Storage and Handling

• Flooring should be delivered by the supplier with plastic wrapping (to top, sides and ends) in good condition in order to maintain the flooring at the appropriate moisture content.
• It is the floor installers responsibility to check that the timber is at the appropriate moisture content at the time of installation and therefore flooring products must be protected from weather exposure and other sources of dampness.
• Ideally, flooring should not be delivered to site until it can be immediately stored under permanent cover. If this is not achievable, other precautions that are equally effective to prevent moisture uptake and excessive sun exposure will be needed.

Acclimatisation

• Timber is a natural (hygroscopic) material. For this reason, solid timber floors may need to be acclimatised to their new local environment before installation. In the home, various conditions such as heaters, air conditioning or direct sunlight can affect the moisture content of the floor.

Installation

• Your DTM Timber hardwood tongue and groove floor should be fixed and finished as per Timber Queensland Technical Data Sheet 17 and 18.

Finishing

• There are many types of floor finishes currently available in the market place. These can be grouped into four broad categories: oil based finishes, composite finishes (mixes of oil-based and solvent borne polyurethane finishes), solvent borne polyurethane finishes and water borne finishes.
• The finishing of your DTM Flooring should be carried out by a professional floor sander and finishing contractor. For further information on finishes refer to Timber Queensland Technical DataSheet 21 - Sanding and Finishing Timber Floors, which provides information on different coating systems.

Care and Maintenance

• 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. With proper care and maintenance a hardwood timber floor should continue to look good and wear well for many years.
• Mats placed at all exterior doors to minimise dirt, sand and grit will help prevent scratches in the floor.
• Filtered sunlight through sheer curtains or blinds provides an effective means of slowing the colour change processes and is also effective in controlling gap size and possible cupping.
• Fit protective felt pads to the legs of chairs and tables so floors dont get scuffed.
• Avoid high heeled shoes which can dent the floors surface.
• Regularly cleaning of domestic floors with an antistatic mop provides an effective means of collecting dust and grit.
• For stubborn dirt, damp‑mop the floor using a well rung mop. The use of a pH neutral floor cleaner can help remove stubborn dirt (use as per manufacturer’s instructions).
• Harsh detergents or abrasive cleaners are to be avoided as are use of methylated spirits and vinegar as they can chemically attack some types of coatings.
• Over wetting a floor when mopping or cleaning can change the moisture balance and cause a floor to expand, which may result in cupping.
• Steam mops are not recommended for cleaning timber floors. Steam (moisture) is forced into the joints of the timber and any small incisions, breaks or cracks on the timber floor surface resulting in unusual reactions in the timber such as cupping. The heat from the steam mop could also cause damaged to the coating on the floor.