaces

Quick release dust bag that slides •on and off with a simple twist and pull

Vacuum ready dust pipes•SUPER 7R EDGERhas earned its reputationas an INDUSTRY LEADER

1300 556 710

6

Species feature: Sydney Blue GumSydney Blue Gum is a large fast growing hardwood which

occurs naturally in moist forests on fertile, well drained soils

along the east coast of Australia from Batemans Bay in New

South Wales to southern Queensland. There are occasional

occurrences further north. Sydney Blue Gum is usually found

within 160km of the coast, from sea level up to 300m above

sea level in the south and 1200m elevation in the north, in

mostly warm, humid climates. The species’ common name

comes from its pervasiveness around the Sydney region

together with the bark’s bluish tinge. Sydney Blue Gum is not

closely related to the blue gums of Victoria or Tasmania but

is closely related to Southern Mahogany and Rose Gum.

Sydney Blue Gum can grow to a height of 60 to 70 metres

and two metres in diameter. It generally has a straight

trunk with no branches for half to two-thirds of its height.

The upper bark is smooth and bluey-grey in colour with a

stocking of persistent brown or grey rough bark for one to

two metres from ground level.

Sydney Blue Gum is also planted in Western Australia and

Victoria as a species with saw log potential and has been

grown extensively in plantations in South Africa and South

America. It grows extremely rapidly in those conditions, with

the timber being of a much lower density than the mature

Australian material. Sydney Blue Gum can also be found

in New Zealand where, interestingly, it has experienced

declining growth rates and a reduction in popularity lately.

The heartwood is dark pink to reddish brown while the sapwood is paler.

The sapwood of Sydney Blue Gum is susceptible to lyctid

borer attack and therefore has to be treated with approved

preservatives before it is sold. The texture tends to be

moderately coarse and even and the grain is usually straight

but may be interlocked. Gum veins are common. The timber

dries easily but tangential surfaces tend to be susceptible to

surface checking.

Sydney Blue Gum is easy to work with both hand and

power tools, is easy to sand and accepts finishes well. It is

highly sought after because of its rich, dark colours and is

popular in a variety of applications, including flooring, joinery,

furniture, panelling and boat building. It is also effective

and durable in outdoor landscaping applications and makes

excellent firewood! f

Physical properties of Sydney Blue Gum

Botanical name Eucalyptus saligna

Family Myrtaceae

Dry density 1070kg/m2

Janka (hardness) 9

Photo courtesy Hurford Hardwood

hardwood.com.au

Photo courtesy Whittle Waxes

whittlewaxes.com.au

77

Offering great service at the most competitive prices, Embelton Flooring is your one stop shop – drop by for a visit!

Major distributor of Australian species solid timber and parquetry including Blackbutt, Brushbox, ySpotted Gum, Tas Oak, Syd Blue Gum, Chestnut and more.

We stock all leading brands of adhesives, coatings, abrasives, machinery, equipment, moisture ybarriers, underlays and all kinds of accessories.

Leading supplier and distributor of high quality parquetry in Australia. y

1800-339-638 www.embelton.com

Head Office – Victoria 147-149 Bakers Road Coburg VIC 3058 Tel: (03) 9353 4811 Fax: (03) 9353 4855

Victoria 1/72 Fenton Street Huntingdale VIC 3166 Tel: (03) 9545 6499 Fax: (03) 9545 6599

New South Wales 3/100-108 Asquith Street Silverwater NSW 2128 Tel: (02) 9748 3188 Fax: (02) 9748 3122

Queensland 44 Millway Street Kedron QLD 4031 Tel: (07) 3359 7100 Fax: (07) 3350 3382

Western Australia37 Sundercombe StOsborne Park WA 6017Tel: (08) 9204 1300Fax: (08)9204 1311

Proud supporter of the ATFA.

Serving the trade for 40 years

8

ATFA Convention: Sydney 2011The ATFA Convention is on again

and this year’s event promises to be

the biggest yet. The 2011 convention

is running with Flooring and Finishes

and co-located with leading furniture

show the Australian International

Furniture Fair (AIFF) and top interior

products fair, Decoration and Design.

Flooring and Finishes with ATFA will

take place at the Sydney Exhibition

Centre at Darling Harbour from 2-4

February from 10am until 5pm each

day. Flooring professionals, builders,

architects, manufacturers, retailers

and tradespeople involved in the timber

flooring industry all stand to benefit

from the program of events scheduled

for the three days.

Once again there will be a program

of demonstrations and presentations

from an impressive line-up of timber

flooring professionals as well as a

wide range of exhibitors, showcasing

the latest in product innovations from

the best in the industry in Australia

and around the world. An exhibitors’

cocktail party and ATFA awards dinner

will be event highlights and will provide

an excellent opportunity for relaxing

and networking.

The team at the Australian Timber

Flooring Association would like to

extend an invitation to all timber

flooring professionals to come to

Sydney to participate in what promises

to be an outstanding event.

WHERE TO STAY

There are a number of hotels located

at Darling Harbour, including Hotel

Ibis, Novotel Rockford, Radisson Hotel

and Suites Sydney, Oaks Harmony

and Medina Grand Harbourside. For

special deals, ATFA recommends the

Lido Group. Visit lido.com.au or phone

1800 817 339.

• Singlebeltdriveformorepower

efficiency

• Adjustablehandlesuitingyourheight

• Newcontrolpadwithemergencystop

buttonandvoltindicator

• HeadLightfordarkareas

And much much more…..

