REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE

Scratches

Scratches can be easily disguised with “magic pens”, or totally removed from timber flooring without having to sand the entire area back to bare timber. When some sanding is required to remove scratches and other markings a special micro sanding tool can be used, and then coating of the individual floorboard or parquetry pieces without leaving any coating lap marks or evidence of the repair. This micro sanding process is very cost effective but not always the best option depending on type and age of existing polish.

Water damage

Water/moisture damage is the number one cause of problems for timber and laminate flooring. Timber is Hydroscopic and like a sponge timber absorbs moisture so the correct installation process needs to be strictly adhered to. Moisture rising through cement or water flooding the flooring from above generally are the most common causes. Once the cause has been detected we may use moisture barrier coatings or a lining to ensure the water damage does not occur again and go about with the repair or replacement of the damaged timber or laminate flooring.

Sun Damage

Direct Sunlight will cause problems to timber flooring, and like your skin it should be protected from constant direct sunlight through windows. Direct sunlight on timber flooring will overtime discolour and slowly blister the coatings. In server cases it will damage timber and may need to be cut out. Sun damage will require sanding the floor back to bare timber over a larger area to ensure a consistent colour of timber and polish, as even the darkest timber colours will fade to a blonde colour.

Renovations

Some renovations require walls and kitchen bench tops to be removed or new rooms added leaving an area that is missing timber, laminate or cork flooring. If this happens we would normally supply or customise a match to produce a seamless floor that matches in with the existing flooring. 

Recoating

Timber and cork flooring normally require recoating every five to ten years so not to wear through the polish and expose bare timber. By checking high traffic areas for lose of shine, such as in front of Kitchen Sinks will save having to sand the flooring back again. If all the original polish wears off a section of your floor it may require sanding back to bare timber in that section or sometimes the whole flooring area.  This full sanding process takes a lot longer, is more expensive, makes dust and will creates an inconvenience, so if in doubt it would be wise to have me inspect your floor. Recoating a floor is a totally dustless process and in most cases floors can be used again within 3 – 24 hours depending on the product.

Sinking Joist

Older buildings joists can sink a bit and create low spots in the flooring. In some cases the joists can come loose from the bearers or stumps and cause a bouncy effect across sections of flooring as it is walked on. By jacking up sections of your floor and applying the appropriate remedy we can normally fixed these problems.

Noisy Floorboards

If you find that the floorboards are making noises as they are walked on, the problem would have almost always have occurred from moisture at some point of time or bad expansion allowances during the installation process. If timber takes in too much moisture it will expand more than normal and can pull loose from its subflooring or base.

The reverse can also occur as the flooring dries out after being exposed to moisture it will shrink and buckling, tenting, gapping, crowning or cupping can appear depending on the original cause. This problem can normally be fixed or dramatically reduced by eliminating the movement between the pieces of flooring, ensuring expansion areas are created and refix timber with glue and sometimes nails or screws if necessary. Gaps and holes can normally be easily disguised with specially coloured material that can handle movement.

Termites

If you suspect termites may be present call a licensed pest control company that has a heat trail monitor immediately. Modern pest control professionals in Brisbane have special equipment to see the heat trails of these tiny monsters to track their movements. It is best to get the “all clear” before any repairs or work is done.

Renovation Rescue Services

Renovation and DIY television shows have given many Brisbane homeowners too much confidence and they attempt all their own home renovation work. It is wise to realise that you can not be an expert at everything in life, I constantly get calls to inspect problematic floors installed by homeowners and run of the mill carpenters that are not specialists and have overlooked important procedures that must be followed or the flooring will end up looking very average and does nothing to enhance the look of the house.

Another problem that occurs for many DIY home renovators is to actually find the motivation and time to properly focus on completing a job once it’s begun. We all need time out to relax and we can sometimes get side tracked with more important things happening in life. If this sounds familiar call me to get things back on track to save the project and your families sanity, or if you are on a tight budget we may still be able to work together on an hourly rate to move the project along by providing you with a “consultation and advice service”.