NASH TIMBERS NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2008

Nash Timbers thanks all our wonderful clients who continue to support us through 2008.

Newsletter continues to be put down on the bottom of my do list, at last I have got to the bottom of the list.

Here at Nash Timbers we continue to be kept busy by our loyal clients and also many new clients.

Let’s try and walk through the maze of Timber Floor Installation.

Firstly, it is very important to establish what may impinge on the floor movement.

Timber is a natural product. It will breathe, take in moisture and dry out throughout its life.

For every 1% change in the moisture content of the timber, over a width of 1 metre a timber floor will expand or contract by 2½mm.  Average moisture of a board is 12% in air conditioning environment board will come back to 10% to 9% which means a shrinkage rate of 5mm over 1 metre.

(This explains Gaps and doming in a floor)

Problems to be eliminated or decreased such as;

Moisture under substrate- fix with cross ventilation or fans.

Moist Slab, ply or joist- fix with moisture barrier.

Air conditioning- Turn Air conditioner on before nailing off

Direct Sunlight- Blinds

Air Conditioner Vents- Put on before nailing off.

Strong Sea Breese – Acclimatise boards

Ensure board are correct moisture-Test with moisture metre

Correct Milling & Drying- Only buy flooring from accredited mills

Most experienced floor layers use a moisture metre to check what they are doing. While the moisture content in a floor is moving it is not safe to glue and nail down. It is a basic and sensible precaution to measure the moisture content in a floor when it is first taken onsite and to again measure it after it has acclimatised for a few days / weeks 
Drying, shrinkage and moisture expansion are the most significant issues that impact on floor laying and floor laying environments.

They have to be carefully managed in order to successfully lay a floor.

The simple rules are

never lay a floor during weather extremes;

make sure your new floor is fully acclimatised before it is glued and nailed; and

ensure your floor can be kept dry. 
Floors can only be laid when the roof is on & windows and doors are in and all wet trades have been completed. 
Floors need to be properly acclimatised.. This is best achieved by laying the floor in position (not glued or nailed) until such time as it has acclimatised.

As all rules there are exceptions and we have found timber with Higher and Lower Janka rating is best to be nailed straight away.

Nash Timbers continue with The Nash Timber Presentation which has been certified by NSW Architectural Board for CPE Activity Formal Points & Builders CPD Event, at our home office monthly. Dates: 26th November @ 5.00pm (Must Book)

Nibbles provided.  Come and have some XMAS CHEER

Next month Nash Timbers will discuss Recycled Timber and availability from a new mill opening.