Frank-Wolff floor Sanders

To find your local stockist contactAustralia 08 9309 2991 | sales@boschtimber.com.au New Zealand 09 424 0366 | ufloor-systems@xtra.co.nz

TRADITIONAL

10” PYTHON

STILL AVAILABLETHE NEW COBRA. SIMPLY THE BEST SANDING MACHINE AVAILABLE

For a full range of timber floor sanding machines and stripping machines see us at our brand new website

www.timberfloorsanders.com.auwww.wolff-tools.com

COMBINING THE EXPERIENCE OF FRANKWITH THE INNOVATION OF WOLFF

wwww.timberfloorsanders.com.au

9

Phone 02 6562 6839 Fax 02 6562 8302 www.astfloors.com.au

Strong HighlandCharacter

Discover the original character and excellent durability of AST Golden Oak.

Golden Oak pure wood flooring is unlike any other because it is skilfully crafted by combining specially selected Australian hardwoods into unique, country style colour tones of golden yellow, husk brown and cream accented by distinctive wide grain patterns.

AST Golden Oak captures the spirit of a highland landscape with layers of harmonious colour and hardwearing character machined with precision into high quality tongue & groove solid floor designs.

Australian Solar Timbers is committed to environmental sustainability by using all natural and renewable resources.

HOW TO GET THERE

The Sydney Exhibition Centre is centrally located less

than five minutes from the Sydney central business

district, in close proximity to the airport and well served by

public transport.

For those choosing to drive to the venue, access to the

Exhibition Centre car park is via Darling Drive. There are

also 5,000 car parking spaces surrounding the Sydney

Exhibition Centre, including the Entertainment Centre car

park and Harbourside car park. For current rates visit

scec.com.au or phone 02 9282 5000.

Both the monorail and light rail provide a scenic link

between Darling Harbour and hotels, shops, restaurants,

museums and cinemas in and around the city centre.

The closest train stations to the Sydney Exhibition Centre

are the Light Rail Exhibition Station and the Monorail

Convention Station. Please refer to the Metro Monorail

and Lightrail website at metromonorail.com.au for further

information, including timetables and maps.

There are also ferry, bus, train, taxi and water taxi

services in Sydney. For more information on public

transport around Sydney visit 131500.com.au or phone

131 500. Alternatively, follow the links on the Flooring and

Finishes with ATFA website at

flooringandfinishes.com.au for further details. f

10

Flooring demonstrations and industry speakers

SEMINARS

The program will include a range

of seminars designed to provide

delegates with knowledge and skills to

help grow their business. The series

of five seminars will be conducted by

leading presenters from Australia and

overseas.

Daniel Boone, Everwood Floors (USA)

A Perfect Installation

A third generation flooring expert

from the USA, Daniel is highly skilled

in the manufacture, installation and

finishing of hardwood flooring and has

extensive qualifications in the technical

aspects of product development,

completing numerous successful

installation and finishing projects. Join

Daniel at this seminar as he discusses

the details of preparation, planning

and job management skills, as well as

the vital decisions that lead to a perfect

installation.

Christine Coates, Coates & Ass. (USA)

International Timber Flooring Trends

Join Christine Coates, a third

generation hardwood flooring

specialist, as she explores recent

timber flooring trends in Europe, the

US and Asia. Discover what these

trends mean to your business and

how they will lead the way to more

profitable sales.

Phil Holgate, TAMSA Consulting

Surface Coatings and their Properties

on Timber Floor Covering Options

Reviewing the chemical nature

of surface coverings, Phil Holgate

will share the importance of their

performance, life expectancy, toxicity,

VOC and carbon footprint, along with

refurbishment considerations and

maintenance issues. Join Phil as he

uncovers the current and emerging

technology trends and how they will

impact the way you conduct business.

Daniel Boone, Everwood Floors (USA)

A Perfect Finish

Daniel has completed a multitude

of successful flooring projects. Join

him at this seminar as he explores

the professional approach to creating

the perfect finish to a project. With

emphasis on personal responsibility,

Daniel will focus on the need to utilise

all technical information, skills and

equipment available in order to create

the perfect finish.

David Hayward, ATFA

Locality and Building Design

Considerations

As building locality and design

influence the performance of timber

floors, David Hayward, ATFA’s

Technical Manager, will explore where

particular consideration to detail is

needed and uncover what influences

floor performance in order to achieve a

successful result.

Once again there will be an excellent

line up of practical and informative

demonstrations and presentations from

an impressive group of timber flooring

professionals from both Australia and

overseas.

The program of demonstrations will

be directed by lead instructor Tony

Powell from Floors by Powell and will

include the following demos:

• Board bending with Robert Clague,

Northern Suburbs Timber Flooring

and Barry Olszak from Abcor

• Medallion inserts with Chris Hunter,

HQ Flooring

• Board replacement with David

Stringer, Stringer Custom Floors

• Staining with David Meyer, Lagler

Visit the website at

flooringandfinishes.com.au

for the latest demonstrations

schedule

11

12

Advacoat Australia

Armstrong Flooring

Australian Solar Timbers

ATFA

BASF Construction Chemicals

Big River Timbers

Bona Australia

Bostik Australia

Carver SRL

Clarke American Sanders

Clever Bamboo Australia

Dechen International

Deck-Max

Eletile

Embelton Flooring

Floor Coverings Association Of NSW

Floorwood Designer Timber Flooring

Gerflor Australasia

Golden Field Corporation

Hermes Abrasives Australia

Hiretech

Holdfast Adhesives

Hurford Hardwood

Husqvarna

Icon Carpets

Ideal Distributors

Innovation Coatings International

Intergrain Enviropro, Feast Watson

and Toby

Ironwood Australia

Kronotex Australia

Lagler Australia

Livos Australia

Loba Australia

Mariposa Timber Flooring

Market Timbers

Melbourne Floor Direct

Mirotone Group (Polycure)

Nobow

Nolan.Uda

Peerless Jal

Polyflor

Protect Crete

Regupol Australia

Saint-Gobain Abrasives

Seamless Surfaces

Selleys

SIA Abrasives

Signature Floorcoverings

Sika Australia

Style Plantation Holdings

Synteko / Galaxy Floor Machines

The Moisture Meter Company

Timber Floors Magazine - that’s us!

