Recent years have seen the rise of the so-called floating floor, designed to provide a genuine timber floor with a minimum of installation time.  The term applies to a large range of timber floors that are not directly stuck to a concrete base but instead ‘float’ over an underlay.  Many are manufactured as fully pre-finished panels that are simply assembled on site.

            If you are looking for easy installation, a floating floor is the way to go.  When a traditional timber floor is installed, up to three weeks are required to install the timber correctly.  This allows for periods to acclimatize the timber in addition to drying and curing times for adhesives and finishes.  However, two people can install a 30m² fully pre-finished floating floors in a single day.

            When the professional or DIY user installs these floors, there is a minimum of fuss.  The DIY user may obtain impressive results quite easily though there are several important methods to note and it is good advice to talk with an experienced installer beforehand.

            A quality foam underlay provides a quiet cushion for the floor to be put over.  One of the ways to discern the better floors is to walk on them and see how they sound.  A noisy floor suggests very thin foam, whereas a quiet floor will indicate the use of quality foams.

            After installation there is no need to wait for adhesives to cure over extended period; simply put your furniture in position and enjoy your new floor.

            In terms of cost, floating floors are equivalent in cost to traditional parquet flooring.  In many cases the floors may be installed for many dollars below the cost of traditional floorboard. 

 Timber flooring is probably the most popular from of flooring on the market today, providing the warmth of carpet without compromising on style.  Not only do timber floorboards offer vastly enhanced noise and heat insulation; they also add welcomed resale value to your property.

            Timber comes in a rich variety of colours that depends not only on the wood you choose, but also the climate in which it was grown.

            Popular timbers include the Australian species Blackbutt, and there has also been a recent trend towards lighter timbers such as Spotted Gum and Australian Beech.  These woods are reasonably hard and won’t easily show marks or indentations in the floor, although timbers that show the grains & knots in the wood are also becoming very popular.

            Australian wood has three grades, ranging from rough grade to a very fine grade.  Natural grade is rugged and will retain natural markings and faults. The most popular being Australian Grade which not only accentuates natural features, but gives a rich finish.

The smoothest grade is select, which is suitable for all refined tastes.  The variety of timber flooring available to consumers has never been greater and new super-durable hardwood floors mean no more headaches over maintenance or unsightly scratches.

            Inspired by the durability and hardwearing properties of tiles, product developers have created timber floors with an advanced ceramic finish.  This means the surface would be easy to wipe clean and wouldn’t require wax care or re-sanding for at least 25 years.  Household substances such as nail polish and felt tip marking pens that would normally leave permanent stains on flooring would just wipe away.

            Being more wear-resistant, these ‘invincible’ floorboards can handle the toughest areas in the house, from kitchens to games rooms, to staircases.

            Timber floors come in two main varieties, solid and engineered.  There are pros and cons to both.  Solid and engineered.  There are pros and cons to both.  Solid floors are very durable, come in a wide range of finishes and are easy to replace.  One the down side, they tend to shrink and expand with variations in humidity.  Engineered floors are very easy to install and humidity does not greatly affect them, but they are less durable and more difficult to replace..