Consumer Information
The following consumer information is available for download from the Australasian Timber Flooring Association. Click on the below sections to read more.
Owner Expectations for Completed Timber Floors
This information sheet outlines reasonable owner expectations for an onsite sanded and finished timber floor. This includes solid T&G flooring, parquetry and other flooring types that have been sanded and finished onsite or recoated.
Owner Expectations for Engineered, Laminate and Bamboo Floors
COC
Australia is serviced by two timber certifying organisations, predominantly known as the Australian Forest Certification Scheme (AFCS) and the Forest Stewardship Council Australia (FSC) – this information sheet will explore the benefits and provisions of both.
Floor Colour and Grade
There are many timber species used in timber floors which provide us with a rich array of colours and grain patterns. In some species the natural colours will be fairly consistent while in others there can be blend of colours and tones.
Flooring Problem
Coating Choices
Timber Floor Coatings are your choice, so take care when choosing the coating that suits your needs!
Timber Sustainability
When you choose timber, you are not only selecting a beautifully individual floor made from a renewable resource, you’re also making a positive impact on climate change.
Installation over Acoustic Underlays
Timber floors are often installed in high rise and unit developments where it is necessary to reduce to acceptable levels the noise transmission through to the dwelling below. Due to this timber and other similar hard flooring products are often laid on an acoustic underlay.
The purpose of this information sheet is to outline the requirements and what must be considered when installing a timber floor where the noise transmission must be reduced (or attenuated).
It should also be noted that there are many other factors that relate to the actual noise transmitted including what the floor space is used for, whether soft soled foot ware is encouraged and whether rugs and runners are used in higher foot traffic areas.
Each of these can have a profound effect on the actual noise transferred and the amenity of those living beneath the floor.
Disposal and Recycling
This document acts as guidance to assist contractors with the disposal or recycling of day to day waste products such as, Coating tins/drums, Abrasive materials, Adhesive containers, Flooring off–cuts, Clean dust and Re–sand dust.
Timber Floor care
Caring for your timber floor Timber floors vary in ease of maintenance depending on the type of coating used and the severity of use and always greatly benefit from regular care. In doing so, the life of the floor finish and floor are greatly enhanced.
Timbers for the Environment
When you choose timber, you are not only selecting a beautifully individual floor made from a renewable resource, you’re also making a positive impact on climate change.
Life Cycle Assessment of Timber Floors
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an environmental impact assessment to determine the relative contribution of a timber product, such as timber flooring, within a building system (e.g. a residential home), from an environmental perspective.
Acclimatisation of Solid T&G Flooring
Timber is a natural product and is hygroscopic in nature. That is, it responds to changes in weather conditions by taking up or giving off moisture so that its moisture content is in equilibrium with its surroundings.
Timber Floor Hardness
The hardness of timber is not directly related to how hard or easy the timber is to work with various tools, but is a measure of the resistance of the wood to indentation. The hardness figures most commonly used are those obtained from the Janka test.
Flood Inundated Timber Floor
This information is provided for guidance when a timber floor has been inundated with mud and silt laden water typical of what has occurred in Queensland in January 2011.
Hardwood Species Names
This information sheet provides the common names and Botanical names for Australian Harwood Species.
Hardwood Flooring Grades
The purpose of this information sheet is to outline what the AS2796 grading standard for hardwood flooring covers, explain the different types of feature that may be present in each of the AS2796 grades, explain manufacturer grades that differ from the AS 2796 grades and provide guidance on ATFA manufacturer grade names and their alignment to AS 2796 grades.
Australian Consumer Laws
The following information sheet is an overview of new laws introduced January 1st 2011. The ACL is administered by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) nationally and by each State and Territory consumer agency. The new Australian Consumer Laws are a national policy and apply to all businesses – the ACL replace all previous State and Territory laws.
Ghosting
Ghosting traditionally relates to the appearance of lightly coloured boot prints that appear in a floor finish, usually some considerable time after the floor was coated. Owners begin to see a lighter patch in the coating, confused at what this may be until it becomes more obvious forming into a boot print and then the question arises, who does it belong to? Not my foot size, not my type of footwear … so who does it belong to?
Choosing a Timber Flooring System to suit you
You’d like a timber floor but think it might cost too much – think again! It might seem that carpet is a cheaper option, however, a solid timber floor will last a lifetime, it’s healthier, better for the environment, and let’s face it – a statement for your home! The timber floor may cost you more initially, but in ten years when you’re replacing carpet your timber floor is still going strong.
Compliance Guide for Hybrid Flooring products containing Silica
With much concern raised regarding silica content in concrete products and more recently in manufactured stone composite bench tops – that have resulted in serious illness and death, the microscope has been turned on all things that may contain silica.
Wood & Vinyl based flooring
There are many different products available in the market that have the appearance of timber, however most are not ‘real’ timber, but provide the appearance of a timber floorboard. This in many ways is a testimony of the value we all acknowledge in ‘real’ timber flooring to complement the décor in our homes. Techniques in the production of flooring board products is now so advanced that many can not tell the difference between a solid timber floorboard and one that is not. This may be seen as a positive providing an exacting appearance and some enhancements in performance aspects, but it can also provide confusion with owners not actually knowing what they have, and also confusion for those installing or repairing floors. The purpose of this information sheet is to provide a better understanding of the composition of each product type and to explain the main differences that exist between wood based flooring products and vinyl based flooring products.
Colour change when re-sanding older floors
This information sheet will cover two aspects in older floors. The first is that the timber itself as well as the coating will change colour with time and secondly that due to this, stains if present will become more visible when the floor is resanded. Some boards may darken in their colour tones with age while others will lighten with age. Some coatings will darken or yellow with time while other coatings may result in a floor becoming lighter with time. These changes to one degree or another will occur over time with all timber floors and as the change is gradual it is not generally noticed by the owner, or a new owner will not be aware of what the floor looked like when first sanded and coated. The change in colour on resanding and coating can at times be quite dramatic and similarly stains that were not noticed previously can become quite obvious. However, when a floor is resanded and coated it is just being brought back to the colour that it was originally, when first sanded and coated, and perhaps with some stains now evident. Many see the fact that a floor can be resanded and coated as a significant benefit, and with most floors this is the case, because we are to transform a floor that is perhaps looking old and tired, into a floor that looks brand new again.
Fire properties of commercial timber floors
This information sheet provides guidance and test results to the fire hazard properties of common solid timber flooring or floor covering used in commercial Class 2 to 9 buildings under the Building Code of Australia (BCA). The guide is not applicable to domestic houses.
Energy efficiency for timber floors
Timber floors can easily meet home energy efficiency regulations across Australia with a minimum of fuss and expense.