Timber Flooring Systems

Timbermate Products

Topdeck Flooring

Tramex Moisture Meters

Urethane Coatings

Whittle Waxes

Wolff Frank Sanding Machines

Wonderful Floor

Correct at press time. Please check

flooringandfinishes.com.au for the up

to date exhibitor list before the show.

Flooring and finishes with ATFA

Exhibitors

Era PolymersExcellence in Polyurethane Chemistry

A NEW ERA IN FLOOR COATINGS HAS ARRIVED!

Era Polymers floor coatings are a real alternative for timber and concrete floors. With technologies that are of world standard, we can offer the flooring Applicator and End User the best quality coating at a realistic price.

Era Polymers supply modern coatings technologies and a product portfolio that will lead the way for others to follow.

To find your local stockist contact our head office on +61 2 9666 3788.

For general enquiries please contact Craig Kennedy on 0412 183 375.

25-27 Green Street, Banksmeadow, NSW 2019, Australia | P +61 2 9666 3788 | F +61 2 9666 4805 | www.erapol.com.au

The best suppliers, manufacturers and distributors in the timber flooring business, all under one roof for one time only in 2011.

13

THE WORLD FAMOUS HUMMEL 8” BELT SANDER• Used by thousands of professionals

Australia-wide• Simple ergonomics, easy to use• Perfect finish• Low-maintenance, superb value

SYNTEKO CLASSIC, JOIN THE REvOLUTION...• Easy to use • 2 coat system • Fast drying• Superb, smooth finish• Rejection proof Exclusive in victoria to LAGLER AUSTRALIA

SUPERHUMMEL 12” BELT SANDER• Big power and speed for big jobs• Convenient single phase power• The grunt for rough sanding and the finesse for

finer finishing• Low maintenance and the best value-for-money big

machine on the market

TRIO 3 DISC SANDER• Unique planetary motion, more power and

pressure producing a superior fine finish sooner• Time saver, easy to use• Parquetry or strip flooring - the best finishing

machine on the market

Head Office: 28 Parkhurst Drive, Knoxfield vIC 3180 | Branch Office: 15A Allied Drive Tullamarine vIC 3043 with distributors in QLD, NSW, WA, SA and TAS.

Freecall 1800 880 888 | www.lagler.com.au

Annual ATFA convention dinnerATFA invites you to the annual

convention dinner and awards

ceremony on the final evening of the

Flooring and Finishes Showcase.

Winners of the 2010 Floor of the Year

Awards and Awards for Excellence

will be announced during a three

course dinner at one of Sydney’s

premier harbour-front venues.

The ATFA awards dinner is a not-

to-be-missed industry event and is an

opportunity to network with colleagues,

customers and industry experts.

Our Master of Ceremonies for the

evening is Andrew Daddo. Andrew is

an author, columnist, corporate coach,

radio broadcaster and TV presenter

who is an entertaining speaker with a

great sense of humour. f

CONVENTION DINNER EVENT DETAILS

Friday 4 February 2011, 7pm

Doltone House

South Pier, Piers 19-21

L3, 26-32 Pirrama Road

Pyrmont Point NSW 2009

Tickets $145 per person including

three course dinner and drinks

Tables of ten $1375

To book your tickets phone ATFA

on 1300 361 693 or email

admin@atfa.com.au

The annual ATFA convention and awards dinner is sponsored by Embelton Flooring.

14

Featured exhibitorsSYNTEKO

Synteko Natural Oil is an environmentally-sustainable floor

finish with zero VOCs and 100% solids. Synteko Natural

penetrates the surface of the timber floor, drying hard in

the grain of the timber without leaving any visible film build

up on the surface. This product emphasises the natural

appearance of timber and because it isn’t an artificial

coating, it leaves the surface feeling like timber underfoot.

Synteko Natural is extremely durable and is especially

suitable for commercial applications. It is economical to

apply and maintain and very easy to repair. The basic colour

of Synteko Natural can

be modified by adding

a range of pigmented

tints to the oil. For more

information call Synteko

on 02 9406 8100, visit

synteko.com.au or see

Synteko at the ATFA

Convention.

Why is Australian-made Timbermate winning so many awards in America?

Timbermate Woodfiller...• Never shrinks, sinks, cracks or falls out

• Is 4 products in 1 - Wood Putty, Grain Filler, Crack Filler & Edge Filler

• No latex. No acrylic. No solvent.

• No waste - use to the last drop

• Takes any stain evenly

Others...• Shrink, sink, crack or fall out• Have limited uses and short shelf life• Contain latex, acrylic or solvent• Dry out in the tub - very costly• Won’t mix with all tints or stains• Don’t take stains evenly

Simple

Timbermate - So good you’ll never

know it’s therewww.timbermate.com.auToll Free: 1 800 354 811 (Except Mobiles)

Melbourne: (03) 9873 4811 Sydney: (02) 9983 9906

WHITTLE WAXES

PNZ Hardwax is a commercial grade finish, ideal for high

traffic areas, as it can be replenished at any stage in the

future. It is economical as application is one coat rolled on

and the second coat buffed on. Comprised predominantly

of re-grown plant oils and waxes, with the cleanest solvents

available, PNZ Hardwax is a healthy alternative to all

other plastic coating systems. With an on the floor cost

of approximately $4.00 per metre it is an economical and

environmentally sound option. PNZ Hardwax oil meets the

European standards applicable to timber floors. For more

information visit whittlewaxes.com.au or see Whittle Waxes

at the ATFA Convention.

15

GOLDEN FIELD

Green Earth’s HD-Laminate Flooring from Golden

Field is not only hard wearing; it features vivid colours

and textures, especially in the award winning HD-High

Definition laminate range of Australia hardwoods. Their

products are also ecologically sound, manufactured

from renewable resources and are available in a range of

beautiful Australian hardwood timber species. For more

information phone 1300 866 800, visit goldenfield.com.au

or see Golden Field at the ATFA Convention.

