BUYERS BEWARE: READ THE FOLLOWING TO UNDERSTAND TIMBER FLOORING
TIMBER IS A NATURAL PRODUCT
COLOUR
each piece is unique in colour and grain, no two pieces are identical, even if the timber has been stained , (even black ) each piece will have a different depth of colour as the undertone of the natural timber reflects through.
GRAIN
again this applies to the grain of the timber, if the boards are a sliced veneer, it can be expected that the colour will be more even due to the thin slices of the top timber, if the boards have been sawn one can expect more variation in colour and grain and grading of the timber.
Oak has a more consistent colour when compared to the Australian Spotted Gum or Ironbark, once installed you will notice all types of grains, such as tiger marks( swirls) in the timber, other boards will have large patterns of grain, others may not even show any grain and appear very consistent.
OXIDATION: ALSO KNOW AS COLOUR CHANGE
This is what makes timber unique, again all timber ages and oxides, this process is a natural process and darkens the timber when the timber has been exposed to the environment such as air/light, oxidation is an ongoing process and cannot be stopped, even smoked or stained product will oxidise and change colour. (see how to care for your floors-maintenance.
CAUTION
If you as a consumer are concerned about colour /grain variation then you need to call your supplier immediately to identify your concerns, as timber is a natural product, as a supplier we cannot remove random boards because they do not suit you, we have to deal with what nature has given us to work with, of course if the board has a recognised defect then we would not install that board Batches and locations also affect the overall appearance of timber, such as Spotted Gum (Queensland) which is much darker than Spotted Gum from New South Wales, has a much more consistent grain when compared to Oak from France/Belgium or China.
TIMBER FLOORS
also require more maintenance, especially in hot humid climates the Environment can and will affect your floors, it is Important that you maintain the Relative Humidity within NORMAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: This means that both heating & ventilation systems must be constructed to maintain a relative humidity level between 40% and 60% in the air all year round.
Damage, which may be caused due to high levels of moisture, insufficient ventilation, Installation procedures not according to the manufactures guidelines, plus extreme heat or cold conditions, will not be covered under the Warranty. TIMBER, like all substances will expand and contract, this is a natural science ,which we cannot change, therefore to maintain your TIMBER FLOORS in peak condition it is imperative that you follow these guidelines.
FADING
timber floors will fade in direct sunlight, again you can help by having your windows tinted, installing Blackout Blinds, if not over time you will see a colour change & possibly more cracks than usual as the timber is exposed to heat and direct sunlight.