PALLMANN MAGIC OIL 2K FROM BOSCH

This solvent-free oil-wax combination leaves an open,

breathing and diffusive surface finish for timber floors.

Magic Oil is available in three styles: Magic Oil Ergo, which

is recommended for larger projects, Magic Oil Spa which

has been specially formulated for timber floors in wet areas

such as bathrooms and a standard trowel-on two-coat

system. For more details contact Bosch Timber Floors on

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16

Floor of the Year 2010sponsored by Boral Timber

Entries have closed for this year’s Floor of the Year awards

with the standard very high in all categories.

“The response this year has been better than ever and we

have received some exceptional examples of timber flooring

workmanship,” said Randy Flierman, ATFA CEO.

Floor of the Year continues to set the benchmark for

excellent workmanship in the timber flooring industry. The

competition rewards tradespeople within the timber flooring

industry by providing them with an opportunity to present

their workmanship to the entire Australian timber flooring

industry and to receive recognition for that work.

Tradespeople who are ATFA members and have completed

either a commercial or residential flooring project between

October 2009 and November 2010 were eligible to enter.

Entrants will be judged by their peers, with voting open to

ATFA members only in an online voting system. The floor with

the most votes in each category will be awarded the title of

Australian Floor of the Year for that category. Winners will

receive a great prize pack as well as coverage in the next

issue of Timber Floors Magazine, due out in March 2011.

Boral Timber has sponsored Floor of the Year for a

number of years. “Our business is proud to be involved with

this initiative by the Australian Timber Flooring Association

which promotes high quality and innovative timber floors

in Australia,” says Clinton Skeoch, National Market

Development Manager, Boral Timber. “Every year the quality

of entries continues to impress and I’m sure this year will be

no exception!” f

ATFA members visit atfa.com.au to vote!

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17

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18

Apprentice/Trainee of the Year

Sponsored by Oakdale Industries

This award enables employers to

nominate outstanding apprentices

and trainees worthy of receiving

an award which reflects skill, work

output, training and ingenuity as

well as commitment to quality and

excellence, industry and product

knowledge, career progression and

aspiration, communication skills,

leadership abilities, teamwork abilities,

time management, use of technology,

accuracy and quality of work.

A tall order!

Employee of the Year

This award enables employers to

nominate outstanding employees

worthy of receiving an award which

reflects skill, work output, training and

ingenuity.

ATFA Contractor of the Year

Sponsored by Lagler

This award enables contractor

businesses to nominate themselves

(though others may also nominate

contractors) in an effort to recognise

the outstanding service and quality of

workmanship provided to clients.

ATFA Showroom of the Year

This award enables retailers to

nominate themselves (though others

may also nominate showrooms) in an

effort to recognise the outstanding

effort that timber flooring businesses

put into their retail spaces and

showrooms. Timber flooring

showrooms are judged on a number

aspects including the following:

• Customer information and displays

for consumer interaction

• Visual showroom layout with creative

use of species and products

• Client satisfaction and testimonials

2010 Awards for Excellence

“Winning Contractor of the Year has been great for our business as it meant that we have been recognised by our peers and have been given more credibility with our customers.” John Elasi, Floormania, ATFA Contractor of the Year 2008 and 2009

19

Why nominate?The ATFA Awards for

Excellence provide an opportunity

for you and your colleagues to

be recognised by the timber

flooring industry. It is also a way

to recognise people within your

organisation who have done

a great job. Previous winners

have also benefited by being

promoted through Timber Floors

Magazine and other publications

widely read within the industry.

As previous winners will agree,

this is a fantastic opportunity to

obtain significant promotion for

your business at no cost.

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ATFA Sales Representative of the Year

This award recognises the

outstanding service, knowledge and

commitment of the industry’s sales

representatives. All nominations

should be made by submitting the

ATFA Award Nomination Form together

with a written submission outlining the

following career and skills information

about the nominee:

• Training undertaken

• Commitment to quality and

excellence

• Industry and product knowledge

• Career progress and aspirations

• Communication skills

• Teamwork and time management

• Testimonials

ATFA Distributor of the Year

Sponsored by Selleys

This award is judged on operating

methods, quality systems, customer

information, staff training,

distributorship presentation, client

satisfaction and innovation. f

Nominations for the 2010 ATFA Awards for Excellence are open until Friday 14 January 2011

20

David Hayward, ATFA Technical Manager highlights some

important technical aspects to consider when staining

timber floors for a successful result and a happy customer.

In today’s market there are a number of trends which

create technical demands on the timber flooring contractor.

These include:

• Changing the natural colour of the species for dramatic

effect. Some desire having whiter timbers made whiter

still through lime washing. At the other extreme, some

designers are specifying opaque black floors.

• Enhancing the timber’s natural grain patterns, such as that

present in oak flooring.

• Matching a new section of floor to an existing floor

The staining of floors can however be met with some

reservation by contractors. Reasons for this include difficulty

in matching or duplicating the colour required by the

customer, patchiness of the applied stain or stain rejection

at board edges which can cause a distinct colour difference.

There are however some procedures that can be followed

that will assist in achieving the desired result.

When attempting to colour match it is prudent to carefully gauge what the client is really looking for. With this in mind, make up stained samples of the species and have the client agree to and then sign off on the sample before proceeding with the job.

When undertaking the job, provided the samples were

fine sanded similar to the floor, it is then just a case of

duplicating this process over a larger area. Once the colour

is agreed on, keeping the colour consistent across the floor

is the next challenge. Colour intensity varies depending on a

number of factors. Spirit based stains are generally added to

a carrier or reducer which also has the benefit of maintaining

the wet edge longer for a more even appearance. However,

the amount of reducer used will influence the intensity of

colour. The colour is also affected by how thickly the stain

is applied and how long it is left on the board or floor before

the excess is wiped off. It should also be noted that direct

staining has advantages over adding stain to the final coat

in that there is greater control over the final colour and its

intensity.

Reapplication of the stain to achieve a darker appearance

is a more consistent path to greater colour intensity. This

is particularly so in the higher density hardwoods where

penetration can be limited, excess stain can effectively ‘sit’ on

the flooring and may become soluble again under some top

coats. With an opaque look it can be up to 48 hours of drying

time. In instances where the stain is not sufficiently dry when

top coating, delamination can result.

Remember that help is at hand. ATFA holds trade nights

in all states conducting staining demonstrations. ATFA also

runs training programs where flooring contractors can see

the basics of staining demonstrated by industry experts.

In addition, particularly with our US instructors, new and

interesting methods of staining and coating floors can also

be learnt at ATFA training days. For further details on training

with ATFA visit atfa.com.au. f

Staining floors: technical issues to consider

Staining to highlight the natural features of timber has become popular with consumers

21

There are a number of issues that can potentially arise

when applying the finish to a timber floor. We asked a few

ATFA members with expertise in this field to discuss some

of the problems associated with staining and finishing and

to offer practical advice for avoiding common pitfalls.

One of the most important aspects of any timber flooring

job, according to Brett Scarpella from Loba Australasia,

is sanding and finishing. “It is the grand finale or the final

step in the whole flooring process,” says Brett. “And it’s the

coating that enhances and beautifies timber flooring and

gives it the protection it needs to survive daily wear and tear.”

Brett, who looks after the ATFA coatings hotline, says that

it is important to remember that coating is merely a mirror of

your preparation. “It won’t hide much, so be sure the floor is

ready to go before you start applying the finish.”

It is also really important to properly understand the

product you are using and Brett’s advice is to speak to the

manufacturer or your distributor when using a new product.

“Manufacturers can only fit so much on a label and it’s

possible they might have some valuable information that will

help you achieve the desired result,” says Brett. “It’s also

important to use the recommended application system and

technique as different coating products can vary greatly in

performance depending on the application process. There

is no ‘one size fits all’. This applies to rollers, brushes,

abrasives and to following instructions on coverage rates and

drying times.”

Brett advises using a spotter if there is more than one

person on the job. “A second pair of eyes can pick up a miss,

or a fly or a hair in the finish, which are better avoided in the

first place than having to be repaired later.”

Brett also recommends the use of anti-rejection additives

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Tips and tricks for a perfect finish:from the manufacturers

22

to reduce the effect that site contaminants or oily timbers

may have on the final coating. Brett cautions that these must

be used as per manufacturer’s instructions as incorrect use

may cause problems.

If a silicon or wax based rejection has occurred, Brett

suggests washing the affected area with a degreaser such

as turps or white turps, prior to a meth wash. “Turps has a

better chance of removing the contaminant, whilst metho

will clean up the oily residue from this practice. It sounds

like hard work but rejection is hard to overcome once it has

occurred. If you experience rejection with a solvent-based

coating it can sometimes be more successful to restart

the process using a waterborne product as these don’t

necessarily reject from the same contaminants.”

It can be overwhelming to keep up with all the new

products and associated techniques that are continually

hitting the market, says David Meyer from Lagler Australia.

“Firstly, there are spirit/ethanol-based dye stains that

have been quite popular for a number of years,” says David.

“With these stains, the sanding needs to be very even with a

minimum of a 120# screen finish to avoid scratches showing

up in the end result. Originally these stains were used for

‘tint’ staining where the contractor would put up to 10% stain

in his second coat of solvent-based poly. This method served

its purpose at the time but with more advanced products

on the market, is outdated now. These stains are still very

popular among contractors but are mainly used directly.

They can be wiped or rolled straight on, then wiped off. Most

contractors using these stains today will be using some

kind of solvent or wet edge extender that will allow them to

just roll it on and leave it, this by far being the most popular

method with such ease of application.

Some of the pitfalls of this method can be extended drying

times along with the washing out of some colours, depending

on the amount of thinner/reducer used. With blacks in

particular, the more they are reduced, the more they begin to

appear purple, straying from the desired black.

“Next we have the oil-based pigment stains,” says David.

“These stains have been around for a number of years,

growing more in popularity in the last five or six years. With

these stains you have to be very particular with your sanding,

finishing up to a 150# screen, and being careful not to leave

any sanding scratches in the floor.”

Before applying, “water pop” the grain with water and

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methylated spirit, which allows more pigment to penetrate the grain for a

darker end result. Some contractors will apply these with a slow speed buffer,

which helps on large jobs, while most jobs can be ragged on and ragged off.

Angela Petruzzi from Livos Australia says that some of the issues that

may occur if sanding and oiling are not carried out to specifications include

the appearance of chatter marks or swirl marks, highlighted by the pigment.

“If excess oil is not removed, the floor may become sticky or tacky. Further

problems may occur if the floor is completed too early in the building or

renovation stage and becomes scratched or damaged.”

To avoid and rectify these issues, Angela has the following recommendations:

“If the oil has been left on too long, apply more oil to the floor, work it in with

a white pad and remove the excess with a cloth underneath a Canterbury or

Polyvac. If the oil has been left overnight or longer, go over the entire area with

a maroon pad and re-oil, remembering to wipe off the excess. If it is necessary

to complete a stained floor prior to other trades having finished, cover the floor

area with POP paper or reschedule to do the floor last.”

“The third common group of stains are the water based stains,” says David

from Lagler Australia. “These can be dye stains, pigment stains or a mixture

of the two, and have been around for just as long as the oil based pigment

stains, if not longer. They were first used in the flooring industry six to eight

years ago and have gained in popularity over the last few years. The sanding

requirements for these water based stains are much more forgiving than the

previous finishes mentioned. Even with an 80# screen finish, minor sanding

marks don’t show up at all. Different methods are used for the application of

these stains, ranging from rolling on, rolling on and padding off, pad on and

leave, pad on and pad off, or rag on and off. Drying times are much quicker with

these stains, with most being recoated within 2 – 4 hours.”. f

Tips and tricks to remember• Coating is a mirror of preparation so take care with preparation

• Speak to the manufacturer if you are unsure about a product

• Always apply coats as close as possible to the manufacturer’s

recommended coverage rates

• Where possible use a spotter to make sure nothing has been

overlooked

• If you have to load up a floor with a thick coat only risk it on the first

coat allowing a couple more coats to make amends if required

• Don’t be afraid to use additives provided by the manufacturer

• When applying satin coatings or tinted stains, use a wet edge extender

and coat along the boards from skirting to skirting where possible

• If you have a silicon or wax based rejection, wash the affected area with

a degreaser such as turps or white spirits prior to a metho wash

• Always observe the recommended dry times and allow extra time in

colder weather

• Vacuum after using a tack rag as part of preparations for the final coat

24

If there are any rules for designing wood floors, I’m sure

I’ve broken every one. The only rule I really love at this point

in my floor designing career is: Be ruthlessly original! And

by that I don’t mean, “Paint outside the lines” or “Run with

scissors.” Rather, be ruthlessly original by finding a new

way to express a design idea that complements the space

it occupies. As another author has expressed (in a different

context): “Rules are made to be broken, carefully.” Here are a

few of the rules that I consider breaking every time I design a

new project.

Rule #1: Space Mood

The first consideration for any design should be contextual.

Floors should belong in the space they occupy. If the

architectural style is “traditional,” eg, English Georgian

or Tudor, French Country or Empire, American Colonial

or Prairie, it is easy to find a book and see the kinds of

flooring that were typical to those architectural forms. If

the architecture is “transitional,” or a mixture of a variety

of architectural forms, the rules regarding style are more

relaxed. In contemporary buildings, flooring patterns

should complement or reflect the dominant mood of the

space, which is another way of saying: “The only rule is to

intelligently blend with the other architectural elements of

the space.”

Rule #2: Focus on the Virtual Center

Usually the first principle of beginning a layout is to find

the centre of the space. In a square or rectangular room,

this is easy: Draw two lines from the opposite corners, and

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Elements of designConsider these rules when designing a floorBy Chuck Crispin, as published in Hardwood Floors Magazine, USA

25

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the point where the lines cross will usually be the visual

focal point of the room. In irregular spaces, determining

the centre can be tricky. If there are round or elliptical

spaces involved, start by finding the centre of those

spaces. Then have a look at how the radial elements are

resolved within the whole space. All of the architectural

components should be considered in determining the

“centre.” Columns, built-in cabinets, offsets in the wall line

and other architectural elements can influence where the

“virtual centre” of the space is.

In some patterned floors, the virtual centre can

be appropriately used as the focal point of the entire

installation by placing a star, a geometric shape or a

striking curvilinear figure there that the rest of the room

radiates from. More often, though, the virtual centre should

be a reference point from which other dominant features

are deployed, because the centre of a space is frequently

occupied by furniture or rugs. Which brings us to …

Rule # 3: Utility

The way a space will be used is the most important

element of design. Louis Sullivan, a mentor of Frank Lloyd

Wright’s, famously said “Form Follows Function.” Design

decisions should be predicated on the way a space will be

used for two important reasons. First, the flooring product

selected should complement the flow of traffic through the

space. Second, the pattern should enhance an observer’s

visual appreciation of the space by creating harmony with

the vertical architectural spaces and the furnishings.

In most of his homes, Frank Lloyd Wright chose to

make all of the flooring spaces monolithic. His favourite

material was 3.8cm white oak strip. Wright’s admirers

dominated 20th Century America, and until the 1990s,

strip flooring was dominant. Just before 1990, the NWFA

started the Floor of the Year Contest (now the “Wood Floor

of the Year” contest). In less than 10 years, there was a

remarkable revival of traditional design and new forms

began to emerge. Some of the early products of the contest

received positive attention for being visually stimulating,

but negative reviews for being ill-suited to the space.

The learning curve in rediscovering traditional forms in

26

contemporary installations has many of the same challenges

as inventing new design forms.

Rule #4: Symmetry

Creating symmetry, or balance, in design can be as simple

as drawing a line down the centre of a space and mirror-

imaging the design elements. This is pretty simple if a room

is square or rectangular. These spaces are usually easily

divided into halves, or quadrants, or six or more equally

numbered parts. The parts do not necessarily all need to be

equal in size to create symmetry, but there must be some

balance from side to side or in the repetition of divisions.

There can be symmetry using an odd number of divisions if

the odd number is centred and there is balance left to right.

When a space is irregular, symmetry becomes a matter of

balancing the visual “weight” of the components.

I recently looked at a picture of a herringbone floor going

down a curved hallway with stone borders, a blind interior

wall on the left side and floor-to-ceiling windows on the right.

The installer/designer is one of the most respected artistic

talents in our business. He chose to divide the hardwood

floor “field” (the centre of the hallway) into five picket units

instead of four or six. To my eye, the asymmetry spoiled the

installation. When I asked him why he made that decision,

he said, in essence, that the distortion in the visual weight

of the elements is balanced from side to side because the

light source is only from one direction, accentuating the

luminescence of the grain of the wood nearer the windows.

After that we had a brief discussion about who was in his

right mind, and I became convinced that he is a genius, but

if you ask me, his floor is lopsided no matter which direction

you look at it from.

Rule #5: Boundaries

Skirting, feature strips and ornamental borders have been

used for centuries. Patterns were originally cut by hand,

and still can be. Or, specialty manufacturers can supply

them. What they probably will not be able to help you with is

choosing the right design, where to use it, and how to size it.

The best way to see if a design will work in any given

space is to draw it to scale using AutoCAD or one of the

other computer drawing programs. This allows a review

of the scale of the design and how it works with the other

architectural features, how the corners are turned, etc.

A border can serve as a visual boundary for a space, or it can

serve as a bridge between one region of a space and another,

or it can do both. What a border cannot do is relinquish

its claim on the territory it possesses. It can very seldom

wander off or disappear around a corner without seeming

incomplete.

There are a few simple layout rules that apply generally

to all border installations. The dominant pattern repeated

or used as a constant should be centred on the space it

occupies. If corner blocks are used, the figure should be

mirror imaged going into and coming out of the corner as

often as possible. Some traditional border patterns present

interesting challenges. The Greek key can be mirror imaged

perfectly in three corners, but can never be perfectly resolved

unless all of the border runs are exactly equal in length.

Some patterns can be mitred or the figure can be altered

imperceptibly to allow turning the corner without a corner

block. The “rule” for turning a corner without a corner block

is to preserve the integrity of the figure without disrupting

its pattern. Another cardinal rule is to centre the figure

on doorways. This is especially important when there are

patterns in place in the field of the floor on both sides of the

doorway.

27

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Rule #6: Conventional Applications

As with borders, the decision to use which parquet effectively in a given

space will depend on a variety of factors. A common departure point is to

consider whether the basic design element is a small, medium or large

format. Most herringbone, chevron, basketweave, fingerblock, running bond,

Haddon Hall and Monticello patterns are typically built on a small enough

scale that the pattern can be used repeatedly in small spaces without

seeming too “busy,” provided they are properly scaled. The size range of small

format is typically 23 to 46cm square. Medium formats usually have more

design elements to form a pattern 46 to 82cm square. Canterbury, Brittany,

Luxembourg, Bordeaux and Marie Antoinette are usually best presented in this

scale. Large formats usually have even more design elements combined up to

122cm square, and technological innovations are revolutionizing our capacity

to produce larger patterns. At some point in contemporary pattern fabrication,

we cease to talk about parquetry and begin talking about something new,

something that requires transcending conventional fabrication and installation

techniques. Maybe we should call it …

Rule # 7: Transcendental Flooring

Implementing Genius is the art of breaking all of the rules carefully and

tastefully to invent a new art form. What do you think? Are we there yet? Can

we run with lasers and still paint inside the boundaries of good taste? f

Chuck Crispin is president at Chicago-based Birger Juell Ltd.

The 2009 Floor of the Year was an exercise in symmetry,

designed by Chris Stringer.

28

Tips from the trade

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SOLVING A COMMON SANDING PROBLEM

Too many previously polished floors I’ve seen have a dip around the edge of the floor,

usually about 100mm from the wall. This is usually due to the floor sander stopping the

belt or drum sander on the floor before lifting on the clutch, meaning the sander is still

sanding momentarily in one spot.

However, there is another reason why floors can be uneven around the edges.

Supposing the belt sander runs right up to the skirting board with each grit of abrasive

used. The edging machine may make only one pass to the belt sander’s two or three.

The result can be that the flooring rises where the belt sanding stopped. This may not be

obvious when you’re sanding, but after you coat your floor, the higher the gloss the more

this problem will stand out. A discerning client will not be impressed.

The answer to our first problem is to begin easing up on the clutch just before reaching

the wall. This will ensure a ditch doesn’t develop, but the second problem can be a little

more sticky. The solution I have found to work fairly consistently is to stop at least a couple

of inches short of the wall on the first [coarse] run with the belt sander. Edge out to meet

the end of the belt-sanding, then on the next run with the belt sander go closer to the

wall. That way you won’t be stopping in the same spot all the time and the transition from

belt sanding to edging will be a lot smoother.

George Smith, Thunderball Floors, Victoria

Thanks for your tip George - we’ll be sending you an Attix 30 for your winning suggestion.

CLAD YOUR IPHONE IN

PARQUETRY

The wood pattern on this

wood decal iPhone cover

is a must for those with a

soft spot for Herringbone

parquetry. This novelty

phone cover, perfect for

timber flooring enthusiasts,

is $US19.95 and is available

at javoedge.com.

29

ATF

A ATFA ConventionSydney, 2-4 February

Floor Inspectors’ CourseSydney, 22-24 February

T+G Timber Flooring ForumGold Coast, 8 March

Timber Grading WorkshopBrisbane, 16 March

New techniques: install and finish programPerth, 13-15 April

flooringandfinishes.com.au

Visit the exhibition website for

up to date details on exhibitors

and the final demonstrations

program for Flooring and

Finishes with ATFA in Sydney

during February 2011.

atfa.com.au

ATFA members should sign in

and cast their vote in the Floor of

the Year Awards. Only one vote is

allowed for each ATFA member in

each of the flooring categories. May

the best floor win!

websitesPaid Parental Leave (PPL) is a

scheme funded by the Australian

Government designed to provide

paid leave to parents when they

have a baby or adopt a child. The

scheme will come into force on

1 January 2011 and will provide

parents with up to 18 weeks’ pay

at the minimum wage, which is

currently $570 gross per week.

Leave is actually provided by the

National Employment Standard

– eligible employees are entitled

to up to 52 weeks of unpaid leave,

and may request up to another

52 weeks of unpaid leave. The

scheme then provides payment for

a portion of that leave. Employees

may also choose to take paid leave

entitlements such as annual leave

or long service leave, as well as

receiving PPL payments.

In order to access PPL, claimants

need to satisfy a work test, an

income test and a residency

requirement. The leave must be

taken in one continuous period. The

parent who is on leave is entitled to

‘keep in touch’ with the workplace

for example, by attending staff

meetings, but may not work as

such.

When an application for PPL

has been accepted, the Family

Assistance Office will pay the

money to the employer, who is then

required to pass on the money to

the employee nett of any income

tax. Employees can submit a claim

for PPL up to three months prior

to the birth or adoption of a child.

Employers will then be required to

register with the Family Assistance

Office to receive the payment.

Visit familyassist.gov.au for

further information.

Emma Watt specialises in advising small to medium sized businesses in

the timber and furnishing industries. She offers ATFA members two free

telephone calls per annum for help on IR/HR issues.

Phone 03 8822 3712 Mobile 0411 708 073

Email emma@emmawatt.com.au

ir talk with Emma Watt

30

Product snap shotsBOSTIK

Ultraset SF is a one-part flexible polyurethane timber

flooring adhesive formulated to adhere most types of

timber, parquet and strip or sheet timber flooring systems

to leveled concrete or timber substrates, including over

existing floors. It is recommended as a flexible adhesive

for bonding parquetry, strip flooring and Bostik-approved

acoustic Underlay, prior to application of timber or tiled

flooring systems. An ATFA endorsed adhesive, its main

feature is that it has zero VOCs. Bostik Ultraset SF is easy

to spread, has excellent acoustic properties, is flexible,

non flammable and Australian made. It is tested to ASTM

C794 for peel adhesion to various species of Australian

Hardwood and will not re-emulsify when in contact with

moisture. For more

information call

1300 723 522,

visit bostik.com.au or

see Bostik at the ATFA

Convention.

PANELWOOD FROM BORAL PLYWOOD

PanelWood is a quality V-grooved pine panel product

that is used for interior finishes for ceilings and walls

as well as for cabinet lining and furniture making.

PanelWood can also be used in structural applications,

providing structural flooring or additional wall and roof

bracing. The V-grooves are 3mm deep at 100mm spacings

with a deeper groove on the edge profile. Thicknesses that

are 10mm and thicker have a tongue and groove profile

design. The product has very high impact strength perfect

for school halls and hospital hallways or any place that

has a risk of being struck by heavy objects over the life of

the building. For more details visit boralplywood.com.au

or phone 1800 773 596.

AUSTRALIAN SOLAR TIMBERS: PANACHE

Panache timber floors have been developed by AST

as part of a new recycling initiative where discarded

boards from within the milling process are reclaimed and

precisely machined to create durable solid wood flooring

at surprisingly economical value. Panache comes in an

collection of distinctive timber colourations named Bronze,

Pumice, Tropic, Pecan and Russett. The range is available

in 80 x 19mm and 130 x 19mm solid boards, designed for

installation over a flat sheet or concrete subfloor. AST’s

precise tongue and groove machining and end-matching

means ease of laying for the most exacting of applications.

For more information phone 02 6562 6839 or see the

Australian Solar Timbers team at the ATFA Convention.

Bronze

GUNNS SUPASTAIR STAIRCASE COMPONENTS

Gunns Timber Products has released a range of SupaStair

Staircase Components. Included in the range are stringers,

treads, posts, rails, risers and landings available in

Victorian Ash, Tasmanian Oak and Jarrah. Each is available

in a variety of sizes, lengths and profiles. Gunns’ large

species range means that you can buy a species to match

an existing floor or a contrasting species to add character.

By mixing species you can turn an outdated staircase into

the focal point of the design. For more information visit

gunnstimber.com.au, phone 1800 088 135 or see Gunns at

the ATFA Convention.

31

Walk safe with Bona

When you are coating a floor, are you sure the finish meets the required slip resistance standard?

With the increased focus on slip resistance levels in public areas AS/NZ Standard 4586 requires finishes to be R10 rated when used on staircases, ramps and in food courts, cafes, foyers or any area where spillage might occur.

Bona Traffic is the world’s biggest selling waterborne 2-pack used on more than 100 million m² of commercial and high traffic domestic floors. Traffic Anti Slip combines the proven performance of Bona Traffic together with anti slip properties to meet the R10 standard for slip resistance.

More information at www.bona.net.au

Bona Traffic Anti Slip

32

Project feature: Award winning floor

The winning project in the best use of timber flooring

category at the 2010 Timber Design Awards sponsored

by ATFA was this striking apartment in Albert Road,

Melbourne.

“The initial discussion with project architects Jolson

Architecture involved finding a timber floor that would

allow the overall aesthetic of the space to remain open and

light, whilst complementing the other finishes selected

for the apartment,” says Kurt Beyer, Architectural Sales

Consultant from Market Timbers, who supplied and

installed the timber flooring. “The firm also wanted a floor

that would be durable in terms of maintenance as well as

easy to live with.”

The timber selected was prefinished engineered

European Oak, 190mm x 15mm, wire brushed and treated

with a natural white oil/lime treatment. It was installed

using a glue down method with both the flooring and

acoustic underlay laid using Selley’s Direct Stick adhesive.

“The flooring is prefinished, but maintenance applications

of the same treatment can be carried out onsite,” explains

Kurt.

“The hardest challenge for our installation team was to

install the floor to match the radial structural grid of the

base building,” says Kurt. “In essence, we had to rotate

sections of the floor to match the grid, which was no easy

task!”

What makes this project so striking is that the flooring

was also used in other applications throughout the

apartment. “The flooring was used for a feature wall, and

the bed frame in the master bedroom,” explains Kurt, and

in the master bathroom in conjunction with natural stone

benches and wall treatments. The dining room table in the

apartment was wrapped in this flooring, and the joins in

the table align perfectly with the flooring below to create

the illusion that the floor goes up, and over the table, then

continues down on the other side. The matt sheen and

white oil effect allow the floor to project a contemporary

soft light feel, while absorbing harsh light that streams in

through the windows that front this stunning residence.” f

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